Prep School Curriculum

Literacy

Literacy is the key to all learning. The importance of reading and writing cannot be stressed enough and we ask that all parents support and work in partnership with the school to encourage their child/children in this area at home, as much and in as many ways as possible. At BCS, throughout the Junior Department, teachers plan their schemes of work based on the standards set out by the DfES in the ‘National Primary Strategy’. These have provided a comprehensive set of guidelines and expectations for pupils’ learning at different stages in their initial education and ensure continuity and progression whilst still allowing for teaching autonomy and endless possibilities for a diverse range of learning experiences.

Literacy is not just about progressing through a reading scheme.  Whilst we still continue to use reading schemes with children to the lower end of KS2, children will be exposed to and encouraged to read and study a wide range of different texts, both fiction and non-fiction. As pupils join different year groups, the expectations of what, when and how much reading a child should be doing will vary. It is essential that this is seen as an enjoyable exercise and therefore pupils are assisted and encouraged in their selection of reading material. Form Tutors will be willing to offer guidance to parents and also be able to supply a recommended book list for their pupils.

 

Numeracy

Numeracy is another essential element for supporting our daily lives. In the Junior Department, a dedicated one hour session each day has been set aside for the teaching and learning of Numeracy skills and other mathematical concepts. As with Literacy, the set of guidelines provided by the DfES in the ‘National Primary Strategy’ provides a detailed scheme of work and outlines of the expectations of pupils learning at different stages in their education. More emphasis is now being placed upon developing and practising mental arithmetic strategies along with using and applying mathematical concepts.

 

Topic Areas

Each class follows varying topics throughout the year which encompasses all the above subjects. Each topic is carefully selected to provide the correct subject allocation for each year subject in each year group. Topic base teaching encourages pupils to develop using and applying skills and concepts. 

Modern Foreign Languages

Every pupil from Reception to year 6 will study French. Most work is covered through an interactive web-site which allows pupils to access virtual learning environment.  

Sport (Games/PE/Swimming)

All pupils learn to swim at BCPS and very quickly gain confidence and skill in the pool. PE and games are compulsory for all pupils’ physical development and here at BCPS great emphasis is placed on all kind of sport and physical development. 

Drama

A partnership with Swish of the Curtain Drama School allows all pupils to participate in a very extensive programme. Many of the pupils sit LAMDA examinations and achieve exceptionally high grades. 

Music

Singing, playing instruments or beating a drum no matter the ability is encouraged in music lessons. The aim is enjoyment! 

 

Learning Plus

Learning Plus is a full time support service within the school for children with specific learning difficulties. It is staffed by a teacher who is fully trained in the multi sensory teaching approach which is necessary to provide the strategies for learning which these pupils require.

Extra support is provided on a withdrawal basis into the unit and may consist of help individually, or in small groups of two or three pupils. Support is provided for all aspects of Literacy and Mathematics and in-class support is also available. There is an additional cost for these lessons and the scale of charges varies, depending on the length of the lesson and whether the lessons are group or individual. Details of these costs are available from the School Reception Office.

 

Assessment and Testing

Regular assessments are carried out informally by Form TutorsSpecialist subject teachers throughout the year to monitor the progress of all pupils within the class. These take the form of spelling tests, mental mathematics practice, mathematics check-up sheets, writing assessments as well as question and answers tests . In the Spring Term, pupils in Years 4 and 6 sit a series of Cognitive Ability Tests. Each unit assesses very specific skills. The results of these tests are plotted on to a personal profile sheet so that a pupil’s progress and areas of strength/weakness can be identified.  During the Summer Term, non-statutory National Curriculum tests in English and Mathematics are used, within the classroom context in Years 3 to 5, to help to indicate the levels of achievement of our pupils and to support our reporting to parents. In Year 2 teacher assessment in English, Mathematics and Science is recorded and externally moderated to provide accurate assessment of a pupil’s ability against national averages. In Year 6 pupils sit the Key Stage 2 (SATS) i.e. statutory tests in English and Mathematics which are public examinations and are marked and moderated externally. From 2010 science will be teacher-assessed but externally moderated to provide accurate assessment of a pupil’s ability against national averages.