Curriculum Overview
The Prep school runs from Year 3 to Year 8. In Year 3 (Shells) and Year 4 (Lowers) the children are taught by primary specialists in mixed ability classes. The form teacher teaches the children for the vast majority of subjects but the children are taught by other staff, too. Most of their lessons happen in their own classroom.
In Years 5 and 6 the children have a form base and their tutor is their form teacher. At this stage the children are taught to become more independent as they move around the school for lessons with specialist staff.
In Year 5 (Inters) the children continue to work in mixed ability forms but they are setted for English, Maths, Science and French to allow pupils to learn at the pace that is right for them. In Year 6 pupils are prepared for 11+ entrance to some local day schools if this is required and in many subjects the Common Entrance syllabus is begun.
In Year 6 (Middles) a top form is created for pupils who show the academic potential to cope with a faster pace of work and who may well be future scholarship pupils. In Years 5 and 6 the children have a form base and their tutor is their form teacher. At this stage the children are taught to become more independent as they move around the school for lessons with specialist staff.
In Year 7 (Removes) and Year 8 (Uppers) the children are in small tutor groups of around 8 pupils. These groups are mixed ability and two tutor groups make up one form. This form remains mixed ability for Swimming, Music, ICT, Spanish, Art, DT and PSHE. The Year group is then split into streams for other academic subjects. At this stage the children are prepared for Common Entrance examinations, scholarships (if applicable) and any other entrance tests for Senior Schools.