St. Christopher’s is a co-educational Preparatory School for boys and girls from 3-11 years, which stands in its own grounds in the heart of Beckenham.
The Georgian building dates back to circa 1750 and remained the home of the Cator family up until 1893, when it became The Hall School: a school for girls. It amalgamated with another local school, St. Christopher’s, in 1926. Today, the School has been extended and updated to provide more classrooms, specially equipped rooms for music, drama and art, two libraries and two well-proportioned halls. There are up to two classes in each year group from Preschool to Year 6.
From Reception there are normally 18-22 children per class. Throughout the School, from Preschool to Year 4, teaching assistants support the class teachers. There is also a Learning Enrichment Team to challenge and support children as required. We boast a loyal and hardworking Parents’ Association (SCA) who organise a variety of events on behalf of the School, reinvesting any monies raised back into the School; such as a new computer suite, a minibus and the refurbishment of the Prep School Library to name but a few recently.
At school we have four Houses – Blyton, Johnson, Hillary and Campbell, named after famous people who have had links with St. Christopher’s. Children join these Houses when they begin in Reception. Enid Blyton was Head Girl at St. Christopher’s from 1913 to 1914, whilst Sir Edmund Hillary made the School his first port of call when he returned to England, having conquered Everest in 1953. Samuel Johnson was reputed to have spent the night at The Hall, and legend has it that, in the Napoleonic period, Thomas Campbell composed ‘Ye Mariners of England’ whilst sitting under the tulip tree, which, to this day, stands in our grounds by the Lower Playground.
