About Us

The Prep Department consists of the Reception class and six other year groups. Classes up to and including Year 5 are single year entry, with Year 6 being two parallel classes. All infant classes are well supported by enthusiastic and committed teaching assistants. The small classes enable teachers to cater for every child's needs.

The majority of lessons are taught by class teachers but Art, ICT, PE, Music and French are taken by specialist teachers, from Year Four upwards. Throughout the whole department there is a strong focus on 'the basics' of numeracy and literacy; with particular emphasis on times tables and reading. We provide a richly differentiated reading scheme which children follow, until they are 'free readers'.

Early Years / Key Stage 1
In the Early Years we aim to give the children the best possible start to their education. We do this through fun and creative lessons which are taught within a nurturing and safe environment. All classes are supported by Teaching Assistants enabling greater interaction, both one-to-one and in small groups.

There is a positive emphasis placed on all learning and on behaviour. One example of this is 'Golden Time'. This is when the children join together to carry out activities of their choice as a reward for positive behaviour.

Key Stage 2
In Key Stage 2, an important focus is to encourage children to begin to take responsibility and to become more independent. Managing and organising their possessions; in the classroom and to and from school, now becomes more important as they mature.

Home work (Prep) is set each night; this ranges from half-an-hour to one hour. All children read daily. There is supervised Prep after school for any Key Stage 2 child who wishes to do their homework in school.