Hillcroft is a traditional preparatory school, within which you will find a host of interesting and valuable activities that convey real life skills and abilities. Traditional implies high academic standards, which in our case means every child graduates to parents' first choice senior school at 11, 12 or 13 years of age, about a third of whom receive scholarships from those senior schools. Traditional implies high standards of manners, conduct and consideration for others. This is not always easy, but with family backing it is accomplished. In a day school especially, outside influences that are not positive are an interesting challenge to meet. We do not order the pupils about, we ensure that they understand the reasons behind the discipline. This is not easy but it is more mature and civilised. Traditional implies smartness of dress which we believe in: having a uniform makes the child concentrate on the mind rather than the fripperies of mere fashion.
Our valuable activities include the best Computer Centre and Craft Workshop for a school this size, in the country; the building of half a mile of miniature railway in the grounds; building real people-carrying boats; the full use of our 27-bed house in Normandy; a full programme of games and sports in competition with other schools; Chess on the timetable; French from the age of 3; Japanese from 5. There are many Music Scholarships within the school to be had; we have had County players in Tennis and Chess. There is much more.
Our Dyslexia Unit is the only Accredited one in a mainstream school in East Anglia and those with concerns are positively assisted and trained to overcome the problems.
Some children begin within our Montessori Unit, some straight into our traditional Kindergarten. In any case, they can all read, write and do sums before the age of five. No stress, only appropriate pressure, to keep individuals to their ability level.
We have no time for educational jargon and we do not believe in experimenting on your children. We are very interested in the opinions of parents and gladly take them into account, and in return our professionalism is taken seriously.
A second full-time child qualifies for a 10% reduction in the fees; third and subsequent children from the same family for 50%.
We live here. Call us at any time, evenings, weekends, holidays, telephone or fax. We shall get back to you as soon as possible. We can arrange local 'out-boarding' on a weekly basis if that is helpful.
