Pupils move to the Prep school for Year 3. Our aim is to provide a rich and varied curriculum which is stimulating and suitably demanding and flexible enough to suit the ability of each child and to bring out the best in all of our pupils.
All classes are small and pupils receive tuition in a broad range of subjects: English, Maths, French, Science, ICT, History, Geography, Personal and Social Education, Art, Music, Drama, PE and Games. Spanish is included in the curriculum from Year 5, but pupils can join Spanish club at a younger age. By the age of 11, our pupils are taught by specialist teachers in all subjects whilst each class continues to have a form teacher who monitors their progress.
The curriculum is tailored to the needs of the pupils and their future aspirations. Whilst due regard is paid to the National Curriculum, our children are taught to the highest standard achievable by the individual. To this end, our teachers ensure that every pupil is motivated, challenged and prepared for examinations and scholarships to independent schools or 11+ or 13+ entry tests to local grammar schools.
Our pupils achieve excellent academic results and are successful in gaining entry into schools of their choice. Each year our pupils gain places at grammar schools, but the majority of the children are prepared for Common Entrance exams in Year 8 to a wide range of senior independent schools with setting and subject options providing the right curriculum balance and challenge to fit the ability profile of the children. Furthermore, our scholarship classes provide additional challenge to Year 8 pupils who are applying for academic, music, drama, art and sports scholarships to their senior schools. Each year, a number of children are awarded scholarships to leading independent schools.
” The quality of the pupils’ academic and other achievement is excellent.”
ISI Inspection 2022
The opportunity for each pupil to play sport is essential in their development both socially and physically. Pupils have scheduled physical activities at least three days out of five during the week. The main sports are rugby, hockey, football, netball, athletics, cricket and tennis. Every child represents the school in regular fixtures with local schools and we also host an annual cross country event, The Thomas Trophy, and a rugby tournament, The Oldroyd Sevens.
Our inventive cricket programme is unique in that our pupils are selected for teams by ability and not gender, so our all boys and girls play together from U8 up to our 1st XI.
All pupils have the chance to try their hand at a number of other sports through after school clubs which include golf, fencing, judo and gymnastics.
We have extensive playing fields that cater for football and rugby pitches during the winter months and cricket pitches and a athletics track during the summer. In addition we also have netball and tennis courts and a large sports hall.
Our sports scholarship programme for Year 7 and 8 pupils includes strength and conditioning classes and a mixed sports programme.
“Physical literacy’ and developing a ‘good relationship with fitness for life’ are school buzz-phrases. While ‘you’ve always got the buy-in from the sporty kids’ the mission here is to extend this to all.”
Good Schools Guide 2022
Music plays a large part in pupils’ lives at The Prep with all children receiving at least one timetabled music lesson per week lasting an hour. It is an inspiring and creative curriculum which allows pupils to learn about music from a wide variety of genres and composers, fostering a sense of creativity, collaboration and excitement about performance.
Many pupils also take individual lessons in a variety of musical instruments including piano, drums, guitar, violin and singing. They can be part of a variety of school musical groups and bands, performing regularly in concerts and sitting music exams. They also have the chance to perform in drama productions and sing in our choir and chamber choir. The choir has also taken part in ‘Young Voices’ at the O2 and our chamber choir performs at IAPS music events. Our Christmas Concert, Summer Concert and ‘Prep Idol’ are our largest musical events in the school calendar and are interspersed with smaller musical events including house music, informal lunchtime concerts and music assemblies.
Every pupil from Year 3 upwards has a weekly drama lesson with a curriculum that encourages an understanding of performance techniques, exploring types of theatre from around the world, featuring both scripted and improvisation work. There are four school drama productions in the Prep school each year and all pupils are encouraged to take part, either on stage or behind the scenes. The Senior School Play takes place each December for pupils in Years 7 and 8, allowing cast members to tackle ambitious and engaging plays which really stretch their acting abilities and talents. In March, Year 5 and 6 pupils make up the cast of the Middle School Play, and Year 3 and Year 4 each put on a summer show. In addition, House Drama is an annual competition where Year 8 pupils direct and produce short plays involving pupils across Years 5 to 8. LAMDA sessions are available for pupils from Year 1 and pupils take part in a range of external competitions.
“The creative arts faculty is well resourced. Infectious enthusiasm and the encouragement to ‘just try it’ almost saw us heading straight back to the head’s office to have a go on that electric guitar!”
Good Schools Guide 2022
From Reception to Year 8, all children at the Prep have art lessons in our beautiful, light purpose-built art studio. The curriculum covers a diverse range of materials, techniques, styles and cultural influences, to help each child find their creative outlet, whether that be digital art, sculpture, prop making, photography, textiles or painting, or anything in between. There are regular art competitions throughout the course of the year, alongside weekly art club and scholarship sessions for selected children in Year 7 & 8. In Year 7 & 8 the lessons take on a more self-directed format, encouraging the children to take more creative license over their work and be self-reflective in their practice, preparing them for the type of work they will encounter in their secondary schools.
Pupils who excel in any of the creative arts subjects are encouraged to pursue scholarships at their destination schools and we have an excellent track record of scholarships at a range of schools. They are supported through the process by subject staff who have an excellent knowledge of the requirements for different destination schools.
Regular charity fund raising events help pupils to understand their greater role within society. Pupils are given the opportunity to reinforce their classroom learning with regular visits, workshops and field trips. These vary from Bushcraft stays to visiting Bayeux, Ypres and the WWI trenches.
A pupils’ School Council, with representatives from each class, meets regularly. Pupils’ concerns, opinions and ideas are brought to the attention of Mr Harrison and discussed, with decisions being made as necessary.
As the children enter Year 7 they are offered opportunities for responsibilities and leadership which enable them to move on in life with confidence as well as self-reliance. Years 7 and 8 pupils wear a different colour blazer to the rest of the school to highlight the important role they have. They are buddies to younger pupils and organise and lead many groups in the school including the School Council and the House Music Competition.