RGS Istanbul Pre-Prep School: Where the RGS Journey Begins
RGS Istanbul Pre-Prep School is our dedicated school for Early Years students, the place where the RGS journey begins for our youngest learners. It is here, in a warm, nurturing, and beautifully resourced environment, that children will first encounter the values, the expectations and the joy of learning that define an RGS education. And it is here that the foundations are laid for everything that follows, through Prep School, Senior School, Sixth Form and beyond.
The foundations of a great education are laid long before a child sits their first examination. Research in child development is unambiguous: the experiences, relationships, and learning environments a child encounters in their earliest years have a profound and lasting effect on their curiosity, confidence and capacity to learn. At RGS Istanbul Prep School, we take that responsibility seriously, bringing to it the wisdom of an institution that has understood the importance of getting education right from the very beginning for more than 350 years.
“Reigate Grammar School has known for 350 years that the habits of mind formed in the earliest years of education shape everything that follows. At RGS Istanbul Pre-Prep School, we will give every child the best possible start.”
Part of a Family of Outstanding Pre-Prep and Prep Schools
RGS Istanbul Pre-Prep School is proud to be part of the wider RGS family of schools, a network of outstanding institutions in the UK that share the same values, the same commitment to excellence, and the same belief that every child deserves the very best start in life.
In the UK, the RGS family includes three exceptional prep schools: Reigate St Mary’s, RGS Chinthurst and RGS Micklefield. Each of these schools has its own distinguished history and character, but all are united by the ethos and educational philosophy of Reigate Grammar School. Families moving between the UK and Istanbul, or considering an eventual return, can take confidence from knowing that RGS Istanbul Prep School is part of this same trusted family, shaped by the same traditions and committed to the same high standards.
A Warm, Nurturing Environment
The RGS tradition has always held that children learn best when they feel safe, valued, and genuinely excited about the world around them. Our Pre-Prep School environment will be carefully designed to provide exactly that, a warm, welcoming space where young children will be able to explore, discover and grow at their own pace, guided by teachers who are passionate about early childhood education and deeply committed to every child in their care.
Small class sizes ensure that every child is known as an individual. Our teachers will be committed to building close, trusting relationships with both children and families, because we understand that in the early years, the partnership between school and home is the most important factor of all.
Learning Through Play: The Foundation of Everything
At RGS Istanbul Pre-Prep School, our Early Years curriculum will be built on the internationally recognised understanding that play is the primary vehicle through which young children learn. Through carefully planned play experiences, both indoors and outdoors, children develop language and communication skills, mathematical thinking, creativity, physical coordination and the social and emotional skills that underpin all future learning.
This is not learning disguised as play. It is genuine, purposeful, joyful play that lays the cognitive and emotional foundations for the rigorous academic journey that follows, the same journey that pre-prep school children across the RGS family in the UK are making every day at Reigate St Mary’s, RGS Chinthurst and RGS Micklefield.
Literacy, Numeracy, and Building Confidence from the Start
While play will be at the heart of our Early Years provision, we will introduce literacy and numeracy with care and enthusiasm from the very beginning. Using proven phonics approaches and hands-on mathematical exploration, our teachers will help children develop early reading, writing, and number skills in ways that feel exciting and achievable, building the confidence that every subsequent stage of learning depends upon.
A Seamless Journey Through RGS Istanbul
One of the great strengths of RGS Istanbul will be the continuity of education we will offer, from Pre-Prep School all the way through to A Levels. The transition from the Pre-Prep School, into the Prep School and then into our Senior School will be carefully managed to ensure that every child moves forward with confidence, well known by their new teachers and well prepared for what comes next.
A Partnership With Families
We believe passionately that parents are partners in their child’s education, never more so than in the early years. Our Pre-Prep team will maintain close, open communication with families throughout, sharing observations, celebrating milestones and working together to support every child’s individual development. Regular stay-and-play sessions, parent workshops and an open-door culture will ensure that families always feel connected, informed and genuinely part of the RGS community.
Contact our admissions team to find out more about Early Years places at RGS Istanbul Prep School — and to learn more about our sister prep schools Reigate St Mary’s, RGS Chinthurst, and RGS Micklefield in the UK.
