Community

• Charity
• Communication
• Pastoral Care
• House System
• Daily Routine
• Code of Conduct
• JuSPA

Charity

We value highly our local and global community links in Hurst Prep. We have regular Prep School charity days which are organised by the children in their Houses and these charity days raise funds to support local as well as international projects.  In addition to these days we also support the College’s Charity in the summer term.  In recent years, we have raised considerable amounts of money for Open Arms Infant Care Home in Malawi (www.openarmsmalawi.org), the Joshua Trust, Macmillan, Children in Need, The Torch Trust and a range of other charities. After our Annual Harvest Festival a considerable donation of food provided by the children is delivered to the Brighton City Mission and children regularly prepare Christmas Gift boxes for children and families in parts of Eastern Europe.

In addition to our fundraising efforts we work hard to support our local community.  Our children and staff are regular active participants in the local Hurst Arts Festival which takes place every September and the choirs sing at a local residential home for elderly people every Christmas.

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Communication

We work hard to communicate information to parents via the school calendar, a weekly newsletter, email and notices in the foyer.   If parents wish to communicate with the school they should contact the office by phone, email or just drop in.  If parents have a concern about their child’s progress then they should either e-mail their child's form teacher or the subject teacher concerned.  He or she will either answer the query by e-mail or arrange an appointment to see the parent.

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Pastoral Care

We believe that good pastoral care is essential for a child to flourish and we value each child as an individual.  If parents have a concern or wish to inform the school of any change in circumstance at home, then they should inform their child’s form teacher or Mrs Debbie Stoneley who is responsible for Pastoral Care and Discipline.  We recommend that this should normally be done by e-mail but teachers can often be found before the start of school; a member of the Senior Management Team will be available in the drop off zone of the car park every morning.  If a parent's concern is more serious, they are welcome to make an appointment with Mrs Beeby.

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House System

We operate a House System to encourage healthy competition and teamwork.  On arrival at Hurst Prep School, children are allocated one of the four houses, all named after past eminent academic staff of the College.  The Houses also take it in turns to organise a Charity Day and help to create an awareness of our responsibility to the wider community.  The role of the Houses in the life of the School is significant and house competition is thriving! House Masters and Mistresses take an active role in encouraging their children to strive for house points in order to win the coveted house cup at the end of each term!

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Daily Routine

School opens at 8.00 am and pupils can go to their form rooms from 8.10 am.  Pupils should be in school for Registration at 8.25 am at the very latest.  If on a particular occasion parents need to leave their son or daughter before then they should discuss this with Mr Oakden, the Deputy Head.

After lesson 1 and 2 there is a break and children are offered a drink, a breadsticks and some fruit before they go out to play.  Pupils should not bring in their own food including sweets.  After lesson 3 pupils go to lunch in the College Dining Room.  On Wednesdays the afternoon is devoted to games and matches after 2.00 pm and if a pupil is not involved in matches he/she will be able to leave school at 4.00 pm.  On Thursdays we end the day with our weekly Chapel Service which fnishes at 5.00 pm.  Children may go home at 4.30 pm every day except Thursday unless involved in activities which finish at 5.20 pm.  After activities there is a supervised prep period for anyone still at school.  Prep finishes at 5.55 pm and all pupils should leave by 6 pm.

At some stage every afternoon children are offered a snack including a piece of fruit and a drink.  If pupils are left at school and do not have an activity then they are required to go to Private Study and then Prep if they are still in school at 5.20 pm.  This can be an extremely long day, especially for younger children and we recommend that this is avoided if at all possible.

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Code of Conduct

Respect

• Treat all property with respect.
• Don’t borrow other people’s things.
• If you are not sure ask permission.
• Listen to what people have to say.  Give everyone a fair chance.
• Don’t be judgemental.
• Own up! Be honest.
• Work together. There’s no ‘I’ in ‘team’.
• Every action has a reaction.

Manners

• Remember to say please and thank you.
• Be polite and courteous to everyone.
• Hold doors open for each other.
• Make visitors feel welcome.

Commitment

• Always give 100%. Be proud to win but accept defeat graciously.
• Work hard in class.  Take pride in what you do and do it well.
• Be considerate to those around you who are trying to learn.
• Put your hand up and wait your turn.

Make

• Our school safe, welcoming, calm and inclusive.

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JuSPA

One reason why the Prep School is so friendly is its strong Parents’ Association (JuSPA).  This social group is invaluable and arranges and helps with a whole variety of events for pupils and parents throughout the school year.  Please contact the Prep School office for more information on JuSPA.

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