| The Prebendal School | |
| Motto: | Latin: Fons Sapientiae Verbum Dei The Word of God is the Fountain of Wisdom |
| Type: | Preparatory Private |
| Religious Affiliation: | Church of England |
| Head Label: | Head |
| Head: | Alison Napier |
| Chair Label: | Chair of Governors |
| Chair: | Dean Stephen Waine |
| Founder: | Bishop Edward Story |
| County: | West Sussex |
| Country: | England |
| Dfeno: | 938/6128 |
| Enrolment: | ≈120[1] |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| Lower Age: | 3 |
| Upper Age: | 13 |
| Houses: | 4 |
| Colours: | Red |
| Publication: | The Prebendalian |
| Free Label 1: | Former pupils |
| Free 1: | Old Prebendalians |
| Website: | http://prebendalschool.org.uk/ |
The Prebendal School is a private preparatory school in Chichester, situated adjacent to the Chichester Cathedral precinct. It is a boarding and day school educating the cathedral choristers. The school has ancient origins as the medieval cathedral song school at the thirteenth-century school house in West Street.[2]
In 2020, The Telegraph named The Prebendal School as one of the best-value independent schools in the country.[3] In January 2023, the school announced that its recent ISI inspection in November had found the school to be Excellent in all areas.[4]
The Prebendal is the oldest school in Sussex and probably dates back to the foundation of Chichester Cathedral in the eleventh century when it was a 'song school', teaching and housing the choristers. It was later extended to admitting other boys from the city and neighbouring areas.[5] In 1497, it was re-founded as a grammar school by the Bishop of Chichester, Edward Story, who also attached it to the Prebend of Highleigh in Chichester Cathedral, hence the name of the school.[6]
The thirteenth-century school house with its narrow tower still stands in West Street.
Girls were introduced into the school in 1972. The school is now a co-educational, day and boarding preparatory school for children between 3 and 13 years of age.
Due to its financial position, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, the school confirmed in April 2021 that it was seeking external financial support.[7] In July 2021 it confirmed that it had been acquired by the Alpha Schools Group.[8] [9]
The school consists of the Pre-Prep (Nursery to Year 2) and the Prep (Years 3–8). Each pupil is a member of a school house, which are named after former Bishops of Chichester. There is also a boarding house that accommodate up to 46 boarders. The school remains open for Choristers in the weeks prior to Christmas, Easter and the Southern Cathedrals Festival. The Nursery, Pelicans, is open throughout the normal school holidays.
Pupils are taught the Common Entrance or Common Academic Scholarship examination to senior independent schools, offered by the Independent Schools Examinations Board.
The following list includes Heads of the school prior to its re-founding in 1497:[10]
Alumni are known as Old Prebendalians. Notable Old Prebendalians include: