WHAT? WHERE?

Pupils at Micklefield School in Reigate, Surrey.

Micklefield School is an independent day school for children aged 2 to 11 years in central Reigate. It’s just a stone’s throw from Reigate Railway Station putting it in a handy location for commuting parents. In 2024, the school joined the Reigate Grammar School Group, and pupils benefit from an early offer in Year 5 for a place at RGS without having to sit the entrance exam. It makes for a smooth transition to senior school. Micklefield retains its strong links with other local senior schools too, with Dunottar being a popular destination.

Micklefield School is academically non-selective, friendly and small with just over 250 pupils. It’s a two-class intake throughout and class sizes grow to around 20 pupils. The school follows a Christian ethos, but accepts all faiths and none. It’s very much driven by a strong family culture – and follows a set of values known as the KRs: kindness, responsibility, resilience and respect. You see these a lot throughout the school.

The school was founded in 1910 in a house called Micklefield – hence the school’s name, on Evesham Road in Reigate, but moved to its current location in Somers Road in 1925. The main school building – two handsome inter-connected sandstone houses – reflect the Micklefield’s welcoming and homely vibe. And though the site is compact, classrooms are spacious, bright, airy and light. It doesn’t hurt that big Victorian windows look out onto Reigate Hill beyond.

Most of the pupils live in and around Reigate, although increasingly families will travel from as far as Dorking, Betchworth and Horley. Families are drawn to the broad curriculum and strong family ethos – and now the close connection to RGS.

FACILITIES

Overhead view of Micklefield School, Reigate, Surrey

Compared to some independent schools with their long, winding driveways, acres of land and slick science blocks, Micklefield is more modest. But then, this is a town-centre school with all the benefits that Reigate offers.

You might say it’s small but perfectly formed. There’s everything here you’d expect from an independent prep school. The playground on the main school site includes an all-weather netball court, a trim trail and a climbing wall. There’s also a nature area used for outdoor learning and a sustainable garden area where vegetables are grown.

There’s also a good-sized multi-purpose gymnasium used for indoor sports, school assemblies and school theatre productions, music concerts and other performances. A music centre includes a large music classroom and several practice rooms, and more instruments than you can poke a violin bow at. There’s also a dedicated IT suite with banks of PCs and iPads as well as Lego robotics.

Just around the corner, a minute’s walk from the school, are the sports fields and pavilion set across a 5.5-acre site. Children take part in PE or games lessons here about three times a week. Pupils learn tennis at the Reigate Lawn Tennis Club and have weekly swimming lessons off-site.

SPORT

Pupils playing cricket at Micklefield School in Reigate, Surrey

As with most independent schools, sport is important. At Micklefield it’s as much about the fellowship and character-building as the physical benefits. There are eight specialists sports coaches on site who teach from nursery to Year 6.

The usual line-up of sport is offered. During the autumn and winter terms children in Year 3 up play weekly fixtures in netball, hockey, football and rugby. During the summer it they play cricket, including mixed team fixtures.

Pupils also learn sports like tennis, rounders, cross-country running, athletics and gymnastics, plus swimming.

THE ARTS

Pupils at Micklefield School in Reigate, Surrey.

Music, drama and the visual arts are all strong here. Micklefield was a finalist in the 2023 Independent School of the Year Awards for Performing Arts. It says a lot. There are major school productions for children in Years 3 and 4, and in Years 5 and 6.

Lamda is taught and the school was extended several years ago to include a brand new art and DT studio. Upper school pupils will spend two hours here each week – one hour for each subject. As well as traditional artistic pursuits from drawing and paining to sculpting and collage, children learn textiles and photography.

Music is taught by specialist teachers from nursery up to Year 6. In Year 2, children learn the violin. And in Year 4, pupils lean a brass instrument like the trombone, trumpet, French horn or euphonium. Incredibly, there are more than 200 music and LAMDA lessons taking places each week supported by 13 peripatetic music teachers and a dedicated director of music.

There are also plenty of orchestras, strings ensembles, flute and guitar groups for children to join, along with choirs. The children love forming their own bands too, and have fun practising during break and lunchtimes.

LITTLIES

Pupils at Micklefield School in Reigate, Surrey.

The nursery is housed in Belton House which is connected to the main school building by a glass walkway. It’s a lovely bright open space, spread across two floors, with its own outside playing area that links to the main school playground. Outside, there’s a mud kitchen, a cute timber teepee, role play areas, nature areas, adventure playground equipment, trikes and bikes, plus a small pond.

The nursery is very much a part of the main school – pupils eat lunch in the main school dining hall and they regularly use the main school facilities for music lessons, sports and games. Children in the nursery have specialist teachers for music, Spanish, French art, and sports including Playball, a ball skills development programme.

The nursery offers year-round provision and there’s a focus on getting children ‘school ready’ – so this is more than just day-care. The curriculum, which continues year-round, is centred on learning through play. Children in both classes – both rising 3s and rising 4s – are able to free-flow through the inside and outdoor learning spaces. In addition to the main classrooms, there’s a also smaller breakout classroom with a kitchen that’s used for baking.

Sessions are morning, afternoon or full-day – most children will do mornings or full-days. And there’s provision for before and after-school care from 7.30am to 6pm.

The nursery was shortlisted as a Top 20 Day Nursery for the south east on the Day Nurseries website.

ACADEMICS

Pupils at Micklefield School in Reigate, Surrey.

For a non-selective school, academics are strong which the school attributes to the rich and broad curriculum, small class sizes and excellent specialist teachers.

Children have access to specialist teachers for French and Spanish, IT, science, art and DT, music and PE and games. From Year 3 upwards, children access more of the specialist classrooms. This prepares them well for the transition into senior school life.

The focus at Micklefield is to create a happy, supportive and nurturing environment, with strong family values embedded into everything they do. I’m told it’s these values as well as their academic successes that puts them in strong demand among senior schools.

There’s an emphasis on helping families find the ‘right fit’ senior school for their child, and the school works closely with parents and children to make this happen. The new partnership with Reigate Grammar School means many will go to RGS, should this be their chosen path. Dunottoar School in Reigate is also a popular choice, and in recent years pupils have also accepted places at Caterham School, St John’s Leatherhead, City of London Freeman’s, Worth and Box Hill School.

Scholarship offers are common – the 2024 cohort of 40 were offered 39 scholarships.

PASTORAL CARE

Pupils at Micklefield School in Reigate, Surrey.

Pastoral care is hugely important here – embedded into the ethos of the school. Wellbeing and happiness is at the centre of Micklefield’s close family ethos. Communication is strong between the school and families, and children are comfortable talking to not just their own class teacher but any member of staff.

There’s also a worry box, where children can write down and post any concerns. And classrooms have a quiet corner for children who need a quiet moment. Wellbeing journals are kept by pupils and wellbeing events are held throughout the year.

There’s a peer mediator programme in place whereby children in Year 6 are given training to assist in the playground. And each Year group will nominate a Wellbeing Champion who will receive training to provide a listening ear to their peers.

The school aims to develop a growth mindset – to empower children with a positive attitude, mindfulness practices, and a strong set of core values.

There’s a dedicated ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) who works with children who may need support on a one-to-one or small-group basis.

WHAT ELSE

Micklefield School has been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award ‘with Distinction’ from Eco Schools. It shows the school’s commitment to prioritising the environment.

THE HEAD

Ryan Ardé, the head teacher at Micklefield School in Reigate

Ryan Ardé has been Headmaster at Micklefield since September 2019, coming to the position from the STEP Academy Trust, a family of state primary academies. His previous role within the Trust was as Headmaster of the David Livingstone Academy in Thornton Heath. It was a school that required improvement when he started, and in which he took to an Outstanding Ofsted rating.

Warm and genuine, he talks a lot about Micklefield’s strong family ethos and values. He wants children at Micklefield to feel a sense of belonging, and to develop a love of learning. His own children attended the school.

WRAP AROUND CARE

Pupils at Micklefield School in Reigate, Surrey.

Breakfast club is from 7.30am (cost £5.50), and after-school-care extends to 6pm in sessions that run from 3.30-4.30pm and then from 4.30-6pm (cost £6-£13).

Extra-curricular clubs are held after school every day offering more than 50 different options. There’s everything from book club, board games, mindfulness colouring, virtual reality and Mandarin to rugby, stop-motion animation, programmable robotics and dance. The most popular club – and always with a waiting list – is the science club.

ISI REPORT

The school was last inspected in March 2023 and achieved Excellent in all areas. Read the report here.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Pupils are not allowed to have mobile phones when they’re at school. Year 6 are the exception. Pupils are allowed phones, but they must be handed in when they arrive at school and collected at home time.

TRANSPORT

There is currently no transport system at Micklefield School.

FEES

Pupils at Micklefield School in Reigate, Surrey.

2024-25: Nursery fees for 3-4 year olds per term start at £570 for one morning a week (8am-12.30pm including lunch) rising to £845 for a full day a week. For 2-3 year olds the termly fees are £610 for one morning a week and £895 for a full day each week. Five full days for 3-4 year olds is £4,225, and for 2-3 year olds, it’s £4,475.

Fees in Reception-Year are £4,315 a term, Year 3 is £5,160 and Years 4-6 is £5,585. A limited number of means-tested bursaries are offered each year.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Pupils at Micklefield School in Reigate, Surrey.

Families are attracted to the family vibe and supportive atmosphere. They say that children thrive at Micklefield and go on to excellent senior schools. Parents are also impressed with the school’s inclusive ethos.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Families who want a holistic education for their kids, with great results and a non hothouse environment. Children who prefer a small, intimate family-oriented school.

Not for: If it’s the grandness of a country private school you seek, and loads of flashy facilities, you won’t find it at Micklefield. There’s a more down-to-earth vibe going on with the focus on traditional values.

Dare to disagree? Go see it for yourself at an open day or book a private tour. Click here to find out the next open day.

Micklefield School, 10 Somers Road, Reigate, RH2 9DU. Tel: 01737 224212.

micklefieldschool.co.uk

Micklefield School, Reigate

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