初等部教育における全人的アプローチの意義
英国名門プレップの学術的な厳格さと温かな育成とは
ジョン・ボー
教育者
イートン校への登竜門として知られるオックスフォードのドラゴン・スクールの元校長であり、英国教育界の重鎮が、寮制プレップ校で昼夜を通じて行われる全人的教育を、教育者の視点で紹介します。
JTES | Sep 1, 2025
Contents
What is a prep school?
Whole-child development—by design
Creativity as a core subject
The classroom without walls
Innovation with purpose
For families outside the UK, the term “prep school” may not be immediately familiar. Preparatory schools, usually known simply as prep schools, are independent institutions for children typically aged three to thirteen. Their purpose is to prepare pupils for senior schools, but in truth their value reaches far beyond academic preparation. With small class sizes, strong pastoral care, and an abundance of opportunities, these schools nurture the whole child: mind, body, creativity, and character. In schools where boarding is available, this process is strengthened further: living in community fosters resilience, independence, and a sense of belonging that helps children develop skills they carry into adult life.
One of the defining qualities of prep schools is their commitment to balanced personal development. At Bilton Grange in Warwickshire, for instance, children explore a wide spectrum of interests through both a broad curriculum and the “BiG Saturday” programme, where activities range from performing arts to design. Boarding pupils benefit from even greater access to this variety, with evenings and weekends offering extended opportunities to discover new talents while building lasting friendships. The Downs Malvern, takes a similar approach within its nurturing community, where small classes and a wealth of activities, from mountain biking to operating a miniature railway, help children develop resilience and confidence. The supportive structure of boarding adds another layer, encouraging pupils to grow in independence while feeling secure in their “home from home.”
Every child’s learning journey is unique, and schools with boarding provision place particular emphasis on personalised support, both in and out of the classroom. At the Dragon School in Oxford, the curriculum is designed to spark free-thinking and curiosity, ensuring that children at every stage of their development are able to flourish. Its QUEST programme, which encourages independent projects and self-directed learning, sits naturally alongside the independence fostered by boarding life. Together they help pupils explore their passions, manage their own time, and learn how to collaborate with peers. Repton Prep in Derbyshire also blends academic rigour with strong pastoral care, providing guidance that extends into the boarding house. This continuity of care means pupils are supported at every step, allowing them to grow in confidence and self-reliance.
Creativity and expression are also central to holistic education. At Bilton Grange, the BiG Saturday programme encourages children to write scripts, direct plays, and explore stage design, experiences that are enriched for boarders by the sense of shared adventure and collaboration that comes from living together. The Dragon School, too, offers a dazzling range of opportunities, from art and music to coding and rowing, with boarding enabling pupils to immerse themselves more fully in this breadth of experience. Fettes Prep in Edinburgh builds its culture around values such as kindness and empathy, which are strengthened by the boarding environment: living alongside peers helps children practise consideration, patience, and respect in daily life.
For many boarding prep schools, holistic education also embraces sustainability, social responsibility, and philanthropy—and the boarding setting amplifies these values through daily life. At Millfield Prep in Somerset, pupils drive sustainability through initiatives such as student-led Eco-Committees, local food sourcing, beekeeping, butterfly counts, and eliminating single-use plastics—actions that are lived, not just taught. At Port Regis in Dorset, the school’s “Green Vision” places sustainability at its core, with an ambitious aim to reach net-zero carbon by 2030, making environmental responsibility a shared project across the whole boarding community. Windlesham House, set in the South Downs, brings environmental awareness alive through recycling programmes, “Green Weeks,” and a thriving market garden where children grow food and tend chickens, connecting them directly with their environment. Together, these experiences allow children not only to thrive personally but also to grow into socially responsible, ethically minded individuals.
RECOMMENDED
Outdoor education plays a similarly powerful role. The Downs Malvern, with its 55 acres of grounds, gives children the chance to learn in nature through forest school, farming, and mountain biking, while its boarding programme allows these activities to become a seamless part of daily life. Swanbourne House in Buckinghamshire offers climbing in the Peak District, kayaking on the River Wye, and woodland challenges such as den building and fire lighting. For boarders, these experiences are more than occasional excursions: they are part of the rhythm of life, building resilience, teamwork, and independence from an early age.
Innovation is another hallmark of leading boarding prep schools. At the Dragon School, children are encouraged to be adventurous and independent across a curriculum that spans languages, sciences, arts, and sports. The combination of a broad timetable with the independence of boarding ensures that pupils leave not only curious and adaptable but also confident in their ability to live and work alongside others.
Taken together, these examples show that holistic education in boarding prep schools is about much more than academic success. Across the country, children are being nurtured in confidence and curiosity, self-expression and creativity, empathy and emotional intelligence, resilience through outdoor challenge, and independence through community living. Boarding extends these lessons beyond the classroom and into everyday life, helping pupils develop maturity and social awareness as well as academic skills.
For international families, this makes UK prep schools an especially compelling choice. They represent a uniquely British tradition, combining rigour with nurture, structure with freedom, and academics with life skills. Boarding enhances this further, offering a safe and structured environment where children can grow in independence while feeling part of a supportive community. Whether preparing pupils for senior schools in Britain or providing a foundation that travels across borders, boarding prep schools offer an education rooted in heritage yet profoundly attuned to the demands of a global future.