Last Friday the Year 4s travelled to Broadstone Warren to work on their team building and problem-solving skills.

The children were split into groups to take part in either an axe throwing activity or a pioneering challenge.

Good listening, focus and balance were all required in order to hit the targets in the axe throwing task, with too much power a disadvantage so control was key.  Some children channeled their Viking ancestors to help them with the task and Mr D impressed even the instructor with his skills at the end of the morning.

Knot tying skills and cooperation were key to success when making the tripod stands for the catapults. The children were taught the Scouting “rule of three” which is the practice of finishing lashings with three turns of the rope around the spars being joined, followed by three half hitches to secure the end provides a secure and reliable method for creating strong, stable structures with rope.

The afternoon was spent orienteering and exploring the surrounding countryside spotting the butterflies and birds that were to be found in abundance.

Connect With Us!

Experience Copthorne Prep in action and find out first-hand what it is like to be part of the Copthorne Prep community. We run a range of events and activities during the year, designed to help parents and prospective parents connect with the school.

‘Bounce Back to School’ and Flying Start Nursery Launch
Friday 6^th September 3.00pm – 5.00pm

Join our ‘Bounce Back to School’ event and experience Copthorne Prep and the amazing things it has to offer, including our newly refurbished Nursery. It’s a great chance to meet staff, see the beautiful grounds and have a look around our Flying Start Nursery.

Bring a picnic, something to sit on, and enjoy the afternoon.

Entry is free of charge, click here to register.

Flying Start to School Parent Webinar
Tuesday 3^rd September 6.00pm – 6.30pm

We believe it is important to support everyone through this transition and invite parents to join our ‘Flying Start to School’ webinar hosted by Head of Early Years and Pre-Prep, Kylie McGregor.

Our webinar gives parents helpful information on what to expect in the early days of school and how to support your child:

• School readiness and focusing on social, emotional and physical skills
• Early Reading phonics, and pre-writing skills, early Maths understanding
• Key Skills such as putting on items of clothing, toileting, using a knife and fork, saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’
• Changes in behaviour as your child experiences busy days and tiredness, new environment, lots of learning and meeting new friends

To register please click here, places are free of charge.

At the end of a very busy summer term, we said a fond farewell to Year 6 and our Senior Leavers.   As the end of the academic year approached, children enjoyed an extensive co-curricular programme of activities to mark their final days at Copthorne. 

Senior Leavers visited the Houses of Parliament in London; they had a tour of the House of Lords and Commons, and they stood at the despatch box to debate whether the school day should be shorter!  It was a very interesting day with a great sense of history.  Students also enjoyed a residential trip to Wales, a ‘bake off’ competition, trip to Thorpe Park theme park, learnt essential first and life skills. 

In an inspiring twist on traditional enrichment activities, our outgoing students also took on the role of teachers to help develop and inspire future sports stars. Divided into groups, they each chose a skill to coach to the Year 2 students. This involved planning the lesson, setting up their own equipment, and delivering engaging sessions to different groups. The initiative honed their leadership and organisational skills and ignited a passion for sports in our younger pupils. The collaboration and enthusiasm displayed by all participants was truly commendable. 

Our Year 6 embarked on a very exciting residential trip to PGL Dorset and from the moment they arrived, the children experienced one exciting activity after another. 

Climbing, zip wiring, giant swings, archery, rifle shooting, kayaking, trapeze, fencing, were some of the many activities the children and teachers took part in.  There were also evening activities too, intermingled with fossil hunting down on the beach; each moment was filled with something fun.  

Trips like these are more than just participating in activities.  For the children it is about being out of their comfort zone, overcoming fears, solidifying long lasting friendships and being independent. 

We wish all our leavers the very best for the future and good luck at senior school! 

Highly regarded and much-loved Sussex school, Copthorne Prep School has confirmed it will join the award-winning Caterham family of schools with immediate effect. The move cements a long-standing relationship between the schools and will see Copthorne Prep’s renowned academic and pastoral care strengthened further.  Caterham School was named as Tes Best UK Senior School in summer 2023 and has long been recognised for expertise in innovation, digital learning and wellbeing in addition to top academic results.  

Copthorne Prep School Headmaster Nathan Close will continue to lead the school, which was judged ‘excellent’ in its recent ISI inspection, as it joins the Caterham group.  Nathan Close said: CPS has been providing first class education for children for the last 121 years. This next step is a fantastic opportunity to build on our proud legacy by joining a highly successful, forward-thinking family of schools which shares our core commitment to the happiness and success of our children. Crucially, parents can have full confidence that their children will continue to enjoy the happy, successful school they chose, and that their children will be fully supported and prepared for whichever senior school they chose beyond CPS.” 

Chair of Governors at CPS, Sam Coutinho, who will retain her role, said: “This relationship will enable us to build on a shared educational vision and purpose, a culture of excellence underpinned by wellbeing and innovation. The School’s governors have given their wholehearted support to the new partnership, which will retain the unique character of CPS whilst allowing the school to grow and evolve with confidence over the coming years as part of an established, resilient and successful family of schools.” 

The Caterham Family of Schools encompasses Caterham senior school, led by Headmaster Mr Ceri Jones and Caterham Prep led by Headmaster Ben Purkiss, and now CPS.  Caterham School is the founding school of the East Surrey Learning Partnership – a group of independent and state-maintained schools which work together as equal partners to further educational opportunity for all young people in the local area.  

Copthorne Prep has built up a formidable reputation as a school for excellence in chess, with pupils being taught strategic thinking skills and emotional intelligence from a very young age. Our success in this area is well documented not least because as a school we dominate the local chess scene with players who represent their county as well as players who represent England.

But chess at Copthorne is not all about the headline acts, and what drives our chess programme is giving children an opportunity to engage in one of the world’s oldest games and to begin to think critically and make reasoned judgements.

Playing chess certainly improves academic performance, but we have also found a very social side to the game which has enabled many of our children to form friendships through a shared interest and low-level, low stakes competitions. In truth we often see our children learning a great deal when they are engaged in chess without actually realising it!

The game itself is very inclusive and has a positive impact on our children’s wellbeing. It captures the attention of those who engage with it, and it is lovely to watch children of all ages, abilities and backgrounds challenging each other in very friendly rivalry across the school!

As one of our pupils recently said, ‘I like playing chess because it really makes me think – you always need a strategy’.

As the world becomes increasingly digital and technology-driven, it’s more important than ever to ensure our children are getting enough time outside in nature. Forest schools have been gaining popularity around the globe as a way of providing an experience that is both educational and fun for young minds. At Copthorne Prep we include Forest School as part of our learning week for every year group, and have been doing so for many years.

Forest school at Copthorne is a time for the children to connect with themselves, with nature and with each other. With a strong child-led approach, activities are provided with an emphasis on choice. Some children love spending their time reflecting and relaxing in a hammock, while others enjoy adventures through the woods with a stick that has become a lightsaber, a sword, the nimbus 2000 or the beginnings of a fantastic woodland shelter. Opportunity to cook, light fires, team build, construct, play, imagine and get muddy are bountiful and these are just a few of the possibilities waiting in the woods for us.

Studies have proven strong links between time in the woods and vastly improved mental and emotional health, wood bathing being a great activity for this. Exposure to the mud, plants and microbes has been proven to improve immune systems. Time in the woods at forest school has also shown a positive increase with children’s academic progress in class and much improved concentration.

A strong respect for nature, animals and bugs is promoted, with learning about new things and investigating encouraged.

We apply the six forest school principles which are:

• Sessions are delivered on a long-term basis: forest school needs to be regular, so we take the children our weekly
• Sessions are risk-aware, not risk-averse: we suggest meaningful activities which nurture the instinctive human ability to learn through overcoming a risk, challenge, or problem. We also teach the children how to safely use tools like knives and axes for whittling or chopping wood, and how to light and safely be around campfires.
• Forest school is invested in the holistic development (emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, physical, communication and language) of the participants.
• Forest school should take place in a natural wooded environment
• Forest school should be run by a qualified forest school practitioner
• Forest school is learner-centred with learner-based outcomes

We embrace the woods at Copthorne and the time that can be spent in them. With many activities available, learning through play is one of the children’s favourite and most beneficial options, so no matter what the activity is, we approach it with playfulness and fun in mind. We will go into the woods no matter the weather, as long as it’s safe to do so, avoiding strong winds and electrical storms. There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.

Come rain, snow or sun in the woods is where you will find us.

If you have a toddler, why not try our Mini Acorn Forest School Sessions (open to all).