Rydes Hill Preparatory School

Infobox UK school
name = Rydes Hill Preparatory School


motto =
phone = 01483 563160
fax = 01483 306714
established = 1945
type = preparatory school
head = Stephanie Bell MA (Oxon.)
street = Aldershot Road
city = Guildford
county = Surrey
country = England
enrollment =
lower_age = 3
upper_age = 7 (boys), 3 to 11 (girls)
publication =
website = http://www.rydeshill.com/

Rydes Hill Preparatory School is a co-educational, Roman Catholic Preparatory school in Guildford, Surrey, England. The school caters to children 3-11.

History

Rydes Hill was founded in September 1945 by Sister Patricia of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph [ [http://www.daughtersofmaryandjoseph.co.uk/ Daughters of Mary and Joseph at daughtersofmaryandjoseph.co.uk] (accessed 24 October 2007)] , a Roman Catholic religious order, on a three and a half acre site in Aldershot Road, Guildford, Surrey, where it remains.

Before becoming a school, the main building was a private house called Rydes Hill House, and before that The Clock House. It was built in the 18th century and has Victorian extensions. In the mid 19th century, the house was the residence of William Edmund Elkins, of the Elkins Brewery family, four times mayor of Guildford.

The present School Library, formerly the billiard room, has an eighteen-panel frieze painted by the Victorian artists Talbot Hughes and Sir Herbert Hughes-Stanton which tells the story of Joan of Arc. The Dining Room is in the Jacobean style, with oak-panelling, and between 1945 and 1964 it served as a Roman Catholic chapel for the parish.

The house has a clock tower which is called 'Little Ben' by the children [http://www.rydeshill.com/about/friends.aspx The Friends of Rydes Hill] at rydeshill.com (accessed 25 October 2007)] and is surrounded by mature trees. [http://www.rydeshill.com/about/facilities.aspx Facilities] at rydeshill.com (accessed 25 October 2007)]

In 1989, the ownership of the school was transferred to a charitable trust managed by a Board of Governors.

Headmistresses of Rydes Hill

* Sister Patricia (1945 to c. 1960)
* Miss Bernadette May (1989 to)
* Mrs Joan Lenahan BA (to 2006)
* Mrs Stephanie Bell MA (Oxon.) (from 2006) [http://www.isbi.com/isbi-viewschool/631-RYDES_HILL_PREPARATORY_AND_NURSERY_SCHOOL.html Rydes Hill Preparatory School] at isbi.com (accessed 25 October 2007)]

Children and staff

The age range was from three to seven for boys and from three to eleven for girls, with 140 girls and ten boys in the school. There are ten full-time staff and six part-time, and the Headmistress is a member of the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS).

Admission to the school is by assessment, interview, and report from the child's previous school, where appropriate.

Curriculum

The school teaches all the usual subjects of the National Curriculum, and children are prepared for the Common Entrance Examination and successfully placed in leading senior schools. [http://www.rydeshill.com/about/school.aspx About the School] at rydeshill.com (accessed 25 October 2007)] There is also provision for teaching ballet, performing arts, elocution, piano, clarinet, violin and flute. [http://www.rydeshill.com/about/fees.aspx Fees effective from Autumn Term 2007] at rydeshill.com (accessed 25 October 2007)] Each form has a teacher, while physical education, music, French and Science are taught by specialist teachers.

Facilities

The school has a large hall with a stage, which is used for assemblies, school plays, gymnastics, and ballet. As well as classrooms, which all have interactive whiteboards ["A feature of the school is the many spacious and well lit classrooms, which contribute significantly to the quality of education provided." - Independent Schools Inspectorate report, 2001] , there is a library, a modern science laboratory, an information technology suite, and rooms for music teaching and music practice.

In the school's grounds, there are two all-weather tennis or netball courts, an adventure playground, and grassed play areas.

Fees

The annual fees for the year 2007-2008 are between £2,460 and £7,485, depending on age, and fees are reviewed each year. There are additional charges for some extras, such as ballet or learning a musical instrument.

The Friends of Rydes Hill

The Friends organize fundraising and social events in support the school. Each year group has two parent representatives on the Friends Committee. In 2007, a Summer Ball was held.

The Friends have created a millennium garden, restored the clock tower, bought a minibus and play equipment, and paid for theatre companies to visit the school.

References

External links

* [http://www.rydeshill.com/ Ryde's Hill Preparatory School] - official school web site
* [http://www.guildford.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/5827C117-4A24-4451-87BE-F03E05EF84C4/0/3HeritageOpenDays06Propertiespart2.pdf Notable Guildford Buildings] at guildford.gov.uk