Colchester Prep & High School

Colchester Prep & High School was founded in 1882 by Ferdinand Grӧne as a ‘most desirable establishment for young ladies’, providing a ‘sound English education’.

Over the past 140 years Colchester Prep & High School has built up a reputation for providing an excellent all-round education whilst preparing our pupils for life beyond school.

Today that reputation still stands.

Through our inspiring teaching and forward thinking STEAM curriculum, we build in our pupils, ages  2 to 16, the confidence, self-belief and strength of character to achieve their full potential whilst nurturing in them a global perspective and a mindfulness for social responsibility which will last throughout their lives.  It is a community focussed on creating the “Changemakers of Tomorrow’s World”.

Our School fosters a safe, happy and supportive environment in which each individual feels valued and respected, and an integral part of an equal and inclusive community.  Where true potential is recognised, high expectations are fulfilled, and personal achievements are celebrated.

Our commitment to individualised education also extends beyond the curriculum. Here, at Colchester Prep & High School we believe in developing the whole child and as such also offer an exceptional and ever-changing array of clubs and extra-curricular activities so that each of our children can identify and explore all of their talents.

Equally, in line with our School Motto “God First, Others Second, Self Last” we pride ourselves on our friendly and caring close-knit environment, which encourages good manners, consideration for other people and a strong sense of social responsibility among our pupils.

Since 2005, Colchester Prep & High School has been part of the Cognita Group, the largest independent schools business in the UK and a leader in teaching excellence and school governance.

Headteacher

Ms Karen Gracie-Langrick

Vision

Our School provides an education which encourages academic excellence, global connectivity and social responsibility, through which we seek to create well balanced individuals who aspire to be active and conscious citizens of the future. Our ‘one learning’ community enables pupils across all years to collaborate, discover, learn and achieve together in an environment which promotes a respect for each other’s rights, needs and abilities and is lived through our values of kindness, tolerance, equality, perseverance and courage.

Values

• Kindness – making a conscious effort to be friendly, generous, and compassionate.
• Tolerance – being patient, understanding and accepting of different opinions, beliefs and cultures
• Respect – respecting each other and our environment, embracing our differences and celebrating individuality
• Equality – ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and talents
• Courage – the courage to know what they want to achieve, to strive to do the best they can in the world and to speak out when it matters.
• Perseverance– where pupils are encouraged to persist and try their best.

ISI Inspection Report - December 2022

Colchester Prep & High School are delighted to announce that we have achieved ‘excellent’ in all areas, following our recent ISI Inspection. A double “excellent” is the highest possible outcome for a school during an Educational Quality Inspection.   Inspectors stated that the school was:

• excellent, both for the quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements, and
• excellent, for the quality of pupils’ personal development.

We are particularly delighted that an external, independent body has not only recognised the excellent school that we are, but also that that they have captured the essence of who we are; highlighting how, through the school’s aims, we build in our pupils the confidence and strength of character to become the ‘changemakers of tomorrow’s world’.

It is especially heart warming to read within this report, that our pupils are seen to, ‘look after each other and demonstrate very high levels of care and friendship,’ and that our pupils are ‘proud of their school and speak eagerly of their ambitions for the future.’