Beyond the Curriculum

The House system is a key part of the school’s pastoral care and sense of community and belonging.

All pupils in the Prep and Pre-Prep belong to one of our four houses: Hanovers, Stuarts, Tudors and Windsors. Each house has a tie in its own colour. Children will remain in their nominated House until the end of Lower School. There is no connection between the Houses in the Prep School and Senior School.

Our House system aims to foster team spirit across the school with pupils being supportive of, and being supported by, their house community. Each term the four Houses compete in approximately 20 annual high-profile events and each pupil’s participation contributes towards points for their house. House points are awarded by teachers for effort, good work, improved work, behaviour and attitude, helpful or responsible actions and contributions through clubs, activities and sports teams. There is keen competition to be the leading House.

House points for Prep School pupils are recorded on classroom charts. At the end of the School Year, the House with the most house points will win the much-coveted House Cup.

The Prep School provides pupils with a rich English curriculum covering the four strands of language: speaking, listening, reading and writing. All pupils are expected to prepare and deliver a presentation to their peers on a topic on a termly basis to develop their ability to develop and collate their ideas before presenting to an audience. This applies to pupils in all year groups and parents will be given notice of the event in writing. This attention to promoting speaking and listening skills is to make sure that children build a strong vocabulary, learn to listen attentively and speak clearly and confidently.

The promotion of Oracy as a key skill is further developed through debating clubs, Reading Champions and School & Eco-Council meetings, that take place weekly. Pupils in the Prep are articulate and thrive when speaking aloud, to share, challenge and encourage differing opinions respectfully and with kindness. The representative School Councils are a vibrant part of our community, who lead their meetings independently, within which pupil voice is actively encouraged to enhance the environment for themselves and their peers.

The Head of the Prep, the Senior Deputy Head, Phase Leaders and class teachers are responsible for the pastoral care of Prep School pupils, and they are available for consultation as needed. We are very proud of the provision we offer to ensure that the Prep is a very happy, safe and supportive environment for our pupils that allows them to excel.

The class teachers have oversight of the wellbeing and overall development of the pupils in their class group and therefore they are normally the first point of contact for parents who have any concern about the social or academic welfare of their child. Class teachers see their form group every day and build up a close relationship over the year, dealing with any problems that arise, discussing topics of interest, monitoring and reporting to parents on academic progress, extracurricular involvement and personal and social development.

Outdoor learning is an important element of our Pre-Prep and Prep School experience, with every year group benefitting from sessions held in our distinctive woodland environment within the school site.

Learning outside the classroom offers pupils the chance to approach ideas in new and varied ways—boosting motivation, supporting academic progress and deepening their understanding of the society around them.

Our beautiful woodland Forest School is open to all pupils in the Prep School, come rain or shine.

Outdoor Learning provides enriching outdoor experiences that both motivate and inspire children. Pupils gain hands-on skills such as cooking over an open fire, building shelters and creating items using natural materials. They also develop key social and emotional skills including self-awareness, motivation, empathy, communication, independence, resilience and confidence.

Years 3 to 6 enjoy Outdoor Learning on a rotational half termly basis across the 3 forms in a year group.

• We arrange an exciting and rewarding programme of trips, visits, speakers and experience days.
• Prep pupils visit St Paul’s Cathedral, local places of worship, The Houses of Parliament and authors and guest speaker visits take place regularly.
• In Year 4, residential trips start with a night away, building to two nights in Year 5 then four nights in Year 6.
• Extra-curricular focus includes Sport, Music & Performance, Oracy and Create & Construct
• Just a few examples of our activities include debating, robotics, climbing, Science, crochet, Art, coding and table tennis.
• Older students enjoy lots of opportunities to develop leadership skills.

All pupils are expected to be at school by 8:15am.

Only pupils attending supervised Afterschool Care or an Afterschool Club may stay at the end of the school day. 3:10pm for pupils in Years 3 and 4, and 4:00pm for pupils in Years 5 and 6.

Before School Care

Pupils are allowed on site in the Prep School from 7:30am where they are supervised by Prep School staff. This lasts until 8am, at which point the pupils socialise outside. Pupils and parents can also sign in and purchase a breakfast together from 7.30am in the main school Dining Hall and many families find this helpful.

After School Care

After school care takes place every day from 3.10pm for Year 3 and 4 pupils and from 4.00pm to 6.00pm for pupils in Years 5 and 6. It caters for pupils with siblings in the Pre Prep and Senior School and for pupils whose parents are unable to collect them at the normal school finishing time.

Pupils are cared for by members of staff and they may spend time completing homework and taking part in a variety of activities. Pupils may attend the club after they have completed an extra-curricular activity. There is a small additional charge for after school care provision.

Catering

All pupils have lunch in school and there is an excellent variety of hot and cold food including

vegetarian and halal dishes. A healthy eating policy is followed and in all parts of the school pupils choose what they eat. A light tea is provided for all pupils attending a club after school are wraparound care provision at the end of the day. Current menus can be downloaded from the school’s website.