Academic

After a superb start in the Pre-Prep the children move over the drive to become part of the Prep School. The school is divided into three two-year bandings:  Lower School (Years 3 & 4), Middle School (Years 5 & 6), and Upper School (Years 7 & 8). 

Facilities include general classrooms, many with data projectors, and Smart Boards throughout Lower School; an ICT suite; science lab; music school; a recently refurbished art studio and CDT workshop; gymnasium; library and a Learning Skills unit. 

All children are offered a balanced curriculum comprising English, Maths, Science, French, History, Geography, RS, Latin, Music, Drama, Art and CDT.  Our Life Skills (PHSE) takes place on a Saturday for Years 5-8 (along with 2 further academic lessons, our Kaleidoscope programme, chapel, lunch and games) and during the week for the Lower School.  Visiting workshops, trips out and a lecture programme complement the classroom work and add breadth and variety to the educational experience offered. 

Children are carefully setted within a maximum 45 strong year group according to ability. The higher up the school the more subjects are setted.

Children in Years 3 & 4 do not have a formal prep but their counterparts in Years 5-8 have two 25 minute preps daily (4:35pm-5:25pm) except on Wednesdays.

The School Day:

Our timetable is such that it runs for the whole year without variation.

The day begins with registration at 8:15 a.m. (there is another at lunch).  Children can arrive from 7:50 a.m. onwards.  If registration is missed they must always report first to the office to 'check in'.

The morning is divided into six 35 minute lessons, arranged in tranches of 2 with a five minute changeover in between.  First lesson of the day begins at 8.20am and assembly is at 9.35am.  Third lesson is at 9.55am and break is at 11.10am.  Fifth lesson starts at 11.50am and Lower School take lunch at 12.30pm, Middle School at 12.55pm and Upper School at 1.20pm. 

There are two further lessons after lunch (not Wednesday) from 1:50-3:05 p.m. and then Games.  Tea is from 4:15 p.m. and Prep for Years 5-8 runs from 4.35-5.25 p.m.  There is then an hour for any extra-curricular activities before boarders' supper at 6:30 p.m.  (In the summer this includes CE revision sessions).

On Monday and Friday, in order to maximise use of facilities and staff expertise, Years 3 and 4 have games from 1.45-2.45 p.m., tea at 3:15 p.m. and seventh lessons at 3:30-4:05 p.m.

Any child is free to go home from 4:20 p.m. although if a child in Years 5-8 takes this option they will have to take Prep home with them.  We are happy to look after all day children until 6:30 p.m. (7:00 p.m. if staying for tennis coaching in the summer) with pick-ups at 4:20 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and sometimes later.  The 4:20 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. pick-ups tie in with the Pre-Prep after school club, Ladybirds.

There is no Prep on Wednesday afternoons (Games from 2:30 p.m.) and children are free from 4:15 p.m. (away matches permitting).  Children still at school have a study period from 5:00-5:30 p.m. during the darker months.  Thursday is given over to activities instead of games.
  

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