St David’s Prep

Tucked away in leafy West Wickham, St David’s Prep has been shaping young minds for nearly a century. Did you know it all started in 1926, in a single room of a family home? Mrs. Gwenllian Davies, a Cardiff University graduate, had a vision. St David’s Prep began as a kindergarten with just a handful of students. By 1931, it had grown to 32 pupils aged 5 to 10. Mrs. Davies, a stickler for fundamentals, insisted that reading and arithmetic be mastered before any other subject. Imagine those early days at St David’s Prep. Children playing in the nearby field, which would later host their first Sports Day in 1935. This same field continues to be the site of the annual Sports Day, a tradition spanning decades. A photo from the 1937 Sports Day reveals pupils sporting the same brown and gold blazers still worn by St David’s Prep students today. In 1935, the school was sold to Mr. Derek Justin Schove for £900. During World War II, pupil numbers dwindled, but St David’s Prep opened its doors to students aged 3 to 33. While Mr. Schove served in the Royal Air Force, Miss Jupp and Mrs. Ramsden kept the school going. The post-war years saw a resurgence, with older pupils moving into Justin Hall. This hall, rebuilt after wartime bomb damage, housed classrooms at street level and a hall below. The 1950s brought the House system to St David’s Prep, initially dividing pupils into Becks and Wicks based on their residence in Beckenham or West Wickham. Later, the houses were renamed David, Justin, and Oak. The school expanded again, and in 1958, Mr. Schove earned his Ph.D., though some pupils still called him “Mr.” St David’s Prep continued to flourish. The Little School opened in 1968, and the school celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1976. Accreditation by the Independent Schools Joint Council followed in 1983. Sadly, Dr. Schove passed away shortly before the Diamond Jubilee. Mrs. Vera Schove, and later her daughter, Mrs. Ann Wagstaff, took over as Principals. St David’s Prep marked its Platinum Jubilee in 1996 with a grand dinner dance and a memorable trip to Legoland. The 75th and 80th anniversaries were celebrated with lively summer fairs. In 2015, St David’s Prep joined the Wishford Schools group, ensuring its future while preserving its cherished family ethos. Today, St David’s Prep looks forward to its centenary in 2026, a testament to its enduring legacy.