Two Derbyshire schools, which promote similar values and share the same passion to see their pupils flourish, are exploring the opportunity to join forces and enhance educational opportunities for children from ages 2½ to 18. St. Wystan’s School and Repton School have begun a conversation to explore the benefits for students, staff, and community if St Wystan’s were to become part of the Repton family of schools – a move which could happen in September 2020.
Both schools are located in the historic village of Repton in South Derbyshire, situated between Derby and Burton-on-Trent. Repton School is a central part of its namesake village, which is also known for its thriving community and a fascinating past dating back to Anglo-Saxon and Viking times. Some of its medieval buildings are at the heart of the School, founded in 1557, and remain in daily use by both pupils and staff.
The two
schools share a close history, reaching back to 1926 when St. Wystan’s School
was founded by Lady Fisher – wife of Geoffrey Fisher, who was then Headmaster
of Repton School and later became Archbishop of Canterbury. The School is named after the 9th-century
Anglo-Saxon saint, part of the royal family of Mercia, who was buried in the
parish church which also bears his name.
Originally, lessons were conducted in the village’s Court Room; but in
1937 St Wystan’s moved to its present site on the High Street, a building which
had previously been one of Repton School’s boarding houses – Latham House.
Although the two institutions have remained separate organisations, through the
years they have retained close connections, as part of the same community and
with many Reptonians starting their educational journey at St Wystan’s.
About St. Wystan’s School
St.
Wyston’s School has three stages for its pupils – from nursery age to pre-teen.
Children as young as 2½ can enroll in the nursery, where they are provided a
warm and nurturing environment. The role of the nursery is to stimulate and
encourage a child’s development, and compassionate and expert teachers
carefully implement a wisely-built and research-backed pedagogy: the Early
Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. Following their nursery years, at the age of
4 children transition to the Pre-Prep School, where they engage in a full day
of education and activities. Then at age 7 pupils take their final step into
the Prep School. Here they follow a
broad curriculum, encompassing Mathematics, English, History, Geography,
Science, IT and Computing, French, Music, Religious Education, Art, Design and
Technology, PSHE and PE, and all are encouraged to excel academically,
athletically, and creatively.
Throughout
their entire experience pupils hear the reaffirming motto of St. Wystan’s
School: ‘Where Children Come First.’
Indeed, the ongoing mission of St. Wystan’s School is “to provide an
outstanding all-round education in a supportive and nurturing family
environment where each individual succeeds and fulfills their potential.”
The
aims of the School include the following:
- To embrace
happy, independent, smiling and confident children - To offer
small class sizes, high standards of behaviour and attainment - To
encourage confidence from a young age, preparing them for the next stage of
their educational journey - To meet the
intellectual, physical, and emotional needs of each child by offering an
inspiring and wide-range curriculum - To inspire
and develop the whole child, providing educational opportunities that extend
far beyond the curriculum - To foster
resilience, motivation and self-worth through a growth mindset approach - To instill
a safe, nurturing environment that enables a spirit of compassion and mutual
respect - To work in
close partnership with parents and the school community - To promote
a thirst for learning
Following
completion of their time at St. Wystan’s at the end of Year 6, pupils are very
well placed to move on to the next phase of their educational journey and a
variety of different secondary schools.
A regular number already transition to Foremarke Hall, the preparatory
school of Repton, and then join the senior school itself in Year 9.
About Repton School
Repton School was founded in 1557 and is home today to around 640 pupils, boys and girls aged 13 to 18 years. The School is fully co-educational and caters for both boarding and day pupils but it retains a traditional house system, with six boys’ houses and four girls’, which underpins the structure of the community. The size of the School and this strong house structure provide them with a closely supportive environment, which enables them to flourish individually and as part of the community. As a result pupils develop a distinctive level of confidence, poise and happiness, combined with an awareness of the needs of others and an outward-looking perspective
The
School offers its pupils exceptional academic opportunity, but Repton is
committed to a holistic education – in educating “the whole child” not only academically
but through the wider curriculum and enrichment programs. These encompass areas of extracurricular
activity such as sports, music, drama and art, and pupils have gone on to enjoy
distinguished careers in professional sport and the arts – talents that were
developed at Repton. There is a strong
emphasis on pupils’ personal development and the School aims to produce young
people who exhibit the following traits:
- Globally
aware and internationally-minded - Intellectually
curious, culturally informed, and spiritually alive - Happy,
resilient, robust, self-motivated, and confident - Socially
conscious, politically informed and environmentally aware - Technologically
fluent - Committed
to excellence in all that they do
By
attending Repton School, pupils are also provided with the opportunity of
exposure to global culture. Repton has
established multiple international schools in UAE, Singapore, China, Bulgaria,
and Egypt, with more anticipated to open in the coming years. In a multilingual and increasingly globalised
world, the students enjoy the distinctive advantage of being part of this
international family – a benefit that few other secondary schools are able to
provide.
Providing A Strong Future for Students
The direction that both schools provide for their pupils is designed to build a progressive and strong path to their success as adults and to enable them to make a positive impact in the world. The solid foundation that each school provides – a holistic environment that cares for the whole child, high academic aspiration allied with personalised support, multiple extracurricular activities, mental and emotional guidance, leadership opportunities, and an extensive support system – offers a pathway for every pupil to meet the expectations of their futures and the chance to become the best version of themselves.
Learn more about Repton School at their website: https://www.reptoninternational.com/