Brettenham Park, Ipswich, Suffolk IP7 7PH
10 reasons to choose Old Buckenham Hall School
Top line
Old Buckenham Hall School has a Schoolsmith Score® of 89. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Ipswich and one of the 3 best primary schools for 10 miles.
School fundamentals
Old Buckenham Hall School is an independent prep day and boarding school for boys and girls (50%/50%) between the ages of 3 and 13 years. Boarding from Year 3 for the 30% of pupils who board. 50% are full boarders and 50% are weekly or flexi boarders. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is a standalone prep school, not tied to any one senior school. Old Buckenham Hall School fees range from £4,666 +VAT (Rec) to £8,157 +VAT per term (2024/25). Full boarding fees range from £10,375 +VAT to £11,883 +VAT per term.
Average class size
Old Buckenham Hall School usually has one class per year to Year 2, two from Year 3, and an average class size of 13 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
Destinations for Old Buckenham Hall School leavers are one of 20 different boarding schools. 40%-50% of pupils win awards and scholarships.
The Old Buckenham Hall School curriculum
School curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and the ISEB Common Entrance curriculum. There are termly cross-curricular topics in pre-prep, and discrete subject teaching in prep. The curriculum also includes PSHCE, reasoning, French, Latin. The school offers each pupil between 5 and 10 different extra-curricular academic activities or hobby clubs.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups, visiting speakers and residential trips cum Activity Week from Year 3. Old Buckenham Explorers is an outdoor challenge, adventure, and leadership programme for Years 3 to 8. Mini Buckenham Explorers for pre-prep.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for sport, music, computing, and languages throughout, for art, DT, and drama from Year 3, for science from Year 4, and for all subjects from Year 5.
Sport at Old Buckenham Hall School
5 games/PE afternoons or double periods per week for all prep pupils. School offers over 15 different sports through the year, through both the curriculum and extra-curriculum. Representative teams in major sports from Year 3. In recent years the school has enjoyed national success in hockey, skiing.
The Arts at Old Buckenham Hall School
Art, music and drama are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. All pupils learn an instrument in class and half take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Year 3. Three choirs, orchestra and 12 instrument ensembles. The school is one of the top 50 UK prep schools for the breadth of its creative and performing arts extra-curriculum.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 8.20am to 5.40pm. Minibus service.
Find another school near Old Buckenham Hall School
Finborough Preparatory School (6.7 miles); South Lee School (12.3 miles); Culford Preparatory School (17.2 miles).
Kersey Church of England Primary School (7.9 miles); Somersham Primary School (11 miles); Hintlesham and Chattisham Church of England Primary School (13.1 miles).
Finborough School (6.7 miles); Brookes Cambridge (14.9 miles); Culford School (17.2 miles); Stoke College (18.2 miles).
Hadleigh High School (9.6 miles); Debenham High School (18.7 miles); Thurston Community College (19.6 miles).