Welcome from the Headmaster

I am delighted to welcome you to Altrincham Preparatory School. It is a privilege to be the Headmaster of such a vibrant, ambitious and wonderfully happy school.

For 90 years, we have dedicated ourselves to the education of boys, developing an approach that combines the strength of our heritage with a forward-thinking vision for the future. Our success lies in knowing boys well, inspiring them to achieve their very best and creating an environment in which they can flourish. An ambitious, rich and cohesive curriculum, delivered by highly skilled and dedicated teachers, ensures that every boy is challenged, supported and encouraged to make excellent progress. Alongside academic achievement, we place great value on wellbeing, character and personal development, nurturing positive relationships within a safe, respectful and supportive community. Strong leadership and governance underpin all that we do, ensuring our boys leave us confident, capable and fully prepared to embrace the opportunities and challenges of life beyond school.

At APS, we pride ourselves on our excellent academic outcomes. However, we believe that a truly outstanding education is about so much more than results. Our aim is to provide an experience that is exceptional in its breadth, depth and quality, giving every boy the opportunity to discover his strengths, develop his talents and pursue his interests both inside and outside the classroom. Alongside this, our strong pastoral care ensures that every boy is known, valued and supported as an individual, enabling him to flourish.

We have high aspirations for all our boys. We encourage them to be curious, courageous and willing to take risks, understanding that mistakes are an important part of learning and success. Our teaching is dynamic, engaging and forward-thinking, designed to stimulate curiosity, nurture enthusiasm and inspire a lifelong love of learning.

Our boys begin their APS journey from the age of two in Little APS, where our youngest boys start to develop their independence, confidence and curiosity through purposeful play and exploration. As they grow, they progress through our Pioneers, Adventurers and Explorers groups before joining our Reception classes and continuing their journey through the school to Year 6.

We are particularly excited by our wonderful new outdoor facilities, which provide our boys with even more opportunities to play, explore, discover and challenge themselves. We believe that some of the most valuable learning happens beyond the classroom, and our boys benefit enormously from the space and freedom to develop new skills, friendships and interests through active play and outdoor experiences.

APS is a non-selective school, welcoming boys of a wide range of abilities. Our class sizes allow us to give every boy the individual attention and support he deserves. From the moment he joins us, we take the time to understand him as an individual, recognising his strengths, nurturing his interests and encouraging him to fulfil — and exceed — his potential.

The academic success of our boys is underpinned by the breadth of experiences available to them. Whether they are discovering a new talent, developing a new skill, taking part in sport, music, drama or the arts, exploring the outdoors, or simply enjoying time with their friends, we want every boy to leave APS with confidence, resilience and a genuine excitement about what comes next.

Our excellent teaching, combined with outstanding opportunities and a caring, supportive community, results in consistently strong outcomes. By the time our boys reach the end of Year 6, they are ready for the next stage of their education and, importantly, equipped with the confidence, character and curiosity to embrace a lifetime of discovery.

If you are relocating to Altrincham, Hale, Bowdon or the surrounding areas, you have made an excellent choice. Altrincham is just eight miles from Manchester city centre, while being close to beautiful countryside, with excellent transport links by road, rail and air.

I would be delighted to welcome you to APS and show you around our school so that you can experience for yourself what makes our community so special. Our amazing boys, inspirational staff, supportive parents and dedicated governors are all incredibly proud of the school we share.

I look forward to welcoming you and your son to Altrincham Preparatory School.

Nick Vernon
Headmaster