Lower Prep & Prep School prospectus

Welcome to...

Here at St. Edmund’s we believe that a Preparatory Education embodies its essence – inspiring children to enthusiastically embrace life and instilling the courage to explore new and exciting activities. St. Edmund’s Prep School is a lively and energetic place where our children flourish intellectually and socially. We extend a warm welcome to boys and girls from ages five (when they’ve completed the EYFS framework) to nine in the Lower Prep School (Forms 1 - 4). From here, they naturally progress to our Prep School at Form 5 through to Form 8, then they move on to our Senior School.

St. Edmund’s

At St. Edmund’s, Hindhead, we understand that every child is unique and deserves an education that excites and inspires them to reach their full potential.

St. Edmund’s is distinctively different. From our foundation in 1874 through to the present day, the school has inspired generations of children to immerse themselves in the St. Edmund’s journey to discover their unique brilliance.

Our one-of-a-kind experience blends tradition and innovation to provide a wellrounded academic programme that values effort and celebrates children’s individuality.

With a culture of mutual respect and traditional values, we create a caring and inclusive environment where children feel valued, supported and challenged to explore their passions. By preparing children for a life of learning, St. Edmund’s empowers them to flourish in whatever path they choose.

I hope that you enjoy browsing through our prospectus – we aim to give you a flavour of the unique and at times quirky experiences available for your child. If you think that you might be developing a taste for us then do come to see for yourself what it is that makes St. Edmund’s so special - you will be very welcome.

Adam Walliker, Headmaster

LOWER PREP

PASSION CELEBRATING

St. Edmund’s Lower Prep provides children with a wonderful start to school life. We ensure that your child’s educational journey begins with warmth, encouragement, and a solid foundation for future success.

Our classes are run by caring, creative and experienced staff who possess the expertise to unlock the potential in every child, and, perhaps most importantly, infuse a sense of joy into the learning process.

Being part of both a Prep and Senior school, our Lower Prep pupils have access to an impressive array of facilities, including an indoor swimming pool, a drama and dance studio, sports pitches, and even a golf course.

Nestled within our Lower Prep classroom building, our small class sizes offer a unique advantage, allowing flexibility in delivering the curriculum through practical experiments, engaging activities, and enriching school trips.

The school’s 40 acres of grounds and woodland provide the perfect outside classroom.

Days are balanced with essential academic learning of key maths and literacy, as well as creative and practical work.

The chance to take part in such a wide variety of activities from a young age helps our children to discover their talents and passions, instilling a sense of pride in their achievements and fostering confidence in their own abilities.

Do visit us, enjoy a touch of the St. Edmund’s magic first-hand and visit our website to find out more about our Lower Prep. Watch our ‘Life in Form 3 at St. Edmund’s’ film on our website.

OUR PREP

St. Edmund’s Prep School offers an exceptional all-round education tailored for 9 to 13-year-olds. Within our vibrant and jovial community, boys and girls don’t just excel academically, but also socially and as individuals, preparing them for our Senior School experience.

Charlie Chaplin once said, “a day without laughter is a day wasted ”, a quote that sits well within the bustling corridors of the school.

St. Edmund’s is committed to celebrating childhood, and is lucky enough to enjoy an environment where children can embrace a spirit of exploration and resilience. We recognise that to a child, nothing is more disappointing than missing an opportunity or

the chance to try something new; every child in our Prep School has the opportunity each day to give anything and everything a go, regardless of ability.

Our creative curriculum, combined with small teaching groups, exceptional pastoral care and our scenic expanse of rural Surrey, result in a milieu where our children feel motivated, nurtured, inspired and encouraged to learn and grow.

Please do visit us. Many visitors comment on the indefinable “feel” of the school, its very own special atmosphere and unique ethos. This brochure can only paint a picture; the children will tell you the full story!

EDUCATION IS A CHALLENGE... MASTER IT

RESPECTING TRADITION

OUR LOWER PREP AND PREP SCHOOL IS A LIVELY, ENGAGING AND EXCITING PLACE TO BE.

STIMULATING CURIOSITY...

...UNLOCKING POTENTIAL

ACADEMIC LIFE

All schools claim that their teachers are innovative and inspiring – at St. Edmund’s, our teaching staff go that extra mile to ensure that every pupil achieves their very best.

St. Edmund’s Lower Prep is a fantastically fun place for your child to enjoy their educational journey. For us, it is not just about learning facts and figures, or indeed trying things for the first time; we help our girls and boys to develop resilience, curiosity, flexibility, risk-taking and self-motivation. These are the character traits that will stand them in good stead for senior school and beyond.

The introduction of ability based setting commences in Form 5, where our children have their own tailored timetable. At this stage, pupils have all of their lessons taught by specialist teachers. One of the unique advantages of having both a Prep and Senior School on the same campus is that our Prep children have the incredible privilege of high-quality instruction by qualified specialist staff. These are professionals who are truly passionate about their subjects, and impart their love of learning onto our young scholars.

ENCOURAGING

INSPIRING OPENNESS, EXPLORATION

PASTORAL CARE

We firmly believe that exceptional pastoral care is fundamental for a child to thrive. Our approach to pastoral care is centred around maintaining close contact between both the pupils and their parents, creating an awareness and sensitivity to the unique needs of each child. St. Edmund’s provides a warm and welcoming environment which helps children develop the skills and attitudes to achieve their best. They are also given support through the crucial transitional years from childhood to young adulthood.

BEYOND

THE CLASSROOM

Our co-curricular provision plays a substantial role in the shaping of our children’s educational experience, involving activities that extend beyond the academic curriculum, and usually always outside the usual classroom setting.

We see co-curricular as an essential part of the St. Edmund’s learning experience, giving pupils the chance to explore life in a broader context. Through these many and varied activities, pupils learn to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the future, how to respond to successes and occasional disappointments, and most importantly, embrace the mantra of ‘give everything a try’.

Our after-school activities encompass a diverse range, spanning sports, arts, drama, music and culture. Most events are staffed by our energetic teaching staff, however, our programme may occasionally be supported by outside experts; in which case there may be a small charge made to parents.

MUSIC, ART & DRAMA

ART

Art at St. Edmund’s is designed to be not only educational but also exciting! The ethos is that all pupils should enjoy their lessons, while simultaneously acquiring valuable skills in various media and techniques.

MAKING MUSIC

There is no question that St. Edmund’s holds a stellar musical reputation. The vast majority of our pupils actively participate in some sort of musical pursuit, playing an instrument or contributing their voice to one of our many choral groups.

Dedicated time within the school timetable is allocated to music. This is so that pupils may engage in ensembles, choirs, theory, and scholarship preparation, without any fear of conflicting schedules.

The Art room, housed in a spacious and brightly lit environment, is used to teach Art from Year 3 upwards. Well-equipped and furnished with facilities for a wide range of activities, pupils are able to use a mixture of media, from painting and drawing, through to textiles, sculpture and ceramics. We also have the use of computers for pupils to develop digital work.

The overarching goal of our Art department is to develop a love of creating; and to learn from all aspects of the Art & Design process, from sketches to finished pieces and from all levels of ability. Children are encouraged to develop a visual awareness and vocabulary, empowering them to ‘see’ rather than merely look at the world around them.

EDUCATION IS A SONG... SING IT

PERFORMING ARTS

The Drama department is a thriving hub within the School, and offers all pupils many opportunities to engage with various aspects of the stage.

Drama plays a central role in life at St. Edmund’s, with all pupils studying drama as part of their timetable from Form 3 upwards. Our Lower Prep and Prep School Drama programs offer an abundance of opportunities for performance, be it in class assemblies or ‘talent showcases’. Through these many and varied experiences, children cultivate self-confidence, develop robust communication skills, and enhance their leadership capabilities.

For children in Forms 3 upwards, there is the added opportunity to partake in an annual School Production, along with regular trips to Chichester Theatre and G-Live in Guildford. Recent School productions have included The Jungle Book, Matilda, and Aladdin, to name a few.

EDUCATION IS A GAME... PLAY IT

SPORT

Situated within 40 acres of picturesque Surrey countryside, St. Edmund’s sporting facilities include a 9-hole golf course, expansive grass pitches, a cross-country running course, Shred mountain biking trails, heated indoor swimming pool, floodlit all-weather sports pitch, and a versatile multi-use sports hall.

Sport is a most enjoyable part of school life, and one which we take seriously - it’s our firm belief that a healthy body contributes to a healthy mind. Through a wide variety of sports, pupils have the opportunity to play games, matches or attend activities on a daily basis. For boys in our Prep School, the major winter team sports are rugby, football and hockey, which then rotates to cricket and athletics in the summer. For our Prep School girls, netball, hockey and football are the main winter sports, with cricket and athletics taking the focus in the summer.

With sports and activities scheduled every day of the week, children also have a match afternoon (Wednesdays for Forms 5 and 6 and Thursdays for Forms 3 and 4). Furthermore, our girls and boys have opportunities during lunchtime and can attend after-school clubs throughout the week, to keep active. These include tennis, judo, triathlon, golf, run club and swim squad.

A significant number of our pupils play sport at County and National level, and our team of enthusiastic and skilled coaches spur our girls and boys on to achieve their best.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

We believe that a strong link between home and school is vital to a child’s holistic development. St. Edmund’s maintains an open and consistent channel of communication with parents on both a formal and an informal level. For parents whose children are starting in Reception, an informal tea party is hosted at the beginning of the Summer Term preceding entry, where parents are given a presentation on what their children will be learning and experiencing during their time at the school.

As the children progress through the school, we ensure ongoing communication. Parents receive written reports, and can also attend formal Parents’ Evenings. Whilst these are important, St. Edmund’s also places significant importance on the role of the Personal Tutor. These individuals keep an eye on the children both academically and pastorally, and therefore are the first point of contact for parents. In addition, there are various open events held during the year, providing our parents with the opportunity to witness first-hand the workings and achievements of the rest of the School.

WE ARE WHAT WE EAT

We offer an exciting and health-focused menu, served in our new state-of-the-art dining hall.

Fresh fruit platters and sandwiches are prepared at break times, and water is available for the children throughout the day. At midday, freshly prepared hot lunches from the School kitchen are served, with non-dairy and vegetarian alternatives available.

Processed foods are kept to an absolute minimum and meals generally feature a low-sugar content, and no added salt. Special dietary requirements for the children can be easily accommodated.

VISITING ST. EDMUND’S

Attending an Open Morning is an ideal way to get to know our school, meet our Head Dr. Walliker, and hear from our pupils as they explain what they like best about St. Edmund’s.

If you are unable to attend an open morning, our Registrar, Annabella Toms, will be pleased to arrange an alternative visit to St. Edmund’s. She can be contacted on:

Tel: 01428 609 875 e-mail: registrar@saintedmunds.co.uk

St. Edmund’s is easily accessible from the A3. Due to our position on the three counties border, our pupils travel to school from the many towns and villages throughout Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire. St. Edmund’s enjoys a fleet of branded school mini-buses which operate on a large number of routes.