WHAT? WHERE?

Located within the large village of Taverham in mid-Norfolk, Langley Prep is set over a seriously impressive 100 acres of green parkland with its own stretch of the river Wensum. It is a co-ed day school which, in combination with its onsite Pre-Prep and Nursery, takes children from just 6 months old (yes, you read that right) to age 13.

The Senior School, in Loddon, with its own 100-acre parkland, continues the Langley educational journey until 18. You can read our review here. Both sites are within easy reach of Norwich, with the school link bus ferrying older siblings across for families with children at both.

With plenty of Hogwarts vibes, the Prep School is housed in a striking neo-Jacobean mansion built in 1858 which has served as school for just over 100 years (centenary celebrations were in full flow last year). The Pre-Prep and Nursery are in attractive purpose-built, low-rise buildings within the grounds. Enter the school down a sweeping drive fringed with woodland and, depending on the season, swathes of bluebells or snowdrops.

There are just over 200 pupils in the Prep School – that’s half an acre of land per child! – with a further 128 boys and girls in the Pre-Prep and Nursery. The most recent additions to the school include the Baby Room, which opened in January 2022, and a Transition class in Pre-Prep introduced in September 2021 (more on these later in the review).

From Reception there’s a two-form entry, increasing to three classes from Year 5 upwards. It is a 55/45 split of boys to girls in the Prep and class sizes currently range from a petite 10 in Reception to a fixed maximum of 18 per form.

The majority of pupils transfer over to the Senior School at end of Year 8 but there is the option to move at end of Year 5 (as there is Year 6-8 at both sites, with boarding available at the Loddon site).

FACILITIES

/SPORT

Sport is high on the agenda and there are plenty of facilities, including a large attractive sports hall (below), 3 tennis/netball courts, 1 indoor netball court, 5 rugby pitches, 5 hardball cricket pitches and 4 softball pitches, plus access to an astroturf within walking distance of the school grounds.

Prep pupils regularly hone their strokes in the recently revamped 16-metre pool, with weekly swimming for Pre-Prep.

The two-week timetable includes seven sessions of timetabled sport for Years 3-4, and six longer sessions for Years 5-8.

Weekly sporting fixtures see A to C teams playing regularly – and, in the spirit of sports for all, D to F teams fielded at least once a term for hockey and cricket.

There has been a recent drive to enhance girls’ games, with the addition of more experienced staff and a timetable reshuffle so that all pupils can access expert coaching from the Senior School sports staff. Girls play cricket alongside the boys and there will soon be opportunities for girls’ football coaching.

An after-school Enrichment programme of ‘hobbies’ keeps up the activity levels and offers some quirkier choices such as boxercise, mountain biking/BMX, circus skills and trampolining. In the summer term, children togged up in wetsuits and lifejackets stroll across the site to canoe in the school’s private stretch of river, whilst novice anglers join the fishing hobby held at the neighbouring nature reserve.

/CREATIVE ARTS

Music is a particularly strong suit, with regular performance opportunities and 40% of pupils learning an instrument. Expect rock band, woodwind ensembles and two choirs. On my visit, pupils were practicing on the grand piano in the inner hall ready for that evening’s Musical Soirée, attended by parents and siblings. All pupils get to exercise their vocal cords in the weekly assembly, annual interhouse singing competitions and the carol concert at St Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich.

In the music block, you’ll find a suite of six Apple Macs used for digital music composition by Years 7 and 8, along with 8 practice rooms, open to pupils eager to make music at break times.

/ART

With its vaulted ceiling and sky lights, the art department is a light, airy space for mixed media, air-dry clay sculpting, painting and print making. It opens onto a little garden used for sketching, inspiration and – coming soon – pop-up outdoor exhibitions.

/DRAMA

The can-do drama teacher – a favourite among the pupils I spoke to – is working hard to shine the spotlight on drama and beef up the opportunities available. To this end, she is introducing LAMDA lessons and exams with a specialist teacher. There’s a weekly drama class on the timetable for Years 3 to 8 and three performances a year. Years 6 to 8s are currently working on the musical Honk! and Year 3s on their Christmas play. It’s nearly curtain call for the old stage as a new performance area is high on the agenda, says the new Head.

/GENERAL

The Design & Technology department is housed in its own dedicated block, chokka with hand tools and workshop machinery – the flashiest of which are the 3D printer and laser cutter. Year 3 to 8 pupils often return at break time to work on projects or to tinker with the goblin kit car (above) which they will later race against other independent schools in the area. It’s all about destruction rather than construction currently, with pupils disassembling items brought in from home in order to identify and learn about the components (hold onto your KitchenAids, parents!).

Science is taught as one subject from Year 3 and there’s a large, well-equipped lab. The library, with its high ceilings and gorgeous views out the rear of the building, is a light, quiet space in which to sit with a book on one of the sofas by the window. The new Head has plans to add a timetabled weekly library session and to open the area to pupils at break times. A good option on a rainy day, but it hardly competes with the draw of the expansive green grounds, surely?

The acres and acres of parkland are definitely one of the school’s strongest selling points. All the pupils (yup, even those early teens in Year 8) pull on navy boilersuits and have free roam of a large green space bordered by woodland. It is absolute heaven for den building and climbing trees, and there is also a wooden trim trail including monkey bars and climbing wall, a tree swing, outdoor table tennis and basketball nets.

The outdoor learning takes advantage of all this space with den building, campfire making, survival skills and investigating flora and fauna. Children from nursery to Year 6 enjoy a weekly session in the Outdoor Learning Centre housed in the ancient woodland, complete with mud-hut style classroom and even a pizza oven. There’s also a large pond, which along with the school’s own stretch of river, is used for mini geography and science field trips. A maze has been mowed into the wildflower meadow by the pond for the little ‘uns.

ACADEMICS

This is a non-selective school, with prospective pupils required to have a taster day including an informal assessment and interview with the Head. If the fit is right between the school and the child, they are offered a place.

However, for those worried that their bright child may not get the attention he or she deserves, relaxez-vous – there is streaming for all subjects from Year 5, with three sets for Maths and English and two to three sets for the rest, depending on year group numbers. The school points out it that this ensures support is directed to where it is needed (e.g., the TA is with the smaller lower set), whilst allowing opportunity to stretch the more able.

Pupils start French in Year 1, with Spanish introduced as a second MFL in Year 7 and 8, along with a religion, philosophy and ethics class, and weekly study skills sessions with a focus on revision strategies and exam preparation.

Learning how to learn is very much part of the the school’s Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (PSB) curriculum which replaced Common Entrance at the school in 2017. Langley Prep is the only school in Norfolk and one of just 30 in the UK to run the PSB. Billed as a 21^st century education, the programme prepares Year 7 & 8 pupils for the challenges of life as young adults in senior schools. It is popular with parents who applaud the emphasis on soft skills and the focus on learning techniques.

The school takes the lessons of Covid seriously with all children and teaching integrated with tech right from the off. Introduced in April 2022, pupils from Year 3 upwards are provided with a personal device (a rather whizzy Microsoft Surface: a neat combo of a laptop and tablet with stylus). Pre-loaded with the software needed for lessons, the device is used in lessons and, depending on the year group, taken home to continue access to learning materials during prep.

Unusually, there is a Year 6 to 8 at both the Prep School and Senior School. The Senior School has boarding facilities so this could influence the decision to move early, but majority stay for the top two years. There’s much talk of continuity and stability at a time when pupils are facing the changes and challenges of adolescence. Big fish in a small pond, Year 7 and 8 pupils enjoy leadership opportunities, clearly love being a “mentor” to their Year 3 “mentees” and enjoy privileges like eating lunch in the senior dining room.

PASTORAL CARE

Pastoral care and happiness are top of the agenda. Of course, it’s easier to be pastorally strong in such a small setting, but it’s worth noting that the majority of teaching staff have had mental health training and there is a weekly pastoral meeting to get a jump on any concerns.

The children know where they can get help if they are feeling sad or low – they told me about the anonymous email address and Feelings Box where they can share their worries discreetly if they don’t want to go directly to a staff member. Three ’Time for You’ rooms (two in Prep and one in Pre-Prep), complete with cosy furnishings, books, Lego and drawing equipment, provide a place where pupils can talk to a mental health first aider or just enjoy some quiet space. The weekly mindfulness walks through the grounds led by a member of the Learning Support Department are a lovely touch. The school’s adored wellbeing dog, Honey, comes along too, with a double lead so the children can walk her in tandem with an adult.

SEND

The school is known for its inclusivity and actively welcomes and supports children with SEN. The Learning Support Department is run by an experienced SENDCo, supported by 7 teaching assistants offering one-to-one tuition (at an extra charge), small group sessions and in-class assistance (both free).

Outside providers such as speech therapists and occupational therapists come into school to work with pupils at the agreement of parents and the school.

HEAD

Roger Outwin-Flinders, Head of Langley Prep

Roger Outwin-Flinders took up the reins at Langley Prep in Sept 23 after the departure of Jason Hyatt. Roger has 27 years of headship experience – he was appointed to lead Wycliffe College Prep School at the age of 33 and since then has been Head at a number of schools including Fairfield Prep School and Hallfield Prep. He has served on the national committee of IAPS, the Prep Heads association, and has been an ISI inspector, so he knows what makes a good school and how to make smart improvements – handy!

LITTLIES

The purpose-built Pre-Prep and Nursery may not have the grandeur of the Hogwarts building, but they are bright, welcoming spaces located within skipping distance of the rest of the school so there’s good integration. The Head for the past nine years, Allison Skipper is warm, friendly and efficient, and also vastly experienced. She has been teaching for over 30 years, was previously Head of Pre-Prep at Glebe House School in Hunstanton, and is an ISI Education Quality Inspector, Compliance Inspector and Early Years Reporting Inspector (blimey). It is also a plus that Skipper takes a hands-on approach – teaching Pre-Prep music, running the Pre-Prep Choir and accompanies the children on the piano for their many performances.

A slick introduction to more formal schooling is provided by the new Transition class in Pre-Prep. Opened in September 2021, this pre-Reception year is for children committed to continuing their journey at the school, which is typically 80%. (The minority not moving through the school can remain in the Nursery setting before moving to their choice of Reception class.) It is run by a qualified Early Years teacher rather than a nursery practitioner, with a full-time TA. It also offers early access to Pre-Prep opportunities that aren’t available to nursery children, including music, swimming, PE, assemblies, performances and after-school hobbies. Children attend for a minimum of five mornings per week, and currently 100% opt to stay for the afternoon too.

Another new addition to the school is the introduction of the Baby Room, taking children from six months old to 2 years old, opened in January 2022 in response to demand from working parents and offering year-round day care. There is only one other Norfolk independent school to offer a similar facility so it’s a massive plus for those wanting to get back to work.

Plans are currently underway for the construction of a new purpose-built nursery space to cater for the demand for spaces. This will feature a ‘Tots-Town’ theme, with role play and sensory learning a key focus, as well as outdoor learning. The existing buildings will be re-purposed to form a Pre-School for those aged 3 to 4.

The Pre-Prep houses 76 children in small classes of around 12, with a split of 51% boys to 49% girls. The Pre-Prep has its own dedicated outside area, which although less green than the Prep’s, boasts a great range of play equipment, a pretty adjoining walled garden and easy access to the school swimming pool.

Dance and drama classes are available as after-school hobbies (from 3.30pm to 4.30pm, at an extra charge), but there are plenty of opportunities to shine on stage in pantos, plays, nativities, harvest festivals and the individual musician concert held in the Pre-Prep Hall. Smoothing the transition to the next stage of the school, Pre-Prep join the Prep School for regular soirées, House music competitions, as well as (the biggest highlight!) lunch in the dining hall.

THE QUIRKS

A fanciful Prep School tradition, the Easter Bonnet Parade sees children walk tentatively down the sweeping staircase of the Inner Hall – one by one with extravagantly decorated hats teetering upon their heads – to be interviewed at the bottom about their creation. Apparently, they love it!

Langley Prep has its own ‘musical anthem’ written by a former head of music, based on the school motto Conanti Dabitur: ’through effort we succeed’. Even the school’s rag-doll style superhero characters, each representing the skills of the Growth Mindset, have their own special songs composed internally – way to go, Peter Participator, Resilient Roger, Independent Ivy, Creative Connie and the Collaborative Twins Mac and Mabel.

WRAPAROUND CARE

School timings are a bit complicated, with Pre-Prep starting at 8.30am and finishing at 3.30pm, and Prep starting at 8am and finishing at 3.40pm (for Y3-4) and at 4.25pm (for Y5-8). The Nursery runs all year round from 8.30am to 5.30pm. Which is a long-winded way of saying that if you have kids in the different departments you’ll probably need to deploy some wraparound care!

There’s a (chargeable) Breakfast Club for Prep and Pre-Prep pupils from 7.45am in the Prep Dining Hall, including breakfast. Pre-Prep children also have the option of an Early Bird facility from 8am (free to those who have older siblings in the Prep School). Pre-Prep children can access holiday care in the Nursery setting during the school holidays for the Nursery daily charge.

In Pre-Prep there’s a choice of three finish times: 4:30pm (free to those who have siblings in Year 5 and above), 5:30pm or 6pm. If children are staying until 6pm, it can be arranged for Prep staff to hear children read.

Prep School hobbies, including a homework club, run from 3.40pm to 4.40pm (for Years 3 and 4) and 4.25pm to 5.40pm (for Years 5 to 8).

Packed teas can be booked for Pre-Prep and Prep pupils at an extra charge.

ISI REPORT

The most recent Educational Quality report is from 2016 (eight years old and a headmaster out of date!). You can access this, plus a Regulatory Compliance Inspection report completed in 2019 here.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

No surprise given the age of pupils, but mobile phones are not permitted to be used within the Nursery, Prep or Pre-Prep during the school day. Pupils who travel on a bus may hand in their phones to the office at the start of the day if parents wish them to have a phone for the bus journey.

TRANSPORT

The school currently runs a route covering the north of Norwich to Taverham. A link bus from Prep School to the Senior School supports parents with children at both sites. Wraparound care is free of charge for those using this service.

FEES

Competitive. In the Prep, termly fees are £4,595 (Years 3 and 4) and £5,455 (Years 5 to 8). In the Pre-Prep, expect to pay £2,615 for the Transition Class, £3,135 for Reception, and £3,915 for Years 1-2. Nursery fees are £57 per day and the Baby Room is £68 per day. Fees include lunch.

A Scholarship is up to a maximum of 15% off the fees.

Be sure to factor in the price of the after-school activities in your calculations – a fervent joiner-inner will add to your bill.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Warm and nurturing were words used by many of the parents I spoke to – along with the feeling that staff know each child inside out.

Parents appreciate that kindness is placed on an equal footing with academic achievement, with children rewarded for kind gestures, house points for so-called soft skills (collaboration, resilience, reflection, self-management, communication and creativity) and a special ’radiator of the week’ award for outstanding members of the community.

There is a strong family-friendly vibe and parent involvement is extensive, with twice a week coffee morning, weekly parent v staff football matches, and an active PTFA organising large scale fundraising events from a grand firework display to the summer fête. A valued initiative, the Parents Forum allows parents to anonymously voice any niggles (or indeed pass on positive feedback) via their year-group representative.

MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: A solid choice for both academics and all-rounders. Children of all natures will thrive in this gentle and positive environment, where individualism is celebrated. Parents looking for a good old-fashioned childhood for their offspring with plenty of green space to explore – den building, tree climbing, pond dipping are all on the cards.

NOT GOOD FOR: Pushy parents seeking a more regimented, target-driven approach. Family time is just as important as learning, as evidenced by the lack of Saturday school and weekend sports fixtures rarely scheduled. The emphasis on parental involvement may not appeal to those who want to drop and go – although this is entirely possible and there is a dedicated carpark area for the purpose.

Dare to disagree: Have a look for yourself! Langley Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep are holding an Open Day on Sat 27 Apr 2024.

You can also read our review of Langley Senior here.

Langley Prep School, Taverham

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