Sedbergh Schools Group has invested more than £200,000 in a major programme of improvements at Sedbergh Prep School, strengthening Early Years, boarding and outdoor provision alongside continued investment in the School’s educational programme.
Completed over the summer, the developments reflect the Group’s commitment to long-term investment in the schools within its family, ensuring that resources are directed towards the people, places and opportunities that make a meaningful difference to pupils.
One of the most significant projects has been the creation of a dedicated Pre-Prep environment, bringing together Pre-School, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 within a space designed specifically for younger children.
New indoor and outdoor learning areas provide greater opportunities for exploration, creativity and independent learning, while keeping younger pupils closely connected to the wider life of Sedbergh Prep.
The move has also created additional capacity within Mulberry Bush Nursery, enabling the nursery to further develop its provision for babies and toddlers and respond to growing demand from local families.
Alongside the development of Pre-Prep, a major refurbishment of the School’s boarding accommodation has been completed. The project supports Sedbergh Prep’s new unified boarding model and includes improved accommodation, enhanced bathroom facilities and welcoming communal spaces.
The School’s outdoor environment has also been developed, including new play spaces and a dedicated den-building area designed to encourage exploration, collaboration and imaginative play.
The physical improvements have been accompanied by continued investment in educational provision. This September, Sedbergh Prep launched Fells & Trails for Years 7 and 8, a programme combining academic challenge with leadership, character development, practical life skills and outdoor education.
Kate Martin, Head of Sedbergh Prep, said:
“Schools should never stand still. Every decision we make about our buildings, curriculum and facilities begins with one question: ‘Will this make a meaningful difference to our children?’
“These developments are not simply about improving our estate; they are about creating even better opportunities for children to learn, play, grow and discover who they are. From our youngest children taking their very first steps through Pre-Prep, to our boarders developing confidence and independence, every investment has been made with the pupil experience firmly at its heart.
“At Sedbergh Prep, we believe childhood should be something to treasure. We want children to have the time and freedom to explore, to play, to take on new challenges and to develop the confidence that comes from trying something different. These new facilities strengthen our ability to provide exactly that, whilst ensuring every child benefits from an ambitious education that prepares them exceptionally well for the future.”
The investment illustrates the wider purpose of the Sedbergh Schools Group: to create long-term strength while enabling individual schools to retain their own character, community and educational identity.
By building greater resilience and sharing expertise and operational capability across the Group, more resources can be reinvested directly into educational provision, facilities and pupil opportunity. At Sedbergh Prep, this summer’s programme provides a clear example of that approach in practice.
