Berkhampstead School - Cheltenham

📣We are seeking experienced and enthusiastic NURSERY PRACTITIONERS to join our friendly team at Berkhampstead Day Nursery, Pittville Circus.

These full-time roles require someone who is passionate about providing superb care and a stimulating education to the youngest children in our community.

For further information, or to apply, please visit: uk.indeed.com, and search for Berkhampstead Day Nursery or email: [email protected]

📣We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic NURSERY MANAGER to join our friendly team at Berkhampstead Day Nursery, Pittville Circus.

This full-time role requires someone who is passionate about leading a team to provide superb care and a stimulating education for the youngest children in our community.

For further information, or to apply, please visit: uk.indeed.com, and search for Berkhampstead Day Nursery or email: [email protected]

The annual Berkhampstead Chess Congress took place today, with more than 40 competitors from Years 2 to 6 taking part. The Congress was part of the Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge, a nationwide competition, and today was the Schools round. The children played seven games of chess throughout the day, and all competitors now have the chance to compete in the ‘Megafinal’.

We were very proud of the behaviour and sportsmanship of all the children; congratulations to them all, and a huge ‘well done’ to a Year 3 pupil who was the Lower School Champion, and one of our Year 6 pupils who won the Upper School Champion prize. A prize was also awarded to the highest scoring Year 2 pupil. Everyone took home prizes that included badges, mascots and certificates!

Thank you to Mr and Rolfe, Mr Roberts and Mrs John who helped on the day, and to Mr Cole for his unwavering dedication to chess at Berky.

Meet Penny Mitchell. Mrs Mitchell first taught at Berky as a peripatetic clarinet and piano teacher and then became Head of Music in 2005. She has taught in many schools in Gloucestershire, and is a graduate of the Royal College of Music. The clarinet was her first instrument. 

Mrs Mitchell heads a team of 12 peripatetic music staff, teaches class music to all the children in the Prep School and trains the Junior Choir (Y3 and Y4) and Senior Vox Box Choir (Y5 and Y6) - our pupils’ musical ability and knowledge is often saluted by senior schools. She is well-known for her ambitious and brilliant concerts, and the incredible standard of performances she puts on throughout the year. These include Spring Concerts at the Pump Rooms Rooms, the candlelit Christmas Service at All Saints’ Church, termly recitals and her collaboration with Miss Evans for the Year 6 leavers’ production. She also supports pupils through their music exams. When asked about her favourite musical event, she enthused about particularly loving ‘all the children singing together’ at the Spring Concerts or in the Carol Service.

Her own three children attended Berky, and she was attracted to the ‘family community and the interesting and fun community.’ Having taught here for many years, her positive opinion of Berky remains glowing: ‘it is the happiest and the most positive school I have taught in with a great team of staff who are all passionate about their subjects and enjoy teaching together!’ She also admired the children’s ‘enquiring minds, that they are interested in so many different things and always keen to learn.’

We are delighted to announce the purchase of Lexham Lodge, in Charlton Kings, which will become our second Berkhampstead Day Nursery! 

A beautiful detached Grade II listed building - similar in style to Berkhampstead School - it is located at the London Road end of Copt Elm Road.

Berkhampstead Day Nursery, Charlton Kings - will provide all year-round care and education for children aged three months until they start Reception, and will mirror the aims and values of our original day nursery on Pittville Circus Road. Just like Pittville Circus, it will provide a nurturing, happy and stimulating environment, and the children will be cared for by the very best staff. Our reputation is enviable. Berkhampstead School is one of the leading Prep Schools in the county, and has nurtured children since 1945. The latest ISI inspection in November 2023 rated our day nursery ‘Outstanding.’ This affirmation is our aim for Berkhampstead Day Nursery, Charlton Kings too. 

Our goal is to open our doors later this year; for further details please contact:
📧nurseryoffice@berkhampstead nursery.co.uk
☎️ 01242 523263
(Link in the bio)

Our Prep School boys and girls have already been benefitting from plenty of cricket coaching, ready for a full season of cricket matches this term. Our busy fixture list commences this week with our U10 girls playing and four U9 mixed teams playing Good luck, all! 🏏

Berky Bows (Lower Strings), is a super music club for our cello and bass players, directed by Mr Mike Bacon, that meets on a Monday at lunchtime. 🎻🎶

Other Prep School music clubs for the Summer Term include Berky Bows (Upper Strings) for violin and viola players, Berky Beats, Chamber Ensemble and Guitar Club. Junior Choir and a Year 6 singing club round up this term’s offering. 🎻🎶

Shown here is Berky Bows (Lower Strings). 🎻🎶

Year 6’s finest problem solving skills were put to the test when they became detectives for the day. The Detective Project - a brilliant visiting workshop - involved exciting hands-on forensic investigation, and the children had great fun exploring the science of finger printing and chromatography. The pièce de résistance was when the pupils were presented with a crime scene and they had to investigate what had happened to the murder victim.

‘The Three Little Pigs’ has inspired all sorts of imaginative activities for our Kindergarten children; building houses from bricks, straw and sticks has encouraged problem solving skills, and pouring tea for the pigs has taught the the children about capacity, for instance. 🐷🐷🐷

Meanwhile, our Reception children have thrown themselves into their Summer Term topic, ‘Alive or Extinct’, and the exciting subject of dinosaurs has also sparked plenty of creative teaching and learning. 🦖🦕🦖

Read more Early Years news in this afternoon’s weekly newsletter.

If you are considering a top-notch education for your child at Berkhampstead School, and live outside the town centre, you might be interested in the bus service we offer. Managed and driven by our friendly in-house team, the route is regularly reviewed to offer our parents and children greater flexibility at the beginning of the school day.

The current route is:
7.20am GCHQ
7.30am West Cheltenham/M5
7.45am Hucclecote/Brockworth
8.00am Leckhampton
8.15am Cheltenham Racecourse
8.20am Arrive at School

For further information, call the School office on 01242 523263.

It’s been heart-warming to witness such lovely camaraderie between the Year 6 pupils and their Year 3 counterparts this week in the Prep department.

A lovely Berky tradition, each of the younger pupils are allocated a Year 6 buddy whose job it is to keep an eye on them throughout the year, particularly when they are new to the Prep department. Last term, when the existing youngsters were in Year 2, they were invited to events ‘across the road’ to help smooth the transition to the senior part of the school.

Well done to all of our Year 3s - particularly those who have just joined us - for adapting to Prep life so quickly!

Our Year 6 leavers of 2023 have headed to a number of fantastic senior schools, and many were awarded grammar school places and scholarships to senior schools. This year’s destinations include:

Balcarras School




Denmark Road High School







Good luck to all our leavers, and stay in touch!