Co-educational Day Prep School

from 3 to 11 years

WelcomeWelcome to Carrdus. We are a friendly, rural, co-educational day prep school from 3 to 11, offering academic rigour with adventure and imagination at our heart. We aim to give every child a really happy, grounded and confident start to school life.

Carrdus is a child-centred school where children can be children; by focusing on the individual, we enable every girl and boy to grow at their own pace and flourish. Strong, supportive relationships are built with each child, helping them to develop to their full potential, academically and personally. As a result, our girls and boys quickly become independent, confident and resilient individuals who are ready to participate and compete; to have a go and do their best.

All children are different. At Carrdus we encourage them to discover hidden talents and new-found abilities by providing them with a wide range of opportunities, both in and out of the classroom, where they can discover new talents and develop emotional well-being and creativity.

We are a family at Carrdus, underpinned by strong core values including tolerance, honesty and respect. Our dedicated, caring members of staff ensure that everything we do is carried out with these values in mind and as a consequence our girls and boys are kind and considerate; sensitive to the needs of others.

Our beautiful grounds are a big part of Carrdus. Life outdoors is very important to all our children; from Outdoor Learning and Sport to just being themselves, enjoying tree climbing, den building and gardening to name but a few.

There is no greater pleasure than seeing happy girls and boys enjoying and making the most of all that Carrdus has to offer. Please do come and visit us - I think you will be delighted with what we have to offer.

Edward Way, Headmaster

Environment Our stunning eleven-acre site is just the place for getting muddy, climbing trees and enjoying Outdoor Learning. The grounds lend themselves perfectly to football, cricket, tag rugby and cross-country running, and our heated outdoor swimming pool is used every day in the summer months. We have several netball and tennis courts and our large Sports Hall is used for indoor sports, music concerts, drama performances, assemblies and our legendary roller-skating club! Home-cooked food is made each day in the kitchen by our Sodexo staff for the children and staff to enjoy.

Our environment reflects our ethos and children have plenty of space to let off steam and enjoy the outdoors for both work and play. With modern, bright and engaging classrooms set around a beautiful main hall, complete with grand staircase and wood burner and which acts as a meeting point for all our families, Carrdus feels like home.

Our relationship with Tudor Hall School gives us a unique advantage as our children access Tudor Hall’s specialist facilities on a regular basis; they are only ten minutes down the road. Our sports teams use the floodlit astroturf pitches at Tudor Hall as their home ground and Carrdus girls and boys can enjoy the regular use of Tudor Hall’s well-equipped DT workshop and modern Drama Studio.

Set in 11 acres of exquisite grounds – not in the fancy sense, but just dreamsville for little people, with magnificent, mature low-hanging trees practically screaming out to be climbed on (and which they are, joy of joys, allowed to do). Good Schools Guide

The Carrdus Pathway is a holistic approach to the development of our children’s individual characters and it underpins everything that we do. By ensuring that every child experiences countless situations along the Carrdus Pathway; little by little and year by year, they develop confidence, imagination and resilience, as well as independence, aspiration and empathy.

Building confidence is all about providing our children at Carrdus with lots of opportunities to practise and master a range of learning and life skills, whilst instilling a can-do attitude.

Fostering imagination is a pivotal part of life at Carrdus and we provide our girls and boys with an environment which actively encourages children to be children; igniting their curiosity and imagination at every turn.

Through solving problems and getting things wrong, Carrdus children view mistakes and obstacles as things to overcome rather than things to avoid. They develop all-important resilience and the tenacity to stick at things even when they get hard.

We recognise that children need to be the owners of their own learning – we give them time to follow their own ideas and make their own choices. This, combined with small class sizes and the unique relationship that exists between children and staff, results in girls and boys who are independent and can stand on their own two feet.

Carrdus children not only have big dreams of what they want to do as adults but have clear ideas of what they want to achieve in the present; they work towards their goals with thoughtful aspiration.

At Carrdus we teach our children to put themselves in other people’s shoes by first helping them understand their own emotions through wide-ranging discussions in small groups. By encouraging our children to discover what they have in common with other people and through positive modelling, they develop a strong sense of empathy.

Carrdus Pathway

Pupils relish challenge and are confident learners...ISI 2019

AcademicAcademic standards are high at Carrdus; we aim for our children to develop strong basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics at an early age, enabling them to access the breadth and depth of our wide curriculum much sooner and with greater ease. Differentiation of activities and provision of small-group work takes careful planning and we pride ourselves on our teaching that supports, challenges and extends every child. We provide extra support for those who need it through our Learning Support Department.

Assessment is a cheerfully accepted part of school life and we track every child carefully, leading to excellent exam successes and scholarships; we teach beyond any single test. You will be struck by the calm and purposeful atmosphere within our classrooms that enables our girls and boys to foster a real love and enjoyment of learning.

From the very beginning in Nursery, children are taught by class and specialist teachers; they get the best education possible. We encourage strong links between home and school, as we believe these have a big impact on the outcomes of our girls and boys. Your child’s education is a partnership between us, the school and you, the parents.

Carrdus children are aspirational

Pupils’ excellent achievements result from their extremely positive attitude to learning and strong support and feedback from teachers. ISI 2019

Personal DevelopmentIt is often remarked that Carrdus is a ‘second home’ for our children. The warm welcome and our happy, relaxed and informal atmosphere infiltrate every aspect of the school day, giving it a unique feel.

We provide lots of opportunities for our children to work both collaboratively and independently to solve problems and to be creative; they are encouraged to take calculated risks, to think boldly and to aim high. Their ideas are appreciated and valued; meaning that every girl and boy can develop a confidence to speak up and be heard.

Friendship is one of the major cornerstones of happiness. At Carrdus, we pride ourselves on making sure that every child feels happy and included, is able to nurture his or her friendships and can celebrate the successes of others. Happy children can learn and flourish.

Carrdus is a cheerful, positive school where children are at ease with adults and where high standards of behaviour are expected and achieved. Manners are high on our agenda and Carrdus children leave knowing that ‘looking someone in the eye and a firm handshake’ are important life skills to use in their future lives.

Carrdus children are empathetic

Pupils have a mature understanding of right and wrong. ISI 2019

Sport Sport plays a huge part at Carrdus for all our children and we offer a wide and varied curriculum along with numerous sports clubs.

Opportunities to develop and hone skills, to enjoy being part of a team, to keep fit and to learn to both win and lose gracefully and, most importantly, to have a go, are key aspects of sporting life at Carrdus.

In the Lower School, children are introduced to key skills through a wide variety of sports including gymnastics, dance, hockey, netball, football, cricket, tag rugby, athletics, tennis and swimming.

In the Upper School, the focus is on team sports with athletics and cross-country added to the repertoire. Termly competitive fixtures against other schools are a main feature of our calendar and all children in Years 3 to Year 6 have the opportunity to participate. Girls and boys swim a number of times each week from April to October.

Carrdus children are resilient

Pupils achieve success both in team sports and swimming and in individual activities such as karate, dance and canoeing. ISI 2019

Art You only have to visit Carrdus and see what is adorning our walls to realise how much art is valued and enjoyed at school. From Nursery age upwards, the children are taught by a specialist art teacher and they are encouraged to express their individuality and creativity with freedom.

Alongside weekly class and club sessions, girls and boys can take part in art competitions as well as having regular opportunities to display their work. Our children are able to appreciate and develop both the practical and theoretical aspects of art.

Carrdus children are imaginative

The high quality of pupils’ art displayed about the school reveals their appreciation of beauty and their capacity to think beyond the everday. ISI 2019

Music Music is taught from Nursery to Year 6 by our own and visiting specialist teachers; it is central to Carrdus life. During class music lessons children learn to develop their vocal and instrumental skills whilst also nurturing an appreciation for different types of music. Over 70% of girls and boys have individual instrumental and singing lessons and we have a Junior and Senior choir, as well as various ensembles.

To develop creativity and confidence, we provide our children with numerous opportunities to sing and to play instruments, individually or as part of an ensemble, including recitals, teatime concerts and the school music competition, as well as various concerts in the community.

Carrdus children are confident

...over 70% of kids learning an individual instrument at school and all instrumental requests catered for – that’s on the higher end of what I usually come across at this age.. Muddy Stilettos

DramaConfidence and self-esteem are key factors for happy children and it is in these areas that Drama comes into its own.

All our children from Year 1 to Year 6 have a weekly drama lesson and there are drama clubs on offer, after school, throughout the year. Girls and boys quickly learn to speak to an audience, to discuss, to debate and to persuade. Class assemblies and end of term productions, along with our annual poetry and music festivals, make for a very busy calendar. With such regular opportunities to perform, both in and out of school, all children from Nursery to Year 6 quickly become confident at standing up and sharing their talents, ideas and opinions with those around them.

Carrdus children are imaginative

Pupils are enabled to flourishISI 2019

The Wider CurriculumTo extend and enrich our school curriculum, we offer a huge range of before and after-school clubs, providing girls and boys with exciting opportunities to expand their horizons and try something new. From numerous art, construction, chess and sports clubs to ‘Wild About Nature’, roller skating, computing and canoeing, there really is something for everyone to enjoy. Clubs play an important part, not just in developing children’s sense of self-worth but also in encouraging them to play a wider role in the life of the school and the Carrdus family.

In addition, we have a rich and varied programme of exciting outings and engaging visiting speakers to inspire the children and enhance their learning in class.

Carrdus children are independent

After school there are some interesting club options (Lego, canoe and kayak club, rollerskating, knitting etc) alongside the more traditional ones. Muddy Stilettoes

Early Years Foundation StageChildren can join our Nursery in the term in which they turn three years old. No day in Nursery or Reception is the same; before they know it, children are learning letter sounds, developing their writing and collaborating in groups. Girls and boys rapidly gain confidence, relax into the school routine and are more than ready for the seamless transition into Key Stage One.

Our Nursery and Reception classrooms are warm, friendly spaces that open onto their own secure gardens enclosed within our grounds. Girls and boys can learn and play in their own outdoor classroom, as well as mix with the older children during break times.

Every child in our EYFS receives specialist-taught lessons including weekly sessions of Music, Art, Drama, Computing and Sport including Ball Skills, Gym, Dance (General and Ballet) and Swimming. Reception join the whole school for assemblies, lunch and playtimes, making the transition into Year 1 an easy and natural one.

From the EYFS, pupils’ achievements across a broad and challenging curriculum are excellent.ISI 2019

What other people say about us

I could definitely see that my kids would thrive here. Muddy Stilettoes

The quality of pupils’ academic achievement is excellent. ISI 2019

A small, nurturing school. Angels and Urchins

The use of Tudor Hall’s impressive facilities nearby is a massive boon. Muddy Stilettoes

Prep school to move house for. Country Life

Pupils showed an advanced sense of moral understanding and exemplary behaviour. ISI 2019

Great day school. The Week Independent Schools Guide

Lots of fresh air, smiley faces, slightly grazed knees and heaps of praise are order of the day at this unpretentious school that is anything but precious. Good Schools Guide

Frequently Asked Questions Further Information If you have any further questions, would like to arrange a visit, book a Nursery Come and Play session or Open Morning or would like some additional information please contact our Registrar, Jane Cozens by email jcozens@carrdusschool.com or call on 01295 263733.

Minibus Service We offer a minibus service to bring children to and from school. The buses are accompanied by an additional adult, as well as the driver, and the service is open to children of all ages. The buses go as far west as Chipping Norton and as far south as Deddington. There are multiple stops along these routes, including one in central Banbury. Buses need to be booked in advance but do not need to be used each day.

Moving On Making sure every child goes to the right future school, academically and pastorally, is a vital part of what we do and we hold regular meetings with parents to discuss this very important step in their child’s journey. Our track record is outstanding and girls and boys are consistently offered places at their first choice of future school.

Wraparound Care We offer a wide variety of clubs before and after school including Breakfast Club and our fabled Teatimers, as part of our overall wraparound care for every child from 07:50 - 18:00 every day.

www.carrdusschool.co.uk

Carrdus School, Overthorpe Hall, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX17 2BS01295 263733

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Co-educational Day Prep School from 3 to 11 years

Prep school to move house for.

Country Life