Head of English

Founded nearly 80 years ago in September 1941 by Miss Phyllis Burden, with just four pupils in the Rectory in Pewsey, St Francis School is now a thriving IAPS co-educational day prep school and nursery for pupils aged 0 to 13, with 260 children on roll.

In 1984 the school moved out of Pewsey village to Haybrook House (which now houses the Pre-Prep department and Little Saints Nursery), and the neighbouring Travancore House (housing the Prep Department) was acquired in 1990. The current school is situated in 17 acres alongside the Kennet and Avon Canal, in Wiltshire’s picturesque Pewsey Vale, six miles south of Marlborough. Although a village, Pewsey is well-situated mid-way between the M3 and M4 motorways, and with a mainline railway station with regular express services to/from London Paddington (c60 minutes) and Exeter/Penzance.

We are first and foremost a friendly, family school priding ourselves on being a happy and welcoming community. At the School’s most recent full ISI inspection, all areas in Years 1 and above were graded as ‘Excellent’, and EYFS was congratulated on raising the standards significantly to ‘Good with Outstanding Features’.

Facilities include a purpose-built, modern, three-floor teaching block (fittingly named the ‘Burden Building’ after the school’s founder) which contains spacious general and subject specialist classrooms. The Hemery Hall doubles as a sports hall as well as a theatre for drama productions. The Pre-Prep and Nursery are located around Haybrook House, whilst the Reception Office, music department and administration offices are in Travancore House. Outdoors, there are spacious playing fields and a woodland area for our Kindling Forest School. A further building, the Cannon Centre, was completely refurbished and developed in 2016 to provide a modern Science Laboratory, and a Design Technology Lab downstairs, and a Drama Studio upstairs.

A brand new Nursery building was opened in the grounds of Haybrook House at the start of the Autumn Term 2017, at the time when Little Saints Nursery expanded, taking younger children from babies and providing childcare for 51 weeks a year. The redeveloped Nursery has proved to be a very popular and thriving part of the organisation.

Although the entry to St Francis School is non-selective, the outcomes for Year 6 (11+) and Year 8 (13+) pupils are exceptional with many gaining scholarships, exhibitions and places at a broad range of schools. We pride ourselves on the fact that every child gains a place at their first choice school.  After their time at St Francis, pupils mainly transfer to a wide range of senior day and boarding schools.

As a PSB School (Pre-Senior Baccalaureate), the learning ethos is very much based on developing core values, skills, attitudes and behaviours alongside subject knowledge and subject skills which are required for children to succeed and flourish in an ever changing world. The School’s learning focus is summarised in the mnemonic CLICK (Collaboration, Leadership, Independence, Challenge and Kindness). St Francis is a ‘Google Workspace for Education’ school with digital development very much part of the ongoing strategy.

The School’s motto ‘deus dabit incrementum’ has been translated into modern parlance as ‘Use your God-given Talents’: with our range of facilities and the expertise of the staff, we provide opportunities for children to find and develop their talents, both outside as well as inside the classroom. Children are encouraged, recognised and celebrated in their achievements.

Whilst the school takes great pride in its history and plans are being made to celebrate the 80th Anniversary in the 2021-2022 academic year, there is also a focus on future development. The next project is to establish a multi-sports surface and outdoor, all-weather cricket nets.

Further details about the School can be found at www.st-francis.wilts.sch.uk.