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
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.
Easter came early at Polam!
With the holidays falling over Easter this year, we brought the celebrations forward, and what a week it’s been! From egg hunts to crafts, bonnets to bunny tales, our children have had a really joyful time.
There’s nothing quite like getting lost in a good book!
One of the many magical moments we see at Polam is our children fully immersed in their stories, exploring new worlds and expanding their imaginations.
Our cozy reading spaces encourage a love of books from an early age, helping to build strong language skills, curiosity, and a lifelong passion for learning.
#polam #bedfordschools #nursery #preprep #independentschool #bedford
We have some superheroes in our midst! Eight of our Year 1 children have had their incredible superhero designs featured in the book Super Me!
This fantastic competition invited young artists to dream up their own superheroes, and we’re so proud that our children’s creations were chosen to be published. From super speed to ice powers, their imaginations ran wild - and now their work is in print for everyone to see!
Well done to all of Year 1 for putting yourselves out there by entering this competition, and thank you to Miss Billing, Mrs Thomson, Mrs Wilcock, and Mrs Burton for organising and encouraging the children every day.
