One Holmewood pupil recently said, 'All the children at Holmewood have big happy smiles on their faces. Our teachers are wonderful, they are really encouraging and they teach us a lot too!' What more could parents want?!
Set in over 30 acres of beautiful grounds just outside Tunbridge Wells in Kent, Holmewood is a happy busy place, where every child is considered unique. Holmewood, described by The Good Schools Guide as a 'top prep school' and by a current parent as 'a happy and vibrant school, full of opportunities' is renowned for its highly qualified staff, superb facilities and broad curriculum (covering all aspects of the National Curriculum, 11+, Common Entrance and scholarship examinations to independent schools), resulting in outstanding academic results. We encourage all children to achieve their true potential in a warm and friendly atmosphere, by fostering confidence and enthusiasm.
We have a bright and airy self-contained Nursery where children spend one year, before moving to our Pre-Prep department for three further academic years. The Nursery and Pre-Prep children start in a more cosy environment but use all the Prep School facilities from the start.
The Prep School is divided into Junior, Middle and Senior Departments with Form Teachers, Housemasters and Tutors all responsible for pastoral care.
We have strong Sport, Music, Drama, Art and Design Technology Departments and offer a wide range of opportunities, so all our children find something to inspire them.
We offer an enormous range of sport, and play at national prep school level in most team sports. In addition to the traditional team sports, we have a name for swimming, for squash, for gymnastics and for shooting.
Our state-of-the-art Jubilee Theatre provides a showcase for the many concerts and stunning productions staged by our excellent music and drama departments. Children are encouraged to start learning an instrument in Year 1 (whatever they like the sound of!) and the Pre-Prep Orchestra produce a sound to be proud of! From these first musical notes, each year a number of our pupils progress on to win music scholarships to their senior schools.
The Art Department consists of one large studio classroom and a pottery, equipped with kiln, potter's wheel and slab roller. There are after-school Art activities throughout the week, including a ceramics club, and the Community Art Project runs for two terms of the year, involving pupils from five local primary schools and culminating in an exciting final exhibition. Pupils wishing to apply for an art scholarship are encouraged and supported.
The resources in our large Design Technology Department are on a par with senior schools. In DT, children undertake a range of exciting projects and acquire skills which enable them to produce pieces of practical work way beyond their age. Several pupils have won DT scholarships to senior schools in recent years.
An extensive activity programme which is part of every school day in the Prep School provides all children with the opportunity to 'have a go' at a wide range of activities. We encourage all the children to try something different - many of our boys love cooking!
At the beginning of the Autumn term 2009, Andrew Corbett, Headmaster, announced his decision to retire at the end of the academic year. From 1 September 2010, James Marjoribanks, current Headmaster of Chesham Preparatory School in Buckinghamshire, will assume the mantle of Headmaster at Holmewood. The Chairman of the Governors wrote to parents: 'From where we are, the future looks bright and promising, and we look forward to delivering on our promise to make the Holmewood experience exciting, challenging and fulfilling for the children.'
