Co-ed Pre-Prep

Moulsford’s ethos and values will not change for boys, and will be extended to girls in the Pre-Prep from the ages of 3-7 years old.  The most important aspect of a Moulsford education is the pastoral care, and the nurture we provide for all children, with kindness, compassion and community being at the centre of all that we do. The very early stages of a child’s education are so formative and help shape their values and outlook on the world. We believe that both boys and girls will learn so much from each other in these early years.

Moulsford’s Pre-Prep academic curriculum and extensive activities programme have been designed to give the current children a diverse, broad and well-rounded education that is directly relevant for modern life, and is as relevant to girls as it is to boys. There should be no specific impact on the learning environment. Displays will continue to celebrate children’s work as well as provide key information to support learning. Behaviour expectations will continue to be extremely high and house points and commendations/smiles will be awarded to celebrate successes.

For boys in Years 3 - 8 there will be minimal, if any, change, as the Prep School will remain all-boys.

We believe that, overall, sports and extra-curricular opportunities for both boys and girls will be enhanced by girls joining the Pre-Prep. Playball, our sports programme, is not defined by gender, and the same applies for the Activities Programme which currently consists of a broad range of activities designed to introduce the children to many different interests. Examples of these include: Cosmic Yoga, Playball, Step by Step Drawing, Bikeability, Football Skills, Crafty Fingers, Chess and much more. We are constantly developing our activities and are particularly interested to hear from parents of ideas for activities which they think their children may enjoy and benefit from.

We are experiencing strong demand from local families for a Moulsford Pre-Prep education for both boys and girls. The opening of Moulsford’s new Pre-Prep in September has been a major success, and children, parents and staff are delighted with the wonderful new building and facilities. We want to offer more children and families the benefits of the Moulsford experience. Designed with co-education at the forefront of our minds, there are no structural changes required to welcome girls beyond the Pre-School. The Pre-Prep is in a position to make the transition to co-education swiftly and with relative ease. 

Yes, Moulsford is able to draw upon significant co-educational teaching and leadership expertise. Ben Beardmore-Gray was Head of Mowden Hall from 2007-2014, a co-educational school from Pre-School to Year 8. From 2001-2007, he was Deputy Head of Farleigh School which was exactly the same model as Mowden Hall. All three of Ben’s children (two boys and a girl) were pupils at Mowden Hall’s co-educational Pre-Prep. Sabrina McMann (Head of Moulsford’s Pre-Prep) was Deputy Head of Trinity School in Henley from 2015-2020, a co-educational Primary school. All of Moulsford’s current Pre-Prep teaching staff have experience of co-educational teaching of pre-prep age children.  Sally Russell, Moulsford’s Governor with responsibility for the Pre-Prep, was Head of St.Hugh’s co-educational Pre-Prep from 2011-2018. Sally will advise on the introduction of girls to Moulsford’s Pre-Prep.

The building itself has been designed to accommodate both boys and girls without the need to make any structural changes. We pride ourselves on providing a personalised education for all children and this won’t change with the arrival of girls. We will review all aspects of our curriculum, specifically with girls in mind, but as our curriculum is constantly evolving this is a regular ongoing process.

The School has been receiving many enquiries as to whether we will be taking girls, and in September 2023, girls will be welcomed into any year group in the Pre-Prep. Initially, we believe that girls are likely to join our Pre-School and Reception classes in September 2023. A reminder that our Pre-School currently welcomes girls, so next year’s Reception class is already being taught as a co-educational class this year.

The state of the art new Pre-Prep already offers children a multi-purpose hall, three separate playgrounds, a meadow (once the grass has grown), and a beautifully designed library full of books which will appeal to both boys and girls. All classrooms have been designed to create an excellent learning environment and have large interactive whiteboards and iPads for each child. All toilets are unisex already. The Pre-Prep is on its own secure and safe purpose-built site, and the very close proximity to the Prep School site gives all pupils access to an outstanding range of facilities including the sports hall, ICT suites, large astroturf, extensive playing fields, and for Year 2 boys and girls the outdoor swimming pool and river.

The new Pre-Prep building, which was opened in September 2022, was designed with co-education at the forefront of our minds, in the knowledge that there was likely to be strong demand for girls to have a Moulsford Pre-Prep education. As a result, there are no structural changes required to the building to welcome girls beyond the Pre-School. While we will review all aspects of the Pre-Prep for the arrival of girls, prior planning over a number of years has placed the School in a position to make the transition to co-education swiftly and with relative ease. 

We have given this very careful thought. The girls’ uniform will be very much in keeping with the boys’ uniform to help families pass on uniform between siblings. A uniform list for girls will be published on the school website in due course, but to give you a flavour, some items are listed below:

• Blazer - will be the same as for the boys
• Beret or hat - a fabulous alternative to the boys’ cap
• Jumper - same as for boys
• Shirt - same bespoke checked shirt as the boys
• Grey skirt or skort - to be worn all year round
• Socks - same as for boys with the alternative to wear navy tights in colder weather
• Winter coat - same as for boys
• Sports and Forest School Kit - same as for boys

Girls can join Moulsford in our Pre-School class (Nursery), when they have turned three years old. They will have four years at Moulsford leaving the School at the end of Year 2, and parents will be given expert advice for the onward educational journey.

Moulsford will be on hand to advise and guide parents on ‘onward’ schools for girls from the moment they arrive at Moulsford. We anticipate that the formal process of advice will start when girls are in Year 1, so that parents and girls have plenty of time to think through all aspects of their education from Year 3 onwards. The School already has strong relationships with many of the girls’ ‘onward’ schools, and will be seeking to develop even closer links. Moulsford will be on hand to advise parents at any stage.

The schools listed below are all excellent options for girls from Year 3 onwards. Moulsford already has strong links with many of these schools, and will seek to develop these further so that girls and their parents have a smooth transition to their next stage.

The Manor, Cranford House, St Andrew’s, Rupert House, Oratory Prep School, Elstree, Godstowe, Lambrook, Crosfields, The Abbey, St Mary’s Henley, Cokethorpe, Headington, Oxford High, Our Lady’s Abingdon, Rye St Anthony, Chandlings, Brockhurst & Marlston, St Hugh’s, Thorngrove, Cheam, Horris Hill, Pipers Corner

The Moulsford Pre-Prep will give girls an outstanding start to their educational journey in a brand new state of the art building, designed specifically for children of Pre-Prep age. The Pre-Prep is on its own secure and safe purpose-built site, with the very close proximity to the Prep School site giving girls (and boys) access to an outstanding range of facilities including the sports hall, ICT suites, large astroturf, extensive playing fields, and for Year 2 children the outdoor swimming pool and river.

Four years at Moulsford not only gives the girls a wonderful foundation for an all round education, but also gives parents plenty of excellent onward options in Year 3 (see above), by which stage it will be clearer which type of onward school your daughter is best suited to. Moulsford will work closely with parents to advise and guide on ‘onward’ schools.

This has been a tried and tested model by many schools. Local schools which operated with this model successfully for many years before becoming fully co-educational include Cranford House, Rupert House, The Manor and Elstree.

Moulsford is all about community. We understand the importance to parents of their children being educated together at Pre-Prep age, and, as is the case now, siblings will be given priority when applying for a place at the School. All Moulsford’s bursaries/discounts are means tested. Moulsford does not offer a sibling discount, but parents are welcome to apply for a bursary, and should contact our Bursar, John Wilder.

There are no current plans for the Prep School (Years 3 - 8) to go co-educational although, as part of our regular and active planning, the Board remains committed to listening to parents and reviewing societal and market trends and conditions. In line with our regular parent questionnaire programme, we will be contacting parents over the next year for feedback on all matters relating to the School.

Moulsford has received many enquiries this term for girls’ places in the Pre-Prep. As the School has planned for this transition over many years, we are able to implement this decision very swiftly, and look forward to welcoming girls joining in September 2023. We know that parents will want to make firm plans for their daughters’ schooling from September 2023, and we therefore want to give parents as much notice as possible of this decision.

Parents are very welcome to talk to the Head, Ben Beardmore-Gray [email protected] or Sabrina McMann [email protected] the Head of the Pre-Prep.

Prospective parents are very welcome to talk to the Head, Ben Beardmore-Gray, Sabrina McMann, the Head of the Pre-Prep. To arrange a visit, please contact the Registrar, Jill Morrin [email protected]  Our next Open Day will be on Friday 3rd February 2023.