WHAT / WHERE?

Located in Stonehouse near Stroud overlooking rolling Cotswold hills, Wycliffe Prep School is a co-ed day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 – 13. The College dates back to 1882 and there are 230 pupils, 60 of which are boarders with the school organised into Pre Prep (Nursery – Year 3), Middle Prep (Year 3 – 5) and Upper Prep (Year 6, 7 & 8).

Priding itself on being a high-achieving, ‘all-rounder’ school, class sizes are a covetable average of 15, and whilst thoroughly inclusive, the school has Christian values at its core.

Despite being set off a main arterial road minutes from the M5 (handy for school runs), Wycliffe Prep also has a glorious position overlooking 52 acres of grounds. The Prep School sits next door to Wycliffe Senior School, offering an all-through educational experience if you desire.

The mantra here is all about nurturing pupils with a ‘pioneering spirit’ (this motto is proudly displayed in main reception). Wycliffe also has a deeply diverse community, which many of its competitors don’t offer. As well as children from Forces families, pupils come from over 30 nationalities, and a strong ethos of encouraging day and boarding pupils to mix means that pupils get a full immersion in other cultures.

FACILITIES

Wycliffe is not short of stellar facilities, it also shares facilities with the wider Wycliffe College campus, so everything you could want is on tap. Buildings are a combo of historic and charming Cotswold stone, with a hefty sprinkling of modern, state-of-the-art edifices, such as Etheridge Hall, which houses classrooms set over two floors.

Amongst the stand out facilities on site are Music practice rooms, a Drama Studio, pool, well-equipped science labs and a Baraza space which is a forum for students to discuss school matters and community issues. There is a dedicated canteen which is bright, spacious and independently catered too.

The Library is an inviting space packed with books and scattered with bean bags you’d want to sink into with a good read, there are handwritten recommendations on the shelves from pupils who have previously read them too – a nice touch.

SPORT

Sporty shorties will be in their element here; Wycliffe gets a good scorecard here. English Rugby Union Player Charlie Sharples is a former pupil and a healthy level of competitive spirit is encouraged. The children seem to thrive on it, I saw pupils flocking to the pitches to play football together when I visited, so pupils really embrace sport here even out of structured time.

There are plentiful ways to get stuck in the school makes good use of its 52 acre site. Highlights include tennis courts, cricket pitches, Astroturfs, rugby pitches and squash courts.

Swimming is part of the curriculum from the very start. The Prep has its own pool which is an impressive size and length, swimming lessons begin early in Nursery, up to Year 8, and boarders can use it in the evening too.

Pupils also make use of the world class facilities at the Senior School and I’m told that Polo as an extracurricular activity is very popular here. All in all, Wycliffe is a big box ticker if you have a mini Olympian that needs nurturing, or you’re keen for them to be thrown into all kinds of sports.

MUSIC / DRAMA / ARTS

Creativity is highly valued at Wycliffe, and pupils are encouraged to try lots of new activities to find their talents. The large theatre here is an impressive, dedicated space, with past productions on the walls to inspire pupils.

Everyone’s encouraged to get stuck into productions whether that’s treading the boards or learning skills on the technical side. The theatre is used for assemblies each morning and these are often pupil led (Nursery to Year 2 have their own space).

Previous Year 8 shows have included Bugsy Malone, Madagascar, Hairspray and The Lion King. There are a variety of musical ensembles and over 70 children take up an individual musical instrument. LAMDA lessons are also popular – around 40 pupils take part each week and Pre-Prep has a dedicated performing arts specialist.

The Art Department was a highlight for me, the studio itself is bright and spacious and pupils work is proudly displayed in abundance on the walls, and there was a great aquatic project on show spiralling down from the ceiling!

ACADEMICS

Wycliffe prep is a non-selective School that tries to reach high in terms of academic attainment. Small class sizes (an average of 15 and a max of 23), specialist classrooms and specialist teachers in every subject all contribute to the excellent pupil outcomes.There are also ample Enrichment activities to support academic study here.

However, Wycliffe is no academic hothouse, in fact it tries hard not to be one. Testament to this was the number of happy, engaged faces in classrooms as I walked around the school. Instead the laser focus seems to be ensuring that pupils fulfil their own individual potential in each subject.

To that end, the Wycliffe Encompass Curriculum gives equal weight to all subjects, from English and Maths to Art, Sport and Citizenship, and positive character traits add to a final award in Year 8. You can expect challenging classes, a championing of positive learning attributes, and a rounded and grounded education.

Between 85% to 95% of pupils each year choose to remain at Wycliffe and progress to the Senior School (also non-selective), which says a lot about the school itself. Scholarships start at 13+ for entry into Wycliffe Senior School, and those that don’t move up to the Senior School go to local Grammar Schools, or some back to their home countries.

The Prep doesn’t offer the Common Entrance – though pupils can take it if desired – as Wycliffe feels the curriculum assessment and opportunities here far exceed the CE curriculum.

Pupils are definitely challenged at Wycliffe Prep, such as the option available to take Japanese in Year 8. Head Helena Grant calls this ‘academic pioneering’ – part of Wycliffe’s strongly-held ethos that children learn when they get stuck; such as teaching skills of perseverance to a Year 3 who was struggling to read, to Year 8s being taught GCSE level Science.

LITTLIES

Children aged from 3 to 7 are accepted into the Nursery and Pre-Prep School. The campus and classrooms looked bright, spacious and were full of colourful and engaging art and crafts. French is taught from Nursery, which is in the same building as the Reception Class, with the Early Years Foundation Stage Lead overseeing both groups.

Wycliffe’s mission for Early Years is to cement the foundations of learning before pupils move up to Year 1 and Year 2. All the class sizes in Pre-Prep are kept small, meaning lots of one-on-one time with teachers.

FOREST SCHOOL

Currently, pupils from Nursery to Year 2 enjoy weekly, timetabled sessions in Forest School, located over the bridge and near to the boarding houses. It is a great space, giving pupils a chance to learn nature-based skills, from fire lighting and rope work to using hand tools. Forest School is also now offered up to pupils in Year 5, so if they’re outdoorsy they’ll thrive here.

Wycliffe is hot on being out in nature generally – there’s an Expeditions Day every term where Years 3 – 8 pupils complete challenging tasks, such as an 11 mile walk along the Cotswold Way.

HEADTEACHER

Helena Grant has been at the helm for four and a half years now, since September 2020. Chatty, warm and buzzing with positivity, Helena started teaching in the state system before moving to Tanzania and then Kenya, where she worked for an international schools group.

After heading back to the UK in 2016 she took up the role of Deputy Head Academic at Monkton Prep School before moving to Wycliffe.

Since taking the reins her mission has been to enrich the curriculum, and put a strong ‘pioneering spirit’ back into the heart of the school, something she proudly notes can be seen all over the school on a daily basis. When we last visited, soon after she arrived, her focus was to keep the teacher to pupil ratio high with small classes and she has achieved that aim.

What’s next on her to-do list? Helena wants to work on increasing pupil autonomy in learning through an equivalent to the current EPQ, which pupils can opt to take at a younger age.

She is also keen to widen the breadth of sport at the school. Wycliffe recently joined ISA Sport which has opened up an array of cool and unusual sports for pupils. Pupils recently saw this in action, being able to take part in the ISA National Ski-ing competition in Birmingham.

The new Senior Deputy Head of Wycliffe Prep – Richard Lee – brings with him experience from Dulwich College (Singapore) and international schools. Teamed up with existing experienced Deputy Academic Head, Andrew Stone, the Senior Leadership here feels rock solid.

Wycliffe has been able to make a slight dent in the 20% VAT fees increase too, passing on 15% of the increase to parents, which whilst not massive, is some good news.

PASTORAL CARE

There’s a laser focus on providing good pastoral care here and a caring attitude runs through the DNA of the Prep School. Pastoral Leads work closely with Richard Lee and pupils have an open door to talk to a variety of staff for support from Form Tutors and Matrons to boarding staff, whenever they need to.

Amongst the children peer-to-peer Kindness Ambassadors have been implemented too, and there are several dedicated contemplative places where children can go for some quiet time or a friendly chat.

The school is a big fan of the restorative relational approach, where everyone has a voice, peer mentors are being phased in to help with this and teachers are now being trained in the techniques across the school.

A former Year 8 common room has been transformed into a large pastoral space where pupils come for a mixture of programmes and life skills lessons. And right from Pre-Prep they will interact with pupils from schools all over the world to chat and share ideas via video link.

The school also uses the Empathy Lab, lessons where all pupils read group texts together that help them turn the spotlights on themselves and examine their place in the world.

SEND PROVISION

Currently 25% of pupils at Wycliffe Prep are SEND. Wycliffe has been accredited by CReSTeD for the last 12 years in recognition of provision for pupils with specific learning difficulties. A designated Learning Support Team at Wycliffe has highly experienced, specialist teachers who offer individual tuition to those pupils who need support.

BOARDING

Wycliffe Prep School offers day, flexible and full boarding for pupils from the age of 7. Out of the 70 boarders, around 45 of these come from military backgrounds, and 10% from international families, flocking from Spain and Canada to Iran and Ukraine.

Wycliffe is a good choice for growing up with a sense of global citizenship – a ‘togetherness’ concept is championed strongly by the school through both curricular and extra curricular time.

Boarding is set back from the main campus, accessed over a stone bridge crossing the main road – Windrush for the girls and Pennwood for the boys – joined in the middle by a common room. They are homely with TVs, sofas, books and board games a-plenty. Each house has dedicated House Parent who lives on site.

The rooms hold around 6 – 8 beds and were welcoming, comfy – and surprisingly neat and tidy! Both dorms have cracking views of the Cotswold hills (although the boys gets the best it has to be said) and the common rooms and kitchens are warm, colourful spaces with giant sofas and art on the walls.

The evening activity board really caught my eye, it gets updated every week and was packed with the most tempting activities from Movie Nights and Yoga to Potato Olympics and a seasonal Ghost Hunting session.

Every weekend there are activities for the boarders, this could be a trip to a theme park, a day trip to the zoo or painting llama portraits. They’re surrounded by green space, overlooking the playing grounds which pupils have the run of in their downtime.

An Exeat weekend is offered every half term. However, pupils do not need to leave campus at Exeat – they can stay in their Boarding House and enjoy weekend activities.

WHAT ELSE?

Wycliffe is a member of Round Square, which is a network of 250+ schools in 50 countries all around the world. The Global Citizen ethos is not merely lip service here, frequently pupils get to take part in real-time online meet ups with their peers across the world.

These included the week I visited an international ‘Show and Tell’, where younger pupils showed each other their favourite games and toys, and Year 5s sharing how birthdays differ in their counties.

In December they will be taking part in ‘Postcards’, and leading an online mini international conference which is all about making positive friendships.

In terms of Saturday School, Wycliffe offers the Discovery Programme for Years 5 to 8, whilst the younger years have time to play and do activities on the school grounds, designed to build communication, problem solving and collaboration skills.

The extra curricular provision at Wycliffe is wide-reaching and impressive, whether a pupil likes to build robots, sprint cross-country, knit, debate, read or chase Pokemon! Pupils are very much encouraged to try new activities to take them out of their comfort zone.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Pupils hand their telephones into the office at the beginning of each day, so screen time is consciously monitored here. Boarders have access to their phones for a set amount of time each day, so that they can contact home, but this time is limited.

TECH PROVISION

Pupils have access to SurfaceGo tablets in certain lessons. Year 8 pupils have recently started using their own devices in lessons to prepare them for lessons at the Senior School. Each pupil has a designated locker where these are stored, these even have charging ports inside them which I thought was very state-of-the-art!

TRANSPORT

Excellent accessibility and links. Wycliffe has a fleet of modern, private minibuses bringing pupils to and from school from all over Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and South Wales. The routes are very flexible and continually reviewed to make sure everyone is catered for.

The school is also a brisk 10 – 15 minute walk from Stonehouse Train station, and minutes from an M5 junction.

WRAPAROUND CARE

Parents can relax about childcare because wraparound care is available from 8am to 6pm each day. Lower down the school the Nursery is open during term time and the school offers Atlas Camps who provide holiday-time care on site.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Parents praised the genuine and warm relationships between pupils and staff, and the approachability of staff. They seem impressed by the breadth of extra curricular on offer and one parent said her child had bloomed in confidence since attending. Pastoral care here comes in for special mention a boarder talked about how Wycliffe felt like a real ‘home-from-home’.

QUIRKS

Each term, normal service is also stopped for Years 3 to 8 for a special activity day, where pupils can try out their skills such as caving, canoeing, orienteering and climbing.

Eco-credibility is high up on Wycliffe’s agenda. The school is increasingly investing in sustainability, and recently splashed out to install solar panels onto several buildings, as well as investing in electric school vehicles.

FEES

From £2,220 per term for nursery up to £8,046 per term for Day pupils in Year 8 (see full list here). For boarders, it is £10,425 for Year 3 up to £14,004 per term for Year 8.

ISI REPORT

The most recent ISI Report was carried out in September 2022, praising the school as ‘Good’ on multiple fronts. Read it here.

MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: Growing a can-do all-rounder with a strong pioneering spirit. Anyone wanting a growth-embracing environment; Wycliffe is a member of Potential Plus (formerly the National Association for Gifted Children). If you want a school that goes the extra mile to dig out and nurture individual talents. With a highly regarded Senior School next door, Wycliffe is a neat option for taking the angst out of upper school transition.

NOT FOR: Parents who have the big public schools in their sights. As mentioned, Wycliffe doesn’t routinely prepare for Common Entrance. Anyone wanting a bubble-like experience, Wycliffe is proudly global in its pupil intake, and general outlook.

Want to make up your own mind?

Have a look for yourself, make an appointment by emailing prepadmissions@wycliffe.co.uk.

Take a tour at one of the upcoming Open Days:

Tues 25 Feb – Circus-themed Pre-Prep Open Morning for Nursery to Year 2

Sat 22 March – Pre-Prep Open Morning Spring Themed for Nursery to Year 2

Sat 3 May – Prep Military Families Open Morning for Year 3 to Year 8

Fri 9 May – Whole Prep School Open Morning for Nursery to Year 8

Sat 10 May – Senior School Open Morning for Year 9 to Year 13

Wycliffe Prep School, Ryeford Hall, Ebley Road, Stonehouse, Glos GL10 2LD, tel: 01453 820470, wycliffe.co.uk

Wycliffe Prep School, Stonehouse

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