Wealden Times | WT215 | January 2020 | Travel & Wellbeing supplement inside

Education
Sutton Valence
What should parents be looking for when they make
their prep school shortlist? It’s all about finding the
right fit for your child and your own values. Having a
one-to-one meeting with the Head and a tour of the
school will enable you to understand what differentiates
the school and whether or not the school is true to its
ethos and mission statement. At Sutton Valence, we are
very proud to be a school that lives out its ethos, ‘each
cares for all and individuality is cherished’. Our Early
Years department (Nursery and Reception) was recently
awarded the Early Years Quality Mark recognising the
excellent provision we offer our very youngest pupils.
Finally, see how straightforward you find the school’s
responses and consider the feeling you get when walking
around. I would advise parents to trust their instincts.
How difficult will it be for a child to get into their
prep school of choice? When applying for a place at a
prep school, the earlier the better would be my advice.
Here at SVPS we have a waiting list for one year group
and anticipate having more in due course. Whilst we
do, of course, ensure that children are well-supported at
whichever point they join us, beginning their prep school
career in the Early Years ensures the smoothest and most
consistent of educational journeys. Most prep schools will
expect children in Year 1 and upwards to have a taster day
at the school so both the child and the school can get a
feel for each other. There may be some sort of assessment
but at SVPS we also ensure our prospective pupils have
the opportunity to get to know the children in their new
class and experience a normal day at our school.
can collect them. Children can stay at school until 6pm
and the last session of our after-school facility, Little
Suttons, includes a hot tea. The children in Years 3 to 6
also have an extensive list of clubs to choose from when
their school day ends at 4.10pm. They also have the
opportunity to stay at school to complete their homework
in Prep Club and a number of children also stay for tea.
Which of the school’s facilities are you particularly
proud of? We are very fortunate at SVPS to have not just
our own beautiful school, in a stunning, rural setting but
we also have access to the facilities of our Senior School
which is located less than a mile away. Our classrooms
are purpose built so they are spacious and well-equipped.
Our curriculum is enhanced by our wide range of
different outdoor learning areas. The sporting facilities are
impressive with a full size all-weather pitch, various sports
courts, cricket nets and plenty of pitches. We swim all
year round making use of the excellent pool at the Senior
School and we also enjoy their all-weather athletics track
in the summer term.
Are there any bursaries/scholarships available and
in which year? Scholarships are available at our Senior
School for art, drama, design technology, music, sport
and academic ability. A limited number of bursaries are
available via a means-tested assessment.
Sutton Valence School, Maidstone, Kent
01622 842117 svs.org.uk
What extra-curricular activities do you offer pupils
to help working parents? We aim to be as helpful as
possible with our club and activity programme. A number
of our pupils begin their day at 7.30am with a hearty
breakfast. We also provide supervision in the playground
from 8am and parents can make use of the drop off
zone to ‘kiss and drop’. At the end of the day, pre-prep
children can go home at 3.30pm or they can attend
a club. We also offer wraparound care where children
are looked after and have lots of fun until their parents
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