“You have an incredible team of teachers, living up to every promise you made us. Our oldest daughter is flying in every subject in the College and our youngest daughter leaves having delivered her final performance to the parents with more confidence than I could have dreamed she could muster all those years ago.”
Discover the St Edmund’s
Mr Steven Cartwright Headmaster of St Edmund’s Prep School
At St Edmund’s Prep, we recognise that a child’s first steps into learning are also steps into becoming. Our school is a place where children begin to form not only habits of thought but habits of heart, where character, curiosity and compassion grow side by side.
We are committed to nurturing each child as a unique individual, helping them to become confident learners, empathetic friends and responsible citizens. Through the lens of High Performance Learning, we focus on developing the values, attitudes and attributes that shape the whole person: resilience, perseverance, creativity, and a readiness to engage with the world.
Rooted in our Catholic faith and inspired by the teachings of Christ, we seek to form children who are not only academically successful, but also spiritually aware and ethically grounded. Our pupils are encouraged to strive for excellence, to think critically and independently, and to act with love and humility. With small class sizes, specialist teaching in language, music, art, drama and sport, and access to outstanding facilities which provide the opportunity for near limitless development in mind, body and spirit, each child is given the opportunity to discover their gifts and develop a deep love of learning. Our community is inclusive, joyful and caring, welcoming families of all faiths and none who value our mission to educate the whole person.
We would be delighted to welcome you and your child into the St Edmund’s Prep family, where their journey begins at the cutting edge of learning and development, and continues with purpose, passion and faith.
With the St Edmund’s Edge, our pupils don’t just keep pace with the future – they help shape it.
It is the confidence to speak up, the curiosity to keep learning, and the character to lead with kindness. The St Edmund’s Edge is the unique combination of academic ambition and emotional intelligence, nurtured through High Performance Learning and our values-based ethos. It is what sets our pupils apart, not just on paper, but in how they think, lead, and grow.
“We are so thankful to have found such a wonderful environment for our son. He is very happy, and settling in well.”
Parent
Choosing St Edmund’s Prep means choosing an education that gives your child a distinctive advantage – the St Edmund’s Edge. It is an approach that blends academic excellence with character development, combining innovative teaching with a deep-rooted moral compass shaped by our Catholic identity.
Our High Performance Learning ethos ensures that children are not only stretched to achieve their best academically, but are also taught how to think, encouraging intellectual agility, creative problem-solving and emotional intelligence from the earliest years. Alongside this, we foster values such as resilience, empathy and responsibility, so that children grow into confident, thoughtful individuals with a strong sense of purpose.
From our specialist teaching and inspiring curriculum to the rich opportunities in sport, music and the arts, pupils at St Edmund’s Prep are prepared not just for exams, but for life. Grounded in our heritage and guided by our motto, Avita Pro Fide, For the Faith of our Fathers, we equip children with the skills and values they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.
At St Edmund’s Prep, High Performance Learning is not an add-on, but the foundation of everything we do. It shapes the way our children think, learn and grow, ensuring that each pupil develops the skills and mindset to succeed in an ever-changing world.
In practice, this means that lessons are rich in challenge, curiosity and creativity, and that children are consistently encouraged to think deeply, articulate ideas and take ownership of their learning.
Our pupils are taught not only how to master knowledge, but also how to apply it flexibly and imaginatively. They learn to connect concepts across subjects, to persevere when faced with difficulty, and to work collaboratively with empathy and respect. These are qualities that extend far beyond academic success, preparing them to thrive in their secondary school years, at university and in future careers.
Guided by expert teachers and supported within a nurturing environment, pupils at St Edmund’s Prep grow into confident, reflective and ambitious learners. Through High Performance Learning, they are equipped with the resilience, values and intellectual agility needed to flourish – both as individuals and as members of society.
stedmundscollege.org/prep/academic/high-performance-learning/
“We will be eternally grateful for the start you have given them; the values, work ethic, social skills and self-belief instilled in them during their time at Prep have given them the very best foundations on which to build at the College and beyond.”
Parent
“I
cannot thank you all enough for making our daughter feel happy, safe and secure at school and enabling her to grow in confidence, try new things and most of all reduce her anxiety.”
Parent
As the oldest Catholic school in England, our heritage is rooted in faith, but our mission speaks to all. At St Edmund’s Prep, prayer, reflection and compassion are not separate from education, they are integral to it.
We deliver a Christ-centred experience which welcomes pupils from all faiths and backgrounds, united by shared values of kindness, respect and love.
Empathy is at the heart of our school. As a key attribute in both Catholic Social Teaching and the High Performance Learning framework, it shapes how our pupils think, relate and lead. Through daily encounters with gospel values and opportunities for service, children learn not just to understand others, but to stand alongside them. It’s this sense of shared humanity and moral purpose that gives our community its warmth and strength.
We are proud of our academic reputation, but we never define success by results alone. At St Edmund’s, the spiritual, academic, pastoral and co-curricular journeys hold equal value. In making worship and reflection central to school life, we nurture thoughtful, confident and compassionate young people, ready to make their way in the world and make a difference to it.
At St Edmund’s Prep, we believe every child carries God-given potential waiting to be realised. Our role is to provide the right balance of challenge, encouragement and care so that each pupil can flourish in mind, body and spirit.
We nurture a love of learning that sparks intellectual curiosity, inspiring children to think deeply, explore widely and engage confidently with the world around them. At the same time, we place equal emphasis on developing character — encouraging resilience, empathy, integrity and the courage and confidence to serve and lead.
Whether a child is a quiet thinker, a bold performer, a creative mind or a curious explorer, we celebrate their individuality and guide them to grow academically, personally and spiritually.
At the heart of this journey is partnership. Working closely with parents, we ensure every child’s talents are recognised, supported and fulfilled. Within our inclusive and vibrant community, each child is seen, valued and inspired to become their very best self.
Children in our Prep School make good progress and achieve well within a vibrant, stimulating early years setting, with their learning well-supported.
Recent Independent Schools Inspectorate Report
An overwhelming 98% of parents believe that the range of subjects on offer at St Edmund’s is suitable for their child.
Recent pupil survey
At St Edmund’s Prep, we design learning experiences that respond to each pupil’s unique cognitive profile, developmental stage and learning style.
Our curriculum offers the right balance of challenge, support and inspiration, enabling every child to develop advanced thinking skills, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.
Our specialist facilities provide tailored environments where talents flourish:
• Creatives bring ideas to life in our dedicated art studio, nurturing imagination and original thinking.
• Scientists ignite curiosity and investigative skills in our well-equipped science laboratories.
• Performers develop confidence and expression in our dance studio, theatre and outdoor amphitheatre.
• Athletes thrive with access to our Astro pitches, multi-use games area, swimming pool and sports hall, building resilience and teamwork.
• All pupils are encouraged to cultivate spiritual awareness and empathy through reflection and prayer in our newly refurbished chapel and tranquil prayer garden.
This holistic approach ensures that every learner grows intellectually, emotionally and spiritually, ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow with agility and purpose.
At St Edmund’s Prep, education goes far beyond the classroom. Our outstanding co-curricular programme inspires pupils to pursue passions, unlock potential and develop skills for life.
Sport instils resilience, teamwork and ambition; art sparks creativity and innovation; music builds confidence, discipline and joy in performance. A wide range of after-school opportunities – from debating and cadets to cookery, dance and drama – enriches each child’s experience, ensuring that every talent has the chance to shine. These opportunities cultivate well-rounded, confident young people, ready not only to achieve academically but also to thrive in every aspect of life.
Set within 400 acres of Hertfordshire countryside, St Edmund’s Prep offers a unique environment where children develop the essential attributes of initiative, resilience and creativity.
Our expansive grounds, including a bespoke Forest School and thriving orchard, provide the perfect space for pupils to engage in hands-on, experiential learning which fosters curiosity, problem-solving and a sense of adventure. Here, young explorers grow in confidence and cultivate the agility and perseverance needed to navigate challenges both in and beyond the classroom.
Find out more about outdoor learning
St Edmund’s College & Prep School
Old Hall Green
Ware
Hertfordshire
SG11 1DS
T: 01920 824247
E: admissions@stedmundscollege.org
Parents are integral to our school community, as partners in their child’s education. The Friends of St Edmund’s society runs all sorts of events, from half-termly coffee mornings, the school fête and a popular and historically sensational fireworks night.
To keep you up to date with what’s happening, we have a weekly newsletter, twice termly grade cards, open evenings and three parents’ evenings a year. You can email us and our door is always open to you.
We warmly invite you to visit us, either by arranging a personal visit or by attending an open event. Open events are a perfect opportunity for you to meet staff and pupils, tour the school and consider St Edmund’s for your child.
Contact us with any questions you may have at: admissions@stedmundscollege.org
Entry requirements for our Prep School are on our website at: stedmundscollege.org/how-to-apply
To apply, simply complete our online application form.
Find out about how to apply
stedmundscollege.org