Prep

Firm foundations from the Pre-prep mean that the Prep School children can move forward with confidence to explore their enhanced curriculum.

In Years 3 and 4 the children still spend time with their Form Teachers but have an increasing number of lessons with specialist teachers. A large, well-equipped Art Room, a Science Lab equipped to Secondary School standards and a large Performance Hall are all available for the children from Year 3.
Homework is balanced to the ability and needs of each child at their age and stage, ensuring that the task is achievable and relevant. We believe that children have a right to enjoy their evening with their family but also need the discipline of independent work to support their learning.

Alongside the expected academic subjects, children in the Prep School have weekly Drama lessons, Enquiry lessons (where learning happens in our wonderful grounds) and Latin in Years 5 and 6, which provides an interesting way to access grammar!
We want learning to be enjoyable and we know that content children learn well; that is our mission.

We believe that sport is a hugely important element of both education and life. Habits learned early affect children’s lifelong attitudes to sport and fitness. At Polwhele House we aim to provide a sporting environment in which every pupil has the opportunity to reach their full potential and develop a love for sport and exercise. Our inclusive approach, means all children have the opportunity to represent the school and take part in competitive fixtures. We also give as many children as possible the opportunity to compete at regional or national level.

With our fantastic school grounds (large playing fields offering a rugby pitch and football pitches, netball courts, grass tennis courts, a woodland cross country course, an indoor sports gym/fencing salle/dance studio and a riding arena) all pupils are presented with endless sporting opportunities.

Netball is played in both the Michaelmas and Lent terms and is led by one of our games teachers, who is herself an ex-international netball player. Games sessions are supplemented by after school club training. Fixtures are regularly played against other schools, providing all children with an opportunity to compete in competitive matches. In the Lent term, older pupils prepare for the regional competitions and over the last two years we have had great success in these, with the U11 team being crowned South-West Champions for both 2022 and 2023. At the 2023 national finals the U11s achieved equal 5th place in the country.

Cross-country takes place in the Michaelmas and Lent terms and all children take part in races against other schools. We are lucky to have our own cross-country course at Polwhele House, where our pupils regularly have the opportunity to run through our school woods. Our inter-house cross-country event is a favourite amongst our pupils and parents, and we host the annual Polwhele House cross-country race, where schools from across Cornwall come and race on our course. We enter as many children as possible into the ISA South West Regional race and in the 2023 season, 11 runners qualified through to the National Finals. Our U9 boys’ team were also crowned South West Champions.

In the summer term, all pupils receive coaching in both track and field events, with an after school athletics club also offered. Every child has the opportunity to try every event. Pupils work towards the ISA regional competition, where we enter as many athletes as possible. In recent years, we have had exceptional success in this event. In the 2023 competition, 9 athletes were crowned South West Champions in their events and qualified through to the national finals, where we secured one gold, three silver and one bronze medal.

Fencing is another sport at which Polwhele excels. KS1 pupils participate in a weekly Midi Fencing session. From Year 3, pupils who continue take 1:1 30 minute lessons each week during the term and throughout the holidays. Once this apprenticeship is complete, they join a squad of core fencers who meet weekly for electric sparring and group lessons. Opportunities for competitive fencing include national and regional events at least twice per term, and our own club fight night. This year the club has grown from 2 to 15.