The Ethos of King Henry VIII Preparatory School

(a) King Henry VIII Preparatory School has a Christian tradition, in keeping with the other schools in the Coventry School Foundation. Children from all faiths and cultural backgrounds are welcomed. Tolerance, forgiveness and understanding between people of different faiths, races, backgrounds and countries are moral touchstones. Children are taught that differences between people and places help to make the world a wonderful and fascinating place. King Henry VIII School has an association with Coventry Cathedral and is a member of its Community of the Cross of Nails which seeks international peace and reconciliation. School assemblies normally include Christian prayers. However, there is no compulsion for children to say these and throughout the school year some of the major festivals and stories of other faiths and cultures are celebrated.

(b) The School seeks to encourage and develop a range of gifts and talents amongst its pupils (academic, artistic, creative and sporting). It has high academic standards and aspirations but its timetable is broad. The curriculum has a traditional ‘prep’ school breadth, with plenty of extra-curricular activities and a wealth of opportunities for children to develop interests and experience an exciting range of activities. Sport is a major component in the timetable. The School’s Head Teacher, Nicholas Lovell, is a member of the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools.

(c) A strong tradition of pastoral care exists at the School. Fundamentally, the School seeks to be a happy place where individuals can grow and express themselves. Children develop at different rates and at different ages: the School is committed to helping pupils to develop at the appropriate times, in the direction of their talents and interests, and to ensure that all children feel safe and secure.

(d) The School provides care for children before and after the conventional school day as well as during each holiday and thus can be a ‘home-from-home’ for many children whose parents need to work.

(e) The School provides children with outstanding opportunities to experience activities and pursuits beyond the classroom, in the form of trips (local and international), outdoor pursuits, dramatic and musical opportunities, cultural and charitable activities. Each year group from the age of 7 is given the opportunity to go on residential school trips. The building of confidence, enthusiasm, self-reliance and leadership are very important.

(f) There is clear sense among staff and governors that this is an independent school. As such, the styles and methods of teaching at the School, and the content of its curriculum, are based on traditional and proven standards and ideas. The staff of the School will seek to employ the best aspects of modern teaching practice and resources, but will base decisions to change, adopt and modify these on experienced professional judgement rather than the latest government directive. The School covers the main aspects of the National Curriculum, assessing children so that their academic standards can be compared with their peers in other schools. However, the School’s overriding aim is to provide a curriculum which is rich, relevant and stimulating for its pupils and which provides excellent foundations for future success.

(g) There are strong home-school links, with parents having plenty of communication from the School regarding their children’s progress, and being able to meet with staff both formally and informally. Parents are welcomed into the School’s community so that they feel they are stakeholders in the School and have a voice in its direction. The School has its own Parents’ Association Committee which is linked with that of King Henry VIII Senior School; all monies raised by the two committees are divided equally.

The School Badge
The School uses the KHVIII coat of arms but has its own motto – Confide Recte Agens (Have the confidence to do what is right).