A friendly, family-orientated school at the heart of the local community
Chesham Prep is a unique place and has a well-deserved reputation, dating back to its foundation in 1938, for being a friendly, family-orientated school at the heart of the local community. Set in the Bucks countryside, it is a caring and nurturing community where the children aim high, work hard and achieve great things.
Our Early Years Department is a happy, friendly and welcoming place. We pride ourselves on developing very close relationships with both the children and their families. The children enjoy a variety of activities together as a whole department such as the Christmas Nativity play, school trips and other celebrations. We also join the Junior School for assemblies and Harvest Festival.
The Junior School years are exceptionally important as children grow tremendously in independence, which in turn leads to greater confidence and self-esteem. They start to take more responsibility for their own learning. In the Junior School we have a balanced curriculum where the children benefit from teaching by specialist teachers for Spanish, French, ICT, PE and Music.
We teach children to be forward thinking, adaptable and independent and they grow into confident individuals with excellent social skills, a strong moral awareness and a good understanding of core values. They will learn how to question, to think for themselves and to work successfully with others and be proud of their own and others’ success.
‘I knew as soon as I looked at it – it’s just got a vibe about it and is the best decision I’ve ever made,’ said a parent, as did many others besides. More grounded, less pressured and softer around the edges than some of the other local offerings, this is a real community school that lives up to its promise of making learning fun, and the results speak for themselves.
‘If a teacher can’t make me smile, we don’t employ them,’ says longstanding Head Jonathan Beale. His focus on happiness permeates this delightful, rural school where pupils chase tractors and talk to the neighbouring cows. It will be no surprise that forest school, alongside the outdoor classroom with its pond and mud kitchen, inspires a fervent eco-warriors club. With the belief that happy children learn best, Chesham Prep is proud that 60 per cent of pupils qualify for highly competitive local grammar school places. ‘Sport is for all’ and a new 25-metre pool further boosts seven acres of facilities, including an all-weather pitch, Astro Turf and grass wicket with a bowling machine for cricket fans.
This rural co-ed prep school pulls off the near impossible – amazing results for both 11+ and next schools while retaining a village school vibe.
Is it quirky that a high-achieving prep school can feel so much like a traditional village school? I really liked the friendly, low-key vibe, quite refreshing amongst all the striving we put our kids through.
