| St Michael's Preparatory School | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Established | 1949; 76 years ago (1949) |
| Years | Nursery - Year 9 |
| Age | 3 to 14 |
| Website | stmichaels |
St Michael's Preparatory School is the largest privatepreparatory school inJersey, situated in the parish ofSt Saviour. Founded in 1949 as a boys' school inSt Helier, it relocated to its current site in 1952 and began admitting girls in 1968. The school offers education fromnursery through Year 9 and is known for its strong academic, sporting, and musical programmes. The school acts as a feeder to many Britishpublic schools in theUnited Kingdom, with many pupils achievingscholarships. Notable alumni include actorHenry Cavill, formerEngland rugby internationalFraser Waters, and three formerBailiffs of Jersey.
St Michael's Preparatory School was founded in October 1949 as a boys' school forpupils aged 6 to 13.5, initially based at No. 4 Balmoral Terrace inSt Helier,Jersey. The school expanded quickly, with a pre-prep department added in January 1951. A year later, in 1952, the school relocated to its current site inSt Saviour after securing new premises.[1]
In December 1965, the school was acquired by the Carnegie family, who oversaw a period of growth and development, including the construction of newclassrooms and the leasing ofsports fields to meet the needs of a growing student body. The school began accepting girls in 1968, and in 1974 it transitioned to governance by acharitable trust.[1]
John Carnegie retired asheadmaster in 1990 and was succeeded by Richard de Figueiredo, a former pupil. In 1992, the boarding unit closed in response to changing demand, and the Nursery was established in its place. Further expansion followed with the opening of a newsports hall in 1994 and the purchase of the main school property from the Carnegie family in 1998. A new trust was formed in 2002, under which the school acquired adjoining land and surrounding fields to support continued growth.[1]
St Michael's has since continued to enhance its facilities and programmes, reflecting the academic, sporting, and musical achievements of its community of over 330 pupils.[1]
In March 2025, St Michael's Preparatory School won the Year 8 category of theJersey de Putron Challenge for the second consecutive year, securing their place in the inter-island final. The competition tested pupils'general knowledge,maths, andcreative thinking, highlighting the school's academic strengths.[2] In the final held inGuernsey in April, St Michael's competed closely withBlanchelande College, ultimately finishing as runners-up by just three points after a well-fought contest.[3]
Children can be enrolled into St Michael's Preparatory Schools from thenursery, where they are welcomed into a purpose-built Early Years Foundation Stage unit help to foster confidence, independence and a love of learning. With a strong emphasis on exploration and discovery, children in nursery and reception thrive in a secure and stimulating environment that encourages personal growth and academic curiosity.[4]
Inpre-prep (Years 1 and 2), pupils are taught in small classes by dedicatedteachers who promote a nurturing atmosphere and instil core values such asgood manners andteamwork. Learning is both individual and collaborative, laying the groundwork for academic achievement and positivesocial development.[4]
Theprep stage begins in the Juniors (Years 3 and 4), where most subjects are taught by Form Teachers supported by experienced assistants, with specialist instruction in areas such asmusic,French, andreasoning. Pupils benefit from personalised teaching, a strong pastoral focus, and preparation for senior school assessments, all within an environment that encouragescreativity andresilience.[5]
In the Seniors (Years 5 to 8), children mature into confident and independent learners, supported by small class sizes and subject-specialist teaching. These final years at St Michael's provide leadership opportunities and a sense of belonging, allowing pupils to grow both academically and personally before transitioning to their next stage.[5]
The Shell year (Year 9) offers a unique bridging programme for pupils who remain in Jersey forsecondary education, particularly those preparing for entry toHautlieu School or other local and mainlandUnited Kingdom schools. With a bespoke curriculum and a robust enrichment programme including earning theDuke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, Shell supports academic progression while fosteringpublic speaking, teamwork, andcommunity involvement.[6]
St Michael's pupils progress to a wide variety of destination schools, both in Jersey and mainland UK, without feeding to any single institution. The school maintains strong links with leadingsecondary schools to ensure children are well-prepared, often earningscholarships and awards in academics,sport,music, anddrama.[7]
St Michael's Preparatory School has educated several notablealumni. These include SirPhilip Bailhache, SirMichael Birt, and SirWilliam Bailhache, who all served asBailiff of Jersey.[1] The school also counts among its alumni the actorHenry Cavill, an internationally-known actor best known for his role asSuperman,[8] andFraser Waters, a formerEngland internationalrugby union player.[1]
Henry Cavill was born in Jersey and went to St Michael's preparatory school in St Saviour
49°11′58.65″N2°4′24.55″W / 49.1996250°N 2.0734861°W /49.1996250; -2.0734861