St Michael’s to become the new home for Early Learning at Stamford Junior School

We are thrilled to announce that St Michael’s will be transformed into the new home for Reception and Year 1 from September 2026, marking an exciting and strategically important development for the Junior School.

This investment comes at a time when independent schools are operating in a challenging financial climate, with additional pressures from VAT and Business Rates. The decision to proceed, with the full backing of the Governors, is a clear demonstration of long-term confidence in the Junior School and a strong commitment to delivering outstanding early education.

The project reflects a clear, forward-thinking vision from the Senior Leadership Team to bring all EYFS and Key Stage 1 pupils together in a single, purpose-designed setting. Housing Preschool in the stables alongside Reception and Year 1 in St Michael's will create one coherent space that strengthens continuity and progression, supports smooth transitions between year groups, and encourages peer-to-peer learning across ages. Most importantly, it will allow provision to be designed around how young children learn and develop.

The opportunity to redevelop St Michael’s has been made possible by the relocation of the Junior boarding house to Welland. The new co-educational boarding provision for Years 4 to 8 enables siblings to remain together in their younger years, while freeing up St Michael’s for an exciting new chapter as a dedicated Key Stage 1 building.

Reception classrooms within St Michael’s will be expanded to provide significantly more space while retaining the successful structure already in place. The large classrooms will sit alongside a shared creative and learning area, designed to be brighter, more flexible, and better suited to collaborative and imaginative work. The free-flow layout will continue to support a child-led learning approach, allowing pupils to move confidently between indoor and outdoor environments as part of their daily learning.

The relocation of Reception will also unlock further improvements across Early Years. Preschool will move into the Stables from September 2026, creating a larger, more spacious environment with enhanced outdoor provision for children aged three to four. This represents a substantial step forward in the quality and flexibility of the Preschool experience.

Looking further ahead, these changes also support a long-term ambition to welcome children under the age of two, a significant milestone in the school’s development. While the school operates under the ISI framework, registration with Ofsted is required for EYFS provision, and this process is now underway. A clearer timeframe for this expansion is expected by Easter 2026.

Together, these developments represent a coherent, future-focused investment in Early Years and Key Stage 1 education, ensuring that the youngest pupils benefit from exceptional facilities, expert teaching, and a carefully designed environment in which to thrive.