Monkton Prep School A GSG School

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 excellent staff hirings. Equally, she’s warm and approachable – this is a woman who will happily scoot down a zip-wire on a co-curricular day. She likes to be very visible and see what everyone is up to: ‘That’s one of the reasons I changed the location of my office.’ When not surveying the scene from her desk, she impressively strides around in heels: ‘I always wear them – I can even run in them,’ she says, before adding, ‘Then again, no one wants to see a head run. You always need to appear calm.’

When asked what mattered most, she responded, ‘I’m a relationships person. I want to forge strong bonds with children, staff and parents: I’m really keen to ensure that we have a close community.’ She seems to have been successful; parents we spoke to all mentioned how deeply the staff care about the welfare of their children.

Married with two grown-up children, she has put her whole self into leading Monkton forward.

Entrance

Nursery starts from age 2: school’s aim is for it to become a natural feeder into reception, with parents buying into the ‘Monkton package’. Admission from reception is based on a taster day and informal interview with most gaining a place. From year 3, pupils are required to sit a CAT test and take part in a two-day taster session to ‘really get the flavour of a child’ (boarders have a two-night stay). Reference requested for all years (where available in early years). Majority are from Bath and surrounding areas, joining in reception, years 5 or 7. Occasional places filled by those coming from local state schools or relocating from London, M4 corridor. ‘Apply early!’ says school: there are waiting lists for certain year groups.

Exit

Only school in the immediate Bath area to go up to year 8 and the vast majority of pupils now move on to the senior school (circa 90 per cent). Entry to senior school from prep is via an assessment day. Collaborative conversations take place if school thinks a child will not keep up with its academic requirements. A few still leave for other UK boarding schools (Winchester, Marlborough, Millfield), but this is no longer the well-trodden path of yesteryear.

Our view

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.

Starting from the youngest, teachers are making great strides to captivate. The nursery had an enormous yellow cardboard JCB ready for role play and reception’s glass doors were adorned with broad beans growing in little plastic bags: ‘We like to bring the outdoors inside, wherever we can.’

Even though some of the main prep teaching buildings may seem a little tired on the outside, what goes on inside is anything but. During our tour, examples of engaged children were in abundance – some clustered round a genuine Tudor Bible, others squealing with excitement when deciding how they could grow mould on a piece of bread (saliva or dirt from a shoe anyone?).

Curriculum in both the lower and upper years has been refreshed, spearheaded by a capable deputy head academic. Years 1–4 now do the Innovate programme, written by a Monkton staff member (an example of the high level of creativity and commitment required from teachers). Non-core academic subjects are taught via a topic with exploratory activities that aim to give all pupils (including those that may not be maths and English champions) the chance to succeed. Horrible History-esque topics include Tudor medicine where children create a doctor’s surgery or write a script between doctor and patient.

Higher up, Common Entrance has been replaced with PSB (Prep School Baccalaureate). With so many going through to the senior school, the PSB’s skills-based curriculum is regarded as better preparation for the requirements of year 9 and beyond. It allows more breathing space for investigative work in core subjects like science rather than cramming in endless facts required for CE. An electronic evidence portfolio, uploaded onto a snazzy website, is adored by the year 7 and 8 children as a place to ‘record achievements beyond academics, including sport and art’. Perhaps not the school for those who think education is about lots of weekly tests, but will certainly suit those that want learning to be engaging and relevant while still being committed to teaching the core skills.

Academically welcoming, the seasoned SENCos are on hand to support with any concerns. ‘They really know their stuff,’ according to one parent. Department has been significantly developed under their tenure with robust systems established for tracking, assessing and supporting children. Support primarily via one-to-one sessions or in-class support with willing teachers.

Established in 1888, Monkton’s traditional Christian roots are firmly in place (but not overbearingly so). School’s popular and cheerful chaplain delivers a religious message during the twice-weekly chapel service in an entertaining way. Nursery children were in raptures over his puppet show in their assembly and the year 8s run a club called Ichthus for the younger children in which they ‘teach stories from the Bible with a funny twist’. Newly refurbished dining hall is fresh and airy with plenty of seating outdoors for the hardier souls (another example of the head putting the children centre stage – it used to be meeting rooms before she decided that the nicest part of the school should be for the children, not her). Fish and chips Friday is a firm favourite but ‘the curry, oh the curry where you get to choose your own sauce’ is also deemed delicious.

Arts are well provided for. Children wax lyrical about ‘Mr E’ in DT. Fizzing with energy, this is a man who allows children to build their own racing car from scratch and put it on the track at Castle Combe! Nice art studio and there are plans for a pottery space. The music building may be a little tired (plans in pipeline for a refresh) but the teacher certainly is not; ‘She really knows her stuff,’ according to one child. They’ve just done Matilda and it was ‘the best we’ve ever seen’. There’s a whole raft of lunchtime choirs, orchestras and ensembles. We even hear discussions are taking place to build an amphitheatre on the front lawn. From year 6, all must take part in a leadership course, helping to bring out even the shyest and most retiring children, but, as with everything else, it is done in a gentle, nurturing way.

‘Wonderfully sporty,’ according to one parent, and sport is fundamental to the children – matches and sporting wins are often cited as a ‘favourite memory’ for many a year 8 leaver in the school magazine. Strong sporting presence amongst the Bath prep circuit boosted by highly qualified coaches who work with pupils across the whole of Monkton. Facilities include a 25-metre pool and an array of pitches. All expected to take part in matches, cross-country runs, the famed triathalon and swim galas, regardless of sporting prowess.

The co-curricular offering is a real selling point. ‘Staff go above and beyond to provide for the children.’ There’s an immaculate looking paddock called The Farm, which is home to goats, sheep, guinea pigs and even an alpaca. Pupils can tend the animals as part of their leadership training or during an after-school club. A highlight of the school calendar is Wild Monkton, an annual co-curricular extravaganza where ‘no effort is spared’. A jammed day including obstacle courses, archery, kayaking or clambering up Pen y Fan. Roster of after-school clubs is impressive: cubs to coding, dog walking club to dodgeball. Saturday morning school (year 5 onwards) is also dedicated to the co-curricular.

Children are genuinely happy and confident (without being overly so). One parent described them as ‘free within a framework’. At breaktime they spill out from the classroom into the grounds like free-range chickens exploring their manor, yet all seem to know what they can and cannot get up to (staff meetings have included conversations about safe tree climbing at break). The staff really care about the pastoral wellbeing of each child. And that means all staff, including Reggie, the school office dog, who is on hand as a friendly therapy dog for anyone who feels down.

Monkton’s marketing claims it ‘Thinks differently’. Mrs Winchcombe explained that this phrase was born out of the idea that everything starts from the child, who they are and how they learn. Whether the school really does think differently is up for debate but it is certainly one that cares deeply.

Boarders

Majority of boarders are UK based with a few from overseas and military postings. Plenty of flexibility to do full, weekly or flexible boarding with majority staying for weekends. Walk into the house and you are greeted by bright, cheerful noticeboards guiding the children through evening activities and planned trips before seeing a cosy common room festooned with fairy lights. Dorms are airy with views over the hills to make any estate agent excited. Weekends are ‘the perfect balance of independence, moments to chill and times to enjoy the excellent activities laid on’. Parents we spoke to could not rate the boarding offering more highly: ‘Staff go over and beyond expectations and duty towards the children.’ One parent said that she was even sent a photo of her children on their first night, ‘all snuggled up in bed with a reassuring message that they were cosy and happy’.

All this kindness and care does not mean that discipline is absent. The children have been required to pull up their socks, literally and metaphorically, of late and this has led to fewer sanctions and a move now to focusing on celebrating the positive. Friday afternoons are punctuated for some by a hot chocolate treat with the head to celebrate those who have upheld the school values.

Many parents work hard to send their children to Monkton. It may be slightly more expensive than its local competitors but the flexible boarding option, the vast array of activities and good wraparound care justifies the price, for most.

Money matters

A few bursaries offered, priority given to children of clergy and missionaries (boarding only). Military discount also available. An Excellence Programme is run for scholarship quality candidates but with no fee discount.

The last word

Produces kind, happy children who are confident enough to have a go at whatever is thrown at them. This is a school that goes the extra mile to give all pupils the benefits of a boarding experience with wraparound care, a rich range of activities and busy weeks. In a clustered local market, Monkton is an excellent choice for those wanting to be immersed in a vibrant, rural school experience that can see them through right to the end of their school career.

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.

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