Key Stage 1 (5 – 7 years)
Children move from our early years onto the key stage one section of our Prep School; years 1, 2 and 3. Children are provided with an excellent start to their formal education with an exciting and stimulating curriculum. In key stage one we start the specialist teaching of mathematics and English. This is alongside specialist teaching in French, PE, drama, art and music. Additionally, from year 3 children have four periods of science with our specialist science teacher in the science lab.
Whilst we offer a broad, rich curriculum we place an emphasis on the teaching and learning of mathematics and English. We follow a mastery type approach to mathematics teaching; based on the Singapore Maths method. The East Asian countries that rely heavily on this approach have achieved the highest pupil rankings in The Trends in International Maths and Science Study (TIMSS) for the last 20 years. By using this method of teaching in our school we expose our girls to the best teaching practices. In terms of English, the children develop a love for reading through our ‘class reader’ lessons as well as daily reading aloud. Additionally, children have formal composition, grammar, comprehension and spelling lessons throughout Key Stage 1.
The children complete regular assessments and school tests, not only to monitor their learning and inform future planning, but also to prepare them for entrance examinations at the end of Year 6. These formal assessments together with daily teacher feedback and self-assessment mean that from Year 1 the children know how well they are achieving and are involved in setting future targets for their learning. Parents receive written reports and attend parents’ meetings.
