Our Ethos
S. Anselm’s is a place where children explore and dare to try things.
To be brave. To be quiet.
To climb trees and swim lengths.
To love maths. To hate maths.
To lead. To follow.
To change their mind.
We give them the possibilities to discover who they want to become.
Where childhoods are celebrated
Childhoods are short.
At S. Anselm’s, we cherish this precious time, celebrating who children are and the childhoods they explore.
Yes, our curriculum prioritises time outdoors to play and discover. Yes, we have a no mobile phone policy. But S. Anselm’s is more than that. Children thrive here. They laugh in corridors, they hold doors open for everyone, they help at the dining tables – and 10 years olds genuinely care for 5 year old friends.
They learn, they grow and they have the confidence to become.
The benefits of staying into Years 7 & 8
The Year 7 & 8 prep school education model is specifically designed to build self-assurance, resilience, a strong work ethic and an understanding of their place in the world.
At a time when children naturally need more security and self assurance, S. Anselm’s helps this transition.
- Our smaller class sizes offer bigger leadership roles.
- Curriculum development needs are catered for.
- Mental health and wellbeing issues are dealt with promptly.
S. Anselm’s Year 7 & 8 programme supports pupils’ growth, allowing them to blossom, wherever their next step.
“The fact that children stay at a prep school until 13, as opposed to going to a secondary state school at age 11, means children have two extra years to be able to develop a little more of ‘who they are’. So their social and emotional wellbeing is nurtured for longer. This can mean a smoother transition and that when they do start, they’re more able to withstand some of the difficult external pressures that are commonly present through peer influences in secondary schools.”
– The Independent School Council
Our motto
Esse Quam Videri
Cambridge graduate and naturalist William Storrs Fox opened the school in 1888, choosing the school’s timeless motto ‘Esse Quam Videri’ – ‘to be rather than to seem to be’, which remains at the heart of the school today.
This ethos builds children to be diligent, confident, respectful, grounded individuals, encouraging individuality, creativity, perseverance and tolerance.
