Welcome to St Edmund’s Prep. Here you will find our interactive map, virtual tour and interview with Mr Cartwright, Headmaster.
If you would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact our Prep Admissions Officer, Mrs Tracey Dickinson via email.
If you would like to register for a place at the Prep, please click here.
Bounds Copse is home to the nature trail and our accredited Forest School. Den building, animal tracking and fire building, not to mention tree climbing, are just some of the activities enjoyed by our students as they develop skills in collaboration, problem-solving, resourcefulness and resilience. The Edmund’s Prep is the proud recipient of the Eco-School’s Green Flag Award.
Built in 1938, our Chapel offers the children a protected and quiet meditative space. Mass is celebrated weekly and every day begins and ends with a prayer. Recognising that each individual is special and loved by God is a core philosophy of our school.
Commissioned in 1815 and designed by Augustus Welby Pugin, co-architect of the Houses of Parliament, the Chapel provides an inspirational setting for the Advent Carol Service and Easter Story. Tours can be booked by appointment.
Located at the bottom of the drive (not pictured), our talented and committed sportsmen and women enjoy sports including rugby, football and cricket here on our vast pitches. Teamwork, leadership, enthusiasm and perseverance come to the fore through lessons taught by our devoted specialist sports staff.
Hockey, netball and tennis, as well as early evening squad-training take place on these purpose-built courts and pitches. The annual Inter-house Pancake Race is an event not to be missed!
Children from Nursery to Form Two swim weekly with lessons continuing right up to the end of Form Six. Our specialist swimming teacher has vast experience in building technique and enjoyment in our young swimmers.
Apples, pears and our two goats, Billy (the Kid) and Vinnie (van Gogh) can be found in our very own Orchard. You can enjoy quiet walks or stop to read a book in the shade. You will never be short of a healthy snack.
Form Six are privileged to have their own play space at the front of the main College. A mindfulness walk, pond and ancient oak tree together with more than enough space for racing and ball games give the children an environment in which they can take a break from the rigours of academic work.
Think Hogwarts and ‘The Great Hall’ but without the owls. Our contracted catering team, Holroyd Howe are committed to taking into account all specialist dietary requirements and providing the children with daily breakfast and lunch. Fruit is always available at break times and weekly menus are posted to our website.
Founded in 1568, our Prep School students benefit immensely by having direct access to specialist teaching in German, Spanish and French as well as music and more besides. Inspiration and near boundless opportunity are hallmarks of the Edmundian experience.
Built in 1961, The Godfrey Wing is home to specialist music practice rooms, the Art, DT and cookery Room as well as Science and Drama spaces.
All students have access to our own health centre, The Infirmary, which is situated within the College campus. It is a fully-equipped medical surgery, staffed 24-hours a day by qualified nurses. Facilities include a sitting room for unwell Day students, where they can be made comfortable and looked after until they are feeling better, or collected to be taken home. There are also small bedrooms where very unwell Day or Boarding students can be cared for. St Edmund’s also has its own ambulance on site, should it be required. Within the Prep, there is a fully qualified paediatric trained onsite Prep School nurse, so that our young children always have someone to turn to in the event of a grazed knee or elbow.
Drop and drive. Staffed each morning, take advantage of our ‘soft-drop’ facility and get the day started ahead of time.
Our youngest students have their own soft play space and trim trail as well as keeping busy whilst exploring the 400acre site. Waterproofs are always at the ready for children to enjoy the Forest School throughout the year. Children start during the term after their third birthday.
Forms One and Two (Pre-Prep) have their own play space. Ahoy there Captain!
On Bounds Field, the children enjoy creating drama pieces and showing off their cartwheels on the Amphitheatre, practicing their strength and agility on the Clamber Stack and trim trail or just reading or drawing in the shade. You are sure to find someone kicking a ball around too.
Designed by our students and landscaped by a joint team of parents, grandparents, grounds staff, children and teachers, the Prayer Garden provides a quiet place to spend spare moments of the day in quiet reflection.
Our Prep students benefit from utilising the outstanding facilities at the College. The Science Centre is housed in a block of nine laboratories which have recently undergone major refurbishment, and include dedicated preparation and support facilities, alongside additional sixth form conference rooms.
Each day our minibuses and our bus service provider collects students from 19 different points throughout Hertfordshire, Essex and North London. Prep students are able to use our bus service from Form 3-6.
Throughout the Prep, students are taught in small classes (maximum approx. 20) in which they stand the best chance of successful learning. The broad and balanced curriculum covers six areas: Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Communication; Language and Literacy; Mathematical Development; Knowledge and Understanding of the World; Physical Development and Creative Development.
Our indoor sports hall is used includes a full-size netball court and also has cricket nets and is used for a range of indoor sporting activities.
The Douay Hall is used for assemblies, guest speakers and performances. The Douay Hall is also where our Prep students perform their Nativity each year!
