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Since 2022, Vicky Harding Originally from Yorkshire, educated at Leeds Girls’ High School, studied music at the University of Edinburgh, Royal Academy of Music, PGCE at Garden House From there, Director of Music at the Dragon, Deputy Head at Newland House School, Head of Sarum Hall School in London So, what tempted her away from London? ‘It's not often a job comes up in a place like this. There is so much opportunity here with all that is on offer.’ She says the children really engage with that – they ‘give their heart and soul and they deliver every day’. This also seems true of Mrs Harding who exudes boundless energy, has a refreshing, down to earth manner and is hugely popular amongst pupils, staff and parents
A self-proclaimed perfectionist and with a ‘painful eye for detail’ (her husband’s words –he is a professional musician) Minimalist study would support this view, although the comfy sofas and table and chairs which frequently welcome pupils – she has just had nursery in for ‘juice and a story’ - give away her softer side She enjoys a fantasy novel; ‘witches and alchemy’ if possible Loves a nice meal out, cooking at home, skiing and running
Her sense of community shines through: ‘Everyone is recognised for their role here, whoever they are – they are part of the fold and appreciated I’m most proud of the culture of the school – staff love their jobs and that rubs off on pupils’, and this was evident in those we met. A jolly, friendly bunch and a mix of ages and personalities. Parents describe her overwhelmingly as, ‘really, really lovely, approachable, has time for everyone.’ ‘I can talk to her about anything’, ‘listens and takes time to consider decisions which she sticks to’. She is very ‘visible’ and prides herself on mucking in whenever needed
E N T R A N C E
Main entry points are Nursery, Reception and Year 7 – but children can join any time if there’s space, including mid academic year Academically non-selective, although there are CAT4 tests including verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, spatial and quantitative awareness from Year 3 upwards to check they can access the curriculum.
E X I T
At 13+, around 95 per cent head off to the senior school (no entrance test required) Small numbers of pupils (5 in 2025) go elsewhere for a variety of usually financial or family related reasons A commendable 42 scholarships to Repton in 2026 – 4 art, 7 drama, 5 D&T, 4 music, 9 academic and 13 sport
Deepest darkest Derbyshire, and Foremarke Hall, home to this unassuming prep Mud, mist, and oodles of green space: 55 acres complete with lake, walled garden and outdoor classroom Number one rule for parents: cars must be able to withstand a pothole First established in 1940 and a stone's throw away from its parent, Repton Prep ‘keeps your child younger for longer’
Pre-Prep housed within its own purposebuilt block, surrounded by secure outdoor play areas with slides and climbing frames. Bright and airy classrooms full of colour, paint, water, and building blocks. Specialist teaching added at intervals with music and drama from Nursery, swimming from Reception, games and French in Year 1 and art and D&T by Year 2 Black lab puppy in residence, desperate to join in, is being trained up to help reluctant readers (we predict long list of these)
As part of our tour, we sat in on an animated Year 6 maths lesson uncovering recurring decimals: questions and answers being thrown around, hands in the air when not involved in the important business of Pritt Stick Impressive discussion in geography with Year 5s concerning the Arctic and its importance to certain nations Much Pritt Stick again, much chat about what colour to colour in countries on the map, interspersed with remarks involving oil supplies, melting ice and shipping costs. Year 8 science exploded with Bunsen burners, matches, test tubes and goggles. Head of science told us, ‘I try to make science come alive by performing an experiment at the end of every lesson.’ Four-hundred experiments totted up in the Michaelmas term alone! Enthusiasm paying off with a number of successful scholars Our tour guides were a wonderful mix of calm, studious and gentle (Year 8 academic scholar) and chatty, bubbly, incredibly excited to be skipping lessons and showing us every detail of their school (each cuddly toy included)
O U R V I E W
With 95 per cent of pupils heading to Repton, they work towards their own internal certificate in Year 8, thereby giving more ‘flexibility and breadth of offering to the curriculum’ Selected as gold standard by ISEB for the IPQ – a qualification offering independence of study on a chosen topic Pupils we met had chosen Japanese food, Tudor puddings and one very long title involving the Maginot line Streaming from Year 3, Latin and Spanish from Year 7 Everyone agreed, ‘they set just about the right amount of homework, at the level the child is capable of.’ Favourite subjects amongst our lunch companions: art, science and library.
No own devices in school (boarders excepted) but sets of laptops dotted around classrooms for use as needed. Digital creativity, just as with much about this school, has been carefully considered and they ‘try to think outside the box’ VR headsets and a media suite complete with green screen are examples of how they use tech but with careful monitoring ‘It’s normal here for Year 7s and 8s to not have their own phone yet,’ mused one parent
Personalised learning department, where we saw one child taking time out in the sensory room, is ‘a safe haven,’ raved one mother Small numbers of children with EHCPs haveone-to-one teachers funded by local authority In-class teaching assistants in every year group to Year 4; one is trained as an emotional literacy support assistant Can support pupils with a range of specific learning difficulties and mild ASD/ADHD Previous experience with children with hearing impairments 15 pupils receive EAL support (no extra charge). All staff receive neurodiversity training during INSET. Children regularly screened and if needed receive an individual programme of support. ‘My child loves the learning department and has improved so much in his reading
already,’ said one ‘My child was 100 per cent supported in the move to Repton senior,’ agreed another
Music school was buzzing with auditions for Repton Prep’s own young musician of the year Over half play an instrument, allinclusive choirs, chamber choir, orchestra and a plethora of musical groups, bands and ensembles - ‘a lot of opportunities to perform’ The art room oozed paint, colour, bright natural light and talent Of particular note were pencil portraits and watercolours adorning the walls, but portfolios (including one forest inspired corset) from the art scholars blew us away. The D&T studio was ablaze with 3D printers, laser printers, textiles corner and drill stations complete with stools for Year 2 – hot on the health and safety here. Home also to Greenpower where pupils design, build and race their own electric cars: much discussion over carbon fibre overheard Drama club (pass the clap games) in full swing in the theatre, used for year group assemblies, LAMDA performances and rehearsals for this year’s performance of Peter Pan
O U R V I E W
Main sports of football, hockey and cricket for all, plus netball for girls Notably absent is rugby ‘Sport is continuously developing and adapting to changing demands,’ the Head of Sport tells us Tennis has grown massively (60 pupils in Years 7 and 8 have chosen tennis over cricket) and swimming taken seriously Two water based astros and netball courts in good nick although we were unable to see the indoor pool (under renovation at the time of our visit) Older pupils often take advantage of the sports facilities at Repton senior Exposure to specialist sports coaching from the Pre-Prep up, is now paying off. Proof in the pudding with this year’s U13 girls and boys both winning the IAPS national football. For those less Beckham-like the school ‘carefully selects f enough Over tw our visit high-lev be seen teams w parents sure the escapes Clubs ta (4, 5 or 6 note we dog wal f l
Wellbeing woven into the fabric Small wellbeing rooms dotted around school, always staffed at break We saw these cosy corners in full use: one happily chatting to a teacher whilst practising times tables, another being coached gently about his behaviour Posters and hand-written quotes adorn the ‘spread kindness’ board and can be seen all around school ‘Be an upstander, not a bystander’ ‘Be brave’ Being kind is something Mrs Harding ‘bangs on about all the time’ (her words, not ours) The library is a popular winter break hang out, with cosy sofas and books on wellbeing at the forefront. We were tempted to join the knitting club on this cold winter's day.
O U R V I E W
Parents are ‘very clear who to talk to’ - strong lines of communication between Form Teacher, Head of Wellbeing and Head of Pastoral Tricky conversations are dealt with head on, and with compassion and sensitivity ‘Clear and organised information’ List of sanctions in every classroom leaves little room for dispute ‘They shape children into knowing right from wrong,’ says Head of Pastoral and as one parent of an ADHD child said, ‘it has been fantastic Clear and consistent boundaries helped my child quickly turn a corner.’ Many children we saw wore an excellence badge: varying colours dependent on number of merits for good work and behaviour. Children are given much ‘freedom and independence within the grounds of the school, and with that they learn responsibility and community’. As such, a few gripes about lost uniform.
Food is, as one teacher commented, ‘one of the best I’ve ever seen in a prep school’ We agree – main course (pasta as it was fixture day) with alternatives of three different types of jacket potato (normal, sweet or spicy), delicious soup option, salad bar and huge baskets of fruit Floor to ceiling glass, this modern dining hall gives you as close a feel to eating outdoors as the Derbyshire weather allows Different lunchtimes for every year group – very much a buffet style grab and run – to get more of that allimportant time outside
Pupils are aware of the ‘Repton bubble’ ‘We are quite cut off,’ says Mrs Harding, ‘so we have to work harder’ Visible increase in community and charity projects Dinner and debate evenings, RPS Inspire – a series of external speakers, careers talks, fundraising for community events, lots of external trips
Majority of pupils are from within a one-hour drive Several bus routes on offer Two thirds of full boarders live abroad – many from Japan, others from China, HK, Spain, Singapore and South Africa. Many dual working parents, though: ‘Wealth is there, but not showy’. ‘Culturally diverse,’ noted one. ‘Best decision we ever made’ and ‘Really lovely group of people.’ Parents seem well looked after: match teas, parent breakfasts and coffee mornings - plenty of opportunity to socialise but without too much pressure.
Majority of pupils are from within a one-hour drive Several bus routes on offer Two thirds of full boarders live abroad – many from Japan, others from China, HK, Spain, Singapore and South Africa Many dual working parents, though: ‘Wealth is there, but not showy’ ‘Culturally diverse,’ noted one ‘Best decision we ever made’ and ‘Really lovely group of people’ Parents seem well looked after: match teas, parent breakfasts and coffee mornings - plenty of opportunity to socialise but without too much pressure
School does what it says on the tin: yes to boarding whenever you like; no they don’t play rugby; yes they all move on to the same senior school Straightforward, getting on with the job with no airs and graces
B O A R D I N G
Around 50 full boarders and an additional 120 flexi (around 40 per cent of pupils in total), varying from once-a-weekers, ad hoc and weekly boarders Anything goes it seems Four boarding houses: two for full boarders (four nights a week or more) and two for those boarding three nights or less Boys in the old servants' quarters in large dorms of eight or so (wine cellar, butler's pantry et al) and girls in the old stable block in smaller rooms of two or three Huge boarders’ games room with table tennis, table football, enormous TV and bean bags ‘My boys made their closest friends in the boarding house,’ says mother of international boarders ‘Feels like home,’ says one of the girls House phones and iPads can be used to call home in quiet nooks Fully stocked kitchens provide home from home comforts Shower rooms and loos all clean and modern. Live-in houseparent in each of the four houses (and frequently a four-legged friend). Many other staff living on site with their families. Reading time every night. Parents kept up to date with emails and photos on social media, although newly introduced online boarding parents meeting doesn’t consider time difference for some. Boarding staff are ‘caring and friendly', 'always there to talk to if you feel homesick’ and spend ‘a lot of time planning activities’ Weekends are full to the brim with den building, scavenger hunts, movie nights, sport and visits to local theme parks
M O N E Y M A T T E R S
Means-tested bursaries from Year 3 Year 7 scholarships are no longer offered at Repton Prep
T H E L A S T W O R D
Senior school scholarships abound, sport and arts outstanding, boarders thriving, freedom of choice for learning, difference is embraced and families flock from far and wide because it’s special The freedom offered at Repton Prep promotes independence, to try out anything and everything and have a go, to be who you want to be, with no pressure The total antidote to big city living And the best bit, it doesn’t have to end at 13 A hidden gem
