We endeavour to make sport a positive and enjoyable experience for every student, offering top quality coaching, a broad range of sports, outstanding facilities and opportunities for gifted sports players to develop their elite skills. The main sports for girls are hockey, netball, cricket and tennis, and for boys are football, hockey, cricket and tennis, however we can cater to individual needs to enable girls to play football or boys to play netball if requested. Fixtures take place on Wednesday afternoons.
Music, for performers and listeners alike, is central to daily life in at Bedales Prep. We aim to create an environment in which children enthuse as much over the Sibelius Symphony as they do when listening to Jazz or Florence and The Machine. Students soon discover that the more they practise, the more enjoyable and fulfilling are the ensemble opportunities that become readily available to them. Orchestras, choirs, rock bands and chamber ensembles perform regularly in concerts and theatre productions.
Throughout the year there are plays for different year groups to take part in – with opportunities both on and off stage. All Groups (Years 4-6) students are encouraged to perform in their year group play. For Blocks (Years 7-8), there is a combined Blocks' production as well as a Block 2 Leavers' Play at the end of the Summer term; both are traditionally performed in the Bedales Olivier Theatre. All the hard work put in by the staff and students, including the costumes, leads to the brilliantly creative plays that Bedales Prep is well known for.
Lessons begin at 8.50am, and there are three 30-minute periods (with a 5-minute changeover in between) before a 20-minute break at 10.30am, followed by a further three periods. Students eat lunch in the school’s dining room, JBs, at 1.05pm. After lunch, lessons resume at 1.45pm and continue until 5.30pm, with another 20-minute break at 4pm. After school, students can take part in activities.
On Wednesdays, students who aren’t representing the school in a sports fixture or undertaking community service can go home at 2pm. On Fridays, lessons finish at 3.25pm, followed by an assembly led by a guest speaker – known as ‘Jaw’ – until 4.15pm.
A wonderful place to develop a strong sense of self, stretch minds, develop a love of learning and make lifelong friends”
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We have two assemblies every week. This is a lovely time when the whole school come together in the Well. Staff and students take assemblies and share personal stories or topical events. Students sign up to ‘host’ an assembly. Head of Bedales Prep Clare Kirkham takes the Monday assembly to set the tone for the week and to reflect on the week that has passed.
Wednesday afternoons are set aside for matches against other schools. Parents are always welcome to come and support their child and enjoy a delicious match tea with other parents and staff.
If not in a match, students in the Groups (Years 4-6) can go home or stay at school for activities or a 'Green' - Bedales Prep lingo for a lesson slot which can be used for prep or the scheduling of individual classes such as individual dance, music or learning support - until 4pm. If students need to stay later, activities are available until 5.30pm.
For students in the Blocks (Years 7-8), if not involved in matches, there are organised activities at school. The majority of students choose to stay in school where they can relax at the school's Scoffs Café, sign up to Community Service, catch up on work or supervised music practice.
We consider Saturday School to be an important contributor to delivering the special ethos at Bedales Prep.
Saturday morning school is an important feature in Blocks 1 and 2 (Years 7 and 8) at Bedales Prep. All Block 1 and 2 students are expected to attend school on Saturday morning from 8.45am to 1.10pm.
From Block 1 (Year 7), students have more lessons to fit into their timetables than in the Groups (Years 4-6):
Science becomes three separate subjects - Physics, Biology and Chemistry.
Humanities becomes three distinct subjects - Geography, History, and Philosophy, Religion and Ethics (PRE).
Latin is introduced.
Saturday school is an important contributor to delivering the special ethos at Bedales Prep. Spreading the Blocks' timetable over five and a half days ensures our older students have the time and support they need to complete prep, get the most out of teaching time and manage their increased number of ‘Greens’ without lengthening the school day. As a result, students maintain motivation, develop independence and feel prepared for the additional self-management required at senior school.
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