(for 7 to 13 year olds)

The Prep School curriculum has as its focus the 13+ Common Entrance, scholarship and Key Stage 3 examinations taken in Form (Year) 8 (12-13 year olds). Children are prepared thoroughly for those examinations in English, Maths and Science, as well as in French, Geography, History and RS (Religious Studies). However the parallel focus is on preparing children for the responsibilities of adolescent and adult life; so that History, Geography, French, RS, IT (Information Technology), Art, Drama, PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education), PE (Physical Education), Games (Sport) and Music are an integral part of the curriculum.

Children are nurtured by class teachers in Forms (Years) 3 and 4 who teach them the core curriculum subjects and humanities. In Forms (Years) 5 to 8 all subjects are taught by specialist teachers. Homework, known as Prep, reinforces the lessons learnt each day during the week, but is set at a appropriate level to ensure that a proper balance between work and play is maintained.

Reading is still an essential element to the children’s education with the aim of encouraging them to become avid readers. Reading underpins access to all other subjects, including Maths, with its recent emphasis on problem solving. Equally, we want children to understand the world around them. Consequently, regular PSHE lessons introduce important life skills which contribute to each child’s personal development, social confidence and awareness. We want children to lead healthy lives so that along with Health Education (taught through PSHE) we encourage them to participate in PE (with gymnastics, ball skills and core sports skills on offer) as well as sessions of Games (with the girls playing hockey, netball and rounders, the boys playing rugby, football, hockey and cricket, while both take part in tennis, swimming and athletics) and an exciting Outdoor Pursuits programme. Matches are arranged against other schools and clubs across most of these sports for all age groups.

Basic good manners are taught through sensitive supervision during meal times, while spiritual and moral issues are covered in assemblies through key themes each week. The school is has a strong Christian ethos, but welcomes all faiths with its ethos of respect, caring, empathy and tolerance, which underpins all that we do.