The Prep department offers children from Year 3 to Year 6 the potential to explore a wide range of activities and educational experiences. The ethos and atmosphere is one of happy purposefulness within a lively school schedule. Strong emphasis is placed on creating a friendly and supportive environment in which pupils can develop their self-esteem and talents to the full.
The rigors of study increase in the prep department with more curriculum time being devoted to all subjects these include; English, mathematics, science, history, geography, art, design technology, music, computing, religious studies, personal, social, emotional and health education, French and physical education. Some subjects are taught through themes to give meaningful contexts to the children’s studies, however , care is taken not to lose subject identity. Again at Springmead School we are teaching our children to become successful life-long learners these skills are embedded into our curriculum through Building Learning Power.
Throughout their time in the Prep department children are being prepared for entrance examinations to senior schools. This is not a ‘hothouse process’ but simply the result of consistent teaching and learning. Children are continually assessed to enable us to plan for their next stage of learning. We offer an entrance test club to support children in Year 6.
Homework is fundamental to encouraging children to become independent learners. The amount of homework children receive increases gradually, but never excessively, through the Prep department. We offer Prep clubs two nights a week run by a qualified teacher to support children and families.