WHAT? WHERE?

Big news at St John’s Beaumont School after 135 years of educating boys, this old Roman Catholic day and boarding prep is moving with the times and transitioning to co-ed. From September 2023 girls have joined the Pre-Prep and will enter the Middle School from 2024.

Perched on top of a beaurtiful 70-acre site in Old Windsor – this historic prop occupies an enviable location, surrounded by famous neighbours, close to the River Thames and countryside, and yet just a short hop from Windsor town centre (Heathrow and London are just 11 miles away).

You don’t get the full wow factor on entering the grounds, parking next to the vivid blue tennis courts. Persevere, the main building is an absolute beaut, designed in 1888 by JF Bentley, the architect of Westminster Cathedral. It was the first purpose built prep school in the UK, but as the school has grown, sympathetic modern additions blend in with the original, period architecture.

Beyond the bricks and mortar, there are playing fields, meadow and copse for the 220 children to let off steam. It’s slightly under the radar of many parents, but it definitely packs a punch, managing to excel on both academics and pastoral care, destination schools tend to be Eton, Harrow, Charterhouse, Winchester and Wellington College, but we’re excited to see how that may change in a few years’ time.

FACILITIES

Swish. Sports facilities are top notch, the refurbished science labs with their sleek curved benches are cool, there’s a large library, stunning art and design room, a beautiful old chapel and the grounds are vast.

SPORT

St John's Beaumont Old Windsor Berkshire Swimming Pool

Excellent facilities with loads of sport as you’d expect in a prep school. Worth particular mention are the floodlit tennis courts, an impressive climbing wall, 25-metre indoor pool (above), golf putting green and high-tech indoor rowing, so you can race boats without getting your feet wet.

Rugby has long been the main game here, but more recently football became a major sport (good time for England’s Lionnesses to smash it at the World Cup) and following the appointment of a dedicated swimming coach, SJB’s swimmers have gone from strength to strength – including a medal hauls from the IAPS swimming gala. All the children (from Nursery up) enjoy swimming, – hardly surprising that there’s a chunky number of Regional and County swimmers to be found in Prep.

St John's Beaumont Football — CAN YOU KICK IT? Rugby, football and cricket are played regularly on the stunning play fields.

Extra-curricular offers a broad range of activities: climbing, rowing, yoga, SCUBA diving (one of my guides had completed his PADI qualification), kick-boxing, polo, golf, judo, tennis, athletics. The list is long. One of the school’s strengths is the encouragement to try activities that come less naturally. The feeling of mastering something when you’ve really had to work for it, cannot be bottled. Brilliant. Most prep schools pull out all the stops to provide breadth in sport, but it’s not at the expense of art, music or academics here. It’s just part of SJB’s educational eco system.

CREATIVE ARTS

St John's Beaumont Old Windsor Berkshire boy playing Harp

I didn’t hear any musicians on the day I visited, but I met a fair few singers, violin and guitar players. Nothing shy about these kids – and there’s no shortage of opportunities for them to flex their musical muscles with an orchestra, three choirs, rock band and house music competition. The Music School has a lovely performance space and eight practice rooms above, where 13 specialist teachers offer one-to-one tuition for the harp, percussion, guitar, drums, piano, woodwind, brass, voice, violin and cello.

Music had a bit of an overhaul to make it more accessible and less elitist. Choir is now considered cool and the ‘jubilate’ choir gives juniors and seniors the opportunity to sing modern songs with games and actions.

If you have a mini Mark Rylance, there’s a magical outdoor ecological amphitheatre (very cool) and SJB stages a wide variety of productions, ranging from musical classics like Shrek and Lion King. Some are keener to slap on the greasepaint than others, but everyone’s encouraged to get involved, and nearly half of the children across the school do LAMDA.

The art room is one of our favourite spaces, the teacher is incredible, and there’s a lot of cross subject pollination. The rollercoasters and bridges on display tap into art, design and physics, but there are paintings, sculptures and clay pieces dotted around. We loved that drop in for a therapeutic art session, and the pupils create special cards/ artwork for Mother’s Day. birthdays, Halloween and Christmas. No mad dash to the shop for any old card, SJB has your back. Such a thoughtful touch.

LITTLIES

Here come the girls. Pre-Prep (aka the Nicholas Owen Pre Prep block) – run by the inspirational Head Pippa Powell-Harper – is where St John’s Beaumont’s co-ed journey will begin. Close enough to feel part of the Prep buzz, but a little distance to not feel overwhelmed.

Naturally, the littlies get all the benefits of the Prep facilities (swimming pool, science labs, music rooms, forest school, outdoor theatre etc), as well as a purpose built space that features new Sensory Room, STEM space, baking room and a menagerie of guinea pigs, hamsters, a bearded dragon and from time to time chicks. Pre-prep’s new teaching assistant in training is Gilbert the wannabe Reading Dog – a sweet natured English Cocker Spaniel who the children adore.

Class sizes are relatively small, the children are lavished with attention and there’s an excellent range of after school clubs for this age group, including chess, tennis, art, science.

THE HEAD

A new head from September 2023, but not a new face. Philip Barr was previously Deputy Head at St John’s Beaumont, and has been head at Donhead Prep School in Wimbledon – where the parents credit him for successfully navigating the dreaded Covid years. The good news for SJB is that with insider intel, he can hit the ground running as it opens a new co-ed chapter. SJB has educated boys for over 135 years, but change will be evolution as opposed to revolution.

This is Barr’s third co-ed school and he comes with a wealth of experience in both the state and independent sectors. He’s down to earth, charming and energised to take this traditional prep in a more progressive direction. Girls are now in pre-prep, and Barr feels co-ed at this age helps stamp out misogynistic behaviour. It’s less about finger pointing and more about creating an environment where everyone is valued. Happiness rules the roost and the only rules are for kids to come to school happy, go home happy and come back the next day happy. He’s keen for the SJB’s community to be strengthened. There has been a post COVID hangover creating a bit distance between the schools and parents, but a packed diary of events aims to return to its family first

St John's Beaumont School head Philip Barr with Y2 pupil

On the development front, the introduction of girls means the boarding provision needs some attention, but more immediately, the focus is on super-charging the digital learning and STEM offering as well as working towards becoming an accredited High Performing School. Expect to see robotics, VR headsets, Assisted Intelligence and coding appearing in the curriculum. High Performance Learning (HPL) recognises all learners have the potential to achieve the very highest results and emphasises and develops performance characteristics using growth mindset, meta cognition and meta thinking.

This once traditional boys will boys prep is now adding a more progressive string to its bow. There’s a culture shift from top to bottom and that includes destination schools. It was previously considered a feeder school to Eton, Harrow and Radley and, although boys will still head in that direction, the focus will be on fit to ensure each SJB leaver thrives rather than survives. Watch this space because this is a prep clearing the path for a bright future rather than clinging to the past.

ACADEMICS

St John's Beaumont Old Windsor Berkshire Science lesson boys in lab coats playing with fire

In 2023, SJB embarked on a two-year towards becoming a High Performing School. We’ve seen is introduced in a few prep schools and it’s about growth mindset, meta cognition and embracing the belief that all pupils can become high performers. Think of your child as a academic athlete, making marginal gains, stretching, challenging and understanding the subjects and topics they are being taught. Tapping into the latest educational research, teaching is based on how children learn to improve thinking skills and develop ‘better brains’.

Lessons take place in high ceilinged classrooms, each one with a fireplace (don’t worry they have central heating), but it’s not all nose down in a textbook, lessons can become very animated. Pupils are class taught until Y6 with specialists for art, music and sport. Reasoning is added to curriculum in Y3, Y4 and Y5 to prepare the children for senior school pre-testing, but the High Performance Learning programme should be a good training ground.

Though the children (as in most independent preps) take a basic academic test to join, the school cares more about ‘fit’ and children who will make the most of being at the school. There’s a clear expectation here to work hard and St John’s pupils are awarded places and scholarships in the top senior schools with assuring regularity. For the less academic, the ‘value added’ is impressive.

PASTORAL

Catholic or not the school’s Jesuit values mean the pastoral care is excellent. There’s a warmth here that you don’t always get at traditional prep schools. The Animal system (that’s the house system) creates a sense of community. Theiversity and tolerance are promoted

BOARDING

St John’s Beaumont has always been a boarding school and you’ll either love or loathe the vintage dorms – two lines of curtained cubicles, sleeping exactly 60, the ceiling festooned in flags representing the nationalities of he boarders. You’ll be relieved to know the bathrooms have recently been renovated, within loo-dashing distance from the dorms and everything is automated – showers lights, taps, the lot. The common room is kitted out wih a pool and football table and plenty of places to chill out, but to be honest, they spend a lot if time outside den building, playing in the stream and roasting marshmallows around campfires.

SJB has a flexible approach, offering full, weekly and tailored boarding for those who want to sleepover two or three nights a week – although you need to commit on a termly basis. The staff work their sock off to create a family atmosphere. The activities sound as much fun for the staff as they are for the kids. They were busy plotting a Y8 event – Race Across The Capitol. Using only three modes of transport, a small budget and clues, they have to make their way back to school in the fastest possible time. Grabbing an Uber definitely doesn’t count.

I was shown around by two lovely boys, boarding gave a big thumbs up for the fun factor and cool activities. There are always a few grumbles about doing prep but, to be honest, the boys just crack on with it. Nothing to freak parents out. As girls progress through the years groups, boarding numbers may need to increase, so this could present an issue but not for a few years.

WRAP AROUND CARE

Keen to lend a helping hand to frazzled parents juggling work and family, morning drop off for Day pupils at Pre-Prep is 8am with activities running until 4pm. For Prep students, the day starts at 7.50am with activities running until 5pm (Y3 – Y5) and 6pm (Y6-8). After-school care is available for Nursery to Y5 until 6pm and they’ll get a hot supper too. Phew! Rustling up something more exotic than fish fingers can be a challenge when you’re all a bit weary.

QUIRKS

They’re all Animals… no reflection on behaviour, it’s all part of the House System, and the boys are assigned to Tigers, Yaks and Emus (aka TYEs). I didn’t actually find out why those particular animals, as my tour guides really just wanted to show my their TYEs. I thought they meant the ones around their necks, but we’re talking points awarded for effort, achievement or commendable actions, like holding open doors or acts of kindness. There’s a House party riding on it, so the stakes are high.

Every day the children practice Examen – a Jesuit tradition to stop and take stock. Basically it is a time of reflection and an opportunity to hit the reset button. Having a bad day? Catholic or not, this allows the kids to intelligently debrief and move on. It’s a big tick in terms of mental health and wellbeing.

Shall we talk about the seriously impressive visitors? Out late Queen would pop by to open buildings, Phillip Hammond MP, Princess Basma of Jordan and BBC R4 presenter Sarah Montague have all given talks and rumour has it the Pope swings by in his Popemobile when he’s in the ‘hood.

ISI REPORT

You can read the latest ISI report, here.

FEES

Nursery and Reception £4,200 per term; Y1 £4,500 Y2 £4,800; Y3 £5,600, Y4 £6,700 and Y5-Y8 £7,877. The school offers Full Boarding (£4,000 per term), Weekly (4 nights/ Sun-Thu £2,230) and Tailored Boarding (£1,590 –£1,970) – which is pretty on a par with the competition.

No scholarships on offer here, but generous bursaries are available. Children who are baptised Roman Catholic get first dibs, but anyone can apply.

St John's Beaumont Old Windsor Berkshire — BIG ON VALUES: Catholic or not, as a parent I want my sons to be all these things.

WORD ON THE GROUND

A new head and a move to co-ed is bound to cause a ripple among parents. Nobody likes change, There have been a few murmurings of concern (normal), but the overwhelming consensus is that the slow march to co-ed makes a lot of sense, and many of them had been pleading for SJB to take their daughters. Catholic or not, parents say they’re attracted to the school’s values. Ultimately, the children are SJB’s greatest advert – well-rounded, socially intelligent young people with a strong moral compass. And what parent wouldn’t want their kids to have those qualities? The pastoral care, quality of teaching and family vibe also get rave reviews.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Those looking for a co-ed prep where kindness is cool, expectations are high and opportunities are there for the taking. Sport, music, art and drama are all very strong and St John’s excellent pastoral care will suit anyone looking for a family feel.

Not for: If you’re vehemently anti faith schools, the Catholicism underpinning St John’s is probably not going to be your jam.

Dare to disagree? Be my guest! The next Open Morning is 21 Sept 2024 or book a private nose for yourself. Register here.

St John’s Beaumont, Priest Hill, Old Windsor, Berkshire SL4 2JN. Tel: 01784 432428

St John’s Beaumont, Old Windsor

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