A Love of Learning

From Nursery, we apply research-backed approaches to reading, including phonics, to ensure that all of our children are given strong foundations for reading, writing and spelling. As pupils develop their literacy skills, we seek to inspire them with a wide range of literature and to help them to apply this creativity in their own writing.  As pupils move up through the prep school, our specialist and highly-experienced English teachers continue to support, stretch and challenge in class and beyond. This ensures that all of our learners are more than ready for the transition to senior school, including our academic scholars, who consistently achieve outstanding results in English.

From Nursery onwards, our Maths curriculum fosters numeracy, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. Through hands-on activities, games, and interactive lessons, we inspire a love for numbers while building a deep understanding of mathematical concepts. Our vibrant and engaging classrooms create a positive learning environment where pupils develop confidence and a strong understanding of key topics, including number operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, algebra, geometry, measures, and statistics. This solid foundation sets the stage for future success in this essential subject.
 
 

In Nursery, pupils are introduced to basic scientific concepts through interactive and engaging activities. As they progress through the year groups, they gradually incorporate biology, chemistry and physics in their scientific learning.  From Year 3, pupils are taught in our state-of-the-art Science labs allowing hands-on experiments and practical activities. By the time they move to senior school, pupils are equipped to delve deeper into scientific fields and explore the interconnectedness of the natural world. 

From Nursery onwards, our specialist-led computing and ICT curriculum builds a strong foundation in digital literacy. Pupils develop essential skills, including coding, presentation design, animation, 3D design and printing, and online safety. They engage in hands-on experiences such as flying drones, robotics and using a flight simulator, enhancing their learning through interactive technology. As a Google Reference School, we integrate Chromebooks seamlessly into lessons. Our approach ensures pupils are confident, creative, and responsible digital learners, prepared for the ever-evolving technological world.

Our Geography curriculum inspires curiosity about the world, its people, and the dynamic processes shaping it. Throughout their time at school, pupils explore both physical and human geography themes, developing an understanding of their environment and the wider world we are a part of. Through thoughtful discussion and research, pupils learn about current events and the geographical perspective they require, helping to understand the "where", "how" and "why". These skills lay the foundation for confident, informed learners, with valuable insights into the world around them

Our History curriculum encourages curiosity and critical thinking from a young age. It equips children with a chronological understanding of the past, from ancient civilizations to modern events, allowing them to contextualise the present. Interactive learning opportunities through themed days and visits to sites of historical significance bring the topic to life, whilst our bespoke 'Story of our Land' curriculum links the humanities subjects together and allows children to recognise the connections between each subject as part of their learning. Our History lessons also develop essential skills such as research, analysis, and effective communication through presentations and persuasive writing.

From Nursery, our Art curriculum sets the stage for a lifelong love of creativity and expression. Our little artists learn about colours, shapes and different art materials through guided exploration. Pupils delve into pottery work using our kiln,  printmaking, traditional painting techniques, sculpture work, photography and textiles. Our Art curriculum introduces pupils to a broad range of skills and materials to enable them the opportunity to make creative decisions as they mature into young artists. Our wonderful dedicated Art centre has a gallery to showcase their work, and a number of our Year 8 pupils go on to Senior School with an Art Scholarship. 

In Nursery, our young musicians begin their journey of musical discovery by exploring a variety of instruments and sounds. As they move up the school, they explore a broader repertoire that encompasses a wide range of music from different genres, eras and cultures. Pupils develop their listening, performing and composing skills through a myriad of practical tasks. Pupils regularly perform in concerts and recitals. We have an abundance of musical groups and choirs and there really is something for everyone! All pupils are encouraged to participate in instrumental lessons and performance activities. 

From Nursery through to Year 8, all children learn Spanish as part of our core language curriculum. Mandarin is introduced from Year 1 and continues through to at least Year 6, offering pupils an early foundation in one of the world’s most widely spoken languages. In Year 6, pupils can also choose to study either French or Latin. Our vibrant language programme is enriched by a wide variety of cultural trips and immersive events, designed to bring the languages we teach to life. We celebrate international traditions and festivals throughout the year, including Chinese dancing workshops to mark Lunar New Year and a lively French Bake Off, where pupils can practise their language skills while enjoying French culinary culture. 

Design Technology is taught from Year 3 onwards. Lessons take place in our dedicated DT workshop, where pupils are introduced to a variety of tools, materials, and processes in a safe and supportive environment. They learn to use hand tools and machines to create practical, well-crafted products, while also being introduced to modern technologies such as computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacture (CAM). Our approach combines practical making with thoughtful design, encouraging pupils to plan, test, and refine their ideas. 

Drama plays an integral role in the curriculum, with four major productions each year and termly showcases that highlight the talent and creativity of our pupils. These productions are fully inclusive, with every pupil encouraged to take part—regardless of experience or ability. This approach not only provides a platform for pupils to showcase their skills but also helps them build confidence and develop new talents.  LAMDA lessons are increasingly popular and cover acting, verse and prose, public speaking, musical theatre and devising. Our results are outstanding, with 100% of those pupils receiving distinctions in the last year.

Starting in Nursery with 'Sporty Tots', sport is an integral part of school life and provides a platform for children to explore new challenges, discover hidden talents and ultimately have fun, whilst maintaining a healthy lifestyle. All of our children play competitive sport from Year 3 through to Year 8 against other local prep and senior schools.  We regularly host tournaments, swimming galas and cross country meets, so that our pupils have many opportunities to compete as part of their school teams. We also enter regional and national IAPS (The Independent Association of Prep Schools) tournaments across a variety of sports. 

We introduce our religious studies curriculum from Nursery. We foster pupils' spiritual, moral, social, cultural and intellectual growth by inspiring them to delve into the fundamental questions of belief and values that arise from various human experiences. Our curriculum incorporates elements of philosophical inquiry and ethical debate, helping pupils to develop critical thinking skills and a respectful appreciation of different perspectives. Children study a variety of world religions and cultural traditions, learning about their beliefs, practices, and historical significance. This broad approach not only deepens their knowledge but also fosters compassion, open-mindedness, and a sense of shared humanity. 

PSHEE is a vibrant and essential part of the curriculum, thoughtfully tailored to each year group to support pupils’ personal growth and development. Wellbeing is woven into everyday school life, with mindfulness taught in fun, creative ways across all year groups. From yoga and mindfulness colouring to breathing exercises and journalling, pupils explore techniques that support emotional resilience and self-awareness. Each year, we shine a spotlight on wellbeing with our dedicated Mindfulness Week — a joyful celebration of everything we do to nurture happy, healthy minds.