About Abbey School Torquay - an Overview

Abbey School is essentially a primary school in South Devon. We take nursery children, infants and juniors until they leave at the age of 11 for secondary schools.

Independent Education for nursery and primary girls and boys

At Abbey School we understand how young children learn

and this makes a real difference to their early development - and their future lives. In our happy and industrious Prep School we support every aspect of learning, including helping parents to understand how children develop. Here, children, parents and school all work together to ensure that we make the most and the best of each individual talent and aptitude that your child has. By providing professional and appropriate support in each area of development at every age, and by working closely with parents, Abbey children achieve outstanding successes which words are inadequate to describe. More than this, they are happy to do so and thrive in this atmosphere! You must view our exceptional standards for yourself, note our remarkable results and see just how happy the children are to achieve these. If you want your child to benefit from the best in early education, then we look forward to your visit. Contact us now using This Email Link or telephone 01803-327868 01803-327868.

Abbey School works closely within the guidelines of, and with regard to all advice from, QCA (The National Quality and Curriculum Assessment Authority), OfSTED (The Office for Standards in Education), all National Curriculum requirements, which we also enhance, and best current educational practice.

We are not selective in our intake and each year our successes far outshine any expectations. Like all good quality Prep School, at Abbey School, we are equally happy to support those children who work more slowly as we are to extend those who are quicker learners, accepting all children and educating them in the fullest sense of the word. Even though we are a non-selective school, academically the majority of our 10 and 11 year-old children achieve more SATs at level 5, the average expectation for 14-year-olds, rather than at level 4, the expected standard for 11-year-olds. Similarly, our long-term 11+ exam results have produced more than two and a half times the expected number of grammar school places from our Year 6 pupils than the national average, our results averaging over 60% over the past five years against the national average of 25%. Furthermore, during the same time scale Abbey pupils have been awarded several major and minor scholarships to public schools. Noting these results, you will understand how justifiably proud we are of our academic record.

Not all children are academically strong or grammar school candidates and we encourage each pupil to perform optimally. However, we firmly believe that each child has something special to offer, and we will find it! An Abbey Independent School education results in the 'gearing upwards' of all academic achievements, while at the same time pupils enjoy success in music exams, winning speech and drama festivals, receiving accolades in swimming, cricket, chess, tennis or anything else they turn their hand to. As committed educators, we provide a truly dedicated learning environment for all our pupils, one in which your child may achieve well in all areas of development.

Email for an appointment now on This Link. The sooner your child joins us, the sooner he or she will begin to benefit from our proven educational programme, professional expertise and specialist primary and nursery environment.

Mission Statement

Our Mission is to ensure that all our pupils reach their full potential in each area of their life, by providing an ever-improving environment that simultaneously supports their intellectual, creative, physical and moral endeavours whilst creating challenges that inspire them to excellence.

And how do we do this?

• We are committed to the idea of continuous, incremental improvement in our teaching, in our learning programme and in our school environment.
• At Abbey School, children are the prime focus of all our work.
• We offer a well-balanced start in life for each pupil, fostering appropriately the spiritual, moral and cultural development of each child.
• We are committed to providing an environment that is safe, well resourced, and conducive to learning.
• We expect high standards of work and behaviour, and are committed to quality teaching and learning.
• We acknowledge that working in close co-operation with parents best serves the needs of our pupils.
• We recognise that each child is an individual with varied talents and requirements.
• We provide positive learning experiences that encourage strong self-esteem and high personal expectations.

In our Nursery and Preparatory School we have a proud fifty-year record of inspiring young children, from babies to 11 years, to reach their goals and aspirations. Committed and highly skilled professionals present our carefully planned and successful academic, physical and social programmes, designed to meet the needs of children today, as well as preparing them for the challenges of the 21st century.

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Our Philosophy

Abbey Independent School is guided by a well-defined philosophy that fosters devotion to learning and commitment to excellence.

Abbey School gladly accepts people of all nationalities and religions into our extended family. We encourage a diversity of viewpoints and an appreciation of different cultures, as embodied in our motto ‘Individuality Enriches Life’.

Our learning environment cultivates confidence, creativity, critical thinking and independent inquiry because we believe that the development of these attributes motivates children to fulfil their personal and social possibilities.

Abbey School provides children with the opportunities and the time, to 'find themselves', in whatever area of development and at whatever level of achievement is appropriate for each individual.

We work to unfold the potential of the whole person through the quality of educational experience we offer. 

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History

Abbey School was established as a Preparatory School and Nursery in 1951 by Miss Phyllis Fletcher, a children’s nanny, and Miss Joyce Bee, an English teacher, who joined forces in response to the demand for an independent early-years setting in Torbay. The school grew from modest beginnings on various sites, settling in St. Marychurch in 1957.

When Mrs. Sylvia Greinig became Principal in 1979, there were forty-six pupils, six of them in a nursery. Pupil numbers grew steadily throughout the 80’s and by the mid 90’s, the proliferation of temporary classrooms in the grounds demanded a major building programme. This was completed in 1996, and on March 14th 1997, the holder of the ancient and traditional parliamentary role of Black Rod, Admiral Sir. Richard Thomas, with his wife Lady Thomas (formerly Paddy Cullinan, an ex-pupil of Abbey School), opened the 6 new infant classrooms and the administration area of Swan Wing. This enabled the school and nursery pupils to be comfortably more accommodated.

The 1990’s also saw the introduction of a pupil computer suite that has underpinned the development of our distinction in this field. At the same time, the recruitment of staff dedicated to drama has lead to the creation of a strong drama department where our pupils excel in speech and communitcation, examinations, festivals, and our much acclaimed school productions.

We constantly review and improve the facilities we offer to our pupils and were proud to celebrate the Royal Opening of our new multi-purpose Jubilee Hall and indoor swimming pool by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester CGVO.

As a forward looking Preparatory School, Abbey School faces the 21st century with a firm sense of the importance of what has been accomplished in the past and with confidence in what can be achieved in the future.

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7 Benefits of a Good Preparatory School

1. Children are well rounded by being developed across the learning spectrum, not just academically
2. Children receive high-quality education because they are taught by practitioners who are specialists in the field, dedicated to the age group and who inspire excellence  
3. Children follow a carefully planned educational programme in each learning area and at each stage of development  
4. Children have progress monitored sensitively, accurately and regularly  
5. Children benefit from professionals working closely with parents to generate challenging yet achievable goals   
6. Children gain justifiable confidence in their own abilities by learning to work towards successful outcomes, both in school work and extra-curricular activities 
7. Children develop in an environment where they are respected as individuals and where they learn to respect the individuality of others  

Working to improve our service to parents

We will do all we can to make it easy for you to contact us and receive the information you need. At Abbey School we are constantly working to improve the service we offer, and if you have ideas that we can implement to help us in this endeavour, please contact the General Office by email and let us know > Telephone  01803-327868  01803-327868

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