Academic

Communication is at the heart of our curriculum at STAHS Prep. In English, the girls develop a love of reading, writing, speaking and listening as they are exposed to a variety of exciting, challenging and diverse topics, texts and genres. Through the study of these texts, ranging from the classics to the modern-day greats, our pupils do not only read for pleasure, but they develop the analytical, creative and debating skills which they can use to access all subjects at a high level. 

To supplement the core English curriculum, all girls are taught French from Reception and Mandarin from Year 4 in a fun and engaging way by specialist teachers. Lessons focus on both language acquisition and cultural understanding, helping the girls to develop a global outlook. 

Pupils receive over two hours of physical education per week from our dedicated Sports Department. A balanced provision of competitive opportunities and ‘activity for all’ allow pupils to develop a lifelong passion for sport and physical activity. Through a varied Physical Education curriculum, pupils develop physically and creatively through activities such as gymnastics, fitness, and swimming. Within the Games programme, all pupils develop teamwork, tactical awareness and a competitive edge in traditional team sports. These include netball, lacrosse, football and cricket. 

At STAHS we aim to inspire a love of Mathematics in every girl. To do this, we focus on developing the girls’ key number skills at an early age, teaching them how to apply these to different problem-solving scenarios in a fun and stimulating way, with lots of games, investigations and extension activities for them to explore. STAHS Prep pupils typically love Maths and thrive in the challenging but supportive environment that we provide.

Science at STAHS Prep is exciting, engaging and thought-provoking. Our curriculum is designed to foster independence and develop inquiring minds through challenging experimental work. From Year 3 upwards, the girls learn in a purpose built laboratory. We teach them how to evaluate evidence and understand scientific technique, as well as providing the knowledge they need to understand the world around them.

All pupils learn Computing in our state-of-the-art computing suite. Coding forms an integral part of our curriculum and, as they progress through Prep, the girls learn to code on various programs and see their code in action by programming computer games and physical robots. To support children in becoming good digital citizens (as well as excellent users of technology) pupils from Year 3 are provided with their own iPads to support their learning across the curriculum.

The children complete a variety of Design and Technology projects through construction, textile and food projects throughout their time at Prep. In Years 5 and 6, the pupils follow an Engineering scheme of work, enabling them to find the solution to problems, from the design stage through modelling to evaluation and refinement. The pupils also begin to explore CAD (computer assisted design) programmes.

Our Humanities programme enables the children to develop an understanding of the past and their place in history as well as the world around them. Through a combination of direct instruction and research, the girls learn to question, understand, gain insights into the past, the world, other cultures and religions, reflecting on ideas and debates. Lessons are enhanced by educational visits to places of special interest and theme days.

Weekly lessons in Music, Art and Drama from Reception allow our pupils to develop their creativity and passion for the arts. Our inspiring Music Department supports girls to reach high levels in both creating and performing music. A rich co-curricular offering of ensembles, choirs and orchestras, supported by strong links with the Senior School and a large number of Visiting Music Teachers for one-to-one lessons, provides children with extensive opportunities to develop their musical talent.

Art is taught in a specialist studio and lessons provide opportunities for the children to develop in areas such as drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles and sculpture. Each child has their own sketchbook and this is used extensively for the development of technique, the exploration of ideas and research into the work of artists and the art of other cultures.

Ensuring that every child feels confident in speaking in front of others is an essential component of our drama curriculum, where emotions are explored as well as performance skills honed, resulting in each child performing in their own class play annually, a highlight for children and parents alike.