See also: Prep. Department Curriculum and After School Activities
Welcome from the Preparatory Department Lead Teacher Mr Swithun Sewill. (Photo left)
Our Preparatory Department welcomes children from 4 –11 years.
Being a part of St. Bees Prep. means so much more than going to school. We benefit greatly 
from the wider context of the place – through the specialist teaching, the excellent facilities and from our small classes. The Prep. Department is situated in the heart of the Senior School and runs as a separate unit with its own staff and resources. We provide a stimulating and challenging education in both academic and extra-curricular activities.
Our small class sizes facilitate this personalized approach to education as we can help each child develop not only his or her academic ability, but also self-confidence and a strong sense of identity.
(Left: Mr. Swithun Sewill Prep Department Lead Teacher and Right: Penny Lynch Year 3 and 4 Prep Department Teacher)
- We aim to:
- Ensure that whatever your child’s personality and talents, they are happy, confident and successful in all areas of school life.
- Prepare children for the academic challenges that lie ahead so that they are properly equipped to thrive in the next stage of their education at St. Bees Senior School.
- Foster the values of courtesy, sensitivity and responsibility.
- Engender enthusiasm, a genuine love of learning, good work habits and, most importantly, a sense of achievement.
- Develop self confidence, self reliance, openness to new ideas, and the ability to take initiative.
Ten reasons for choosing St Bees Prep Department
1. Outstanding pastoral care. Our girls and boys are happy, well-mannered, articulate, engaging, caring individuals and enjoy a warm, friendly, family atmosphere.
2. Small classes means teaching is child based and adapted to individual needs.
3. Enthusiastic teaching from dedicated, highly-qualified prep staff leading to a tremendous sense of fun and energy.
4. Prep Department children benefit from the school’s sports facilities, including a large multi-purpose hall and indoor swimming pool, as well as teaching from specialist teachers from the senior school in subjects including Music, Sport and Latin.
5. A highly effective Learning Support Unit to help those with special needs.
6. Fantastic extra-curricular clubs and regular outdoor adventure activities.
7. Excellent preparation for entrance to senior school: entrance exam practice, and familiarity with buildings and staff leads to easy transition.
8. Parents are an important part of our school community and we work closely with you to ensure that for our pupils their years in the Prep. Department will be amongst 'the happiest days of their lives' and allow flexible drop-off and pick-up times.
9. Excellent, healthy, delicious lunches with morning and afternoon snacks with lots of choice.
10. A stunning location. St. Bees Preparatory School is a beautiful, safe and natural environment for learning and growing up.
When we asked our pupils to write down honestly what they thought about St. Bees Prep. this is what they said:
‘‘St. Bees Prep. is absolutely fantastic. It is the best school I have ever been to! It has high educational standards and the best thing is the small classes as everyone can get individual attention and everything is explained clearly.’
‘The school dinners are amazing. We have so much to choose from.’
‘The teachers are very helpful and entertaining.’
‘In St. Bees Prep.we are all friends and we all play together. We do lots of fun things.’
‘St. Bees Prep. School is absolutely brilliant. The teachers and dinner ladies are really friendly. You all get to be helped individually because of the small numbers in the class. We do lots of sport and use the senior school facilities.’
‘The Pre. School has changed my life. I have been given a lot of help in the class and at learning support. I really enjoy the Music and Sport.’
‘You work hard but you have great play times.’
‘The Prep. teachers are very kind.’
‘The swimming pool at St. Bees is awesome!’
‘You learn lots of interesting things and we have thousands of good books in the library.’
‘The dyslexia unit has really helped me with my dyslexia and it is really fun.’
‘We do lots of sport like golf, swimming, rugby and hockey that are amazing.’
‘At St. Bees the teamwork is great as everybody is friends. We all play together and no one is left out.’
And their parents say:
‘Each child is treated as an individual not just a number and the prep school have managed to put ‘fun’ back into learning.’
‘I am now the proud owner of a happy and confident little girl. Priceless!!’
‘We are delighted to be able to send our daughter to St. Bees Prep. Department. She loves coming to School. The variety of activities available means she always has a new challenge to look forward to. The small classes ensures unequalled tailored, personalized learning and the children are nurtured as individuals. Here every child really matters. The teachers are caring and approachable; it is nice to be able to chat to them for a few minutes at the end of the day.’
"How can I describe the feelings of a French family about St. Bees School?
We arrived in England in September for 2 years. Our main motivation to move to the UK was the opportunity for the children to live an adventure allow them to learn English at 6 and 4 years old, it was also our main fear to drop the children in an unknown and scary world populated by strange people speaking a strange language.
Two months later we are completely reassured!
The best thing in this family adventure is the success of the integration of our children. We found a school which provides the children with more than a simple scholar education. They learn to live.
Adrien is in the Prep. Department and the best picture of this success is the large smile that I see every morning in my rear-view mirror when I drive to go to St. Bees School.
Thanks a lot to Penny and Swithun and all the team. Thanks a lot to the other children of the Primary Department who take care of Adrien and make of every day a new best memory for later, when we go back to France. All the activities delivered are a new experience causing some long explanations during dinner about: How to hit the ball in golf, how to catch the ball in rugby, how to play with a ball in the swimming pool and the most incredible for a French guy… understand the rules of cricket!
Now our fears have changed. What will happen when we go back to France, in a school where you only work?
When we met the head management of St. Bees School in August to arrange our move, somebody said that the most important thing was that children enjoy going to school.
The smile in the mirror proves that Adrien gets the most important thing." Adrien’s Father