WHAT? WHERE?

Sidcot Junior School (which includes a Pre-School and Reception), is an independent day school of around 130 boys and girls aged 3-11, set within the beautiful 160-acre grounds of the main school (read our separate review) on the edge of the Mendips. It’s close to the village of Winscombe in North Somerset and only half an hour from Bristol on the A38. The school was established by Quakers in this spot back in 1699 because of its ‘serene and healthy air’ – and that’s exactly what I found when I visited the school. The school’s still based on Quaker principles (more of that later) but these are more like guiding principles for a happy life rather than a religious creed.

FACILITIES

The Pre-School and Junior school (note, it’s not called a prep), is a modern complex, with a large hall and numerous bright and cheerful classrooms opening out to the outdoor space where you’ll find play areas, climbing frames and other stuff.

The pupils share many of the Senior School’s excellent sports facilities – a huge sports hall, 25m swimming pool, large playing fields – as well as the music department, the impressive Arts Centre with drama studio and performance hall. I reckon the pupils really do have the best of both worlds.

They eat their meals in the main refectory with the older pupils (they go in before the rest of the school so it’s not overwhelming), which helps them feel part of the larger school community – plus they get to see older siblings and friends further up the school too.

Come rain or come shine, from the littlies upwards, everyone goes out at least once a week to the Forest School, a natural amphitheatre within a mixed woodland. Not just toasting marshmallows and drinking hot chocolate around a campfire (though they do that too) but all sorts of fun activities to inspire and spark curiosity, like squishing mud through old tights to learn about the digestive system, making catapults to learn about forces and bee-keeping to learn about pollination. They’ve made an Iron Age hut there, too.

The Toddler Group for under 3s and their parents meets every week day for ‘stay and play’, forest school, ‘muddy hands’, sensory play and swimming (could be a great way to get a sneaky peak of the facilities and atmosphere at the school?).

WHAT ELSE?

The school’s ethos is based on the Quaker principle of finding the ‘god’ or the ‘good’ in everyone. The seven main Quaker beliefs of respect, integrity, simplicity, equality, peace, truth, and sustainability guide every aspect of school life, from the way the curriculum is taught to the way the children are treated and are encouraged to treat others. Love the school motto – ‘Live Adventurously’ – with everyone from Pre-School upwards being encouraged to see life as an adventure and to welcome challenges, to voice their own opinions and values whilst listening to those of others, to be outward not inward looking, and to be part of a community where everyone is equally valued.

The Quaker Learning Wheel encompasses the values that underpin all that takes place in the school.

So it’s things like proactively building life skills; learning about what makes good friendships; discovering things for yourself (and knowing it’s OK to make mistakes); allowing each child to be heard and respected; to be confident and yet have humility. Teachers are not there merely to impart information but to create a love of learning within each child and equip them with the relevant skills, whatever their learning style and needs.

Each Wednesday, everyone takes part in a weekly Meeting for Worship in the Junior School hall. It’s called ‘worship’ but it’s more a pause in the week, a space for silence and thought. During these meetings, even the youngest pupil can speak out (no need for hands up first) and say whatever comes into their minds – ‘a thought out into the space’ – without interruption or judgement. Sometimes pupils from the Senior School – ‘Quaker Elders’ – come into the Junior School to help.

ACADEMICS

Non-selective but children come for a couple of taster days. The school curriculum is based on the National Curriculum but doesn’t follow it slavishly and puts each child’s learning, personal growth and development at its heart and the underlying Quaker ethos and values running throughout. I can’t give you any SATS or Common Entrance results because they don’t do them – the school believes that external exams restrain teaching and imposes unnecessary pressure on the kids. So each child is assessed continually, with a formal assessment at the end of each year. Specialist teaching starts in Reception, with weekly music and during their time at the Junior School, children will learn French, German and Spanish. Classes are small (around 15 kids per class). Most children move onto the Senior School.

SPORT

The pupils get to use the Senior School’s excellent sporting facilities. All the usual sports – football, netball, rugby, tennis, athletics, etc., with fixtures and matches against other local schools – plus after school trampolining and water polo clubs. The equestrian team are national champs.

QUIRKS

There’s a Yurt Village in the Peace Field during the summer months where pupils can learn outside of the traditional classroom environment. Quakers believe in working towards a better world without the use of violence, so there’s a biennial Sidcot Festival of Peace involving – impressively – even the youngest pupils who have regular peace and global studies sessions.

HEADTEACHER

Cath Dykes has been the Head of Sidcot Junior School since September 2021. Cath joined Sidcot as Head of Early Years Foundation Stage in September 2018 and was also Assistant Head Pastoral. Pastoral care is something she feels very passionate about. The values of Sidcot School are directly aligned with Cath’s own beliefs and ensuring children have the support they need to thrive is a key element to education here.

REPORTS

See the latest reports from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), equivalent to Ofsted in the state sector, here and here.

WRAP AROUND CARE

If you need to get an early start, you can pop the kids into the Breakfast Club from 7.45 am until registration. Can’t pick up at the normal time? After School Care runs from 4.30pm until 6pm which includes supper in the Refectory at 5.30pm. Lots of after school clubs (mostly free), including iPad maths and riding (did I mention the Senior School’s got its own Equestrian Centre?). During the school holidays, the Holiday Club (arts, crafts, sport, nature, cooking, etc) is open to all children aged 3-11 in the local area. Older kids aged 7-12 can join the multi-sports club (trad sports and new). If you can’t do the school run, there are a fleet of school mini buses scooting around North Somerset and parts of Bristol for Year 3+ (or younger kids with a sibling in Year 3+).

FEES

Pre-School fees are £27 morning/afternoon sessions. Annual fees for the Junior School range from £9,600 in Reception to £14,340 in Year 6. Early Years Funding (15 hours a week of subsidised early years education up until the term they turn 5 years old) applies here. If you want to try out the toddler group, it’s between £3.50 an £5.50 a session.

Hasn’t every school got its own Iron Age hut?

WORD ON THE GROUND

The Junior School’s described as being like an extension of family, everyone’s valued for who they are, and being unorthodox or different is OK. It’s not all about the cleverest. Kids come out as nice people, happy and confident but with a conscience. Someone mentioned regular ‘disaster lunches’ when everyone eats soup and bread and give the money saved to charity. Kids don’t grow up in the Somerset bubble, it’s outward looking even at this stage, unpretentious and grounded.

MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: parents who value an unpretentious, inclusive atmosphere with an emphasis on community, equality and thinking for yourself; those who want the continuity of an education at the same school from start to finish, especially useful if you’ve got more than one child

Not for: those who want a traditional private prep school with sights set on Common Entrance.

Don’t take our word for it: See for yourself by arranging a personal tour or booking a place on one of their Open Mornings. 2024 dates: Fri 26 Jan, Bank Holiday Mon 6 May.

Sidcot School, Oakridge Lane, Winscombe, North Somerset, BS25 1PD. Tel 01934 843102.

Sidcot Junior School, Winscombe, near Bristol

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