Chair of Friends: Mrs Anna Gingell
Headmistress: Mrs Anne Burton, MEd Cantab, Cert Ed, HV SRN
Deputy Head, Designated Safeguarding Lead, Prep: Miss Louise Burton, BEd Hons Cantab, QTS
Co-educational Day School.
Age range. 4–9 years; Nursery for children aged 0–4.
Number of pupils. Preparatory School 65; Nursery 30.
Fees per term (from January 2025). Tuition (including lunch): £4,080.00 (including VAT).
Location. Orchard School is a Preparatory School for boys and girls, ideally situated on the outskirts of a large village in south Bedfordshire.
The School has been established for 20 years, and the Nursery for 30 years. Located in a beautiful setting and backed by the Barton Hills (thought to be The Delectable Mountains in Pilgrim’s Progress), both School and Nursery are surrounded by rolling countryside that hosts an abundance of wildlife.
Ethos. The school’s motto – ‘to be the best that you can be’ – is reflected in all areas of school life. Orchard’s aim is to enable each child to value and strive for the highest levels of achievement, and to nurture a pride in success. Praise and encouragement are the primary motivational tools employed, tempered by the recognition that every child develops at their own pace. Skilful and careful observations are undertaken by the teaching team to help the children meet and surpass key learning targets. The school also encourages an ‘esprit de corps’ and a sense of true belonging. Emphasis is placed on the moral, social and personal development of all pupils in order to expand their confidence and self-esteem.
100% academic success. The school boasts an exemplary academic record with (for example) a 100% pass rate into the nearby Harpur Trust schools in Bedford.
The combination of a progressive, structured, yet genuinely friendly family atmosphere creates an ideal environment for the children to thrive both academically and in other activities that they pursue.
Activities. We encourage each child to experience as wide a range of activities as possible; for example, music lessons, choir, ballet, dance and philosophy.
A comprehensive sporting programme including swimming and rugby is also included within the well-rounded curriculum. Further opportunities, including craftwork, running, lacrosse, badminton and recorder, are offered via lunchtime and after-school clubs. There are several visits a term across all year groups to complement topic learning and to provide a real-life context to the subjects being studied. Years 3 and 4 also enjoy residential trips to specialist adventure-based facilities where activities such as abseiling, kayaking and raft building help increase fun, team spirit and pupil confidence.
Friends of Orchard. Orchard is proud of its strong and supportive parent base and there is a well-established ‘Friends of Orchard School’ group which organises social gatherings and fundraising events, further enhancing the friendly and family inclusive atmosphere at the school.
Bursaries. Bursaries are available for Year 1 and above.
Summary. Our aim is to develop well-motivated and confident children who are considerate to others, well-mannered, who know the value of hard work.
We are happy to say that virtually all Orchard School pupils have been proven to excel at their subsequent schools and seats of learning.