Copthorne Prep School

07/10/2026

Linking with their global question, ‘Why is Water Important?’, Year 5 have been studying artists who incorporate water into their work. They have explored a range of artistic styles and techniques, including woodblock printing, watercolour painting, Impressionism, Fauvism, Pop Art and sculpture.

This week, pupils selected a small section of a chosen artwork to recreate. They developed their colour-mixing skills by matching the original colours as closely as possible and experimented with a variety of brushstroke techniques and palette knife effects to create different marks and textures. The result was a collection of beautiful and thoughtful studies that demonstrated both creativity and careful observation.

07/10/2026

As part of our homework approach from Year 1 to Year 6, all pupils take part in our bespoke Quick Facts programme. Each week, children will be asked to practise a specific Maths skill at home in preparation for a short quiz on Fridays. No written evidence is expected. The aim is to develop mathematical fluency through regular rehearsal of key facts and skills, helping children recall important knowledge accurately and efficiently.

To help families support learning at home, each Quick Facts sheet includes Top Tips and examples of the types of questions children may encounter. Whilst understanding remains at the heart of excellent mathematics teaching, children also benefit from having key facts readily available. When number facts become secure and automatic, pupils can devote more of their thinking to reasoning, problem-solving and applying their knowledge in new situations.

We recognise that children are at different stages in their mathematical development, so the same focus may feel straightforward for some and more challenging for others. To support this, our weekly quizzes are levelled, allowing children to choose an appropriately challenging option. The purpose is not to create pressure around scores, but to provide regular opportunities to revisit and strengthen essential knowledge over time.

Quick Facts are a great opportunity to “exercise the brain”. Little and often is most effective. A few minutes of quick-fire practice during a car journey, on the walk to school, or at the dinner table can make a significant difference. By making practice a regular, enjoyable routine, we can work together to build confidence, fluency and strong mathematical foundations.

02/10/2026

This academic year, we have introduced an enrichment lesson for children in Years 3 to 6. This is an opportunity for children to choose from a range of experiences beyond the more traditional aspects of the curriculum. Over the year, they can opt into units across three strands:

Thinking skills: critical thinking, debating, oracy and research. Our pupils are learning to ask a really good question, find the answer, and check whether a source can be trusted. Years 5 and 6 also build study and revision skills.

Creativity and performance: building an art portfolio, joining a small musical ensemble, or doing both! This allows children opportunities to explore what they are interested in and take part in experiences that are beneficial for scholarship preparation in the creative and performing arts.

Physical activity: includes fitness – learning about how to exercise specific muscles and support physical wellbeing – yoga, dance, and gardening.

Why choice? Because when children have ownership of their learning, they're more motivated, more resilient and better at reflecting on how they learn, the foundations of independent, lifelong learners.

And the verdict so far? The children are buzzing!

Want to see Copthorne Prep in action? Get in touch to book a visit https://ow.ly/Zfcr50ZTRUq

01/10/2026

13/08/2026

Wow! Fantastic set of results from Caterham’s class of 2026 - well done everyone!

21/06/2026

We were thrilled to welcome fathers, loved ones, and children from Nursery to Year 2 for a very special Father’s Day breakfast. Families enjoyed a delicious breakfast of bacon and eggs while coming together as a community to celebrate with their children.

Following breakfast, everyone made their way to the relevant classrooms, where the children proudly presented their loved ones with extra-special handmade gifts. It was a wonderful morning filled with smiles, celebration, and cherished memories.

19/06/2026

Curtain down on our final night of Shrek Jr 💚🎭
We are incredibly proud of our Year 5 & 6 cast, who brought this wonderfully quirky show to life in a fantastic run in our theatre this week. From swamps to castles and everything in between, it’s been a week of standout performances, brilliant teamwork and a whole lot of fun! ✨
Well done to everyone involved!

12/06/2026

Huge congratulations to our Year 6 children who took part in the Sussex Prep Schools athletics event at the K2 Crawley arena today. Hugely impressive performances all round - GO TEAM COPTHORNE

08/06/2026

Talented pupils from Reception to Year 6 took to the stage for our informal concerts, showcasing their hard work, dedication and growing confidence on a variety of instruments.

The children have made superb progress throughout the year and it was wonderful to witness their enthusiasm for music shine through in every performance.

A special highlight was the debut performance of our Pre-Prep Choir, led by Mrs Richardson. The children totally thrilled the audience with their performance! Well done to all our performers – we can't wait to see where your musical journeys take you next!