Children choose their own individual interests from the school’s tremendously wide programme of activities that are included in the fees. Pupils develop new skills while strengthening friendships and developing confidence in achievement outside the academic. Chess is a popular feature of school life where many children find a real sense of achievement playing for house, school, county and sometimes country.

Residential field trips carefully structured to increase in length and stimulus, form an integral support for, and extension of, teaching. Pupil’s independence and social interaction grows through the experience of living as a community with peer group and staff. Because we see them as so important all after-school activities and residential field study trips (even the 5 day course for Year 7 in France) are included in the tuition fee so that all pupils are automatically included.

Caring for each other – freedom and trust

The school’s ethos of warmth and care is integral to the life and structure of the school. There are just three school rules, all positive. Children are given room to develop and express opinions and the tutor system means that all pupils have a caring adult to go to.

Older children help, and take reasonable responsibility for, younger pupils. The four houses which meet for weekly assemblies and compete in academic, sporting and artistic competitions unite the youngest and oldest members of the school. There is a school pupil council. Charity work is a regular feature of school life.

All senior pupils hold posts of responsibility and are entrusted with running some aspects of the school routine.

Religion

The School has a Church of England influence in its assemblies and prayers. The many other sects and faiths that come to Yateley Manor are positively welcomed in the belief that we can all learn from each other and that richness and variety of belief and culture are benefits to everyone.

There is a full-time matron and a medical room with separate sickbay.

School meals are freshly cooked to provide a healthy range of hot and cold choices. Staff and children eat together and there is a pupil’s food committee to ensure that the food is popular. All pupils are given a mid-morning snack and, for those staying for after school activities tea is also provided. Vegetarians, vegans and special dietary needs are all catered for.

We are proud of our committed and dedicated staff. They teach academic subjects and also run the wide variety of after school activities so that they and pupils build relationships inside and outside the classroom. The staff’s wholehearted commitment, enthusiasm and expertise are keys to the pupils’ happiness and success.

Good and close relations between home and school are vital. The atmosphere at school aims to be an extension of home, one of freedom and trust rather than rigidly imposed discipline. Parents and staff meet regularly, formally and informally. There is a flourishing Parent Teacher Association and the School produces a weekly newsletter.

Parents are informed - Reports and Parents’ Evenings

Every child has a reading and homework diary which acts also as a daily channel of communication between home and school. Each pupil receives two full written reports every year and from the Nursery through to Year 4 there are also two parents’ evenings each year. In Years 5, 6, 7 and 8 there is one detailed parents’ evening in the middle of each year to review progress and set targets. Every pupil from Year 3 to 8 receives a monthly set of Accounts with statistical analysis of achievement, effort and progress.

Yateley Manor is independent of any senior school and we advise our pupils and parents on the senior school that best meets the needs of each individual. Our pupils have a strong record of success in entrance examinations and scholarship awards to all leading local senior schools and to many leading schools nationally.