A Preparatory School for children aged 3-13Hilden Grange School is dedicated to giving our children a broad and balanced education in a supportive and stimulating environment where every child’s potential can be realised.

The Nursery provides a wonderful introduction to school life. Children take part in a huge range of activities and enjoy themselves tremendously while playing.  The theme of making learning fun continues throughout the Pre-Prep where an exciting, varied curriculum and engaging teachers ensure that children thoroughly enjoy coming to school and progress rapidly.

By the time children progress to the Prep School, at age 7, they have a firm foundation for learning and are ready and equipped for greater challenges.  Here they benefit greatly from specialist teachers in every report and small class sizes.

Early Years

The Early Years unit, which includes Nursery and Reception, provides an exciting and stimulating start to a Hilden Grange education. We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework with a mix of teacher led and child initiated learning as well as a variety of open ended activities for children to explore. Teaching and activities in the EYFS are designed to meet the ‘Early Learning Goals’ which include Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language and Physical Development. The close ties between Nursery and Reception ensure a seamless transition when children move year groups.

Pre-Prep

In the Pre-Prep we provide an engaging, nurturing environment that stimulates learning, builds confidence and encourages creativity. Above all, we foster independent learning, building firm foundations for the future.

Prep School

In the Prep School our children enjoy a broad curriculum and specialist teaching in all subjects. The core subjects of English, mathematics, science and ICT are taught throughout the school. Our children are encouraged to achieve their own personal level of excellence and are given every opportunity to develop enquiring minds and self-reliance with the support of exceptional teaching staff.

Year 7&8

Small class sizes and specialist subject teachers ensure that our pupils receive a first class education, within a positive, nurturing and intimate setting.  Our facilities are excellent.   Pupils are placed in sets for English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French and Latin and outstanding teaching ensures that they are thoroughly prepared for public examinations. Through such initiatives as study skills workshops, they are taught how to learn and as a result develop good working habits that will stay with them through the rest of their education.

Pre-Prep & Prep Clubs
There are numerous exciting clubs and activities available for the whole school, from Nursery to Year 8, including Photography, Mad Science, Debating and Young Writers’ Club to name just a few!

Drama
Each year pupils from the Prep School put on a musical production at the EM Forster Theatre, Tonbridge School. These productions are of outstanding quality and are always thoroughly enjoyed by cast and audience alike. This year’s production of ‘Cinderella & Rockerfella!’ featured 60 children from Years 4,5,6,7 and 8, with a further three playing important roles in the backstage crew. It was packed with wonderful performances, delivered with great confidence and enthusiasm.

Music
Music is taught to all pupils from the Nursery to Year 8. The Pre-Prep pupils have one lesson a week in which singing, rhythm and percussion are the main focus. There are also opportunities for the children in the Pre-Prep to take part in small ensembles with the Pre-Prep Choir; Ocarinas and Boomwhackers being very popular.

Sport
All boys and girls enjoy a physical education programme which provides a rich variety of opportunities to participate in sport and to develop a healthy lifestyle. We encourage self-discipline and sportsmanship and whilst winning matches is important, the focus is on learning and progressing.

There are numerous teams and opportunities for boys and girls to participate in sport beyond the games programme. We run a large number of teams and have a full fixture list against other Prep Schools.

Hilden Grange has eight football/rugby pitches, three hard ball cricket squares and three soft ball pitches, two tennis courts, two netball courts, an indoor sports hall, heated outdoor swimming pool and 10 cricket nets. In addition to this we make use of further cricket, hockey and athletics facilities at Tonbridge School with whom we have an incredibly close relationship in all areas of school life.