For all ages, our outdoor learning sessions and their unique woodland setting are a key part of our Pre-Prep and Prep School curriculum.

Outdoor education can be a great way for boys to learn different things in different ways, whether increasing engagement, improving academic performance or bringing a greater understanding of the world.

Boys in Reception to Year 6 enjoy a weekly outdoor learning session in our specially commissioned tipi classroom, enabling them to develop their social and technical skills.

Victoria Huggett, Head of our Pre-Prep School

Outdoor education has numerous benefits linked to academic success, such as boosting physical and mental health, and developing character and leadership skills.

Victoria Huggett, Head of our Pre-Prep School

Leafy Learners

Our wonderful woodland Forest School is here for all Prep boys to enjoy, whatever the weather may throw at us. It also boasts the scenic Solai trail, that winds through the forest.

Leafy Learners use positive outdoor learning experiences to encourage and inspire children. Students learn practical skills like cooking on a campfire, making dens and crafting with natural materials. They also develop emotional and social ‘soft’ skills such as self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, communication, independence, positive mental attitude, self-esteem and confidence.

  • Reception to Year 3 enjoy an hour of outdoor education every week, throughout the school year
  • Year 4 to 6 will have Forest School fortnightly

Our Forest School qualifications

All our Forest School team are certified to Forest School Association (FSA) Level 3. The FSA is the professional body for Forest Schools.

Level 3 qualifies them to:

  • Be a Forest School leader
  • Set up and run a Forest School programme
  • Facilitate groups in a learner-centred way
  • Sustainably manage a Forest School site

Transformation for some children who had struggled with indoor classroom learning, who became natural leaders outside as they designed dens, focused on chosen tasks, organised others, became busy and active, worked and interacted happily together

National Literacy Trust

Within this safe environment, children were able to explore personal risk… how high they chose to climb, their proximity to spiders, or even the feel of damp leaves and squelchy mud on their fingertips.

National Literacy Trust

Co-curricular

The co-curricular programme is designed to offer pupils the opportunity to experience a wide range of curriculum-based activities which encompass our values. Each pupil is encouraged to develop and pursue existing skills and interests alongside trying new activities. Sessions are led by both members of our teaching community as well as specialist coaches and external providers. Selected activities are run in collaboration with Habs Girls’ Junior School.

  • Sketch club
  • Music ensembles
  • Street dance
  • Robotics
  • Joint climbing
  • Joint Mandarin
  • Joint choir

Trips

Throughout their time in the Prep School, pupils are given the opportunity to enhance their learning and their own personal development through attending a variety of trips.

Some examples of trips are:

  • Reception Aldenham Country Park
  • Year 1 STEM Centre
  • Year 2 St Pauls Cathedral
  • Year 3 Hazard Alley
  • Year 4 Natural History Museum
  • Year 5 Tower of London
  • Year 6 National Gallery

From Year 3 upwards students go on a residential each year, below are a examples of previous residentials:

  • Year 3 history trip for 2 nights
  • Year 4 geography trip for 3 nights
  • Year 5 outdoor adventure, team building residential for 4 nights
  • Year 6 outdoor adventure, team building and sports residentials for 4 nights

We also off optional extra trips such as:

  • Spanish language and culture trip
  • Ski trip to Europe
  • Barbados cricket tour
  • UK based football tour

Competitions and House events

There are several opportunities for our Prep pupils to take part in various exams. Competitions include events for science, maths and general knowledge, the Wix Football Cup, Young Musician of the Year and Battle of the bands.

Each pupil is put into Houses when they join the school. As part of the House community there are various events that take place which include:

  • Traditional sports during games lessons
  • Tug of War
  • Quizzes
  • Singing competitions
  • Poetry recitals
  • Swimming Galas

Performances

Throughout the year, we have various performances based on year groups. Below are some of examples of performances we have held:

  • Reception Nativity
  • Year 1 to 2 Winter Concert
  • Year 2 to 6 Harvest Festival
  • Year 3 to 6 Winter Concert
  • Musical lunchtime lives
  • Instrumental Concerts (as well as the Year 3 instrumental scheme)
  • Year 1 to 2 Summer Concert
  • Year 3 to 6 Summer Concert

Explore Prep

Explore Habs