Prep

“Excellent at fostering independence, especially with regards prep and personal organisation. [Our son] is becoming a well rounded, inquisitive, polite and charming young man.” - Parent Survey 2021

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Orwell Park offers academic challenge to all children and learning support for those who need it.

Our Prep School employs motivated teachers with a passion for their subject, who will encourage academic self-reliance, helping all children in time to take responsibility for their own learning and personal organisation.

The Pupil Experience

Our aim is to provide a stimulating environment within a mixed ability form-based structure. We seek to develop our pupils’ academic potential within a caring and supportive environment, as well as encourage their participation in creative, musical and sporting activities.

The tables here show you what a typical week looks like for our Prep School pupils. Each day starts with registration followed by an assembly, tutor time or Chapel with lessons beginning at 8:45am. In the afternoons pupils have co-curricular activities and/or sport.

Although the school day officially ends at 5pm, children are welcome to stay for tea, supervised prep and evening activities for no additional charge. Many of our pupils opt to stay for tea and extra activities on different days across the week or even on an adhoc basis to suit family arrangements. Years 4-8 have Saturday school which consists of morning lessons with matches and games in the afternoon.

Years 3 & 4

Years 5 & 6

Years 7 & 8

Curriculum

Orwell Park offers academic challenge to all children and learning support for those who need it. In the classroom, a traditional curriculum (including Latin fromYear 6 onwards) is taught, using the most modern methods. Our Prep School employs motivated teachers with a passion for their subject, who will encourage academic self-reliance, helping all children in time to take responsibility for their own learning and personal organisation.

The curriculum offers breadth as well as academic rigour and all pupils in Years 3-8 have timetabled Art, Design and Technology and Drama. Children live in a digital world and at Orwell Park they are supported in their learning by Apple technology throughout the school; including two IT rooms, a Music Technology room, IT hubs in Art and Design and Technology, as well as access to mobile devices.

Learn more about our Curriculum

Senior Schools

All children enjoy considerable success in their final examinations, many winning scholarships to their senior schools. In recent years, Orwell Park pupils have passed to the following schools:

Ampleforth, Benenden, Brighton College, Cheltenham Ladies’, Culford, Downe House, Eton, Felsted, Framlingham, Gordonstoun, Gresham’s, Haileybury, Harrow, Ipswich, King’s Canterbury, Marlborough, Millfield, Milton Abbey, Oakham, Oundle, Radley, Repton, RHS, Rugby, Sedbergh, Shrewsbury, St Mary’s Ascot, Stowe, The Leys, Tonbridge, Tudor Hall, Uppingham, Wellington, Westminster, Winchester, Woodbridge and Wycombe Abbey.

Pastoral Care

Children have the opportunity to take on meaningful leadership roles throughout their time at Orwell Park, for example sports team captains. At the top of the school the Head Boy and Head Girl have a key role in setting an example to their peers and the younger pupils and their duties include welcoming visitors to the school and addressing the whole school community on Speech Day. Senior pupils also act as Prefects and Sub Prefects, House Captains and Assistant House Captains, Boarding Captains and Peer Listeners, as well as members of the School Council, the Boarders’ Forum, Catering Committee and Pupils’ Academic Focus Group.

Children are encouraged to think of others, including those less fortunate than themselves. Each year the school supports a local, a national and an international charity and the pupils, in particular the School Council, take the initiative in organising fund raising events, whether it be a school swimathon or making and selling cakes for The Great Orwell Bake Off.