About Us


"The function
of education is
happiness."
T.S. Eliot
FAQs
Welcome to the Homefield School FAQ.

Here you'll find all the Frequently Asked Questions pertaining to Homefield Preparatory School.

If you have a question that isn't featured on the FAQ, please feel free to email us using the form in the 'Contact Us' section of the site.

Additionally parents are encouraged to maintain email contact with their son's teacher.
Q: What is the size of the school population, the class sizes and teacher pupil-ratio?
A: Homefield School has 400 boys, 70 in the EYU, 120 in the Junior section and 210 in the Senior section.

The average class size is 15 in the Junior and Senior Departments, the maximum class size being 22. The teacher/pupil ratio is 1 to 4 for the under-3s, 1 to 8 in the Nursery and the Transition years, 1 to 9 in the Junior Department and 1 to 10 in the Senior Department.

Q: What modern additional training methods can you offer?
A: The first is extracurricular learning. Boys have access to numerous clubs and societies, among which karate is the most common. The second method is school excursions related to part of the curriculum. The third method is involvement in learning best custom writing service https://bestwritingservice.com/. It makes homework much easier, helps our students organize time for extracurricular studies and field trips.

Q: How many staff do you have?
A: We have 50 permanent teachers, all qualified, many of them specialists in their own subject, having previously taught in the secondary sector. The turnover is low, and there is a “healthy “ mix of ages.

Whilst the EYU and Junior Departments are predominantly staffed with female teachers, male teachers are in majority in the Senior Department.

Specialist teaching is introduced in the EYU in Sport, Music and French. In the Junior Department, are added ICT and Art.

In the Senior Department, all subjects are taught by specialist teachers.

Q: How much homework will my son have?
A: The aim of setting homework is to consolidate, support and extend classroom learning, and to develop independent study. Pupils are expected to keep to homework deadlines to help them develop good working habits and to take responsibility for their own learning.

Early Years’ Unit
In the Nursery the pupils do not have any homework set.

In Transition all of the pupils have regular reading homework. In other subject areas, homework may be given when appropriate.

Junior Department
Pupils are gradually introduced to homework. They are expected to read at home and to learn their spellings.

Sometimes research-type of homework may be set where pupils would be expected to do some independent “finding out” using a variety of methods and/or media.

First Year:
• Regular reading
• Spellings are given each week from the start of the Spring Term

Second Year:
• Spellings and tables to learn each week
• From half term in the Spring Term English and/or mathematics homework each weekend
• Individual children may be asked to complete unfinished work at home
• Regular reading

Third Year:
• Handwriting practice each week
• Mathematics twice per week
• English each week
• Topic work at weekend
• Regular reading
• Individual children may be asked to complete unfinished classwork or given extra homework to help their educational progress.

Senior Department
Pupils are issued with a Homework Timetable and are expected to do at least two homeworks per night as well as regular independent reading. All homework tasks should be written down in pupils’ school diaries.

Teachers set homework with clear deadlines for when the homework is due and monitor all homework tasks in terms of quality and punctuality.

In L4 pupils are expected to spend between 20 – 30 minutes on each homework set. Should homework not be set, for any reason, pupils are expected to do some extra independent reading.

In U4 and 5th Forms pupils are expected to spend 30 minutes on each homework/independent learning task.

In L6 and U6 classes homework increases and pupils are expected to spend about 45 minutes on each subject’s homework set or on independent learning for that subject Before exams, pupils are encouraged to organize their own revision timetables.

Q: How will my son be assessed?
A: All boys are continually assessed as part of their teaching and learning experience.

All boys participate in Key Stage 1 and 2 SATs.

Pupils in years 4 and 5 are formally assessed in annual school examinations.

Pupils in years 6 and 7 are formally assessed twice a year, whilst pupils in year 8 , preparing for either the Common Entrance or scholarship examinations of their chosen schools, are tested three times a year.

Q: Which schools do pupils typically transfer to at 13?
A: We proud ourselves in being "independent brokers” and in advising parents as to what Senior school is best for their sons.

Over the last 10 years, our U6th leavers have transferred successfully to 46 schools, the list of which follows:

Box Hill

Brighton College

Caterham School

Charterhouse

Christ’s Hospital

City of London School, Westminster

City of London Freeman’s, Ashtead

Cranleigh

Dulwich College

Emanuel School

Epsom College

Eton College

Ewell Castle School

Hampton Grammar School

Harrow School

Ibstock Place

King’s College School, Wimbledon

Kingston Grammar School

Lancing College

Latymer Upper School

Millfield

Pangbourne College

Radley College

Reed’s School, Cobham

Reigate Grammar School

Royal Alexandra and Albert School

Royal Grammar School, Guildford

Royal Russell School

Sevenoaks

Sherborne School

St Bede’s, Eastbourne

St Edward’s, Oxford

St James School, Ashford

St John’s School, Leatherhead

St Paul’s School

Sutton Grammar School

The Oratory

Tiffin School

Tonbridge School

Trinity School

Wallington County Grammar School

Wells Cathedral School

Westminster School

Whitgift School

Wimbledon College

Worth School


Q: Pastoral Care
A: Homefield School was awarded the grade “outstanding” for Pastoral Care in its February 2006 inspection.

At Homefield we approach the care of our children in a positive way, reinforcing the philosophy and ethos of the school and following the school discipline policy. The pastoral system aims not just to support the academic curriculum to ensure each child achieves his own potential, but has its own role in the process of education. Links are being forged between areas such as PSHE, Religious Education and collective worship, through which it is intended that each pupil will develop the basic skills, experience, knowledge and attitudes to prepare him for the demands of becoming active, confident and responsible members of society.

AIMS

Homefield aims to create an atmosphere in which all pupils feel safe.

Our children are fully supervised and we place great emphasis on the welfare and well being of the children in our care.
We aim for our children to feel happy and secure in whatever activity they are taking part in. Teachers, non-teaching staff, welfare staff and other adult helpers are encouraged to approach the care of our children in a positive way, reinforcing the philosophy and ethos of the school and following the school discipline policy. Full supervision also continues during all extra-curricular activities such as clubs. No child may remain in the classrooms, central resource areas, cloakroom/toilet areas or other areas of the building during playtimes and lunchtimes without adult supervision. Children may not enter the building at break times without the permission of the member of staff on duty.
Minor difficulties, worries or upsets involving any child which arise within the classroom or in the playground are dealt with by the class teacher or the member of staff on duty. The child or children concerned are always fully involved in any discussion about an incident or concern.


Homefield aims to maintain good behaviour and an orderly atmosphere

Children are expected to follow a Code of Conduct and staff ensure that it is maintained. Serious incidents or concerns about a child’s behaviour, health or welfare will be referred to the form tutor.
A child’s parents of guardians may be contacted if it is felt necessary to involve them in dealing with a particular situation or concern. This is usually carried out by means of personal contact when the child is collected from school or by a telephone call or letter.


Homefield aims to provide sympathetic, confidential and effective guidance and counselling as and when is it required.

All our children are encouraged to talk freely and openly to any member of staff if they have any worries or problems of any kind on a work or personal level. Staff respond to children in a sympathetic and concerned way, offering advice, support, guidance and reassurance, in confidence if required.
To enable this to take place effectively, time and space will be provided to ensure confidentiality and no unnecessary interruptions.


Homefield is committed to Equal Opportunities

Our school places strong emphasis on the individuality of every person and the children are encouraged to be positive and supportive in their approach to people who may seem different through a disability or by their physical appearance.


Homefield aims to encourage a spirit of responsibility within the School community, which is both inward and outward looking.

Pupils are responsible for keeping their classrooms clean and tidy and the corridors. They are required to respect others’ belongings and to look after their own.
A variety of charities are enthusiastically supported in a variety of ways and where appropriate boys are encouraged to organise their own fund raising activities.

Q: Do you have a minibus service?
A: We have 4 school minibuses which take boys to and from school from the Wimbledon area.

After school the buses leave at 4.15pm and 5.15pm in order to cater for after school clubs.

Q: School Uniform
A: We have a standard school uniform. The school runs a uniform shop, with a limited selection of second-hand clothes, in order to minimise parental cost.

Q: Parents and Old Boys Association
A: The Homefield Association is run by the current parents. They arrange a variety of very popular social events throughout the year. Some of the recent ones have been a Fireworks party, a Christmas Bazaar, a Quiz evening, a Charity Run, a Race evening, a Summer Ball and a Fun Afternoon for the boys.

We are always delighted to see our “Old Boys” return to visit us.. and even to entrust us with their own boys’ education! We hold an annual Reunion and they are more than welcome to attend our functions.

Pass parents automatically become members of the Homefield Association and are also invited to attend our annual Reunion Dinner.

Q: Code of conduct
A: Homefield school believes that children learn most effectively and happily in a structured setting and that they learn to respect others through being treated with respect themselves and by seeing a good example set by older children and adults.
Rewards are encouraged, and sanctions kept to the necessary minimum.
Parents and children when appropriate are asked to read and sign the “Anti-bullying code”.

Q: How much liaison is there between parents and teachers?
A: We praise ourselves for being a school with an open door policy and in all departments the staff are freely available for consultation with parents after school.
In addition each department holds 2 parents evening and provides an end of year report, complimented by half-termly reports in the Senior Department.

Q: What Games and Sport Facilities do you have?
A: At Homefield we have a purpose built sports hall with modern showers and lockers, as well as on site playing fields.

For away fixtures, our boys are transported in one of our four minibuses.

We have also privileged access to the Sutton cricket and squash club. We use the local swimming pool for the Junior Department boys’ swimming lessons.

Our sports staff is specialist trained and we also employ specialist coaches for fencing, judo, karate, squash and table tennis.

Q: Extra-curricular activities
A: Boys have access to numerous clubs and societies, some of which, like Karate, are even available to the EYU boys!
Junior Department clubs run to 4pm and Senior Department clubs generally run to 5.15pm.

Look at our weekly bulletin to see what is available; we are sure there will be lots to interest any child as he will be able to choose from sport, music, drama, chess and academic activities. A warhammer club will also be appealing to many a boy!

Q: Do you have Before and After-school care?
A: A breakfast club is available from 7.45 and an after-school club runs until 6.15pm.

Q: Do you organise school trips?
A: In the EYU and Junior departments each year group has at least one trip related to part of the curriculum.

In the Senior department there are also trips related to the curriculum. There are also trips to:

France (a day trip to Boulogne and an exchange trip to Vimy and Paris)
Ski trip
Outward bound trip
Classic trip such as to Pompeii

All trips are carefully supervised with appropriate staffing ratios. Detailed risk assessments are carried out in advance. Staff visit all sites in advance to ensure suitability.