The Headmaster's invitation

The Headmaster is Mr Phil Ward. He and his wife Sue arrived at Feltonfleet in September 2000. He was previously the Senior Housemaster at Uppingham School. They have two children, Tim who starts at Newcastle University in September, and Anna who will begin A-Levels at Cranleigh in September.

Welcome to our website, and thank you for taking the time to get to know a little more about our School. You might expect the Headmaster to tell you what a wonderful place our School is. But, then I actually believe it.

As well as being its Headmaster, I have a dual interest in Feltonfleet being an excellent place because Sue and I also chose the School for both of our children. And we have no regrets. They are thriving, and are blissfully happy. It seems to me that this is the test of a top flight prep school. Are the children busy, are the children happy, and are the children really valued for who they are, and all that they are desperate to contribute? Well, children at Feltonfleet are all these things, and much more. We recognise the individual in your child, and whilst we are proud of the many things we do well, and the extraordinary range of our facilities,

I believe that it is our pastoral care which is our unique selling point.Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of your child is of paramount concern to all of us here, and it is our aim to encourage him or her to aspire to the highest personal standards.

The traditional goals of aiming high, respecting each other, and promoting high quality learning is set against modern attitudes and relationships.We want the children to respect one another, to feel at ease in the company of adults, and to understand what and where the boundaries of good sense and personal responsibility are.Above all, if your child feels valued in the classroom and beyond, if he or she knows that we really are interested in them, if they can see that we will go the extra mile for them, then in my experience they are much more likely to go the extra mile for us, and for you. High achieving children, irrespective of their real potential, are those who have high self esteem. We go out of our way to inculcate that feeling of self worth. Without it very little can be achieved.

So, what else can I tell you about Feltonfleet? Well, we are a co-educational day and weekly boarding prep school for 360 pupils. We have been around for a hundred years, and are located on a really superb site not far from the centre of Cobham. You really do need to come and look at our grounds and facilities to fully appreciate them. In spite of our location close to the A3 and not far from the M25, our 25 acres of pine woodland and games fields could almost make you feel that you have arrived in the New Forest! A flourishing pre-prep, Calvi House, led by the outstanding Mrs Preece, and excellent teaching facilities, are supported by much else. Science labs, a DT centre, an IT suite (the School is fully networked), a marvellous sports centre, an indoor swimming pool, a floodlit astro, a Chapel, Music School, indoor air rifle and a brand new rifle range, squash courts, a leisure centre, an art school, play areas, and an excercise trail in the woods. A list barely does justice to it.

We used to be an all boys boarding school, of course, and whilst we still retain the small school atmosphere, there is now a pleasing blend of larger day school and the original boarding ethos. In many ways boarding is still the engine room of the School. 50 girls and boys weekly board (that is Monday to Friday afternoon) and almost all began their Feltonfleet careers as day pupils. Girls started to board from April 2003, and they occupy a new wing of the boarding house. The boarders are cared for by the residential Houseparents, supported by a tutor team. Not all boys will board, but many chose to, especially those heading for boarding schools at 13. All boys and nearly all the girls stay with us until 13 before they head off to a vast array of senior schools of all types. There are resident matrons, who also attend to the welfare and medical needs of all our children.

Our children work hard. They are required to. But they do so in a warm and friendly environment, and we are very proud of the feelings of warmth, care and enthusiasm generated by our staff and the children. Feltonfleet feels like a school where children will be happy and will be encouraged to do well.

Ultimately, you must judge for yourself whether Feltonfleet is the right place for your child, and the right place for you as a parent. I am a great believer in getting the right fit for your child, and for you as a family. So, please accept this invitation to come and visit us. Feltonfleet is a great place, and I know you won’t be disappointed.