PRE-PREP ENGLISH

Reading lies at the very heart of our English curriculum. We are passionate about helping every boy discover the joy, wonder and excitement that books can bring, nurturing confident, enthusiastic readers from the very beginning. Our carefully chosen reading scheme has been created specifically to engage boys through a rich range of high-quality fiction, non-fiction and poetry texts that inspire curiosity and imagination.
 
Speaking and listening underpin all aspects of learning in English. Through conversation, storytelling, shared experiences and purposeful discussion, boys develop the vocabulary, confidence and communication skills needed to become thoughtful readers and writers. We encourage children to ask questions, make predictions, share ideas and talk deeply about the books they encounter.
Alongside developing a love of reading, we place great importance on the explicit teaching of writing. We understand how boys learn and recognise that writing skills often take longer to develop with confidence and independence. With this in mind, we strive to make writing meaningful, exciting and purposeful, giving boys real reasons to write through engaging themes, outdoor experiences, storytelling and cross-curricular learning opportunities.
 
Inspiration for creative writing is often found beyond the classroom. Our outdoor environment and Forest School sessions provide rich opportunities for imagination, exploration and language development, where stories, poems and ideas emerge naturally through first-hand experiences.

Pre-Prep FRENCH

We waste no time getting the boys interested in languages so French with a specialist subject teacher, starts in Reception. We normalise using another language by sometimes taking the register or reading stories in French too.

A  French immersion day every year introduces the boys to the delights of French food and culture and extension work is arranged for any native French speakers. 

Starting off in the Pre-Prep, we are proud of how boys learn French from the get-go. With a higher focus on speaking and listening skills, our students flourish linguistically in French and build confidence early.
 

Pre-Prep GEOGRAPHY

Geography in pre-prep begins with the boys’ own experiences and surroundings, encouraging them to develop a strong sense of place and belonging. Through exploration of the local environment, outdoor learning and first-hand experiences, boys begin to understand the wider world and their place within it. Map-making, navigation and orienteering activities help to build spatial awareness, problem-solving skills and confidence in the outdoors, while curiosity-led enquiry encourages boys to ask questions about people, places and the natural world.

Pre-Prep SCIENCE

Science in the Pre-Prep is rooted in curiosity, exploration and discovery. We encourage boys to ask questions, investigate ideas and develop an understanding of the world through practical, hands-on experiences. Our outdoor environment and Forest School sessions play a central role, providing endless opportunities to observe seasonal change, explore habitats, investigate materials and deepen our understanding of the natural world. Through experimentation, discussion and enquiry-based learning, boys develop confidence, resilience and a lifelong fascination with how things work.

 

 

Pre-Prep HISTORY

History in the Pre-Prep brings the past to life through storytelling, exploration and meaningful connections to the boys’ own experiences. We encourage children to ask questions, compare different periods of time and begin to understand how life has changed over the years. Topics are carefully chosen to spark curiosity and imagination, often linked to the boys’ interests and enriched through books, artefacts, role-play, outdoor learning and educational visits wherever possible. Through these experiences, boys begin to develop an understanding of chronology, historical enquiry and the lives of people from the past.