9 Reasons
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Nine at Millfield
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Discover Millfield Prep
Why Millfield Prep?
Be Curious
Be Kind
Be You
Be Challengers
Be Brilliant
our values
Millfield Prep is a unique and inspiring place. The opportunities available to the pupils are limitless and the quality of provision across all areas sets us apart. The vast range of academic options, co-curricular activities, sports, or creative and dramatic arts that we offer is second to none. We believe passionately that every child is brilliant. Children are known as individuals and we provide the perfect place for them to explore, discover and then develop their passions. Our facilities are outstanding. Our pupils are charming, kind, happy, smiley, and full of energy – just the way children should be. Our staff are welcoming and passionate. Come and see the pupils at work and at play, really enjoying their time here. Ask them of their successes, and their failures, and the lessons these have taught them. Hear about how they are cared for and nurtured. I can assure you that Millfield Prep is like no other. We will continue to break the mould, defining the education of the future, with individual care at the centre of all that we do.
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• Everyone is brilliant at something • You work hard and are part of the school community • You always give your best • You celebrate other people’s successes and achievements
• You believe anything is possible • You love to learn • You try and explore new things • You know you will sometimes make mistakes but that you will learn from them
• You are kind to everyone • You care and are considerate of other people’s feelings • You respect yourself, others and our environment
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• You are honest • You are true to your own feelings • Everyone is different and you know that is good
• You are positive influencers • You ask questions • You discover new and better ways to do things • You speak up if you have an idea and voice your opinion
Click to find out more
- ISI Inspection 2023
TOP
Juniors
Years 3 to 6 (Ages 7 to 11)
Pupils learn through an inspiring, thematic and international, inquiry-based curriculum, which is designed to enable them to become independent and collaborative global learners. This is called the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). There is also an emphasis on research as well as reading and understanding. Pupils take part in den building, are young entrepreneurs, are innovators and historians and become botanists who explore the plant world to find out the answers to critical real-life problems. They attend maths competitions at other schools in Years 4 & 5. The Junior years feature the Accelerated Reader programme fostering independent reading, Maths Challenge Day on problem solving tasks and national science, maths and general knowledge quizzes.
Trips
Pupils go on multiple trips as shown below on the timeline. They also take learning outside the classroom, conducting science experiments and maths investigations in the fresh air, exploring in Forest School and composing tunes on the outdoor music equipment, as well as performing poetry and taking part in debates in the wooden amphitheatre.
Research
Trusting Online
Temples, tombs and treasures
Tutankhamun exhibition Dorchester
Junior Production
Vanishing Rainforests
Axe Wildlife Park
How humans work
Farm to fork
Sports day
How the brain works
Knowledge
Year 3
All pupils are involved in drama productions during the year which include dance, singing and ensemble accompaniment. They help with prop design, costumes and programme design and are proud to perform to the Millfield Prep community. Art skills are developed using a variety of media, from clay, textiles and paint, to use of the natural landscape. All Year 4 pupils play an orchestral instrument in small group lessons. This culminates in ensemble and orchestral concerts.
Creative arts
lIFE lIKE dRAWING
Explorers & Adventurers
Orchestra Day
The Matthew and SS Great Britain
Reading
Fleet Air Arm Museum
Orchestra performance
Young Entrepreneurs
Year 4
Overnight Camp at the Bushcraft Company
Time and Place, Earth and Space
Christmas production
Being a Historian
Learning
Fantastic Forces
Myths and Legends
We The Curious 3D
Wessex Water treatment centre
Endangered and Extinct
Go with the Flow
Understanding
Year 5
Science Day
Year 6
Ages 10 to 11
Opportunity to be a Year 6 supporter helping the younger pupils
Space scientists
Science
Learn to Play the Ukulele
Full Power: Electricity
Clarks Village
Year 6 Production
Spring Concert Ukulele Performance
Academic
Pupils continue to learn with a thematic, linked, enquiry-based curriculum, and specialist teachers. All Year 6 pupils learn a language which can include Latin, French or Spanish, or a combination, depending on the child’s ability. They take part in national science, maths and general knowledge quizzes. All Year 6 pupils use the science labs for their science lessons and benefit from a well-resourced lab and lab technician.
Art
Moving People: Immigration and Refugees
Being Human, Light and Sound
The Newt – Roman Villa
Outdoor learning
Children often take their learning outdoors and benefit from the outdoor workspace by the science labs, Forest School and the wooden amphitheatre for performances and presentations. In the summer term, Year 6 spend three days outdoor learning at a camp where
Humanities
Year 6 camp! Ultimate Adventure Centre, Bideford 2 nights/3 days
Building a Village
Making new Materials
Creative Arts
Every child has the opportunity to be involved in the yearly drama production, either as actors or support crew. There is a visit to Millfield’s Sculpture Park and Atkinson Art Gallery, to inspire their own artworks. All Year 6 pupils learn to play the ukulele and perform in an end of term concert.
On to
See what it’s like
French/Spanish/Latin
Leadership
Pupils can apply for the Year 6 supporters programme, which offers leadership opportunities and training for pastoral roles such as working with pupils in the younger years during lunch and break times.
Oscar Year 4 Day
Ajua Year 5 Boarder
International Primary Curriculum
In England, state schools have to follow the National Curriculum, but state academies and independent schools have more flexibility in what they teach. They must provide a ‘broad and balanced curriculum’ that includes English, maths, science and RE, but they can choose to follow a different curriculum such as the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). This curriculum is used in many international schools overseas and in over 90 countries worldwide. The IPC is a comprehensive, thematic, creative curriculum for children aged five to 11 and covers many of the same subjects as the National Curriculum. Using the IPC approach, children develop knowledge, skills and understanding in each subject area. The curriculum subjects are taught through individual ‘Units of Learning’, which are topic-based, and include engaging themes like Animals, Active Planet, Buildings, Young Entrepreneurs, and Who Am I? The aim of this approach is for primary school children to understand how the different curriculum areas interlink, and for them to make connections across subjects to form a stronger understanding of the learning: so, for example, the Active Planets unit could include geography, history, science, languages and more. Every unit also includes an international aspect, to help children develop a sense of ‘international mindedness.’
The IPC also aims to help children develop character traits that will equip them for life now, through education and in the future, through personal goals: • Enquiry • Resilience • Morality • Thoughtfulness • Cooperation • Respect • Communication • Adaptability There are no formal exams, instead, the IPC focuses on schools developing their own ways of assessing children’s knowledge, skills and understanding. These may be informal, such as assessed classwork or quizzes, or formal, such as end-of-unit tests.
Discover Junior Years
they take part in a range of activities including surfing, coasteering, high ropes, assault courses and mountain boarding. They also enjoy a variety of sports to develop their skills in teamwork, communication, resilience and independence.
English
Maths
French (Year 3)
Spanish (Year 4)
Latin (Year 5)
Design Technology Food Technology
PE
Games
Music
ICT
Drama
Reading, Spelling and Grammar
PSHEE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education)
Inquiry via the IPC (International Primary Curriculum)
Learning Development Centre Support
Junior teachers are specially trained
Junior Activities (drama, music, specialist sports)
English as an additional language (as required)
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✓ Subject specialist teachers
English as an additional Language (as required)
Development Centre
Extra English via Learning
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Music ✓
Games ✓
PE ✓
Design Technology ✓Food Technology
Latin ✓
French/Spanish (option)
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Inventions that Changed the World
Metacognition: How the Brain Works
Year 7
Here and Now, There and Then
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Seniors
Years 7 to 8 (Ages 11 to 13)
We have a large intake of pupils into Year 7, meaning the beginning of Key Stage 3 is a fresh start for everyone. All pupils follow our Brilliance Curriculum that has been developed to link into the learning pupils will do across all subjects in Year 9 at Millfield and provides pupils the opportunity to be curious about where their learning journey is taking them. In Year 8, pupils study a rich and diverse curriculum that blends digital learning alongside more traditional methods. They have specialist subject teachers who challenge their thinking and help them to identify how they can continue to make progress. Pupils are set targets by staff and also have the opportunity to set their own targets. Continuous assessment throughout the year helps staff and pupils to keep track of their learning. iPad use is embedded into lessons, prep and independent work.
Pupils bring their own iPads to lessons to support learning and have weekly reading in group tutor.
Click for more.
Team Building Activities
UK Maths Challenges and other maths competitions.
Glastonbury Pilgrimage
House Singing
Maths Academy- for top mathematicians.
Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge.
The Eye Meets the Ear Concert
A careers morning
Slimbridge Wildfowl & Wetland Trust Science trip
Eco Day
Speak Out English Competition
Shapwick Nature Reserve - As part of the multi activity programme pupils can volunteer with hedge laying, planting and maintaining footpaths.
Huge number of musical groups they can join.
Water Sports Day
Pupils take on the role of hosting at Parents’ Meetings and assisting prospective visiting pupils or helping as guides for new pupils.
Chepstow Castle Medieval History Trip
Adventure
Year 8
To aid the smooth transition to senior school life, pupils attend sporting and musical events at Millfield throughout the year. 90%+ move on to Millfield and there are no entrance exams.
Jurassic Coast Geography Trip
Pupils can take on leadership roles such as Heads of School (termly), Heads of Games Houses, Heads of Boarding Houses, Senior Monitors and Monitors: pastoral, music, school, IT, Open Day tours and helping Pre-Prep children.
There are many opportunities for musicians to take part in concerts and informal Tea and Music events.
National Museum of Art trip to Cardiff
Chinese New Year
Pupils in Year 7 & 8 can join the Digital Council, Food Committee and School Council, and Year 8s can join the Eco Committee and Boarding Committee.
Creativity
10 hours+ of co-curricular and sports sessions per week.
Musical Production in Millfield’s theatre
Inter-house Bake off
Teamwork
Interactive homework (prep) with instant feedback – Bedrock for English, Sparks for maths, Duolingo/Linguascope for languages.
Residential Camp to Adventure Activity Centre
Rock and Pop Concert
Speech Day
End of Term Assessments
The 3 C’s award, Courtesy, Consideration and Common Sense, is the biggest prize
Year 9
Felix Year 7 boarder
Yasmin Year 8 boarder
Brilliance Curriculum Subject Journey
We have consciously reordered and realigned the teaching of all subject knowledge and explicitly identified the key building blocks to understanding. We have connected subject topics where they interlink and teach them in tandem, for example - specific heat capacity (physics) links to ocean warming (geography), Norman Conquest (history) and the Bayeux Tapestry (art) links to the cardio vascular system (biology) with exercise (PE and PSHEE). This gives pupils the broader context of a topic and results in richer understanding. It also empowers teachers to own how they teach a topic, the architecture of the course, and enhance skills like independence and curiosity.
Wellbeing Curriculum
Millfield Prep School launched the innovative Wellbeing Curriculum in September 2021, for pupils in Years 7 & 8. In its first year 81% of pupils believe the curriculum helped them in a positive way. Its aim was to help educate pupils about mental health and wellbeing. The programme provides a safe environment for pupils to express themselves through a range of interactive activities that brings down barriers to talking about mental health. Activities include Yoga, Soul Food, Movement to Music, Self-Care, Alfresco Pursuits and Meditation. Classes aim to give pupils the tools to look after their own wellbeing by developing pupils’ awareness of mental health.
Year 8 Bertie said, “I have found the new Wellbeing Curriculum really fun and enlightening.”
Wellbeing
French/Spanish/Latin options
Religious Studies
Geography
History
Science (Biology/Chemistry/Physics)
Click to see more
The Week – Years 3-8
Settling in
We understand that starting at a new school is a big step for your child and all the family. That’s why we do all we can to make the transition as smooth as possible. The most happy children are those who are at ease in their surroundings and confident around their teachers. So, by the time the first day arrives, we want you and your child to know what to expect and feel relaxed and comfortable in their new community.
Here are some ways we’ll help you and your child settle in:
APR
Introductory Information
Before your child starts, we will send you lots of information.
JUN
Boarders’ Induction Day (UK Pupils)
This day gives new boarders the opportunity to see their house, take part in workshop activities, ask questions and meet key members of staff including their houseparents.
AUG
Academic Information
You’ll receive details of academic groupings, your child’s Group Tutor and contact numbers, as well as an outline of their first few days.
SEPT
Pre-Season Sports Courses
These are a great opportunity to meet staff, get orientated on campus, experience the dining hall and, of course, start making new friends in a relaxed, informal setting.
APR- AUG
School Shop
You can book ‘kit out’ appointments online or order uniform for delivery to your home or boarding house. The shop is also open during certain times in the summer holidays.
International Boarders’ Induction Day
New boarders from overseas are introduced to their house and meet other pupils in the same position as they are, take part in workshop activities, ask questions and meet key members of staff including their houseparents.
First Week of Term
Team Building
In the first week of term, all year groups are involved with team building activities, which helps tutors and children get to know each other and the campus.
Buddy Support
New children will be paired up with a friendly pupil guide to show them around the school and help settle them in at Millfield Prep. Boarders will also have an additional guide back at the boarding house.
Parent Meetings
During the first few weeks we provide lots of opportunities for parents to meet staff, liaise with your child’s Group Tutor and Head of Year (in person or remotely).
SEPT-OCT
See Campus Tour Video
Pastoral Care
We believe that for a child to be successful in and out of the classroom, they need to feel happy and secure in their environment. By inspiring children to make the most of the opportunities open to them at Millfield Prep, we can enable them to become confident and well-rounded young people.
Supporting Every Child
Health
The welfare and happiness of our children is vital to running a busy day and boarding school. Healthy eating is an important part of this. Our caterers work hard to provide delicious, nutritious food for growing and active bodies and minds. Pupils can choose from: • hot lunch options, including vegetarian • a full salad bar • a range of desserts • fresh fruit. There are tasty options available at supper as well, which day pupils are welcome to attend. The pupils chair a Food Committee to have their input about the menu choices.
Children meet with their Group Tutor each morning. These sessions can be used as a ‘checking in’ time to make sure children are happy with their balance of studies and extra-curricular activities. They can also discuss topical issues such as friendship, online safety or nutrition, either as a whole year group or in smaller numbers using the ‘Circle Time’ approach. Circle Time is also used in the boarding houses by houseparents to reinforce the PSHEE curriculum. We pride ourselves in listening to all our children and making sure they feel that Millfield Prep is ‘their school’. If any child feels unwell, or is in need of any additional services, we have a team of trained experts on hand including daily doctor surgeries, a school counsellor and a physiotherapist. Podiatrist and orthodontist appointments can also be arranged. We have a bespoke Wellbeing Programme for children in Years 7 and 8, find out more in Section 2.
Hear from our Deputy Head Pastoral Ben Hilton
The welfare and happiness of our children is vital to running a busy day and boarding school. Healthy eating is an important part of this. Our caterers and onsite nutritionist work hard to provide delicious, nutritious food for growing and active bodies and minds. Pupils can choose from: • hot lunch options, including vegetarian • a full salad bar • a range of desserts • fresh fruit. There are tasty options available at supper as well, which day pupils are welcome to attend. The pupils chair a Food Committee to have their input about the menu choices.
The Senior Management Team take a really active role in the pastoral care of pupils. This includes houseparents, our medical centre and safeguarding team, heads of year and our learning support team. They are regularly involved in discussions and support plans for the children in our care. Any relevant information is shared amongst key staff and primarily our group tutors, class teachers and sports coaches.
Boarding
Boarders live in three boys’ houses and two girls’ houses that provide the children with a warm, caring and kind environment in which they grow in independence and achieve their potential. Boarders develop new friendships and discover and pursue different interests, all under the supervision of their house staff. Our boarding houses are set in idyllic grounds with plenty of open spaces. These include our own woods for building camps, climbing wall, equestrian centre, golf course and tennis courts. Our grounds perfectly reflect our philosophy on boarding: to combine a calm, homely environment with an exciting range of activities.
Boarding Options
We have 140 full-time boarders from the UK and around 25 nationalities. We also offer flexi-boarding depending on availability, where children stay two, three or four nights per week. This option can be particularly convenient for parents with work or social commitments or children with after-school or early morning tennis, swimming or riding lessons. Our boarding community comprises of a wide range of interpersonal, sporting and cultural abilities, developing pupils who are not only prepared for senior school, but the wider challenges of growing up.
Day To Day Life
The boarding houses are led by houseparents, and ably supported by a resident team of assistants, tutors and matrons. This high level of adult support ensures the children experience a ‘home from home environment’, and have help with homework, packing their bags for school and reading before bedtime. As our ISI inspection report said, “boarders give strong mutual support to one another, especially when welcoming new boarders into their community.” Each day begins with a nutritious breakfast in the dining hall, where pupils also have lunch and dinner. In the evening, children can enjoy healthy snacks and fruit back at their house.
Evenings And Weekends
Our thriving boarding programme keeps the children occupied and happy. In the evening, children who wish to engage in leisure pursuits can try activities including tennis, trampolining, cricket and cookery. At weekends there are house trips, such as visits to the theatre, amusement parks and Bristol Harbourside and fun activities including scuba diving in our pool, segway riding, surfing and go karting. It creates a stimulating environment – a school that has a real busy buzz where the children are happy to stay during the weekend and try something new. However, this doesn’t mean you won’t see your child until the end of each term. As well as catch-up meetings, parents are welcome to visit to support our drama productions, music concerts and sports fixtures. Children can also have regular contact with parents during the evenings and weekends via FaceTime, Skype and email. All boarders have four exeats per year, but can also go home each weekend after their Saturday sporting commitments. Flexibility is key and we recognise the importance of working with parents to support them in planning their weekends. Pupils may also stay in school over these exeats, if they wish to take up our exeat provision.
Boarding House Tours
Chestnut Boys house
Hollies Girls House
- 2023 ISI Inspection Report
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We believe your school days set the foundations for a lifetime of fulfilment and success. We provide a high quality learning environment with a happy, healthy, vibrant atmosphere. Alongside practical skills and knowledge, pupils are encouraged to develop lively and enquiring minds, the ability to question and debate rationally, and apply themselves.
Inspired
Small Class Sizes
We are committed to small class sizes, with an average class size of 14. This allows our teachers to focus on: teaching and learning, providing individual attention and care, and helping each pupil with their unique needs.
Broad And Balanced Curriculum
How can you know where your talent lies, if you’ve never tried something? We believe in opening up as many doors as possible, enabling children to be challenged and inspired and experience a wide range of subjects and activities so that they can find their own brilliance. During Years 3 to 6 your child will be taught in small classes by a Group Tutor and subject specialists, following the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). From Year 7 onwards pupils have specialist subject teachers, with their progress being overseen by their Group Tutor. They follow the Brilliance Curriculum. Classes in Mandarin and other languages can be arranged on request, for children in all years.
Brilliance Curriculum
In Years 7 & 8 and Years 9 to 13 at Millfield we have developed the ‘Brilliance Curriculum’. We have carefully designed what we teach and the order that we teach it in, connecting different subjects together. For example, pupils might learn about a historical period in their history lesson which helps them understand the poem they are studying in English so that understanding becomes much deeper. Introducing the Brilliance Curriculum in Year 7 creates strong foundations for the learning pupils will do across all subjects in Year 9 at Millfield and provides pupils with the opportunity to be curious about where their learning journey is taking them. It also enables them to contextualise their classes before choosing their GCSE subjects in Year 9.
Flexible Setting
Our curriculum is designed to engage, motivate, challenge and sustain the interest of every pupil, whatever their strengths or weaknesses. From Year 3 onwards, we group pupils for mathematics. In Years 7 and 8 we also set for English and languages. Our tailored approach ensures pupils receive the depth and breadth of educational experiences that are right for them.
Digital Learning
We know that information technology has transformed education – promoting independent and collaborative learning, creativity and critical thinking. We have banks of iPads for pupil use in Years 3-5. Year 6 are provided with school owned iPads and pupils in Years 7 and 8 are required to bring in their own. All of our teachers use iPads. Pupils are taught both information literacy and e-safety, encouraging them to make the best possible use of digital technology.
Examinations
We prepare pupils thoroughly for success in internal examinations, Millfield Scholarship examinations and entrance examinations, which can include Common Entrance. Pupils can also access various music boards’ examinations and LAMDA examinations for speech and drama.
Stretch And Challenge
Alongside our small class sizes which enable individual attention and personalised learning, flexible setting and specialist teachers, we carry out a rigorous screening programme to track pupil progress. This also identifies any barriers to learning we can address or particular strengths that can be enhanced through extension and enrichment in school, educational off-site trips and entry into local, national and international competitions and challenges. Our programme of trips, talks and clubs is designed to inspire curiosity and a spirit of enquiry, and to enable the children to find new areas of interest. We provide a fertile environment for the intellectual development of our most promising academics whether they are budding mathematicians, linguists, scientists or have a penchant for the arts. Group tutors and departments meet weekly to discuss pupils' academic and pastoral needs, to ensure that pupils are focused, challenged and supported at every stage of the school year whether they are preparing for scholarship examinations, unit assessments or national competitions. Their progress is monitored by tutors, teachers and houseparents to ensure that they have the right balance of rest and recovery so they are able to peak at the right time, whatever the challenge.
Support
The facilities and expertise of our Learning Development Centre (LDC) are among the best in the country. The department works hand in hand with the school and parents to ensure that pupils with learning differences get the support they need. Staffed by a strong team of specialists, we work with children in small groups to develop literacy, numeracy and multi-sensory skills. The LDC also supports teaching, pastoral and support staff to make sure differentiation for learning is part of the school’s overall culture. Alongside our dedicated team, we offer access to a range of additional assessments and peripatetic staff, including speech and language, behavioural optometrists and educational psychologists, as well as specialist 1:1 support teachers in maths.
Development
Sport
Wherever your child’s talents lie, they have the opportunity to be part of a sports team at Millfield Prep. We provide 24 sports, whether it's swimming or fencing, rugby or trampolining. As well as traditional sports, we offer numerous other activities such as climbing, shooting, riding, go karting and sailing.
We focus on:
Archery Athletics Biathlon Cricket Cross Country Dance Fencing Football Golf Gymnastics Hockey Modern Pentathlon
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24 Sports on offer
Netball Polo Riding Rugby Sailing Shooting Squash Swimming Table Tennis Tennis Trampolining Triathlon
Millfield is a name that’s synonymous with sport. From the complete beginner to the Olympic medallist, we believe exercise and activity are essential to the wellbeing of our pupils, shaping their character, creativity and community spirit.
• a balanced multi-sports programme • maximising potential for all Every child is encouraged to represent the school. In addition to our first teams who compete at the highest level in national competitions, we run a variety of other teams at every level: our aim is to ensure that all pupils receive inspiring sports coaching and regular competitive opportunities. We are renowned for our outstanding sporting facilities but there is much, much more to success than facilities. Many of our coaches are drawn from the pinnacle of their field, pairing experience and expertise with energy and enthusiasm. Our coaches offer tailored programmes for the most gifted individuals. For example, to help pupils realise their potential they could swim, play tennis, ride or play golf several times a week, and still balance their sport with their academic work and participation in other team sports. Pupils have the chance to play sport every day and are encouraged to participate in extra squad or team training. In addition to curriculum PE and games training, regular matches are played during the week and on Saturdays. Our teams and individuals win many titles but, more importantly, every pupil will have the opportunity to represent the school and feel part of a team.
- Year 6 pupil
• healthy attitudes towards sport • sport and activity for life
We believe every child has their own creative spark and, during their time at Millfield Prep, we’ll uncover and nurture this talent. Whether it’s through art, music or drama, we use the arts to enable our pupils to express themselves and enjoy the freedom to be creative.
The art department is a hive of creative activity. Through its varied facilities, every child has the opportunity to work with a range of media and images to produce artwork and find their own individual strength. As well as painting, drawing and photography, children explore 3D artworks using our stone carving area and pottery studio. The art teachers in the department all have their own specialist training in visual art and are practising artists. We understand the need for pupils to be able to think differently, to adapt and be creative and we give pupils opportunities to build these strengths through rich and varied experiences.
Drama enables pupils to express themselves creatively and imaginatively, to communicate with others effectively and to help make sense of themselves and the world they live in. Productions are all inclusive and are a very popular part of the co-curricular programme. Each year, we showcase several performances, which include a Junior production (Years 3-5) at Christmas, Year 6 class plays in the summer and in the spring term our Year 7 and 8 students perform in a show stopping musical at the Meyer Theatre at Millfield. Recent Performances include Moana, Matilda, and The Lion King. Alongside performance opportunities, pupils are also offered the chance to work on the technical side of events and productions, to help widen their range of creative skills. All year groups benefit from an in-house production or theatre trip. The drama department benefits from excellent facilities; lessons for Years 3-8 are taught in the assembly hall which hosts a large proscenium arch stage with a full lighting rig. Curriculum drama lessons are taught every week and encourage pupils to develop their speaking and listening skills, share ideas, develop leadership and teamwork skills and self-confidence. Pupils are provided with the opportunity to engage in co-curricular speech and drama lessons and can work towards LAMDA exams too.
We aim to inspire all our pupils to reach their full musical potential, whatever their starting point. This takes more than just specialist teaching and excellent facilities, it means building a positive atmosphere and broadening pupils’ creative horizons. There are ample opportunities to become involved in extra-curricular music. We have over 20 music ensembles including choirs, orchestras, a jazz and blues band and numerous rock bands. Pupils also regularly perform at external events and recent venues have included The Resorts World Arena, Birmingham and Wells Cathedral. In addition to this, pupils have participated in an international music tour to Ghent, which involved musicians and choirs from Years 6-8. Inspiration is just the beginning and our large, newly-refurbished music department provides the perfect environment for lessons and practice. We have 16 teaching rooms with pianos, plus two classrooms fully-equipped with 16 iMacs for composition work and Yamaha grand pianos. For performances, we have our own purpose-built Recital Hall with seating for 200 people.
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Activities
There are over 130 indoor and outdoor clubs and activities on offer, from practical to creative, adventurous to reflective. Most clubs have no cost other than those requiring specialist materials or external tuition, such as dance or sailing. It gives our pupils the opportunity to try new experiences, discover different interests and build self-confidence.
Art Club Athletic Development Basketball Brass Group Bushcraft Choir Clay Shooting Climbing Coding & Programming Cookery Dance Drama Fencing Forest Adventure Golf Grow Your Own Food Guitar Group Gymnastics Handwriting & Keyboard Skills Horse Riding Jazz Band Judo
Over 130 clubs & activities
Karate Kit Car Club Latin for Fun Model Making Music Theory Orchestra Orienteering Percussion Pottery Prop Making Rock Band Run/Shoot Club Russian for Fun Sailing Show Dance Spanish for Fun Stage Craft Strings Group Swimmers’ Pilates Table Tennis Trampolining Wind Band Woodwork
Example activities:
Guitar Group Gymnastics Handwriting & Keyboard Skills Horse Riding Jazz Band Judo Karate Kit Car Club Latin for Fun Model Making Music Theory Orchestra Orienteering Percussion Pottery
Charity & Community
We support a number of diverse charities as a whole school, and the children choose a local, national and international charity close to their hearts to raise money for each year. Fundraising initiatives include running miles, baking cakes, growing money through business ideas and mufti days. These events go a long way to make our pupils aware of wider issues in the outside world and consider how they can make a difference. We are fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the world and teaching pupils about sustainability is important to us. Our pupils have the opportunity to get involved in conservation work at a local nature reserve, be part of a pupil-led Eco Committee and take part in Eco Days, which highlight the process of waste, recycling and management of important resources. We are delighted to have been awarded our fifth Green Flag, as part of the Eco-Schools programme.
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- Year 4 pupil
- Year 4 Pupil
Applying & Fees
Entry to Millfield Prep is possible into all year groups Years 3-8, with the largest intake at Year 7 (age 11+).
Our selection process is designed to identify pupils who are able to benefit from our balanced and well-rounded education and to make a positive contribution towards the life of the school. We are looking for well-motivated children with a genuine interest in education in the broadest sense of the word, and interests that stretch beyond the academic curriculum.
Should you have any queries regarding the admissions process, please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions team, who are always available to assist, by emailing prepadmissions@millfieldschool.com using the tab on the left or telephoning +44 (0) 1458 832446. We look forward to welcoming you to Millfield Prep. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and listen to the Millfield Way podcast, to keep up to date with all the exciting things our children get up to.
@millfieldschool millfieldprepschool The Millfield Way Millfield Prep School @MillfieldPrep
Our admissions process involves the following four steps:
Book an Open Day or Personal Visit
Register for a place
Interview and assessment
Offer of a place
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Overseas pupils
We welcome applications from international pupils and invite families to visit the Millfield Prep campus. Assessments and interviews can be completed at Millfield Prep, remotely or by the Director of Admissions when she is overseas. If English is not a child’s first language, they will meet the Head of EAL (English as an Additional Language) or the Director of Admissions. They will usually be asked to complete a short 30 minute assessment and short interview.
Fees
Millfield Prep’s fees are as inclusive as possible and extras are kept to a minimum. The day fee includes tuition, most activities at school, lunch, games and prep, textbook loan, pupils’ personal accident insurance, contribution to travel and accommodation when representing the school and internet access. The boarding fee includes all of the above plus breakfast, supper, healthcare and laundry.
Registration fees
A non-refundable Registration Fee of £190 is payable when a pupil’s name is first registered for entry. There is no Registration Fee at Pre-School and Pre-Prep entry.
Acceptance fee
When a place is offered, an Acceptance Fee of £750 is required to confirm entry. Of the total amount, £250 is non-refundable and £500 will be credited on the final extras bill. For those pupils who do not take up their place, Millfield will retain the whole Acceptance Fee. There is an Acceptance Deposit of £100 for the Pre-Prep which will be credited on the final extras bill.
Deposit (overseas pupils only)
In addition to the Acceptance Fee, an additional deposit equal to one term’s fees is payable before entry. This deposit is refundable, less the final term’s extras, when the pupil leaves the school.
Fees in Advance
The school operates a fees in advance scheme which offers a discount for fees paid in advance for future terms. Further details are available from the Fees Office. Full details of our fees and charges can be found on our school website: millfieldschool.com/admissions/fees
We hold Open Days three times a year which are an excellent opportunity to meet and hear from the Head, tour the school with current pupils and get a feel for Millfield Prep. Personal visits are individual visits tailored to the needs of the family and will include a campus tour and meetings with staff of your choice. You will usually meet the Director of Admissions, or one of her colleagues and the visit will last between one and two hours. During term time, meetings can also usually be arranged with the Head, Head of Boarding, Heads of Year and department staff such as the Director of Sport, Director of Music, Head of Drama and Academic Heads of Department. We also recommend, as part of the admissions process, prospective pupils come for a taster visit, a day or overnight visit (subject to availability of spaces). This is an excellent way for a child to experience life at Millfield Prep and get to know the children in their cohort.
By completing an online Registration Form you are showing a firm expression of interest and this is the first step towards securing a place at Millfield Prep. Once we have received a completed Registration Form and fee, we will request a reference from your son or daughter’s current school (where applicable). You can register online via our website at millfieldschool.com/admissions or via the tab on the left.
On receipt of a satisfactory school reference, we will contact you to arrange the next step in the process which is usually an invitation to complete a verbal and non-verbal online reasoning assessment and interview, completed remotely (or in some circumstances completed at Millfield Prep). All pupils joining Millfield Prep will attend an interview with the Head of Prep Admissions, Head of Year, a member of the Learning Development Centre or Head of English as an Additional Language. The interview centres on the academic interests of the pupil, their extra-curricular activities and experiences and is also an opportunity for the pupil to ask questions. Pupils are also encouraged to attend a taster visit as part of the admissions process.
For pupils sitting a computer-based assessment, the offer of a place will usually be sent out within a week after interview and assessment. For pupils being assessed by a member of the Learning Development Centre, offers are usually sent out within three weeks after interview and assessment.
Scholarships & Bursaries
We award a number of Academic, Art, Drama, Music and Sports Scholarships each year for entry into Years 6, 7 and 8.
We also offer the Millfield Prep Award recognising pupils who are talented all-rounders, for Years 6, 7 and 8 whilst at Millfield Prep School. This award ends at the end of Year 8 but at that stage pupils can apply for a Year 9 scholarship at Millfield. All scholarships carry a fee reduction of up to 10% (please note that 10% is the maximum total that may be awarded even if multiple scholarships are applied for). Bursaries may be available for entry to Millfield Prep (Year 6 upwards) in cases where a pupil does not meet the requirements for a scholarship and where there is genuine financial need. Bursaries take the form of a fee reduction to a level dependent on the parents’ financial resources. Parents applying for a bursary will be asked to complete a confidential financial circumstances form, available from the Fees Department. All awards are subject to the school’s ability to fund them within the context of its overall budget, and therefore levels cannot be guaranteed. Please do not hesitate to contact our Prep Admissions team on prepadmissions@millfieldschool.com or call 01458 832446 should you have any queries. Pupils who live overseas should contact the Admissions department prior to submitting a scholarship application. Our scholarship brochure with more detailed information and application deadline dates and assessment dates is on our website www.millfieldschool.com/admissions/scholarship-bursaries.
Moving up to Senior School
We prepare your child for the next stage of their education. Whilst the vast majority of our pupils, more than 90%, move on to Millfield to take advantage of the excellent Nine at Millfield programme, we do also prepare pupils for other schools, be they local or further away.
Pupils prepare for end of year examinations in the Brilliance Curriculum which leads them into Year 9 at Millfield. By following these programmes of study pupils could also sit Common Entrance or Scholarship examinations for other schools, if you wish. We liaise with senior schools to ensure that pupils are given the best possible chance to get a place at their first choice. Throughout Years 7 and 8, pupils and parents are given opportunities to familiarise themselves with Millfield. Post-exams at the end of Year 8, sports and academic sessions are run at Millfield to aid the transition. In turn, Millfield staff and students visit us to give pupils a chance to ask questions to help them grow in confidence and prepare for the move. In Year 8, pupils are given opportunities to develop greater independence whilst retaining a broad outlook. Pupils are encouraged to maintain a wide range of interests spanning sports, the arts and academic challenges. Boarders return to their house to complete their prep rather than doing their work in school. They are encouraged to apply to become Monitors and take leadership roles. When they leave us we are sorry to see them go but we know they are ready for the next exciting stage of their young lives.
Our Location
Millfield Schools are situated in the beautiful rural South West of England in the county of Somerset. Within only a ten minute drive of each other, Millfield Prep is in the historic town of Glastonbury and Millfield is in Street. The schools enjoy excellent motorway, rail and air links.
By Road
Leave the M5 motorway at Junction 23 and join the A39 eastwards for approximately 13 miles. At the roundabout take the third exit onto the A361 and continue for approximately 2 miles. From the M3 leave the motorway at Junction 8 and join the A303 westwards and then the A37/A361.
Castle Cary railway station is approximately 20 minutes away by taxi. The journey from London Paddington to Castle Cary is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. There are also railway stations at Bath (30 miles away) and Bristol (29 miles away).
By Rail
London Heathrow and Gatwick airports are only a few hours away and are well served by train connections. In addition, Bristol and Exeter airports are within a distance of 25 miles and 55 miles respectively.
By Air
Millfield Prep has a dedicated Travel Office on site to provide guidance and a booking service for our pupils.
School Transport
School coaches run to London, Fleet Services (Hampshire) and Countess Services (Wiltshire) at the beginning and end of terms and during exeat weekends. Taxis and minibuses can also be ordered, according to demand, for regional airports and other destinations.
Boarders
A school minibus service operates a daily service within the Bath/Frome, Curry Rivel, Farrington Gurney, Highbridge/Wedmore, Taunton/ Bridgwater, Wells and Yeovil areas. The routes are flexible so contact us for information.
Day Pupils
Millfield Prep’s facilities are world-class.
Our Campus
1. Swimming Pool
2. Equestrian
3. The Shayler Pavilion
4. Music Department
5. Sports Hall
6. Tree trail
7. Art, Design & Technology
8. Dining Hall
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Millfield Prep School Glastonbury Somerset BA6 8LD
+44 (0)1458 832446 millfieldschool.com/prep
