WHAT? WHERE?

Embley is a selective, co-ed school for 2 to 18-year-olds set in 130 acres of glorious Hampshire countryside, close to the New Forest. The manor house dates right back to Tudor times. Once the family home of Florence Nightingale it first became a school in 1946 and is now the Senior School.

Built in 2006 and a short walk from the Senior School down a tree-lined driveway, Embley’s modern Prep with Nursery & Pre-School has a roll call of 200-day pupils up to Year 6 taught in small classes of between 16 and 20. Most live within a 20-mile radius and make the most of Embley’s extensive minibus routes covering nearby Hampshire and Dorset. With access to the school’s top-class facilities and specialist teaching staff, Prep pupils at Embley get the best of both worlds. The majority move on to Seniors here afterwards.

FACILITIES

Child studying marine biology at Embley Prep school Hampshire

School-wide, Embley is big on outdoor education. The school’s resident marine biologist from Southampton University leads Science lessons both in the classroom and on or by the water. Weekly Natural Science lessons from Nursery age upwards are taught in the estate’s own woodland classroom. There are even a few green touches indoors, like the Woodland Library with trees and soft grassy nooks where littlies delve into books.

Embley Prep school girl playing outdoors

Excitingly, new plans will see a sizeable new outdoor learning for the younger children and play facility with spaces for adventure climbing, role play, running water play, a woodland campsite and vegetable patches.

SPORT

Dinghy sailing Embley Prep school Hampshire

There’s a real focus on adventure at Embley Prep, like climbing, horse riding, archery and skiing. Plans are also in place to create a new adventure award scheme, too. Adventure training will begin in Year 3 and lead to water, forest, coastal and hill expeditions.

A short distance from Lymington, sailing is big. Older Prep schoolers have lots of opportunity to join in the fun. Starting out with dinghy sailing, pupils graduate to school’s own fleet of keelboats. And if they really get the sailing bug, they might go on to join the silverware-nabbing senior team.

For the more traditional sports, competitive team fixtures and tournaments start in Year 3 with boys playing rugby, hockey and cricket and girls playing hockey, netball and cricket. During the Summer term, pupils swim in the school’s 10-metre pool as part of PE lessons. Prep pupils also have access to many of Embley’s considerable sporting facilities including a 9-hole golf course, 7,000 sq. ft Sports Hall, full-size all-weather Astro, six floodlit tennis/netball courts, two full size cricket pitches and three rugby pitches.

MUSIC, ART & DRAMA

Pupil at Embley Prep school in a music lesson Hampshire

The Arts are celebrated across Prep life. Children learn about art from an artist’s perspective in the purpose build studio. Over half of pupils play an instrument and there are opportunities to join ensembles, bands, choirs and the orchestra and show their talents at recitals to parents.

Nativity at Embley Prep school Hampshire

From Year 6’s production of Matilda, led by Embley’s Director of Drama, to the Early Years’ Nativity, Prep pupils get plenty of chance to take to the stage and regularly perform in the whole-school Summer production at the Theatre Royal Winchester.

LITTLIES

Wellies are de rigueur in this part of the school. Nursery & Pre-School and Reception children have plenty of time out and about, whatever the weather.

Appointed in 2022, the school’s Head of Early Years, Harriet Povey, has added lots of outings to the timetable. Among them, trips to the local library each month, to country parks, arboretums and the theatre. Embley’s drive to encourage critical thinkers and enquiring minds starts in reception, with weekly philosophy and enquiry sessions. Makaton (sign language) has been added to the timetable too, which also includes specialist teaching in PE, Music and French.

ACADEMICS

There’s a lot of talk about the ‘formation’ of individuals at Embley and preparing children for their futures. Encouraging children to challenge themselves, not be afraid to make mistakes, be open minded and curious sit hand in hand with the fundamentals taught to support academic development.

Each classroom is kitted out with a ‘Thinker’s Toolkit’ to bring critical and creative thinking to life in all lessons. The aim is to children to develop their skills of enquiry, alongside philosophical thinking.

Learning is connected across subjects. A topic on the Rainforest, for example, includes looking at deforestation and Brazil’s palm oil industry in Geography, learning about Henri Rousseau in Art and exploring climate change in Science before venturing on a field trip to the tropical house at a zoo for a workshop on biodiversity. French is taught from Nursery and the kids have ICT included in everything from Maths to reading, with every pupil allocated their own iPad. National test data shows pupils in the Prep regularly perform above the national average.

A Maths Mentors programme sees Senior School mathematicians mentoring Prep children. There’s other regular links between Prep and Senior too, with Sixth Formers leading workshops and running the Adventure Club (Embley’s version of a mini DofE).

PASTORAL CARE

Starting at Early Years, classrooms have ‘Wellbeing Boards’ which are full of useful tips. The Prep also has a full-time Learning Support Assistant. Parents have access to the school’s online portal which has advice and resources to help parents support their children at home too. Deefer, the Prep school’s resident labrador loves to hear children read and supports children around the school in a pastoral capacity. Away from the classroom, Embley has specialist support from a dedicated counsellor.

THE HEAD

Sheina Wright Head of Embley Prep school

Sheina Wright has been Head of Prep at Embley since 2020. Previously, she was Head of Amesbury School in Hindhead and prior to that, Deputy Head of Guildford High Junior School.

Full of smiles and a quiet enthusiasm, since taking the helm she’s made some strategic and significant appointments in the Prep. Among them, Embley’s Head of Early Years who was previously manager of a well-rated local nursery and is a qualified Ofsted Inspector.

As well as encouraging pupils to be ‘brave and critical thinkers’ in the classroom, Wright has timetabled more curriculum-based day trips to bring learning to life. As well as residential trips for Years 5 and 6, there’s an emphasis on outdoorsy fun too that makes the most of the vast estate, like the popular ‘Disco & Camp Out’ on the Headmaster’s Lawn.

QUIRKS

Constant ‘why?’ questions might drive you mad at home but being ‘intellectually curious’ in the classroom is actively encouraged here – and will often turn into a full-blown project. Geared towards giving them confidence, independence and analytical skills, Embley even has a dedicated ‘Head of Enquiry’ on-hand to help.

From teddies on zip lines to fairy tale woodland trails and the school’s resident family of ducks waddling across the car park (following along behind an oblivious teacher), kids and teachers at Embley are accustomed to random events – and love the school all the more for them.

WRAPAROUND CARE

Nursery is open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, 48 weeks a year. Prep School doors open at 8am with some early morning clubs. Co-curricular activities take place after school until 4.45pm with after school care available until 6pm.

ISI REPORT

The most recent ISI full inspection report was in October 2022. Embley rated ‘Excellent’ across all areas for pupil achievement and personal development.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Mobile phones are not allowed in the Prep.

TRANSPORT

Embley operates 25 bus routes across Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset. Around half of Prep children travel to school by bus, the rest are dropped off by car.

FEES

Fees are competitive, especially in the pre-Prep. Full-time Nursery is £3,604 per term. It’s £4,355 for Reception and Years 1 and 2, £4,990 for Year 3 and £6,690 for Years 4 to 6. Embley offers a sibling discount of 5% for a second child and 10% for third and subsequent siblings attending at the same time. There’s also a 10% reduction for serving members of the Armed Forces.

WORD ON THE GROUND

The leafy setting and easy transition to the Senior School is certainly a big part of the appeal for parents. Encouraged to ask questions and have a go, kids here are confident, engaged and have a real sense of purpose.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: A well-rounded education in a warm, unfussy, and inclusive environment where the academics are strong and kids have the opportunity to shine as individuals.

Not for: Academics are really important at Embley Prep but not to the detriment of everything else. As with Embley Seniors, the focus is on preparing pupils for life beyond school – starting in the Prep.

Dare to disagree? Be my guest! Embley’s next prep school open mornings are on Wednesday 20 November 2024, Thurs 30 Jan 2025 and Tues 11 March 2025. To book a place or arrange an individual tour, contact the admissions team on 01794 512206, admissions@embley.org.uk.

Embley, Embley Park, Romsey, SO51 6ZE. Tel. 01794 512206

Embley Prep, Romsey

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