The Elms School is Independent Secondary school in Not applicable for kids aged 3 to 13 (Gender - 3 to 13 )
Sitting as it has done since 1614 where the western slopes of the Malvern hills descend into the beautiful county of Herefordshire, something magical happens to a child’s education as they pass through it. Nobody is quite sure whether the location of the school attracts such special staff and pupils, or whether the pupils and staff are made special by the location. But the outcomes – not just educational but in terms of personal development for the lucky children who attend – are clear: this is no ordinary school.The Elms has a fierce pride in being the last independent prep school remaining in its immediate area. It may not be the biggest, it may not be the most shiny. But with 30 acres, containing a prize-winning farm, a fully operational equestrian team, top quality drama and music, not to mention an extraordinary breadth of sporting opportunity, each child will be safe and happy as they find their place.Academic achievements sit at the centre of a prep school, and in this respect, The Elms is no different. But The Elms has always offered parents the chance to extend the childhood of their sons and daughters – this is not a school where children sit on iPads in their free time. Why would they? There are streams to dam, trees to climb, plays to rehearse for, clays to shoot, and animals to groom. Weekends round out this opportunity to learn and play still further, with a focus on STEAM on Saturdays, and activities that build personalities on Sunday.
EARLY YEARS (NURSERY AND RECEPTION)
The Early Years children join The Elms as part of our school ‘family’. They are enrolled into the School House system upon starting in Nursery and quickly start earning their green cards and forming an allegiance with their team. From their earliest days they make use of the whole school site and facilities: enjoying time immersed in Nature on the Farm and in Forest School; developing confidence on stage in the theatre; taking time to reflect in Chapel; developing their skills in the Swimming Pool and Sports Hall; and enjoying ‘family’ lunches in the Dining room. A favourite part of their day in an extended play time out on the field with pre-Prep and Year 3&4, a making the most of opportunities to play and look up to their older role models.
PRE PREP
Pre-Prep, and particularly Year Two, prepares the children for increasing independence and aims to develop confidence and readiness for the transition from Year Two to Year Three, where the children will leave the department and be based within the main part of the school. Children are prepared for the transition from Year Two to Three by working closely together on shared experiences and developing and maintaining links and familiarity, particularly during the Summer and Autumn Terms.With the needs of families taken into close consideration, they offer after school clubs and an extended day, with activities provided by the Pre-Prep and Early Years staff. This thread of continuity is an important aspect of our ethos. Bearing in mind that many Early Years and Pre-Prep children have older siblings already in the Main School, this wrap around care allows families to tailor their day and coordinate collection times: both helping families and helping to accustom the younger children to the longer Main School day.
YEARS 3 AND 4
Year 3 and year 4 are very important, transitional years at The Elms. The children continue to incorporate independence in their learning and they are gradually introduced into the main school protocols and logistics. This gentle introduction allows the children to maintain the self-confidence we have nurtured in earlier years and to feel more grown up and responsible for themselves.Lunchtimes enable them to take responsibility for others at their ‘Family’ lunch table and morning break times include all the children from Years One to Eight, allowing friendships to develop across the age groups.In Year 3 and 4 the children are very much in the care of their Form Teachers for the majority of their timetable, but they begin to have even more contact with the rest of the Main School: moving to different parts of the school for lessons with specialist subject teachers, participating in Main School events and joining in with the Main School Clubs programme, which is optional at the end of the school day. Sport features highly in Year 3 and 4, with the children having the opportunity to play matches against other schools.
SEND
Nurturing a love of learning is the ultimate goal for every parent and teacher. Being genuinely engaged with the world and seeking new knowledge is how they envisage the children on their learning journey. For some children, there are barriers to this journey that can impact on that natural inquisitiveness and start to make acquiring new knowledge a choreAt The Elms, children experiencing difficulties benefit from a wide range of support to find their unique key to unlock their learning journey. These include small class sizes where every child is seen, heard and celebrated led by experienced and knowledgeable staff, a supportive ethos across the school, opportunities to shine on the sports field, on the stage, or even on the back of a pony and access to technology as a tool.
SPORTS & GAMES
Sport at The Elms plays a central part in school life. The children play sport every day and as a result achieve high standards. For us, sport is multi-purpose – the physical benefits are clear, but the fostering of team spirit, the encouragement and acceptance of those of all standards with the courage and willingness to have a go, and generosity of spirit in either victory or defeat are equally important.Our range of competitive sports include Hockey, Netball, Rounders and Cricket for girls and Rugby, Hockey, Football and Cricket for boys. We also have strong squads of mixed teams in Athletics, Cross-country, Swimming and Tennis.
PERFORMING ARTS
To enrich the learning done in lessons, the children all have the opportunity to get more involved in the Performing Arts at other times in the day. Whether it be performing in the choir, shining in a Musical Theatre concert, playing the drums in the school band or at one of the many plays put on throughout the year, our children embrace the opportunity to excel and support their peers in this creative field.
DRAMA
Weekly Drama Club sessions are available to all students, providing a forum for improvisation, characterisation and a chance to share a love of the subject with their peers in different year groups. All children work towards a performance every year so that they can demonstrate their growing skills on the stage, with the Year 8 Leavers’ Play a highlight of the school calendar. Pupils also enjoy being part of the backstage and technical teams for these events, making it a real team effort
CLUBS
The children get to enjoy a wide variety of clubs that run throughout the year and change on a termly basis. They experience a diverse enrichment programme with options such as Street Dance, Mandarin, Arabic, Air Pistol, Coding, Philosophy, Rural Studies, Forest School and Archery that are among a list of new clubs, with plans afoot for a new bike track to be built on the school grounds. For younger children there is a popular Gymnastics club incorporated into the programme. Quirkier clubs include Danish Longball, Elms Explorers, Pony Club, Horrible Histories, Life Saving and Stage and Rage.
Please check the school website link for details.
1.70 miles
