A Community to Be Proud Of

Dear Felsted Families,

I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we have shared as a community. It has been a year packed full of milestone achievements, creative breakthroughs, and heartwarming memories that truly mirror the vibrant heart and soul of Felsted Prep School.

Throughout this year, we have challenged our pupils to actively live and breathe our core values, fostering an 'attitude of gratitude' and focusing school-wide on a powerful mantra: ‘You get MORE of what you NOTICE’. From small daily acts of kindness to remarkable displays of leadership during unexpected challenges, such as our flawless school evacuation earlier this term where our older students acted as exemplary role models, our pupils have risen to every occasion with character and determination. 

I would like to say a special thank you to our families for your unfailing support of Felsted, even in times of challenge. Yes, the current heatwave presents difficulties but in seeing the creative ‘keep cool’ methods and the team support, it is just one example of how we work together as a community.

Our academic curriculum has continued to innovate, bringing learning to life through immersive, hands-on experiences that spark deep curiosity. We looked back with joy at our Pre-Prep learners exploring prehistoric worlds with a delightful dinosaur launch, while our Year 3 team masterfully orchestrated an icy exploration of the North and South Poles, complete with specialized ski-wear and freezing conditions. Our Year 4 experts blew us away with an immersive tour mapping global natural disasters.

In the performing arts, the dedication of our pupils and music teams has been nothing short of magical. We began the creative seasons with the magnificent camaraderie of the annual League Music competition and the festive sparkle of our Christmas Cracker Concert, later joining voices with thousands of young performers at the regional Young Voices event. On stage, our drama departments set the bar higher than ever with tear jerking nativities and the heartwarming story of Eli and the Wemmicks through to our Years 7 and 8 cast delivered a breathtaking, mature performance of Romeo and Juliet. Beautifully followed this term by a practically perfect, highly energetic Years 5 and 6 production of Mary Poppins (one more amazing show to go!).
 

It has been an incredibly strong and proud year for Felsted sports, with our athletes consistently demonstrating what it truly means to ‘compete with purpose'. Beyond the scoreboards, what has filled our staff with the greatest pride is the exceptional sportsmanship of our players. This is evidenced by external tournament organisers and visitors who have repeatedly written to praise the impeccable behaviour and fair play displayed by Felstedians on the sidelines and pitches alike.

Behind the scenes, we continue to look firmly to the future to refine and enhance the educational experience for our young people. We are thrilled that our brand-new Pre-Reception class is officially live and opening this coming September. Looking to the 2026/27 academic year, our Years 3 to 6 will form a cohesive, unified Junior Prep structure supported by an expanded specialist teaching team and a shape of the day optimized for active learning. We are also highly anticipating the launch of our new 10-week Super Saturday programme, offering enriched options across STEM, creative arts, cooking, and sports.

Furthermore, collaborative planning remains robust for the historic transition of Years 7 and 8 to the Senior School site in September 2027. Under Mr. Beskeen’s dedicated pastoral guidance, we look forward to hosting more interactive coffee mornings in the coming terms to keep our pathways completely transparent. 

A school community is only as strong as the team that supports it. I wish to extend my deepest thanks to our supportive governing board, our exceptional teaching faculty, our dedicated Class Representatives, and our phenomenal operational, catering, and site management teams whose tireless work ensures our school remains an unparalleled learning environment. 

Finally, our immense gratitude goes to the Friends of Felsted Trustees and volunteers. From the spectacular atmosphere of the Annual Ball and the vital work of the Second-Hand Uniform Team, to the joy of the Christmas Fair and the wonderful Family Fun Day, you provide the incredible social heart that ties our families together.

Saturday and Monday will see the Celebration of an entire year of growth (the ‘Avenue of Learning’ looks spectacular!) and I am looking forward to seeing you all at the various events still to come.

With many warm wishes,

Miranda