Rydes Hill Preparatory School

History

Rydes Hill was founded in September 1945 by Sister Patricia of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph, a Roman Catholic religious institute, on a three-and-a-half-acre site in Aldershot Road, Guildford, Surrey, where it remains.

Before becoming a school, the main building was a private dwelling called Rydes Hill House, and before that was known as the Clock House. It was built in the 18th century and has Victorian extensions. In the mid 19th century, the house was the residence of William Edmund Elkins, of the Elkins Brewery family, four times mayor of Guildford.

The house has a clock tower which is called 'Little Ben' by the children and is surrounded by mature trees.

In 1989 when the Nuns retired, the ownership of the school was transferred to a charitable trust managed by a Board of Governors.

Headmistresses

Music

Music plays a very important role in the life of all the children and staff at Rydes Hill School. There is a purpose built Music & Performing Arts centre. The main aim is to foster children's enjoyment and understanding of music through practical application and active involvement in a wide range of musical activities, both in and out of class lesson time. The children in year two are given a violin for the year and receive group violin lessons each week as part of the curriculum and the children in year three are given flutes, cornets and clarinets and small group lessons, also as part of the curriculum. There is a junior choir, senior choir and an orchestra. Older children are encouraged to compose their own music and enter competitions.

Children and staff

The age range is from 3-7 for boys and from 3-11 for girls. The Headmistress is a member of the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS).

Admission to the school is by informal assessment, interview, and report from the child's previous school where appropriate.

Despite being non-selective school Rydes Hill Prep attracts a number of gifted and talented children including one of the youngest members of British Mensa.

Curriculum

The school teaches all the subjects of the National Curriculum, and children are also prepared for the Common Entrance Examination and successfully placed in leading senior schools, attaining a number of scholarships each year. Swimming is part of the curriculum and there is also provision for teaching ballet, Speech & Drama and individual musical instruments. In addition to form teachers, there are many specialist teachers including Physical Education, Swimming, Music, French, Drama and Science.

Facilities

The school has a large hall with a stage, which is used for assemblies, school plays, gymnastics, and ballet. As well as classrooms, which all have the latest interactive whiteboards, there is a library, a science laboratory, an air conditioned information technology suite, a purpose built Music & Performing Arts Centre for music teaching and music practice, and a vaulted Dining Hall.

In the school's grounds, there are two all-weather tennis or netball courts, an adventure playground which was renewed and enlarged in 2014, and grassed play areas.

The Friends of Rydes Hill

The Friends organize fundraising and social events in support of the school. Each year group has two parent representatives on the Friends Committee. In 2015, a Summer Ball was held. Concerts with external musicians have been held.

The Friends have done much fundraising including restoring the clock tower, buying two minibuses and installing a new adventure playground, as well as paying for theatre companies to visit the school. They are currently fundraising for tiered, retractable seating in the Hall.