We are committed to finding an area in which every child excels, as we believe that success outside the classroom builds confidence and skills that can usefully be employed within it. Furthermore, the enrichment activities we offer give our children opportunities to develop and grow with confidence and to gain an awareness of their own character and capability. We give our girls and boys a wealth of opportunities to tackle difficult challenges and, through endeavour, to succeed and to enjoy the experience.
A wide programme of extra-curricular activities is available to Prep School pupils, organised by our staff or visiting specialist teachers and coaches. Most are free of charge but there is a charge for some activities. Parents will receive details and sign their children up at before the start of each term.
Examples of club activities include: Art/Craft, Dance; Music; Chess; Choir; ICT; Cricket; Drama; Spanish; Football; Rugby; Tennis; Life Skills; and Green Science.
Cerebral Activities
We have a group of budding chess grand masters who take part in external competitions, as well as representing the school in competitions with a weekly chess club as an after school activity.
Debating is also popular; our debaters have taken part in competitions and visited the House of Commons to see politicians in action. Our pupils have taken a keen interest in staging their own ‘mock’ referenda and elections, with sometimes surprising results!
Performing Arts
Our commitment to the arts is equally strong.
Music thrives, with a variety of ensembles for pupils to play in and perform concerts, both at school and out in our local community. Our choir is flourishing and performs regularly at the Church of the Good Shepherd in our local parish. A staff and parent choir also gets involved in music-making at school. Pupils have the opportunity to take part in our annual school productions, last year our senior production of Matilda: The Musical took place in the Lancing College Theatre.
Beyond the Drama elements taught within English lessons, we offer co-curricular activities, including a weekly Drama Club, open to all ages, which offers the chance to work with scripts, improvisation and performances. For those who wish to pursue Drama further, there are weekly additional lessons with a peripatetic teacher in preparation for external examinations with consistently impressive results.
Dance is thriving and is open to all ages and abilities in the Prep School. It is pleasing to see so many girls and boys taking part. There are three clubs per week. Dancers have many opportunities to perform in our school musicals, the School Summer Fair, Performance Assembly, the Year 8 Contemporary Arts evening and as part of the school’s participation in the annual Children’s Parade in Brighton. Occasional trips to see professional dance shows at venues such as Sadlers Wells in London enhance our pupils’ experience of dance.
Our artists have produced some particularly memorable work that is displayed around school and has been used in national exhibitions in recent years. The annual building of our display for the Children’s Parade in Brighton is an activity that involves children and adults alike.
Sport & Outdoor Pursuits
We field successful teams in the major games of football, rugby, cricket, hockey, netball and rounders, as well as participating in squash, tennis, swimming, athletics, cross-country running and golf events. We celebrate within school the achievements of our growing number of county and nationally ranked sporting stars.
Outdoor pursuits abound, with sailing and climbing clubs, as well as an annual ski trip and outdoor expeditions, for example our Year 8 summer term trip to South Wales. Our pupils experience a diversity of activities, from how to survive in the wild, surf and life-saving skills and indoor skydiving.
Before and After School Care
Please note that any pupils entering the school site before 8.10 or who remain in school after the end of the school day when they are not officially involved in after school activities or attending after school care will be perceived as being unsupervised.
Pre-Prep children may elect to stay at school for a specific club activity or for after school care, from 16.30. In either case fees are charged. After school care is available at a charge, details are available on our fees page
All Pre-Prep activities finish at 17.15.
The Prep School closes at 17.30 each evening and Prep School children may remain in supervised activities until that time.