Prebendal School

Infobox UK school
name = Prebendal School

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motto = "Fons Sapientae Verbum Dei"
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established = 1497
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type = Preparatory School
religion = Church of England
president =
head_label = Head Master
head = Timothy Cannell
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founder = Edward Story
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street = West Street
city = Chichester
county = West Sussex
country = Englandflagicon|England
postcode =PO19 1RT
LEA =
ofsted =
staff = 44 (approx.)
enrollment = 150 (approx.)
gender = Boys & Girls
lower_age = 3
upper_age = 13
houses = 4
colours =Red
publication =
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website = http://prebendalschool.org.uk/
website_name = Prebendal School

The Prebendal School is a private Preparatory school in Chichester, situated opposite Chichester Cathedral. It is a boarding and day school with roughly 150 pupils including the choristers of the Cathedral choir.

History

Children have been educated on the present site since the fifteenth century. The Prebendal is the oldest school in Sussex and probably dates back to the foundation of Chichester Cathedral in the eleventh century when it was a 'song school', teaching and housing the choristers. Later it admitted other boys from the city and neighbouring areas, becoming a grammar school. It was refounded in 1497 by Bishop Edward Story who attached it to the Prebend of Highleigh in Chichester Cathedral hence the name.

The thirteenth century school house with its narrow tower still stands in West Street. Long Dormitory, on the top floor, contains three-hundred year old panelling. Two adjoining eighteenth-century houses have been added, while the addition in 1966 of the east wing of the Bishop's Palace, which is next door to the main school buildings, provides considerable extra accommodation.

Further extensions have provided an assembly hall, new classrooms and an Art, Design and Technology Room. There is a modern science laboratory and an I.C.T. room.

Girls were introduced into the school in 1972 and a Pre-Prep in 1996.The school is now a co-educational, day and boarding preparatory school for children between 3 and 13 years of age.

The Curriculum

Pupils cover the ground for the Common Entrance and Scholarship Examinations to senior independent schools.

The curriculum is constantly reviewed and there are regular information evenings for parents.

Timetabled subjects

These include English, Mathematics, Science, French, History, Geography, Religious Studies, Latin (from the age of 9), Art, Design & Technology, Music and Drama.

Reporting progress

Parents receive a full written report with grades at the end of the Michaelmas Term and at the end of the Summer Term. They receive a report card containing effort and attainment grades each half-term and at the end of the Lent Term.

School examinations take place once a year during the Summer Term.

Parents' Day

Each form has one parents' day during the year giving parents an opportunity to meet the teachers and discuss their child's work.

Music

As a Choir School educating the Cathedral Choristers, the school has a strong music department. The Director of Music is assisted by the Assistant Organist in the Cathedral and there are many visiting music staff. A wide variety of instruments are taught.

There are three choirs, three orchestras and many groups and ensembles.

The highlight of the musical year is the school music concert, which takes place in the Cathedral during the Lent Term. The school has a high reputation for music and each year both boys and girls win music awards to independent schools.

Drama, Art and Technology

Drama

All forms from Year 3 to Year 8 have one period of drama per week. There is one major school production during the year, which takes place during the Michaelmas Term. This runs for four nights and involves many children, not only acting but helping backstage with the set, lighting, costumes, make-up and music.

The Chichester Festival Theatre is nearby and children attend performances there. Occasionally, they have taken part with famous actors and actresses in productions.

Art and Technology

Forms One and Six have a double period of art, design and technology per week and Years Four, Five, Six and Seven have three periods per week. Each term there is opportunity for children to pursue their interest in these subjects as extra-curricular activities at Art Club and Design and Technology Club.Children also visit galleries and exhibitions locally and in London.

port

The children have games sessions every afternoon and many matches are played against other schools. The playing fields are close to the school, on the south side of the Cathedral.There are four football pitches, two hockey fields, cricket nets, and two tennis courts. Pupils do sports for one hour at the end of every day.

The major sports played are soccer, hockey and netball in the winter terms and cricket, athletics, tennis and swimming in the summer term. Swimming is taught in the school's own heated outdoor swimming pool.

Extra-curricular Activities

The period between 4.30 and 6.00 pm is known as club time. There are many clubs and out-of-school activities organised by members of staff. These are open to all children, whether boarders or day pupils. They vary from term to term depending on the interests and enthusiasm of staff and pupils. Some of the most popular include fencing, art, design and technology, general knowledge, chess, science, and photography.In the two winter terms there is gym club for those interested in gymnastics and in the summer term there are outdoor clubs, including swimming, athletics, tennis and cricket.

Houses

*Neville (Green)
*Luffa (Red)
*Sherbourne (Yellow)
*Seffrid (Blue)

Each house is named after former Bishops of Chichester, They are:

Ralph Neville

Ralph Luffa

Robert Sherbourne

Seffrid I & Seffrid II

Housemasters

Every child who enters the Prebendal School is placed in one of the four houses; Luffa, Neville, Seffrid or Sherborne . Housemasters are responsible for the overall pastoral welfare of the children in their house.

Form Teachers

A child usually enters the school at the age of seven, into one of the year three classrooms. The year three teachers are responsible for the academic and general welfare of the children in their form. They are responsible for helping the children settle into the school. Form teachers, from year 4 upwards, are responsible for taking afternoon registration, for weekly form periods and for keeping an eye on relationships within the forms and the behaviour of the form as a whole. The weekly form period is a time when any problems concerning class or school life such as work, relationships, behaviour, school rules etc., can be discussed.

The Pre-Prep Department

The Pre-Prep is for children between the ages of three and seven. It is located in Northgate House, a large Tudor house in the centre of Chichester and in Highleigh Hall, a specially designed building in the Prebendal grounds. Classes are small. There are close links to the Prep, some of whose specialist staff also teach in the Pre-Prep.

Throughout the Pre-Prep music is taught by a specialist and all children take part in concerts and performances during the year. Individual instrumental lessons may be arranged to take place in school. The Pre-Prep has a bank of computers and software. French is taught from three years of age. In addition there is a variety of after-school clubs.The Pre-Prep children have the use of the Prebendal School’s facilities including the I.C.T. suite, sports fields and swimming pool. The older pupils join in weekly assemblies in Chichester Cathedral.
Lunches are cooked on the school premises and eaten communally.The Pre-Prep Department has its own Headmistress.

Boarding

There are seven dormitories and accommodation for up to 46 boarders. Each dorm has a name;

Long (which is called that because it is the longest dorm in the boarding house),

Tarring (which is named after Tarring),

Bell (which is named after George Bell),

St. Edmund's (which is named after St. Edmund),

Juxon (which is named after William Juxon),

St. Wilfred's (which is named after St. Wilfred) &

St. Richard's (which is named after St. Richard) Matrons are responsible for the health, medical records, hygiene, clothing and laundry of the boarders. The School Doctor's surgery is close at hand and he visits the school when required. Many children join the school as day pupils and enter as boarders towards the end of their time at Prebendal. The majority of those boarding are weekly boarders, so there is frequent contact with parents and home.Increasingly popular with parents and children, if space permits, are sleep-overs and short term boarding.

The Choristers

The school educates the Chichester Cathedral choristers who enter the school on a choral scholarship. There are "twelve choristers" and "six probationers" all of whom are full boarders. The choristers are under the leadership of the Cathedral Organist who is also Master of the Choristers.During term time they sing Evensong in the Cathedral each day of the week, except Wednesday, and at the main services each Sunday.Apart from fulfilling its Cathedral duties, the Choir takes part in services and concerts outside the Cathedral. It travels abroad and makes regular recordings and broadcasts.All choristers learn at least two instruments. Piano tuition is provided free of charge. In spite of their busy life in connection with the Cathedral, the choristers play a full part in all aspects of school life. The school timetable is so arranged that they miss as little academic work as possible.
Games also are considered an important part of school life and the choristers, together with all other children, participate in games each afternoon, and many in the past have played a valuable part in the sporting life of the school.

Voice Trials

This is an opportunity for boys of age six or seven to demonstrate choral potential and become choristers at the Prebendal.Voice Trials take place once a year, usually on a Saturday in January. Candidates sit an academic assessment test in the school during the morning and attend a voice trial in the afternoon at the Organist's house.

References and Resources

N. Ollerenshaw, A History of the Prebendal School (Phillimore, 1984)