Monkton Prep School A GSG School

- Monkton Prep School
Combe Down
Bath
Somerset
BA2 7ET - Head: Mrs Catherine Winchcombe
- T 01225 831200
- F 01225 840312
- E [email protected]
- W www.monktoncombeschool.com/
- A mainstream independent school for pupils aged from 2 to 13 with a linked senior school
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Bath and North East Somerset
- Pupils: 311
- Religion: Christian
- Fees: Day: £12,990 - £22,830 ; Boarding: £30,435 - £32,910 pa (last updated on 04/06/2024)
- Open days: February and May
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Linked schools: Monkton Combe School
What The Good Schools Guide says..
Prepare to be blown away by the bucolic setting, enormous cricket pitches and gently sloping lawns (there’s even a treehouse in the grounds). These acres of green space are a key selling point for this school, made even more attractive by being a short drive from Bath. Lovely though the surroundings are, this isn’t a school that trades heavily on its attractive landscape. Yes, it’s a cheerful outdoorsy school that’s big on the co-curricular, but dig deeper and you immediately realise that academics are also a cornerstone...
What the school says...
The core of Monkton Prep School is a strong sense of belonging. With a deliberate and purposeful focus on the whole child, we aim to help all students establish a strong foundation and feel secure. As a result, we believe that children are empowered to achieve their very best.
Monkton Prep is dedicated to guiding and supporting our students as they transition from young children to young adults. Our curriculum, facilities and staff are well-equipped to achieve this goal. We aim to help our pupils become confident, responsible and respectful members of society. Whether through play, storytelling, hands-on learning experiences, leadership opportunities or sports, we encourage our students to express themselves, collaborate positively and enjoy learning.
In our open and practical learning environment, indoors and outdoors, students have a fantastic opportunity to thrive. In the pre-prep phase, our interactive classrooms and large outdoor play area allow students to build meaningful relationships and explore in a safe environment. We recognise that every child is unique, and our teaching approach is tailored to meet each child's individual needs, ensuring they reach their full potential.
Our curriculum is designed to be engaging, challenging and flexible, allowing children to pursue their interests and explore their ideas and discoveries. Children are also introduced to various co-curricular activities with specialist teachers, such as music, drama, French, forest school and gym, helping them develop new skills and make friends. As students progress to the older years, the curriculum also evolves, ensuring each child is challenged throughout the learning process. Humanities, languages, STEM subjects and expressive arts – including music, drama, art and design and dance – help foster key attributes within our students to prepare them for future endeavours.
During years 7 and 8, our students can take on various roles within the school. We focus on developing leadership skills during years 6, 7 and 8, and we encourage our students to apply what they learn in real roles. These roles include mentoring younger students, prefects and house captains. Additionally, older students have opportunities for autonomy and independence through programs such as pre-senior baccalaureate, access to personal Chromebooks, participation in the excellence program and the ability to choose elective subjects that expand their learning beyond the core curriculum. ...Read more
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Other features
All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.
What The Good Schools Guide says
Head
Since 2020, Mrs Catherine Winchcombe, who joined the school as head of pre-prep in 2016. She’s been a ‘breath of fresh air’, according to one parent, and brought stability to the school after a succession of heads. Has a degree from Homerton, Cambridge and an MA in educational leadership from Nottingham. Plenty of teaching and leadership experience, having taught in an affluent state school in the south-east and done a stint in Middle Eastern international schools before returning to the UK and Monkton.
On arrival, a firm handshake coupled with a smile sets the tone. She possesses a sense of dynamism – under her tenure, the pre-prep and prep have joined forces, and much work has also been done to make the school more academically pioneering, with a raft of...
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Special Education Needs
Learning development at Monkton is done in three ways; in-class support, booster groups, and one-to-one or shared tuition in a specially equipped room. The staff are trained to help children with mild/moderate learning difficulties. Learning support is charged as an extra. The school has links with Bath Spa University's education department as well as with Patoss. Extra help is given to dyslexic pupils as well as a range of other learning difficulties by a dedicated and experienced team of staff.
Condition | Provision for in school |
---|---|
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Might cover/be referred to as;
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), PDA , Social skills, Sensory processing disorder |
Y |
HI - Hearing Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Hearing Impairment, HI - Hearing Impairment |
|
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Learning needs, MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty |
|
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment, Sensory processing |
|
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic , OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, Tics, Tourettes |
|
PD - Physical Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
PD - Physical Disability |
Y |
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay, PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty |
|
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Might cover/be referred to as;
Anxiety , Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health, SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Trauma |
Y |
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
Might cover/be referred to as;
DLD - Developmental Language Disorder, Selective mutism, SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication |
|
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty, Cerebral Palsy (CP) |
|
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Auditory Processing, DCD, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting, Other specific learning difficulty, SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) |
Y |
VI - Visual Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Special facilities for Visually Impaired, VI - Visual Impairment |
Leavers' destinations
School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Monkton Combe School | 2024 | 43 | Majority to the senior school | |
Marlborough College | 2024 | 1 | ||
Millfield School | 2024 | 1 | 1 | 1 Rugby Scholarship |
Westonbirt School | 2024 | 1 |
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