History of Coventry Prep School

Coventry Preparatory School has an interesting history and some fine traditions. It is also fortunate that its archives are still intact and there are many lovely old photographs and school treasures in its possession. The School has its own school song, coat-of-arms and motto: Confide Recte Agens (Have the confidence to do what is right).

The main building was constructed in 1720, making it one of Coventry’s oldest surviving houses, and was at one time the home of one of the mayors of Coventry. The Preparatory School was founded in 1920 when the Reverend Kenelm Swallow bought the old house, which was in a dilapidated state, and saved it by establishing the School.

From the name Swallow of course comes the School’s other name ‘The Swallows’, which fits very well with children, as the swallow is the bird that heralds summer. Reverend Swallow came from a distinguished family and was a man of great character and strength. It is his coat-of-arms which now serves as the School’s crest with the three swallows on a gold background surmounted by a leviathan swallowing a tall-masted ship. Swallow served in the First World War as a chaplain and won the Military Cross for gallantry. He was also a Christian gentleman of energy who wished to do something positive after witnessing the horrors of the Western Front and the death of his only brother. Tolerance and the understanding of others are principles which he introduced into the School and which are still deeply held by all staff and pupils at the School today. Reverend Swallow lived to a great age and maintained his connection with the School, even after he had sold it to the next headmaster. There are still many that remember him.

From Revd. Swallow the School passed to Sykes then Phipps; two headmasters who in the traditional way both owned the School and devoted their lives to it. The School was a preparatory school which educated girls up to 8 and boys up the age of 13, preparing them to take common entrance and scholarship examinations to many of the great public schools such as Rugby, Shrewsbury and Eton. It also traditionally prepared children for the local grammar schools such as King Henry VIII and Bablake School.

In 1992 the last owner headmaster, John Phipps, decided to sell the School to the Coventry School Foundation. This guaranteed its long term survival and broadened the range of education which the Foundation sought to provide for the people of Coventry and the surrounding area.

The Coventry School Foundation includes Bablake Junior School, Bablake Senior School, King Henry VIII Junior School and King Henry VIII Senior School. Coventry Preparatory School is required by the Foundation to prepare children for entrance to the other Foundation Schools, which are academically selective, at the ages of 7 and 11 but ‘The Prep’ also retains its traditional role of preparing children for schools outside the Foundation.

During John Phipp’s time girls were allowed to attend the School up to the age of 8 but when the Foundation took over the running of the Preparatory School girls were able to progress up to the age of 13.

In Michaelmas Term 2004, it was decided by the Headmaster and governors of the Coventry School Foundation that from September 2007 the School would take children from 3-11 and no longer accept children aged 11-13 (the first two years of secondary education). This was a decision they were happy to make as it had become clear that the numbers of pupils in the age group 7-11 were growing but there was a declining demand for 11-13. Quite simply, more parents wanted their children to go to their secondary schools at 11 and, because of the growth of junior numbers, the school was in danger of losing its small, family ethos.