FAQs
General FAQs
What are the school day hours?
Prep School
Day pupils arrive at school between 8am and 8.10am. Tutor time begins for all pupils at 8.15am.
On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday the school day ends at 5.50pm. Year 3 & Year 4 pupils may leave at 5.10pm
Pupils may stay at school later in the day to participate in extras and activities.
On Wednesdays and Saturdays (match days), pupils may leave after match teas at 4pm.
Pre-Prep
Pre-Prep day begins at 8.15am and ends at 3.15pm. There is a breakfast club from 7.30am and an activities and clubs programme which runs daily until 5.45pm.
Isn't it a long school day?
The Brambletye day is quite a long day compared to some other schools however it is designed to enable pupils to do everything they wish to at school and once they go home at the end of the day they are able to relax with their family. Pupils play at least an hour of sport everyday and they enjoy lessons in all the creative arts once a week including Drama, Music, DT and Art. There is an Enrichment afternoon every Thursday. Homework is done at school and with a huge array of clubs on offer, pupils are able to pursue most of their extracurricular passions without having to leave Brambletye.
How many children are there in a class?
The average class size is 14 pupils per class.
What sports do children play and how often?
Children have games sessions or matches against other schools every day of the week. The major sports played are football, rugby, cricket, hockey and netball. There is also swimming, squash, tennis, athletics, cross country, golf, basketball and badminton.
Could you tell us more about the food at Brambletye?
Boarders start the day with a cooked breakfast, fruit, toast and cereal. There is a break at 10.30 when children have a drink and homemade cookies, biscuits or fruit. There are 3 lunch sittings a day divided into Pre-Prep, Lower School and Senior School. Pupils may choose between a hot meal or the salad bar which has a huge array of different dishes every day. Lunch is a “family service” which means that staff serve the children at each table and eat with them to ensure that everyone is eating well and good table manners are taught. Low tea takes place at 3.30pm and is a drink, sandwich or fruit. Boarders’ supper takes place at 6pm and day pupils who are doing any extra activities in the evening may join them. Finally the Boarders have “grub” before going to bed which is a choice of sandwiches, toast, cereal and fruit. All of our food is loving prepared by our very dedicated in-house catering team,
Do you have Saturday School?
We have no academic lessons on Saturdays. There are four Sport Saturdays a term when children in Years 5 to 8 play fixtures against local schools. Parents are invited to breakfast in the Dining Room before going out to the side lines to support the children. Events are completed by lunch when pupils may go home.
There is a full weekend programme for our boarding pupils – from cultural, culinary and educational experiences to entertainment and adventure activities and outings.
Which Senior Schools do pupils go onto?
Our pupils go onto a wide range of Senior Schools across the U,K. A full list can be found at https://www.brambletye.co.uk/prep/destination-schools/. Parents are encouraged to make an appointment with the Headmaster when their child is in Year 4 or early on in Year 5, to discuss some schools that would suit your child and you as a family.
Where can I buy uniform from?
Simmonds in Tunbridge Wells are Brambletye ‘s uniform supplier. They have an online shop and new uniform may be sent directly to Brambletye. We have a name taping service but please let us know if you would like to use this. You will need to order your child’s name tapes.
We also have a second hand shop at Brambletye. Please email hatarnoy@brambletye.com to make an appointment.
Admissions FAQs
What is the Admissions process?
We will ask for a copy of your child’s most recent school report. and we may request pupils to sit some short assessments in English and Maths.
Once you know that Brambletye is the right school for your child, we ask that you register your child and pay a £100 registration fee. Around 6 months before entry, we will then request a refundable deposit to secure your child’s place. The deposit is £500 for UK based children, £1000 for EU based children and the equivalent of a term’s fees for children from the rest of the world. The deposit is refunded when your child leaves the school, less any expenses incurred in their final term.
Do you offer Scholarships and Bursaries?
Yes, we offer scholarships and bursaries to children entering the Prep School. Current pupils are also able to apply once for scholarships once if they are already in the Prep School. A small number of bursaries are offered each year to children who have been successful in the scholarship process, but whose parents still could not afford to send their child to Brambletye.
Do you accept children with SEN?
Yes, we do, although we encourage parents to discuss their child’s needs with our Head of Learning Support, before deciding whether Brambletye is the right school for their child.
Does my child have to board?
Pupils may be a day pupil, if they wish, throughout their time at Brambletye. They will of course benefit from many of the benefits of being in a boarding school such as the evening activities and extra academic support.
Boarding FAQs
Are there flexible boarding options?
In Years 3-6 children may choose to board 1, 2, 3 or 4 nights per week. The days are fixed termly. We expect that if a child is boarding 1 night a week, this will increase to 2 or more nights after one term. We also have a number of children in those year groups who are full-time boarders. In Years 7 & 8 pupils are either boarders or day pupils. Boarders may go home on a Saturday afternoon after matches or stay at school to enjoy the full weekend activity programme which we are proud of.
How many children are there in a dormitory?
There are between 5 to 10 children in a dorm. They are always with children of their own year group and sometimes with children in the year above or year below.
What is an All-In weekend?
All-in weekends take place once or twice a term and all boarders in Years 7 & 8 are expected to stay in school to enjoy a fun packed weekend together. On other weekends children are welcome to go home or to friends, leaving after matches on Saturday and returning on either Sunday night or Monday morning, though a good number of children choose to remain in school.
How many international pupils do you have and where do they come from?
Around 10% of our pupils come from overseas and we currently have American, Chinese, French, Spanish, Russian, Thai and Japanese pupils.
How far away is the airport and how to pupils travel there?
Gatwick airport is just under half an hour from the school by car. Heathrow airport is just over an hour from the school by car. We use a local taxi firm which has a number of DBS checked drivers. The drivers are able to meet the children on arrival and help them check in on departure.
Travel to London
Our nearest train station is East Grinstead which is 5 minutes away from school. On exeat weekends and half terms, children travelling to London are escorted on the train to Victoria station by a member of staff where they will There is an escorted return journey on Sunday evenings, or Monday evenings if it has been a bank holiday.
Are pupils allowed devices at school?
We do not allow any personal devices at school. Children have school email addresses and they may call home whenever they wish either on the phone or using Facetime, Skype and WeChat. Any electronic devices, including mobile phones, are handed in to staff on arrival to school. Children are able to take them with them for exeats, half terms and holidays.
What activities are there at weekends?
The weekend programme is designed to be busy and sociable but we also give the children space to relax when they need to. Boarders have access to all the school facilities including the sports hall, tennis courts, golf course, swimming pool and grounds. There is often a themed supper on Saturdays followed by games, karoake or a film. A programme of activities is planned every Sunday and the busy children are kept well fed by Annabelle’s Sunday Roast lunch. Activities include:- Big Tree Climbing company, inflatables,a giant waterslide , outings to the beach, London and sports fixtures, camping in the grounds, planning shows and walks for ice creams and hot chocolate.