Amesbury Prep: Where rigour meets purpose
Curriculum
Blending traditional values with a thoroughly modern approach, we welcome pupils into Year 3 at the start of their prep school Key Stage 2 journey.
Our academic philosophy is straightforward: by the end of their time at Amesbury, pupils are senior school ready having developed good learning habits, self-motivation and the ability to learn without fear of failure.
Supporting them with age-appropriate scaffolding and stretch, our pupils develop independence gradually and confidently. Pupils build on their pre-prep foundations to become autonomous, curious life-long learners. They are happy to take risks, putting themselves forward with characteristic Amesbury ‘have-a-go-spirit’ across a wide range of different areas of the curriculum.
The Amesbury approach to personalised learning fully integrates academic rigour and strong pastoral care so that every child is guided on a clear pathway towards their chosen senior school destination. Our curriculum is broad and varied. We recognise the importance of strong foundations in literacy and numeracy and build on these with increasing subject specialism in the upper prep years: science, humanities, modern languages, computing, visual and performing arts and sports.
Academic learning is enriched by opportunities beyond the classroom. Internal, local and national competitions, challenge days, visiting speakers, lectures hosted by senior schools and other events take place as natural extensions of classwork.
In addition, our unique Amesbury Award encapsulates the fundamentals of character education. It embeds team building skills for all year groups up to and including Year 6, becoming leadership education in Years 7&8. As a timetabled subject, it incorporates current affairs, communication and study skills, finance and careers, world religions and global awareness. For Year 8 pupils, the Amesbury Award culminates in a Duke of Edinburgh Award-style expedition with pupils camping out under tarpaulin and exploring the South Downs Way.
The Prep School Journey
Year 3:
· Pupils begin in a nurturing form class with a dedicated teacher and teaching assistant where the focus is on the consolidation of Key Stage 1 literacy and numeracy skills, building strong routines, developing core learning habits and an introduction to the Key Stage 2 curriculum through topic lessons, alongside specialist teaching in French, sport and performing and visual arts.
Year 4:
· Pupils remain in the lower prep area of the school. English continues to be taught by the core lower Key Stage 2 team and pupils are supported by the same pastoral Head of Section, offering continuity in both learning and relationships. Children are encouraged to take more independent steps in their academic work, moving from their base classrooms for some lessons and being taught by specialist subject teachers.
Years 5&6
· There is a step up in academic challenge and expectation in Upper Key Stage 2. Over the course of Year 5, there is a gentle introduction to 11+ entrance exam content and formal assessment skills, including a weekly Reasoning lesson and online testing via Atom.
· As children move into Year 6, the senior school application process is carefully managed with targeted support, ensuring pupils are guided through ISEB exam preparation with balance and care by academic specialist teachers and pastoral support. All Year 6 pupils sit formal exams in core subjects in the Trinity Term.
· Extension classes run for invited pupils and in the Trinity Term, selected pupils are invited to join the upper prep Academic Enrichment programme, having demonstrated excellence in their attitude to learning, attainment and enthusiasm for academia.
Years 7&8
· Pupils in Years 7&8 follow a broad range of subjects at Key Stage 3 level, underpinned by the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate. The PSB is an assessment model that ‘has at its heart the development of the values, skills, attitudes and behaviours required for children to succeed and flourish in an ever-changing world.’
· The programme of study in Years 7 and 8 aims to develop pupils’ knowledge, skills and attitudes in every subject area, paving the way for senior school public examinations and Key Stage 4 learning. Assessments vary from debates and presentations to extended essays and research projects. All pupils sit formal examinations in their final term.
· During the Trinity term, Year 8 pupils complete their Pre-Senior Project Qualification (PSPQ), where they follow a self-designed, wholly independent study and research project. This culminates in the PSPQ presentation to teachers, peers, parents and senior school representatives. PSB portfolios are sent to the senior schools upon request.
The school day
The school opens at 8am (with breakfast club from 7.30am if required), tutor time runs from 8am -8.30am, with registration at 8.20am.
Morning lessons are from 8.30am – 10.30am
Break 10.30am – 11am
Late morning lessons 11am – 12.45pm
Lunch break 12.45pm – 2pm (lunch timing is staggered for year groups)
Afternoon lessons Years 3-4, 2pm – 3.50pm
Afternoon lessons Years 5-8, 2pm – 4.45pm
For Years 5-8, optional prep until 5.45pm, following a low tea 4.45pm
The school closes at 6pm.
Clubs and Activities take place at break times and after school.
Children have around 5 hours of sport a week in their timetable with Years 3&4 having fixtures on Thursday and Year 5-8 having fixtures on Wednesday. On fixture days children can be collected from the fixture or timings for collection are advised to parents on by App on the day.