Welcome to the UK's leading Pre-Prep school for 3 - 7 year olds
Welcoming children from the age of three, Hodder House is a recently extended purpose-built Nursery/Pre-Prep at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall.
St Mary's Hall offers a stimulating and nurturing environment which allows children to feel happy, confident and valued. Children are nurtured to ensure they reach their full potential academically, socially, emotionally, physically and creatively.
Quant Je Puis - 'As Much As I Can'.
Pushing Boundaries
Creative thinking
We believe in equipping children to think for themselves and take risks within safe boundaries.
We teach our children to be naturally curious as they grow throughout Stonyhurst and are presented with new opportunities.
Inspiring Curiosity
Thought provoking
The activities and curriculum are carefully planned to ensure they are thought provoking and motivating, promoting independence in the children’s learning journey and a natural thirst and curiosity for knowledge.
Wrap-around Care
'A family like no other'
We offer a multitude of valuable services for our busy parents before and after school. We understand the need for additional care and our pupils enjoy the opportunity to spend more time with their peers.
Magical Environment
Unique facilities
Children have access to the vast facilities within the Stonyhurst campus, including indoor and outdoor sports pitches, outdoor learning areas, a theatre, an observatory and access to the unique historic collections, bringing history to life for even the youngest of pupils.
We would love to welcome you for a private visit
Our Virtual Private Visits are your opportunity to find out more about Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall Pre-Prep school.
Life at St Mary's Hall Pre-Prep
Stonyhurst Pre-Prep offers a challenging and stimulating environment that allows children to feel happy, confident and valued. Children within the setting are nurtured to ensure they reach their full potential academically, socially, emotionally, physically and creatively. The Stonyhurst motto, ‘Quant Je Puis’ or ‘As Much As I Can’, is as tangible and meaningful for the youngest members in Pre-Prep as it is at Stonyhurst College.
Learning
A loving home-from-home.
Co-curricular
A vibrant curriculum and exceptional facilities.
Wrap-around care
A loving home-from-home.
Creativity
Inspiring curiosity...
Year groups
Promoting excellence and aspiration.
Take a look around
Admissions
If you believe that St Mary's Hall Pre-Prep could be the best nursery school for your son or daughter, the admissions section below provides information about the application process, plus other information that you will find useful in guiding your decision.
Meet Sarah!
Contact our St Mary's Hall Registrar, Sarah Morrison, who will be happy to help with any questions you have about life at our Pre-Prep.
Our Mission and Identity
Every child should be happy, secure, valued and confident. In the Pre-Prep, our philosophy is to value every child as a unique individual, who enjoys learning and thinking for him or herself.
We make the learning relevant through cross-curricular topics and child-centred learning and strive to be positive role models, providing a secure and enabling environment in which every child can flourish and learn at their own pace and in their own individual way. We encourage the growth of social skills and empathy amongst the children in line with the Jesuit Pupil Profile. The relationships which the children develop with each other and with our staff are central to their happiness and lay the best possible foundation for their future.
We recognise our pupils as citizens of a future world we do not yet know and seek to equip them for this world with creative and problem-solving skills.
We believe in equipping children to think for themselves and take risks within safe boundaries. For example, the children are found building dens, creating paint using natural materials or even toasting marshmallows on an open fire to name but a few activities! New experiences present opportunities.
Ros Wroblewski, Assistant Head (Primary Phase) of St Mary’s Hall
St Mary's Hall News
Upcoming Events
Attending one of our open events is a great way to see the full spectrum of the school 'in action'. We hold regular Open Days for the College (13 - 18 years) and Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall (3 - 13 years) during the Christmas Term, along with an Open Evening that focuses specifically on Sixth Form options (16 - 18 years). In the Easter and Summer Terms we hold more informal Open Doors events.
Online registration is available, and will allow us to tailor your open event experience to the needs of your child.