Welcome to Polam School
Polam School is an independent pre-preparatory school and nursery, with a heritage spanning over 100 years.
Located in the heart of Bedford, our school provides the perfect home from home environment for your child to begin their educational journey, from the age of 1 to 7 years.
With art, swimming and IT all introduced in small groups from an early age, our curriculum goes way beyond national expectations.
The majority of our children progress to the local Harpur Trust, but destinations also include other Cognita Schools, as well as a number of highly regarded state primary schools in Bedfordshire.
...Academically we get the results our parents want, whilst giving our children the kind of childhood they’ll remember fondly."
- Headmaster, Darren O'Neil
Award winning!
We were thrilled to be awarded winner of Independent Pre-Prep of the Year for 2021 at the Independent Schools of the Year awards!
We were commended particularly for our outstanding commitment to pupil wellbeing and for our innovative immersive learning programme.
We couldn’t be more proud!
Inspection Report
Double Excellent
We are incredibly proud to have successfully achieved the highest possible accreditation of ‘Double Excellent’ by the ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate).
Inspectors commented that the quality of the pupils' academic and other achievements is excellent. Pupils' achievements are excellent as a result of teaching that combines high expectations with encouragement, imagination and fun.
EYFS children make rapid progress and achieve highly, with the vast majority reaching at least the expected level of development. By the time pupils leave they attain excellent results in externally standardised test and curriculum assessments.
Join us for a Personal Tour
On a Personal Tour you will have the opportunity to tour the school, meet key members of staff, and learn more about what a Polam education looks like.
Please click below to register for a Personal Tour. We can’t wait to meet you!
FACILITIES & LOCATION
A welcoming atmosphere that embraces everyone
Polam is an award winning prepreparatory school located in the heart of Bedford for ages 1 to 7.
In 2023, the school celebrated its 100th year. The original Headmistress, Mrs Crump, would be so proud to see where the school is now,
Set inside two large Victorian houses, with multiple staircases, high ceilings and plenty of character - it has a real home away from home feel.
Learn more
Follow Polam School on Social Media
Our Reception children are very excited to welcome some new tiny visitors to their classroom – tadpoles! They’ve been learning all about the fascinating life cycle of frogs and have been busy writing about the amazing changes these little creatures will go through. We can’t wait to watch them transform over the coming weeks!
#frogs #tadpoles #bedford #preprep #bedfordschools
Disappointed with your primary school allocation? You’re not alone.
If the outcome wasn’t what you were hoping for, there’s still time to make a change with a space waiting for your child at our award-winning independent school.
At Polam, we offer so much more than just a curriculum. Our unique setting, with its beautiful natural environment and nurturing, family feel, supports children’s wellbeing, confidence and curiosity from day one.
Small class sizes. Specialist teaching. Outstanding Early Years provision. A warm, inclusive community. Come and see why so many parents choose Polam.
Get in touch today to book a tour - your child’s perfect start on their education journey awaits.
#primaryschool #primaryallocation #bedfordschools #cognita #polamschool #infantschool
Who’s behind the puppet today?
Children at this age love bringing stories to life with their favourite puppets - adding voices, personalities, and plenty of giggles along the way. It’s not just play; it’s language, confidence, and imagination all rolled into one.
Fake Spider warning
Preschool children have found themselves shrunk down to the size of bugs and dropped into a world of soil, leaves, and tunnels - what will they learn, and how will they get home for tea?!
It felt like stepping into a classic 90s adventure film, where everyday garden things suddenly seem enormous. They crawled through roots, tiptoed past creepy crawlies, and used their imaginations to navigate a whole new world right under their noses.
A big adventure in a tiny world, brought to life through play.
#honeyishrankthekids #polam #cognita #bedfordschools
At Polam, our children explore colours in different languages – from French to Spanish and beyond!
It’s a brilliant way to spark curiosity, build confidence, and develop early communication skills… all through playful learning.
#bedfordschools #cognita #preprep #colours #learning
Toast time!
Before they got stuck into spreading butter and choosing between jam or honey, our Year 1 children wrote their own set of instructions for making toast then followed them step by step. A brilliant mix of literacy, life skills and a tasty treat at the end!
#bedford #bedfordschools #independentschool #cognita #toast
Curious little minds start big adventures at Polam…
Join us for our Open Day on Wednesday 11th June at 10am and see what makes Polam such a special place for your child’s first steps in education.
From learning to read with confidence and joy, to exploring the world through hands-on immersive learning, our children build strong foundations across every area of learning - all in a nurturing, family-feel environment.
Weekly swimming included in fees.
Specialist teaching in wellbeing, music, PE, and more.
Small class sizes and a big focus on confidence and kindness.
At Polam, children don’t just learn, they thrive. Come and see why we’re the perfect start to their school journey.
📍Limited spaces available – book your place now! Link in bio.
