Town Close House Preparatory School, based on a lovely 18th century house in extensive and beautiful gardens, enjoys all the advantages of being within walking distance of the city centre of Norwich, an ideal setting for boys and girls aged 3-13. Its facilities include an Art/CDT room, a well equipped Science Laboratory, an indoor swimming pool, a large playing field and a sports hall.
The academic record over many years has been excellent with children going on to the Norwich School, Greshams, Oundle, Rugby, The Leys, Framlingham and Oakham among others, a number of them having won Scholarships. The recent games record in rugby, hockey and cricket has been impressive, and a number of other activities available include Athletics, Swimming, Fencing and Basket-Ball, as well as such clubs as Chess, Modelling, Photography and Drama. Music making is encouraged, with a number of peripatetic music staff to give individual lessons, and there are regular concerts featuring solo and group performances.
Town Close has a contingent of up to 20 weekly boarders but is mainly a day school with a very flexible day boarding facility to help busy parents. Most pupils come to Town Close at the pre-prep stage, though there are places available for entry into the Main School: These are awarded following interview with the Headmaster and an informal diagnostic test.
Girls were admitted to the school in September 1990; initially in the Nursery of the Pre-Prep, they are working their way up the school, which will be fully co-educational by 1999. The introduction of girls to the school is one element in a development plan which has recently seen the introduction of a new teaching block with a large, well-stocked library and a computer room equipped with 20 high specification networked computers.
