School Years at Yarrells

Where every great adventure begins .

Reception at Yarrells is a joyful, gentle step into school life, carefully shaped to feel like a natural continuation of the warmth and wonder of nursery. In small classes supported by both a teacher and teaching assistant, children enjoy a beautiful blend of play-based discovery and specialist teaching in dance, French, gymnastics, music, swimming and tennis. With the Greenwood building as their welcoming home base and the wider school grounds to explore, our Reception children grow in confidence, curiosity and independence every single day, building the strong and happy foundations from which they will spring into Year 1.

Big ideas, curious minds and magic in the making

Years 1 and 2 at Yarrells are full of wonder and excitement. Building on the firm foundations of Reception, children in the Pre-Prep are immersed in a rich, inter-disciplinary world brought to life by passionate, dedicated staff, where Tutankhamun's tomb might appear in the classroom and the Great Fire of London comes alive in the corridor. Literacy and numeracy sit at the heart of each day, while specialist teaching expands to include art, computing and Spanish alongside dance, French, gymnastics, music, swimming and tennis. These are magical years, and we treasure every moment of them alongside our children.

Stretching horizons and growing independence

Life is wonderfully full in Years 3 and 4. Children enjoy the very best of both worlds, the warmth and security of a dedicated class teacher, alongside an expanding range of specialist subjects that have them moving around the school and beginning to manage their own time and belongings. An overnight stay in a Viking longhouse in Year 3 and a two-night residential adventure in Year 4 are just some of the experiences that bring learning vividly to life and help children grow in resilience, friendship and self-belief. These are the years when ambition and curiosity really begin to take hold, and we love watching it happen.

Leading the way, ready for the world

Children in Years 5 and 6 carry themselves with a quiet pride, and rightly so. As the senior members of our school community, they enjoy real responsibility, leadership opportunities and the freedom to move around the school just as they will at secondary. Taught entirely by subject specialists and equipped with their own laptops, they develop strong independence and personal organisation alongside a broad and ambitious curriculum. Dedicated study skills lessons, two modern foreign languages and the care of a trusted form tutor ensure every child feels both stretched and supported. These final Yarrells years are ones to treasure, and ones that set children up beautifully for everything that lies ahead.

The right next step for every child

At Yarrells, we take enormous care in helping every family navigate the exciting but sometimes daunting step to senior school. Our Head works closely and personally with all parents to explore the options and find the very best fit for each individual child, whether that is a grammar school, an independent school, or somewhere in between. We are proud of our outstanding 90% 11+ pass rate, achieved not by teaching to the test, but through the quality and richness of everything that happens in our classrooms every day. Every child leaves Yarrells with a place at their school of choice, and the confidence, character and genuine love of learning to flourish once they arrive.