An Independent Day School & Nursery

🎄 Wishing all our wonderful pupils and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎅 As we wrap up this term, we’d like to send our warmest wishes to everyone. May your Christmas be filled with joy, peace, and special moments with loved ones. 🌟 A HUGE thank you to Mr and Mrs Sen for the incredible photos from our Christmas Fair before the end of term! 📸 Your beautiful shots truly captured the festive spirit and we're so grateful for your support in sharing them with us. A link to the professional photos has been sent to you on the school Whats App groups for you to download.🙏 Here’s to a bright and successful 2025! ✨ Enjoy the holidays, and we look forward to seeing you in the new year! 🎉 #MerryChristmas #HappyNewYear #ThankYou #ChristmasFair #Grateful #schoolcommunity #independentschool

Join us for our Open Day on Thursday, 23rd January, and discover the unique, vibrant learning environment at Yarrells. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore our school, meet our staff, and see firsthand how we inspire a love of learning in children aged 2 to 11. Our Greenwood Nursery, nestled in a woodland glade, offers a joyful introduction to school life for children from 2 years old. Whether attending on a term-time or all-year-round basis, each child’s curiosity and enthusiasm are nurtured in a stimulating and nurturing environment. Our main school, located in a stunning Georgian mansion in Upton, Dorset, provides a wealth of learning opportunities. Surrounded by gardens, fields, sports courts, and woodland, our enriched curriculum blends academic excellence, performing and visual arts, sport, and outdoor education, ensuring each child’s individual potential is developed. We are proud members of the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS) and are dedicated to preparing our pupils for success—whether that’s securing places at top grammar and independent schools, or growing their confidence, kindness, and passion for learning. If you’d like to see how we bring education to life, we warmly encourage you to visit us on 23rd January. Our Head, Mrs. Clare Cunningham, will be on hand to show you around and discuss how Yarrells can support your child's educational journey. To register for our Open Day, please complete the online form on our website and our Admissions Registrar, Kristal Bowdler, will confirm your booking. https://www.yarrells.co.uk/admissions/open-day We look forward to welcoming you to Yarrells and sharing all the wonderful opportunities we have to offer! Can’t make it on the 23rd? No problem—every day is an Open Day with Mrs. Cunningham. Just get in touch to arrange a visit that suits you. Please email admissions@yarrells.co.uk or complete the online Enquiry Form and we will be happy to arrange a private appointment at a mutually convenient time. #YarrellsSchool #PrepSchoolLife #IndependentSchool #GreenwoodNursery #EarlyYearsEducation #AcademicExcellence #OutdoorLearning #InspiringCuriosity #FutureLeaders #LearningInNature #YarrellsOpenDay #IndependentEducation #MagicalLearning

Christmas Jumper Day was made extra special yesterday for Charlie and Teddy. The brothers were thrilled to wear their festive jumpers, each one hand-knitted with much love by their darling Nanna. On this joyful day, they proudly sported the cosy creations, feeling extra festive and connected to the spirit of the season. How gorgeous is that? It’s not just about the fun of wearing a Christmas jumper, but about the love and thoughtfulness that went into making them—making this Christmas Jumper Day truly unforgettable! #christmasjumperday #SchoolChristmasCelebration #ChristmasAtSchool #FestiveFunAtSchool #IndependentSchoolLife #ExcellenceInEducation #IndependentEducation #BeyondTheClassroom #DorsetEducation #learningindorset #dorsetschoollife #dorsetprimaryschools #dorsetnursery #IndependentSchool

Photos from Yarrells School & Nursery's post

Christingles On Monday, the children in Year 4 made their own Christingles, which was part of their R.E work. They had been studying the symbolism in the Christmas story, and the Christingle was a great way to bring these concepts to life. The different elements of the Christingle each hold special meaning: Orange: Represents the world. Candle: Symbolises Jesus as the light of the world. Red ribbon: Goes all around the orange, symbolising Jesus' sacrifice and his blood. Four cocktail sticks: Represent the four seasons and are decorated with sweets, which represent God’s gifts to the world, such as kindness and love. This hands-on activities helped the children connect the key themes of Christmas with Christian traditions and their deeper meanings. It was a meaningful way for them to reflect on the spiritual significance of Christmas while enjoying the creative process! #christingles #christinglemaking #education #Christmas #christmas #christmas2024 #dorsetschool #dorsetschools

Roman Day What an incredible day Year 3 had last week! The children looked fabulous in their costumes and experienced a Gladiator Training session whilst wearing them. They worked brilliantly in teams to discuss, design and then create an aqueduct and couldn’t wait to try them out to see which design worked best! We ended the day by making edible Roman roads… #history #historyfacts #education #educational #school #schoollife #schooldays #yarrellslife #yarrellsschool #yarrells #dorsetschool #dorsetschools #independentschool #independentschool #independentschools #independentschoolsuk

Lights, Camera, Action! The Early Years children have shown so much excitement and enthusiasm this week leading up to their 'Wriggly Nativity'. The children had their dress rehearsal on Wednesday where they got to see all of their costumes come to life on stage, which they were very proud of. Watching every child's confidence grow has been a joy and the children have loved learning their dances, songs and lines. We would like to say a huge well done to all of the children in Greenwood. You have shown all the grown-ups how amazing and confident you were, and you should all be very proud of yourselves! #schoolnativity #schoolnativity🎄 #nurserynativity #nurserynativityplay #yarrellsschool #Christmas #christmas #christmas2024 #nativity

Egyptian Day Our Year 2 children stepped back in time and transformed into young archaeologists, bakers, and artists for our Egyptian Extravaganza Day! It was a day filled with fun, creativity, and fascinating discoveries about the ancient world. The children truly looked the part, dressed as mighty pharaohs, graceful queens, and even fierce Egyptian gods. We even had Howard Carter come to school for the day. The effort put into the costumes was truly amazing—thank you for helping make the day extra special! Our first activity transported us to an ancient Egyptian kitchen, where the children baked delicious honey bread. They learned how honey was a prized ingredient in Egyptian times, used not just in cooking but also as a sweet treat for the gods. The smell of the freshly baked bread filled the air, and the children were very proud of their tasty creations. Next, we got a little messy as we explored the process of mummification! Using tomatoes as stand-ins for ancient bodies, the children carefully removed the insides (just like the Egyptians removed organs!) and packed their tomatoes with Natron. They loved this hands-on activity and learned about the importance of preserving bodies for the afterlife. In the afternoon we turned into ancient scribes and wrote messages using hieroglyphics. The children practised writing their names and decoded secret messages, discovering how the Egyptians recorded their stories and history without letters like ours. We even had time for some craft. The children were buzzing with excitement and curiosity all day long. Not only did they learn fascinating facts about ancient Egypt, but they also developed skills in baking, art, and teamwork. Thank you for your support in making this day so memorable. Whether it was helping with costumes, encouraging your child’s enthusiasm, or hearing about their adventures at home - we couldn't have done it without you! #egyptians #Egyptians #education #education #schoolsindorset #schoolindorset #dorsetschool #dorsetschools #independentschool #independentschool #independentschools #history #historyfacts

Year 4's 'Terrific Tudor' Day! What a fantastic way to bring our Tudor topic to life! Year 4 celebrated with a 'Terrific Tudor' Day, where the children had the chance to immerse themselves in the history of the Tudors. They certainly dressed to impress in regal clothing and got stuck into a day full of hands-on activities. The day was packed with exciting events, including archery, lawn bowls, and quoit throwing, just like the Tudors would have enjoyed. One of the highlights of the day was a delicious Tudor-style banquet featuring roast chicken, vegetables, and shortbread for dessert – a treat fit for royalty! The children also showcased their learning by completing group poster work on Queen Elizabeth I, the last of the Tudors, and creating fantastic portrait paintings of significant figures from the Tudor period. It was a busy, fun-filled day that brought history to life, and Year 4 had an amazing time! What a memorable end to our Tudor topic! #Tudors #tudors #education #history #historyfacts #yarrellsschool #independentschool #independentschool #dorsetschools #dorsetschool

Upton in Bloom Poetry Final 2024 On Tuesday 4th December, nine pupils from Yarrells went to Upton Community Centre for the Upton in Bloom Poetry Finals. This event, organised by Upton in Bloom, is open to local schools, and the competition was fierce! All Yarrells pupils from Year 1 to Year 6 had written, illustrated and performed their poems on the theme of ‘Seasons’ earlier this term. It was a mammoth achievement to be selected to take part in the competition’s climax – our judging panels had found it very tricky to select only three finalists in each category! Representing Years 1 and 2 were Anna M (2W), Emmie T (1M) and Axel V (1D). Their performances were really impressive, clearly delivering their wonderful poems with super smiles! Next up were Toby C (3P), Rowan G (4I) and Faye L (4H) in the Years 3 and 4 category. They all did brilliantly, making eye contact with the audience and even including some brilliant actions. The third group were Years 5 and 6 pupils; Alex A (6LM), Louie L (6BS) and Melody SW (5FW) were chosen to read out their poems. They performed with fabulous projection and confidence, even though they might have felt nervous on the inside! All of our poets represented themselves and Yarrells marvellously, and were duly rewarded with medals and certificates. Well done! We are incredibly proud of you all. We were further delighted when the winners were announced: Faye, Rowan and Toby came respectively first, second and third place in their category, and Louie came third in his. Not only did they receive the accolade of being placed, but they won a book token too. Faye also has a beautiful trophy! Overall, it was wonderful to be part of this community event. We are already talking about organising another poetry competition in the near future, as well as hoping to participate in Upton in Bloom Poetry Competition again next year. Thank you to everyone who took part, including all the parents of finalists who came along to support. #independentschool #dorsetschools #dorsetschool #education #IndependentSchool #school #uptoninbloom @uptoninbloombh16 #poetry #poetrycompetion #yarrellsschool

Bryanston Year 3 & 4 Tag Rugby Festival. Our team did excellent at defending and scoring. I think we need to push up the line more but other than that everything was epic. Yarrells won every game and deserved the title of best team on the day. Everyone played their part and enjoyed themselves; that makes a great team. Well done to everyone. Freddie W - Match reporter #yarrellsschool #primaryrugby

There’s nothing quite like a traditional children’s Christingle to get you feeling Christmassy! Year 4 has been learning all about the meaning of Christingle. #yarrellsschool #christingle

Today, we celebrated our school dog’s birthday! Marigold and Lizzie treated her to some very special gifts. Winnie is 5 years old today and shares her birthday with Wilf! Wilf and Winnie, happy birthday! #yarrellsschool

Last weekend, many students enthusiastically took a speech and drama exam set by LAMDA - The London Academy of Speech and Drama. All the students performed brilliantly, showing their skills with poise and confidence. Exams and lessons are not aimed at creating actors but are designed to build confidence and develop vocal skills. Every student worked diligently before the exam, and I know their hard work will pay off when the results arrive. Parents were entertained on Thursday night at the LAMDA showcase when all the students delighted us with their excellent performances. CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who took part in the exams and the showcase. Joey explained: "I was nervous-cited when I came through the door and the examiner called me into the room. She was kind and chatty. After the exam, I felt really happy." Kitty agreed: "It was really nerve-wracking going in but the examiner was nice. When I came out I felt relieved and much lighter." Mrs Gill Senior Drama and LAMDA teacher #yarrellsschool #LAMDA

Year 2 had the most fantastic celebration party last week because we filled up our 'Garden of Smiles'! The children receive a smile when they work as team, follow instructions and show good choices. They voted to have a PJ and Teddy party. We linked this nicely to our science lesson by investigating what happens to pop kernels when you heat them. We then enjoyed watching 'The Snowman' film eating our popcorn. When the filmed had finished we took our Teddies to the library to read them a book. Well done, Year 2! I wonder what we will do for our next celebration party? Mrs Wilson Assistant Head: Pre-Prep and Early Years, DSL #yarrellsschool #year2 #thesnowman

In Greenwood, this week... The early years children have hit the ground running practising their 'Wriggly Nativity'. During their singing sessions, the children have been learning their wriggly nativity songs. They are practising to use their loud singing voices so their audience can hear them clearly. During their dance lessons the children have learnt lots of routines ready to perform on stage. All children have made an enormous effort to learn their lines at home and it's wonderful to see their confidence growing in all roles they have taken on in the Nativity. The Nutkins children have also been practising their songs in class, ready to perform to their grown-ups in the audience. The children have been adding their own touch to their costumes by making a glittery star hat to wear to help them bring some sparkle to their performance! Miss Noble Early Years Teaching Assistant #yarrellsschool #eyfs

We welcomed Sunninghill to Upton Rec to play against some of our Y3 and 4 children on Tuesday. It was our children's second match of the term, and it was clear that they had made progress in such a short period of time. Yarrells scored lots of tries by running the ball forward and passing the ball accurately. In defence, lots of tags of Sunninghill were taken as the children learnt the importance of staying in a straight line. Thank you to Sunninghill for coming over and we look forward to more fixtures with them throughout the year. Mr Fisk Head of PE and Games #yarrellsschool #primarsport #primaryrugby

Yarrells Rugby A-Team v Clayesmore Yesterday, we saw incredible tackling by Freddie, Oscar, and Beau, awesome bravery by Myron, Albie, and Freddie, spectacular running by George, Myron, and Beau, and amazing scoring by Milo and Albie. We also had things we could improve on, like spreading out more. Mr Schneider was very impressed because, by the end of the match, we had really improved our defence by all pushing up together in a straight line. By Milo K Year 4 #yarrellsschool #primarysport #primaryrugby

Christmas has arrived at Yarrells... The annual tradition of Miss Clark’s original Nativity scene dates back to 1937 when the school was named St Monica’s. It became Yarrells in 1992 and was purchased by the Covell family. #upton #poole #eyfs #yarrellsschool #primaryschool #independentschools #wherechildrenlovetolearn #dorset

The coming together of a school community to celebrate the 80th birthday of the proprietor of Yarrells School, Mrs Natalie Covell. There are very few schools that would have over one hundred past and present employees, many travelling from afar, join together to honour and celebrate an owner’s vision. In attendance were former Headteachers, all of whom admire and have great respect for Natalie, her legacy and a heart that has touched so many pupil, parent and teacher lives over the span of four decades. Yarrells is a family-owned school steeped in tradition with strong values at its very core. Natalie joined the school, then St Monica’s, as Headmistress in 1989 and went on to purchase the school with her late husband, Tony Covell, in 1992. To this day, Natalie remains actively involved in the school: she plays a supportive role in the arts department helping with productions, she attends assemblies and listens to readers across the school regularly. Yarrells is housed in a Georgian mansion and surrounding classroom buildings encircled by the gardens, fields, sports courts, swimming pool and woodland of its own estate in the town of Upton, near Poole, Dorset. In this beautiful environment, each child is encouraged to make the most of rich learning opportunities. Natalie’s deep love for nature, for the birds that sing in the trees, for the beauty of the environment, and for the trees themselves, is something that has been woven into the fabric of the school. She has always believed that education extends beyond textbooks – that it’s in the air we breathe, the soil beneath our feet, and the beauty of the world that surrounds us. Her great love of the arts is embedded throughout the entire curriculum and every child is given the opportunity to shine and to feel significant. Clare Cunningham - Head, said, “Having worked at Yarrells for many years, my absolute passion has always been to provide an outstanding educational environment for children: one that is warm, nurturing and provides space for a meaningful, rich and rigorous curriculum. All the doors of opportunity are open for our young people and the children at Yarrells are able to explore their identities and their talents fully so that they grow both their self-confidence and their skills to meet life’s challenges with relish. We welcome you to visit us to see first-hand the opportunities on offer here and are grateful to Natalie for the school that she has dedicated her life to.” https://www.yarrells.co.uk/admissions/how-to-apply #yarrellsschool