Studying

Structure

Hazlegrove Prep School welcomes children from age 2. Younger ones explore sounds and writing through play, while by 4 they’re already singing, playing simple melodies, and trying ballet, tennis, and swimming.

Pre-Prep begins at 5, with mornings dedicated to English, math, and phonics before specialist teachers introduce natural sciences, French, art, music, and drama after lunch. Project-based learning follows—from ancient Egyptian mummies to woodland investigations—as children gradually develop independent working skills.

Stages and programs:

• Nursery (2–4 years) — multisensory learning, music, Forest School, swimming
• Pre-Prep (5–6 years, Years 1–2) — core subjects in mornings, specialized activities after lunch
• Lower School (7–9 years, Years 3–4) — cross-curricular projects, hands-on investigations
• Middle School (9–11 years, Years 5–6) — critical thinking development, independent work
• Upper School (11–13 years, Years 7–8) — advanced preparation, residential programs

Approach at Hazlegrove Prep School

Curiosity, creativity, and confidence form the foundation, with hands-on investigations replacing rote memorization. These connect topics to real-world contexts and personal interests. Phones are banned for both pupils and staff to protect children from social media, though technology itself is studied systematically through iPads, Office 365, and programming in Scratch and Python.

Support

The learning support department brings together four specialists who address dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism, and ADHD. Forty-six pupils receive individual plans featuring multisensory programs and assistive technologies, with progress reviewed each term through video calls with parents. Meanwhile, sixteen students whose first language isn’t English work in small groups of 4–6 to develop grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

Outdoor Education

Forest School runs from Pre-Prep through Year 5, where children cook over campfires, care for animals, and learn navigation. The Outdoor Classroom adds nature photography and map work. Residential trips grow more challenging with age: Year 3 explores the grounds, Year 4 camps overnight, Year 5 spends four nights in Wales, and Year 8 concludes with Cornish camping and surfing. The annual Exmoor Challenge for Year 7 stands out—a 16-mile unmarked route where four-person teams navigate checkpoints against the clock.