Prospectus A leading co-educational Prep School for children aged 4-13 Academic excellence is only half the story at Abingdon Prep
Welcome Welcome to Abingdon Prep School, a leading independent Prep School for children aged 4 to 13. We treat each of our pupils within our happy and thriving school as individuals and encourage them to make the most of every opportunity so they can discover their own talents and flourish. We are passionate about our pupils developing a genuine love of learning across a wide range of subjects, and we believe this will happen naturally if they are enjoying school, are being closely supported by caring and knowledgeable staff and have access to the very best facilities. Unsurprisingly, this combination, along with small class sizes, consistently enables Abingdon Prep pupils to achieve excellent results. And whilst we celebrate academic prowess, we firmly believe that is only half the journey. We want all pupils within the Abingdon Foundation, of which we are a part, to be given as many opportunities to excel outside the classroom as they are given to excel within it. Our enviable co-curricular programme, fondly known as The Other Half, promotes a healthy balance between academic advancement and a wide variety of artistic, musical, sporting, intellectual and outdoor pursuits. This provides a genuine all-round education for every single one of our children, preparing them for their next steps and beyond. Craig Williams Head 1
Our happy, stimulating and positive environment encourages children to enjoy learning and grow in confidence. We place considerable emphasis on the value of pupils developing good working patterns and sound organisational skills. Children are encouraged to develop selfreliance and responsibility, helping prepare them for life beyond Prep school. We provide access to a variety of interesting, appropriate activities, chosen from a balanced curriculum, which helps children think and enjoy what they do. In Reception, children follow the standard Foundation Year Programme. In Years 1 to 6, we follow a curriculum based on the National Curriculum. Pupils in Years 7 and 8 follow the school’s own curriculum, known as AP+, and some pupils are also prepared for academic scholarship exams. From Reception to Year 5, children study core-curriculum subjects, including English, Maths and PSHCE, with their form group and teacher, creating a consistent, supportive classroom environment. They receive specialist teaching in Science, Languages, Computing, Music and Sport – progressing to specialist teaching in all subjects as they move up the school. The majority of our pupils move on to Abingdon, our Senior School, at the end of Year 8, many with awards and scholarships. Academic 2
Pastoral Care Pastoral care and pupil wellbeing is at the very heart of our provision at Abingdon Prep and the mutual respect between child and teacher is evident throughout our school. We pride ourselves on knowing and celebrating each of our young people as individuals, supporting them so that they enjoy their time at school and flourish. 3 All children at Abingdon Prep have a designated form tutor who is overseen by the section head, with the Deputy Head (pastoral) having responsibility for pastoral matters across the entire school. In the younger years, your child’s form tutor also teaches many of the lessons, helping to further nurture and strengthen the bond between them. As the children progress into the middle and senior sections of our school, their form tutor continues to be the first point of contact for pupils, parents and other members of staff. All of our staff play an important role in the delivery of our pastoral care programme, which revolves around three main pillars - being kind, getting involved and the pupil voice. Each of these components is underpinned within our curriculum and in our co-curricular offering; and is regularly reinforced through games, events, themed assemblies, pupil groups and our School House system. Every pupil is allocated into a House when they join Abingdon Prep, allowing them to get to know children of all ages. This helps to create a supportive, inclusive and respectful school environment and helps to foster leadership and communication skills, making our young people more confident and resilient.
From badminton to dance; debating to speed-typing; coding to gardening, our diverse choice of activities is designed to inspire young minds, encourage pupils to try something new and provide them with a rich variety of experiences - both within school and beyond it. In a typical school year, Abingdon Prep pupils will take residential trips that involve canoeing, walking, outdoor adventure, museums, sports training, theatre and bushcraft. They will get involved in student-led fundraising and sustainability initiatives. We recognise that, as our children continue to learn beyond the classroom and take on new responsibilities and challenges, their confidence will also grow, helping to prepare them for an ever evolving world. Over 80+ clubs The Other Half Our enviable co-curricular programme, fondly known as The Other Half, offers Abingdon Prep pupils over 80 activities in both timetabled and afterschool sessions. Every pupil from Year 3 and above represents the school in sport More than 10 Other Half ensembles, choirs & music activities 4
Art and DT We have a strong reputation for our Art and DT provision with state-of-the-art facilities equipped to allow our pupils to develop their creativity through a variety of media. Our bright art studio encourages our pupils to develop their artistic skills using a variety of techniques and media. They study art and artists through the ages and find inspiration from workshops run by visiting artists. Our pupils regularly win awards in competitions and they relish hosting Arts Week when we open our doors to visitors. All children in Years 3 to 8 spend time in our dedicated DT workshop where they hone their skills in design and creativity, with children in Years 6 and above learning about engineering and design technology. As well as timetabled lessons, there are weekend workshops, art and DT clubs where pupils have additional opportunities to be creative. For those with a particular penchant for these subjects, our arts award programme offers the chance to enjoy detailed study developing individual portfolios. 5
The discipline of auditioning and rehearsing improves both concentration and memory skills, whilst performing to large audiences in our Senior School’s 450-seat Amey Theatre is fun and rewarding. We have a bespoke drama studio where a variety of key skills are taught including role-play, mime, improvisation, comedy and performances. In addition, 1:1 or paired LAMDA tuition is offered, along with co-curricular activities for those who want to pursue drama beyond school, with some pupils undertaking the drama arts award or going on to perform in professional stage and screen productions. Drama is enjoyed by all our pupils, from the Nativity play in Pre-Prep to ambitious annual Middle and Senior Section productions. 7 productions across all age groups per year dedicated drama studio 6 Drama
" There are plenty of opportunities to perform throughout the academic year, whether in our informal recitals, our annual House Music Festival, or our whole school concerts at Christmas and in the summer. From Year 1, we offer individual music tuition on a number of instruments, including free ‘taster’ lessons, and pupils also have the chance to join our various orchestras, choirs, and ensembles. There is provision for those wishing to pursue music at a higher level, with many achieving excellent results in the Associated Board instrumental exams and winning music scholarships to senior schools. Regardless of age or ability, playing for enjoyment, as well as improvement, is celebrated. Music Music is celebrated and enjoyed across our school, with class music lessons beginning in Reception, allowing children to experience a wide range of genres from classical and jazz to folk, pop and African drumming. 7 “The school is an holistic environment where, although academic education is important, sport, drama and music play vital parts.” - A parent Over 150 music lessons and activities per week
Our pupils learn the core sports of football, rugby, hockey, cricket, athletics and swimming as part of our timetable. Our provision is carefully tailored to each age group, with a focus on enjoyment, as well as the health and wellbeing benefits of an active lifestyle. From Year 3 upwards, every pupil is given the opportunity to represent the school in matches on a regular basis. Talented staff provide coaching and encouragement at all levels and children frequently reach very high standards, representing clubs, county and regional squads. External coaches, with specialist skills, complement the school’s staff, offering additional support and expertise. Our extensive grounds include 30 acres of sports pitches for cricket, rugby, football and cross-country. In addition, there is a multi-activity sports hall, multi-use Astroturf, cricket nets and an indoor heated swimming pool. We are also fortunate to have use of Tilsley Park and our Senior School sports facilities. Over Sport Abingdon Prep has always enjoyed a rich sporting history and we offer a wide variety of sport, both within our timetabled curriculum and through The Other Half co-curricular programme. 20 sports available to try Every pupil in Year 3 and above represents the school at football, rugby, hockey and cricket 30 acres of sports pitches Indoor heated swimming pool Multi-activity sports hall 8 Over
There is no such thing as a typical Abingdon Prep pupil and we welcome applications from children of all backgrounds and faiths. The majority of our pupils join us in September, although it is not uncommon for children to join at other times of the year. We are a selective school and our admissions process is tailored to the age of each child. Further details available on our website. musical instruments available to learn 9 Admissions process We are delighted you are considering our caring, friendly and inclusive school for your child. We welcome girls and boys from 4 to 13. Transfer to Abingdon School Most pupils continue to Abingdon Senior School. Those for whom it is an appropriate fit, will receive an offer of a place for Year 9 at Abingdon in Year 5 at Abingdon Prep. This offer is based on their academic progress and achievements. Unlike children from other Prep School, Abingdon Prep pupils are not required to take a separate entrance exam. Where next? Book a visit Browse our website Complete the registration form Call for further information +44 (0)1865 392303
Further information sports available to try 10 Lunch times are very sociable at Abingdon Prep with staff and students coming together to enjoy the meals freshly prepared each day by our excellent catering team. Our nutritionally balanced, healthy and sustainable menus support the growth and development of our pupils, helping both their physical and mental wellbeing. Food Bus Service Our bus service offers families great flexibility, allowing travel to be booked up to midnight before the day of travel and 24/7 from any location. All bookings, whether ad-hoc or as a new passenger, can be made via our online booking system here. However, it is advisable to visit the Vectare website to view the most up to date routes. To view current available routes and to book, please visit jbs.vectare.co.uk. We hope you find a travel solution to suit your family. Free and subsidised places are available to families of children in Year 7 and above who have accepted a place at Abingdon Senior School and who cannot afford to pay full fees. More information is available here. Free and subsidised places Wraparound care Supervised wraparound care is available from 8am to 6pm (5pm for those in Reception) during term-time. Please find more information on our wraparound provision here.
Josca’s House, Kingston Road, Frilford, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX13 5NX +44 (0)1865 391570 [email protected] abingdon.org.uk/prep Last updated: September 2025
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