Life in the Preparatory School

The Prep School Day

On arrival from 8.15am each morning, children go straight into school to their Form Rooms to join their Form Teacher in time for registration at 8.20am.  This ensures a positive and focused start to each day.

Form time is used to discuss the day and week ahead as well as to explore latest news and current affairs.  Each week, there is a topical weekly debate, based on which we submit our views to the government via VotesforSchools.  This encourages a healthy interest and understanding of topical issues and enables teachers to offer explanation and context.

A typical Prep School day follows the timetable below:

Day Begins8.20am Registration
Period 18:30am - 9:10am
Period 29:10am - 9:50am
Period 39:50am - 10:30am
Form Time / Assembly / House Meeting10:30am - 10:50am
Morning Break10:50am - 11:20am
Period 411:20am - 12:00pm
Period 512:00pm - 12:40pm
Lunch/Extras12:40pm - 1:50pm
Registration and Reading1:50pm - 2:10pm
Period 62:10pm - 2:50pm
Period 72:50pm - 3:30pm
Afternoon Break3:30pm - 3:40pm
Period 83:40pm - 4:20pm
Period 94:20pm - 5pm
End of School Day5pm (4pm on Wednesdays)
Prep (optional)5-6pm (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday)
Extras & Clubs5:05pm onwards (Juniors)
7pm onwards (Seniors - after Prep and Supper)
NB. Times vary on a Wednesday and Friday

Children in the Junior Forms are taught predominantly in their own classroom by their Form Teacher with the exception of art, music and sports. Where lessons are taken by specialist teachers such as French and Spanish, the teacher goes to them in their own classroom.

After registration and form time, senior children (from Year 7 and above), move from department to department for lessons with specialist teachers, according to their timetable.

 

Assemblies & Church Services

Assemblies take place on Monday and Friday mornings. Our Monday Assemblies focus on hymn practice and Friday mornings on celebrating the achievements of children throughout the week. Assemblies are also an opportunity for our young musicians to perform and dramatic class performances and talks take place throughout the term.

Christian prayer is important to our school life and plays an important part of Assemblies.  Our School Chaplain, Canon Tony Kaunhoven takes special assemblies in school every term.

Children attend church for special services during term time including Ash Wednesday, Harvest and Christmas.  The walk to Bakewell Church has become a S. Anselm’s tradition, with the children processing down Stanedge Road often to the sound of pealing bells.

 

House Meetings

After registration each Thursday, children head to their House Meetings.  News is shared, plans are laid for charitable work and fundraising and rehearsals held for Inter-House competitions and activities, such as the House Shout.

 

Break times

Break times are a hive of activity, fun and friendly laughter and the children have a range of spaces to play in.

Younger children enjoy playing on the climbing frames, whilst older children might opt for a fun game of football or netball on the top court.  A range of balls and sports equipment is available for use.  Traditional games remain firm favourites, from long rope/team skipping to hide and seek around the permitted areas of school grounds.

A range of musical ensembles and clubs also take place in morning, afternoon and lunchtime breaks.

As well as the on duty staff, our sports coaches and other members of staff often can’t resist joining in the play or helping with an impromptu game of sport.

During wet breaks, children may opt to use the Innovation Studio, spend time in the school library or relax in a classroom.

 

Lunch

A hearty two course school lunch is served in the main school Dining Room. Here the children are seated in Houses with a form teacher or teaching assistant who serves the children from the head of each table and who encourages conversation and polite table manners.  Before and after eating, the children say Grace.

The Dining Room is at the heart of S. Anselm’s and whilst every mealtime is special, Harvest, Halloween, Christmas and Easter are particularly celebrated and meals are set against the backdrop of magnificent seasonal decorations that the children adore.  The weekly roast dinner each Tuesday is also a firm favourite!

 

Prep

All Prep School children are welcome to stay for supervised Prep between 5.00pm and 6.00pm in the School Dining Room on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  There are no Prep sessions on Wednesdays, Fridays or Saturdays.

 

Music Practice

The practice rooms in the School of Music are available for use between 7.00am and 7.30pm and children are encouraged to do their instrumental practice once their prep has been completed.

 

Clubs & Extras

There is a large selection of after school clubs, offering children a wealth of experiences, specialist training and time to enjoy fun activities with friends.  After school clubs are optional and children/parents can select which they would like to participate in (depending on availability and age requirements).  Junior clubs take place before supper and Senior clubs take place after supper, once prep has been completed.  Clubs are extremely popular across all ages with many children opting to stay beyond the end of the formal school day.  Flexi boarding provides a useful option if parents should struggle with the late pick-up.

The clubs offered change each term to take advantage of the seasons. There are typically two or three choices each evening and children register for a full term.  The following gives an indication of just some of the choices available: cookery, cricket nets, den building, drama, fine arts, gymnastics, hockey training, international club, pottery, rock band, sailing, swim squad.

Further extras take place during the lunch break and morning/afternoon break times such as pottery, drama (LAMDA), library club and music ensembles.

Where clubs or extras are taught by external specialists and/or involve specialists materials, additional charges apply.

 

Sporting Fixtures

Sports fixtures are usually scheduled for Tuesday afternoons (for Junior Years) or Wednesday afternoons (for Senior Years) as well as Saturday afternoons.  These are published in the school calendar with team sheets posted at least 24 hours in advance.  The children take their team commitments very seriously and all children selected for a team are expected to be available to play, and afterwards to stay for match tea and cheer off their opposing team.

Parents and families are warmly welcomed at sporting fixtures – both at home and away – to support and cheer on our teams, and are invited to stay for match tea afterwards.

 

Saturday School

From Year 3, children may attend optional Saturday Morning School from 8.25am to 12.30pm.  Sessions include a mixture of music, drama, art, sports and fun activities designed to further enhance learning and engagement with the arts in a lively, club atmosphere.  Home clothes may be worn.  If selected for a sports team, children may stay in school for lunch prior to their match.

From Year 6, Saturday School is compulsory from 8.25am to 12.30pm.  Children wear their school uniform and attend timetabled lessons throughout the morning.  Matches and tournaments are regularly scheduled for the afternoon and all children involved these stay to lunch and remain until the end of the fixture/return to school.  Children are expected to be available to play in any scheduled events, fixtures or matches for which they are chosen.  Any children not involved in fixtures may be collected at 12.30pm.