As Bicker Prep celebrates its 25th anniversary, this is how it all began...
It had always been Sheila Page's dream to start her own private school, having been a head teacher at numerous schools in the county and a school advisor.
She has lived opposite the village school in Bicker for 50 years, which was open until the 1970s. But by the 1990s, the building had sadly become overgrown with vegetation and was being used for agricultural storage.
Mrs Page, however, visualised it could be a beautiful new independent school and when it came up for sale that decade, she saw the chance to realise her dream.
After months of work, the new school opened on April 25, 1994, as the Bicker Preparatory and Early Years School.
Mrs Page's son Reuben and her daughter-in-law, Helen, are both partners in the school today. Mrs Page remains the school principal.
Helen said: "When she found the building, she realised it was the chance to fulfil her dream and together with her late husband William, known as Bill, they opened the school.
"It began with three pupils. One was her grandson, Adam, who is now in his 20s."
Mrs Page still lives in the village and joined current pupils and staff for a celebration event at the school to mark its 25th anniversary.
The school now takes in between 60-70 pupils with new starters joining in September, all the way from age three up to 11.
"The school has a beautiful, rural setting and is a lovely environment for the children. We spend a lot of time learning about the outdoors and the children are very aware of looking after the environment."
Current head teacher, Julie Miles, joined the ranks in September 2000 and is proud of the school's close links with the village and community.
There are now 13 highly experienced staff, and the school has maintained its good or outstanding Oftsed rating.
Mrs Miles said: "We are very keen to keep the school in tune with modern requirements while keeping the traditional ethos, high standards of teaching and dynamic curriculum. We are very community based."
The pupils, who come to the school from a wide catchment area, play their part in keeping the village tidy, including running litter picks and ensuring the playing field and other areas are looked after.
They also maintain a community garden and their own environmental area, packed with wildflowers and trees. Off-site the school has a six-acre nature reserve with a lake, mature trees and study cabin to visit under the guidance of their resident environmental science expert.
The school has earned the gold Green Tree Award from The Woodland Trust in recognition of their attitude to ecology and is working towards its platinum award.
Sport is important at the school. Discovery Sports coaches come in weekly and pupils have access to Norton Leisure Centre, near Lincoln, where they can do sports science, sports and swim.
Last year, Bicker Prep was recognised for a gold award from the Anti-Bullying Alliance. They are going for gold again this year.
"It is a very family-based school," Mrs Miles added. "The children look after each other - we have buddies at playtime and the school council leads by example, with older children supporting the younger ones. Our RE/PSHE curriculum is inclusive.
"The school has a beautiful, rural setting and is a lovely environment for the children. We spend a lot of time learning about the outdoors and the children are very aware of looking after the environment. We are working already to reduce our carbon footprint in school and are planning to do a lot more recycling, composting and reducing water wastage.
"Our parents are making sure they switch off their car engines while waiting outside the school."
To mark its 25th anniversary, the school council, made up of its pupils, also had a few words to say:
"Bicker Prep School Council are proud to announce that nearly 90% of pupils really enjoy school. The other 10% say that school is ok!"
And they added that they enjoy visiting the environmental area where they learn about 'pond creatures, plants, making fires and setting up makeshift tents.'
"The schoolteachers care about what the students think, so the school has a school council.
"At Christmas, Bicker Prep puts on a pantomime in which all students perform. As students progress through the years they get bigger parts. They put on two or three performances each year."
And they add that "its founder Mrs Page and head teacher Mrs Miles are welcoming and kind."
That's praise indeed!
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