Academic Structure
The Prep School’s academic programme meets and exceeds the requirements of the National Curriculum. Every pupil receives an enhanced education. Taught by qualified, educational specialists, our aim is to ensure each child fulfils his or her own potential in three key areas.
1) Individual Ability
We place a particular emphasis on the core skills of English, Maths, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Science. Each child will have a demonstrable ability in the basic academic building blocks needed to progress eventually onto GCSE and A-Level courses.
2) Personal Awareness
Our small class sizes, pastoral structure and teaching methods help develop your child’s awareness of personal opportunities and limitations, their learning-style preferences, group dynamics, the place and importance of individuals, and their responsibilities and rights.
3) Environmental Understanding
The ‘green’ agenda is incorporated into most subjects in the curriculum and our campus provides the ideal ‘environment’ in which a sustainable lifestyle for the 21st Century can be encouraged and practised. Children grow their own plants, recycle materials, learn about waste and conservation, and study ecology first hand.
Class Structure
Our younger children enjoy the continuity of the same teacher for most lessons, supported by a small number of specialist teachers for particular subjects.
Bearwood offers an individualised learning programme which aims to respond flexibly to the particular needs of each child. Usually core subjects are taught within year groups. Should circumstances be appropriate, we will move your child between groups to optimise their academic development. Some activities, such as games, may be delivered across year groups, fostering friendships and promoting teamwork between children of different ages.
Special Needs
Should your child be identified as ‘Gifted and Talented’ or have a degree of special need, we are able offer appropriate support - subject to availability and at cost - through the College’s Study Support Centre (SSC). In some cases, accelerated learning may be appropriate. In others, the SSC may help some children address performance ‘hurdles’ set at the end of Years 6 to enable progress further up the school structure.
Homework
Homework, called Prep, is set through all year groups to verify understanding and to consolidate classroom learning. Prep is tailored to the needs of individual pupils and may involve a variety of study and practical activity. The time requirement varies as pupils progress through the school.
Prep School Year Groups
- Year 3 = Age 7-8
- Year 4 = Age 8-9
- Year 5 = Age 9-10
- Year 6 = Age 10-11
Average Class Sizes
Number of Classes per Year
Average Staff:Pupil Ratio = 1:9