What a wonderful place our Pre-Prep is. Education here is a journey of discovery and adventure. Because we want each child’s individual journey to be filled with excitement and joy, our teachers work hard to create extraordinary spaces for young children to play and learn in.
At Saint Ronan’s a stimulating and varied curriculum is used to guide our children in exploring and gaining an understanding of the world around them. Each child is encouraged to think for him or herself and to ask the question ‘why’. Characteristics such as imagination, awareness, perseverance, cooperation, curiosity and empathy are encouraged throughout the school.
The Saint Ronan’s Pre-Prep provides the children with a wonderful opportunity to take risks in a safe environment. Our aspiration is to equip our children with the skills to become active thinkers and learners, thereby allowing them to become confident to make a positive difference in our ever-changing world. We do this by giving them the opportunities to discover the outdoors through Forest School, visits to Paradise Farm, romping through our lovely grounds and by providing an enriching and creative indoor curriculum.
A deep care of each child’s well-being as an individual lies at the heart of everything we do. We believe that children who are confident and happy are able to be inspired by what they are learning.
Saint Ronan’s Pre-Prep is a special and magical place where children are enveloped in a happy and loving atmosphere. It is a place where hobbit houses are built in the woods, where the magic of stories inspires the children to write, read and act out their own and a place where children’s personal achievements are celebrated, no matter how big or how small.
We look forward to welcoming you to our school.
Contact us now and ask a question
Whilst the Mansion House makes the children imagine that they are at Hogwarts, the Harris building was purpose-built for our Pre-Preppers. Named to honour and celebrate the lives of Headmasters Stanley Harris and his brother Walter Harris, it was opened by Old Ronian Frank Gardiner in 2007.
Our Pre-Prep day begins at 8:15am when the children are dropped off by their parents. Registration is at 8:50am and formal lessons begin thereafter.
There are two breaks for the children during the day. After a mid-morning savoury snack, with fruit and milk or water, the children play in Hyde Park. At 12pm the Pre-Prep come together to have lunch in Pudding Lane. After lunch, at 12:40pm, the children have another break for 40 minutes. Nursery have their lunch in the Nursery, which provides a quieter atmosphere for the little ones.
The formal end to lessons is at 3:30pm but there are many After School Clubs on offer for Year 1s and Year 2s. Please do have a look at the ASC page to see the range of clubs on offer. For Reception and Nursery, a mini-club is available. All clubs finish at 5:10pm.
‘Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.’ ― Benjamin Franklin
Children learn in many different ways and at different rates. With today’s technology on hand to assist, learning is fun, enjoyable and memorable. Our goal is to give each child an opportunity to realise that they might not know how to do something ‘yet’. This makes every lesson a challenge and gives our children a determination to keep practising and experimenting.
In Reception classes the children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, where they learn personal, social and emotional skills, improve their communication and language skills and develop physically. Reading, Writing and Mathematics are taught as dedicated lessons and are extended through imaginative and purposeful play. The beautiful, historical setting helps children to understand the world around them and modern technology opens doors of discovery. Learning is not confined to inside the classroom but is enhanced through exploration in the Forest School and getting stuck into jobs on the Farm. The natural talent and curiosity of each child is allowed to develop as they express themselves artistically, musically or dramatically.
In Years 1 and 2 the children are taught in dedicated lessons of Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, Computer Science, French, Music, PE and RE. Practical activities, group learning, reporting and recording are all ways that children can share what they have learned with others and consolidate their own understanding. Taking their learning outside allows the children to put into practice their knowledge and helps them to solve everyday problems, recording the number of eggs laid this week or deciding on the best angle at which to lay the logs when building a shelter in the Forest School.
Getting the learning right for each individual depends on experienced, highly-qualified class teachers and teaching assistants, working together with parents and specialist staff. The family atmosphere helps children to feel confident to aim high academically, musically and on the sports pitch. Music, PE and French are specialist taught subjects.
By the time the children have finished Year 2, they are ready to begin the next exciting journey through the Prep School. Time is spent preparing them for this transition and children leave the Pre-Prep with a greater independence and confidence in their own abilities, socially and emotionally equipped for the challenges ahead. They are curious, imaginative, able to actively problem solve and think critically. All children are academically tracked from Nursery onwards and achievement is above the nationally expected levels.
>The essence of the Nursery and Pre-Prep curriculum is one of care, continuity and careful planning of lessons; delivered within a department which values each individual child’s efforts to achieve the best that they can.
Our children are wonderfully fortunate in having incredible grounds in which to play and learn. The grounds are used extensively during the school day and during our After School Clubs. During lessons, children will often be found exploring with their teachers, pond-dipping in the top pond, having mini-beast hunts in the Forest or learning how to identify flowers on the Salt Mines. Paradise Farm and the bee hives are another source of outdoor learning provided by the school and every child has an opportunity to muck out pigs and chickens, collect fresh eggs or have a cuddle with our guinea pigs.
Forest School offers chances for the children to build on the skills and experiences, confidence and independence they have previously acquired in the Nursery. They are able to further develop their critical thinking, problem solving and team building skills. They begin to use real tools to create natural crafts, build fires and their imagination is given plenty of opportunity to flourish. How lovely it is for the children to leave behind their academic timetable and enjoy the natural outdoors by climbing trees, fishing for tadpoles, eating wild garlic and making mud pies.
We appreciate that, for busy parents, a 3.30pm finish to the school day is a little too early. We therefore offer an extended day, until 5.10pm. Nursery children can join the ‘Mini-Club’, which runs after school every day. The children stay in the Nursery cottage and garden, with staff that are familiar to them. They are free to play with their friends and enjoy a ‘high tea’ of sandwiches, cake and fruit.
Head of Nursery and Pre-Prep
Mrs Andrea Bright
Title: Head of Nursery and Pre-Prep
Qualifications: B.econ., P.G.C.E, University of Cape Town
Contact details: Click here to email from your provider
Life before Saint Ronan's
I grew up in the beautiful South African winelands, in a village called Stellenbosch. My best memories of school are of being outside, climbing mountains, canoeing down rivers, swimming in streams and playing sport with my friends. I moved to the UK with my husband in 2002 and we spent our first six years in London teaching in a Prep school. I taught Year 2 and Reception during these years.
Roles at School
I am Head of N&PP and Class teacher to the Otters on a Friday and the Hedgehogs on a Monday.
Away from the Classroom
I love scuba-diving and any sport related to water! I love sunshine and sand and try to spend as much time as possible with my family, running through waves or exploring in rock pools. Dale and I met on the Orange River while doing a six day canoe trip and this is still one of our favourite activities. I love to travel and experience new cultures and places. Being a teacher has allowed this love to become real and it is wonderful being able to bring my experiences to my classroom. Recently I fed stingrays at Struisbaai Harbour in South Africa and it was glorious to show my Reception class the clip of this during their ‘Sea’ topic.
Assistant Headmaster - Mr Timothy Fox
Mr Tim Fox
Title: Assistant Headmaster - Mr Timothy Fox
Qualifications: B.A. (Hons.), P.G.C.E., University of Bristol
Contact details: Click here to email from your provider
Life before Saint Ronan's
I attended the College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth, where I gained my teaching degree. My first job was at Maiden Erlegh School, Reading, where I spent two years before heading to the mountains of France to work for the British Ski Academy in Chamonix. This was a great experience and, as I was keen to explore further, I then travelled to the Southern Hemisphere for another year with Rachel, to whom I am now married. Eventually we decided that we should come home and that decision led to teaching jobs in and around Tunbridge Wells for a few years, before I arrived at Saint Ronan’s.
Roles at School
I am Head of Boys' Games at Saint Ronan's. This has been great fun and the school has grown in size and facilities. I am also lucky enough to run the Year 8 Leavers' Expedition to Bude every summer.
Away from the Classroom
Being a PE teacher, my interests tend to be on the sporty side! I still try to play tennis once a week and enjoy skiing. Over the last few summers I have been learning to surf and, when I have the time, I love going to watch Brighton and Hove Albion (who I'm sure will be in the Premier League soon!!)
Pre-Prep Teacher
Mrs Karen Booth-Clibborn
Title: Teacher
Qualifications: B.A. (Hons.), P.G.C.E., University of Bristol
Contact details: Click here to email from your provider
Life before Saint Ronan's
This text is awaiting an update
Pre-Prep Teacher
Mrs Nicky Brooks
Title: Teacher
Qualifications: M.A. and P.G.C.E., University of Edinburgh
Contact details: Click here to email from your provider
Life before Saint Ronan's
This text is awaiting an update
Pre-Prep Teacher
Mrs Rachel Curtin
Title: Teacher
Qualifications: B.A. Ed (Hons.), University of London
Contact details: Click here to email from your provider
Life before Saint Ronan's
This text is awaiting an update
Pre-Prep Teacher
Mrs Emma-Grace Dedman
Title: Teacher
Qualifications: B.A. (Hons.), P.G.C.E., University of Kingston
Contact details: Click here to email from your provider
Life before Saint Ronan's
This text is awaiting an update
Pre-Prep Teacher
Mrs Gemma Grierson Rickford
Title: Teacher
Qualifications: M.A. (Hons.) & P.G.C.E., Christ Church, Canterbury
Contact details: Click here to email from your provider
Life before Saint Ronan's
This text is awaiting an update
Pre-Prep Teacher
Mrs Jacqueline Hewitt
Title: Teacher
Qualifications: B.A. (Hons.), P.G.C.E., University of Durham
Contact details: Click here to email from your provider
Life before Saint Ronan's
This text is awaiting an update
Pre-Prep Teacher
Mrs Lesley-Anne Hill
Title: Teacher
Qualifications: B.Mus., L.S.M., University of Rhodes
Contact details: Click here to email from your provider
Life before Saint Ronan's
This text is awaiting an update
Pre-Prep Teacher
Mrs Kara Kanzig
Title: Teacher
Qualifications: B.A. (Hons.), Central School Speech & Drama (U.C.L.), P.G.C.E., C’Church
Contact details: Click here to email from your provider
Life before Saint Ronan's
This text is awaiting an update
Pre-Prep Teacher
Mrs Stephanie Morris
Title: Teacher
Qualifications: B.Sc. (Hons.), P.G.C.E., University of Leicester
Contact details: Click here to email from your provider
Life before Saint Ronan's
This text is awaiting an update
Pre-Prep Teacher
Mrs Helena Stephenson
Title: Teacher
Qualifications: B.A. (Hons) University of Bristol, P.G.C.E., U.C.L.
Contact details: Click here to email from your provider
Life before Saint Ronan's
This text is awaiting an update
My children changed schools in yr 2 & yr 4 and they settled in instantly. The school has a lovely family feel, the staff do a brilliant job inspiring the children. Both my girls weren't particularly sporty when they arrived but both grew to love sport and my eldest has carried that through into senior school. The music is also exceptional, you really feel your children come away with a well rounded education not just academic. Both my girls have got into their senior schools of choice and I am sad to say farewell to Saint Ronan's but thank you for all you have done for my children. Highly recommended.
Hayley S
This is a real gem, right at the top of its game. The children are loved and cared for by the entire staff. I wish I had had the opportunity many years ago. They achieve so much by example, gentleness and kindness. Floret St Ronan's and long may you continue to flourish.
Terry D
Saint Ronans is quite unique and magical.. the children work hard and play equally hard... the teachers are approachable and your child will flourish... our daughter has taken every opportunity and through all her own self motivated hard work turned herself into an amazing all rounder who is thriving in sports, academics and music. What’s not to like.
Sharon B
