About Orwell Park
Founded in 1868, Orwell Park School is a day and boarding preparatory school for boys and girls aged between 2½ and 13 years in the village of Nacton on the edge of Ipswich in the English county of Suffolk.
Our Ethos
Orwell Park is a long established co-educational prep school for day pupils and boarders. The outstanding beauty of the grounds and historic buildings contribute to an inspiring experience, which combines the legacy and traditions of the past with the dynamism and energy of the present and the future. Boys and girls are given every opportunity to be the best they can be, both in and outside the classroom. High expectations, and learning strategies tailored to the individual child, lead to high levels of attainment.
Academic achievement and pastoral care are given top priority, alongside core values such as courtesy, personal responsibility and respect for others. Children are encouraged to take on challenges, to overcome setbacks and to see failure as part of the journey to success, to develop the resilience, initiative, flexibility, creativity and collaborative skills that will prepare them for the next stage of their education and later life.
At Orwell Park, pupils develop a balanced sense of themselves and a quiet confidence in their interactions with others.
Our Aims
To offer an all-round education in which happy children can grow in confidence and self-esteem
To encourage children to develop abilities and persevere when confronted with obstacles
To create a caring, trusting and supportive environment
To excite, engage and challenge each child, motivating them to explore and develop a lifelong love of learning, supported by teachers who are passionate about their subject
To offer a strong boarding ethos, encouraging independence, tolerance and responsibility
To develop in each child an increasing sense of self-reliance as they prepare for senior school
To allow each child to understand and engage with the outside world and the needs of others
Our Values
Our aim is, as a whole community of pupils, staff, and parents to agree upon and embed a set of values that influence every aspect of life at the school and promote positive behaviour and healthy attitudes.
The overarching value is Integrity, which we define as strength of character and strong moral principles and we aspire for this to underpin everything that we do. We propose five core values, each with supplementary values.
Kindness: forgiveness, gentleness and empathy
Collaboration: inclusion, patience and community
Courage: perseverance, resilience, honesty and loyalty
Spirit: enthusiasm, joy, curiosity, gratitude, hope and reflection
Respect: courtesy, fairness and trust
“This is such an outstanding school in Suffolk; I would recommend it to anyone... and often do. This is a fantastic school with amazing opportunities. OPS instinctively knows how to find what each student is good at, and just makes it happen for them.”
— Parent Survey 2021
Structure of the School
Orwell Park is divided into two main sections - Pre-Prep for age 21⁄2 to 7 and Prep for age 7 to 13.
Pre-Prep:
• Nursery (age 21⁄2 to 4)
• Reception (age 4 to 5)
• Years 1 and 2 (age 5 to 7)
Prep:
• Middle School – Years 3 to 5 (age 7 to 9)
• Senior School – Years 6 to 8 (age 10 to 13)
All children have a class teacher or Tutor who will play a vital role in communication between home and school as well as in pastoral care. All children in the main school belong to a School House, and feel a strong sense of loyalty towards it. The houses are: Blue Boars, Green Dragons, Red Lions and Yellow Tigers. The House system at Orwell Park provides further opportunities for initiative, competition, responsibility and leadership, as well as another dimension to pastoral care.
History
Founded by the Reverend Walter Wilkinson in Lowestoft in 1868, the School moved to Aldeburgh in 1870, changing its name three times – from Crespigny House to Eaton House to Aldeburgh Lodge. It then moved to its present site in Nacton in 1937 and was renamed Orwell Park. The magnificent building and grounds it now occupies were formerly owned by Admiral Vernon, 18th century naval hero, and Colonel Tomline, Victorian entrepreneur and founder of the Port of Felixstowe.
Orwell Park School in Nacton, near Ipswich, is situated in over 110 acres of beautiful grounds, woodland and playing fields overlooking the Orwell estuary in Suffolk. The main Prep School is housed in an exceptional late Georgian mansion. With adjacent Pre-Prep, classrooms and specialist facilities, Orwell Park has been described as one of the most beautiful school settings in England.
Charities
Every year the school supports three charities: one local, one national and one international. The pupils choose the charities they would like to support and will then embark on a variety of fundraising challenges, with their houses, throughout the year. In recent years charitable events have included a whole school “Bake-Off” which resulted in the publication of a cookery book, a “24 hour Musicathon” and a sponsored fun run. Charitable giving is at the heart of the school and organisations are invited to the school on a regular basis to talk to the pupils.
The charities supported last year were ICENI, Dementia UK and Rainforest Trust UK. Despite the lockdown and subsequent restrictions the pupils raised an amazing £6,918 which meant that each charity was given £2,306. With good humour and great enthusiasm, pupils raised money in a variety of ways including the Year 8 sponsored ‘virtual walk’ to the Ardeche!
Recent charities supported have included:
