The House system within the School is a core part of the daily lives of our pupils. There are four houses: Britons, Normans, Saxons and Vikings, all introduced when the School was founded in 1887. The House system fosters healthy competition and community spirit and assigns buddies to new pupils to ensure everyone is cared for.
There is a thriving inter-house competitive spirit which encompasses all areas of school life. Every child can help to bolster their House's end result, ensuring that everyone takes enormous pride in the achievements of each individual pupil and their contribution to all the exciting competitions.
Our pupils are encouraged to take on positions of responsibility from a young age. From Nursery to Year 8, pupils are presented with an array of opportunities to embrace responsibility within our school community and are encouraged to lead, influence and leave an indelible mark on the school's ethos.
Our School Council plays a crucial role in our school's progress. It ensures that the voices and ideas of our pupils are heard and acted upon. The Council is a platform where the creativity and passion of our pupils are catalysts for real change and progress within the school.
We encourage our Upper School pupils to embrace leadership opportunities across all aspects of school life. In Year 8, they take on positions of responsibility where they play a vital role in the daily running of the school, supporting younger pupils, organising charity events, and assisting or leading activities and School Councils. Additionally, they serve as ‘Buddies’ to our younger children, meeting weekly to share stories, play, and learn together, fostering a strong sense of community and mentorship.
We ensure all our pupils develop the life skills required for senior school and beyond. We teach money management, life skills and the importance of healthy sleep and eating. Pupils engage in public speaking, entrepreneurship, wellbeing workshops, career talks and interview skills. We regularly invite guest and parent speakers to run workshops as part of our commitment to future skills.
Our Personal Learning and Thinking Skills programme encompasses leadership, communication, collaboration, creativity, problem solving and innovation. The leadership element sees pupils embark on challenges such as camping and trekking in the Brecon Beacons or summiting Snowdon. Pupils take on the Three Peak Hike and work collaboratively to achieve a goal. Records of pupil's achievements are carefully recorded in a portfolio as part of our School's 'Be Trewe Challenge'.
We strongly believe in giving pupils the skills they will need to thrive in a world that can't even be imagined today.
We prioritise our pupils' holistic development, support their wellbeing and health, and encourage mindfulness throughout their educational journey with us.
We believe that a positive and nurturing environment is key to academic success and personal development. Through dedicated wellbeing initiatives, pastoral care, and a strong support network, we help pupils build resilience, confidence, and emotional intelligence.
Our incredible outdoor space offers a dedicated wellbeing garden, forest school, vegetable gardens, woodland walks and a variety of animals to care for. Learning often extends beyond the classroom, with lessons taking place outdoors, where pupils can enjoy the fresh air and beautiful surroundings. This natural setting fosters a sense of calm, curiosity, and hands-on learning, enhancing both wellbeing and academic development.
Our catering team understands the importance of fuelling inquisitive minds. Healthy food is key to a healthy mind, but equally important is how food brings pupils and teachers together to share their thoughts over a delicious meal.
Our chefs take great pride in the food they create, making sure that every day, individual needs are met through a wide variety of creative, freshly cooked, inviting, and simply delicious dishes. We have a dedicated nutritionist who, along with our catering team, has developed a range of initiatives throughout the year, providing engaging, fun, and educational activities to support our pupils’ development and wellbeing.
Our culture of kindness permeates everything we do at Brighton College Prep Handcross. We place great emphasis on mutual respect and kindness to others, so that every child feels valued for who they are.