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Children are unique and every child deserves a school that is dedicated to developing individual abilities and confidence. This is an ethos that informs everything we do here at Copthorne Prep a local independent prep school nestling in 55 acres of beautiful West Sussex/Surrey countryside. Catering for children aged between 2-13 years, we believe in offering our boys and girls the very best all-around education, together with a stimulating range of sports and activities. This structured approach gives every one of our children the freedom to learn and grow within a safe nurturing environment. To achieve this, a close partnership is established between each child and their teacher while ensuring that our class sizes remain small. Our commitment to providing exceptional pastoral care is also reflected in the strong sense of community that children enjoy at the school, coupled with a culture that encourages trust, tolerance, and achievement. To discover why Copthorne Prep School is the perfect fit for your child, please feel free to contact us or browse our website for further information. Copthorne Prep School has developed an outstanding reputation for helping children to realize their full potential. By providing opportunities for all to succeed, children leave us as confident individuals, well prepared for their progression to senior schools of their choice. We inspire all our pupils to become lifelong learners, responsible global citizens, and the very best that they can be. We strive to:- Instill a desire for excellence in all areas of learning, celebrating effort as well as achievement Offer a well-considered, stimulating curriculum that provides opportunities for children to be challenged, to be curious, and to develop as independent learners Support talented and enthusiastic staff who seek to enable children to fulfill their potential Provide a nurturing environment where all children are happy, valued, and encouraged to develop as individuals Develop a strong sense of school community that is kind, inclusive, and reflects the increasingly diverse and international dimension of school life Provide strong pastoral care based on traditional Christian values of mutual respect towards all members of the community Develop a partnership with pupils, parents, and staff to promote a culture of trust, ambition, and high achievement The building now known as Copthorne Preparatory School was originally built as a private dwelling called Emsworth House and was owned by the Kensington Family. Mr. Edward Kensington was a wealthy advertising agent who retired to Copthorne in 1888. He died in 1895 at the age of just 55 years following a period of ill health. Newspapers of the time report that ‘Copthorne and neighborhood have lost a valued resident and the poor inhabitants especially a kind and generous benefactor’. In 1897, Emsworth House became a temporary home for Twyford School whilst their buildings were reconstructed and were then founded by Mr. Bernard H. Rendall in September 1902 as a boys’ school. He was the brother of the then Headmaster of Winchester College, and the school was originally designed as a feeder school for Winchester. Copthorne Preparatory School began with just 9 boys. Part of the original building that was initially used as an observatory, complete with a tower, was converted into a Chapel for the school and was dedicated by the Bishop of Lewes on October 20th, 1910. The first edition of the Copthorne School Chronicle was published in November 1911 with the object of ‘bringing old boys together who have lost sight of one another and to inspire present members of the school with a pride in their forerunners and determination that they will keep up the standard of work and play which others have handed down to them’. Subscriptions were initially 1/6 per annum. In 1913 the sad news of the tragedy in the Antarctic touched many at the school as Dr. Edward Wilson, who was Mr. Bernard Rendall’s brother-in-law, had made the school his headquarters for a short time after the ‘Discovery’ Expedition. He visited again before starting on the second expedition to tell the school of their aims and to thank the school for their generous contributions to the funds for the expedition from which a sled named ‘PIP – Primus Inter Pares’ [First among equals] was provided as well as scientific instruments. Captain Scott also wrote to the school in the days before their departure thanking everyone for their financial assistance. The Copthorne School Chronicle of the time notes that ‘In the manner and circumstances of their death they have left an undying heritage, ….an example of endurance, self-sacrifice, and heroism.’ A fund was established at the school to honor Dr. Edward Wilson’s memory and the stained glass window in the Chapel remains a fitting tribute to the man. View full school