The children learn mathematics with their well-qualified form teacher who adapts learning for each child’s individual strengths and weaknesses. In Pre-Prep the girls use physical resources to support their understanding, moving smoothly between concrete, pictorial and abstract representations of number to ensure a depth of understanding. As your daughter progresses through the Prep she will continue to focus on mathematical fluency, ensuring she can manipulate knowledge and apply this to practical and problem-solving situations. We provide different levels of challenge within each lesson, appropriate to your daughter’s ability and level of confidence, as well as extension and support groups from Year 1 upwards.
The children learn science through a mixture of practical and investigative tasks and taught knowledge. Simple experiments allow the girls to discover principles of fair testing and provide structure to help them find out for themselves. From Year 3 the children learn in our purpose-built laboratory and they are taught by our science specialist from Year 4. By the end of their time at the Prep, the girls’ inquisitive minds and strong desire to develop their knowledge means they are working well above national expectations, enabling them to compete successfully in external competitions, normally accessed by secondary pupils, such as the Eastern Region Big Bang Fair.
All pupils are taught computing by a subject specialist in our state-of-the-art computing suite. They learn principles of coding using Cubelets, Ozobots, Lego WeDo sets and mini Dot and Dash robots. As they progress through Prep, they learn to code our EdBots, as well as using the Intelligent EV3 Brick, a compact and powerful programmable computer that makes it possible to control motors and collect sensor feedback using intuitive icon-based programming and data logging software. By Year 6 the girls are beginning to explore CAD (computer assisted design) programmes. In addition, girls from Year 2 use their own individual iPads to support their learning across the curriculum.
As well as learning skills essential for the virtual and digital world, it is important for pupils to gain a good understanding of what can be physically made, engaging in concepts around design, function and creativity. Throughout their time at the Prep the girls complete a variety of Design Technology projects through construction, textile and food projects. In Years 5 and 6 the girls follow an engineering scheme of work, enabling them to find the solution to problems, from the design stage through modelling to evaluation and refinement.