Curriculum
St. Edmund’s Prep School offers a rich and varied curriculum delivered by excellent, enthusiastic teachers whose priority is to support each child to be the absolute best they can be in their academic life.
We believe that children excel academically when they are inspired to learn, and so our curriculum is delivered through a range of exciting and engaging topics and built upon a progressive ladder of skills.
Inspirational teaching lies at the centre of our pupils’ academic experience. A broad and balanced curriculum is delivered by specialist teachers whose priority is to ensure that our children are consistently engaged and stimulated. One-hour lessons are carefully tailored to meet the needs of each class or set, to ensure that every child is appropriately challenged and to encourage a life-long love of learning. The school works hard to deliver exceptional teaching, a first-class curriculum and excellent pastoral care to provide a secure foundation for their academic life.
Homework (or prep) is set for most subjects and is designed to consolidate the work pupils do in lessons. Form 5 and 6 prep is increased so that pupils are completing a full timetable of prep by the end of Form 5. In Forms 7 and 8, pupils have 9 x 20 minutes of homework per week. Pupils are also given support with their prep in school and in managing their time to ensure they work effectively and independently (with teacher support). This prepares them for academic life in the Senior School and future I/GCSE courses.
In Forms 7 and 8, pupils follow a set curriculum, with a wide range of subjects on offer, based around the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (PSB) which is designed to lay the foundations for the I/GCSE courses. This ensures that the children are well prepared before making informed decisions prior to moving into Form 9 and starting their I/GCSE courses.
Standardised assessment tests, including systems such as CAT4 and Progress Tests in English and maths, measure the students’ knowledge, understanding and application of the core subjects. All parents receive regular updates regarding their child's progress. Twice a term parents and pupils receive effort grades and agreed targets to help them improve their performance, whilst Parents' Evenings take place every other term, alongside a full written report.
Life in the Prep School is exciting, challenging and progressive. We are ambitious for our pupils and our activities are guided by the core belief that acquiring a love of learning is vital to leading a personally fulfilled and socially engaged life. Our teachers are passionate about their subjects and encourage curiosity and involvement to ensure that each pupil fulfils their academic potential. Our PSB curriculum accentuates core skills such as personal enquiry, independent thinking and social awareness.
Form 7
In Form 7 we recognise that the move from Form 6 to Form 7 can be tricky as it is the move from Primary to Secondary education. In Form 7 we start the year by spending a lot of time integrating new and older pupils into the St. Edmund’s Form 7 family. Everyone starts fresh with new goals and ambitions. We allow the pupils the time to settle into their new surroundings by having a settling in programme where pupils are off timetable for a few days, allowing them to not only settle into the school environment, but also their new school friendship groups and classes. Children take part in an extensive programme of team building and leadership activities, and the first week ends with a Form 7 Activity Night.
Regular meetings are held with Form 7 Tutors throughout the year (at least twice a week) in which Form 7 pupils have the opportunity to discuss issues they would like to raise. Whole year group assemblies also take place at least twice a term.
In the Lent term, all Form 7 pupils have the opportunity to attend the French trip as it allows another opportunity for our pupils to spend time with their peers as a Form group before their final term in Form 7. In the Summer term, as pupils progress towards Form 8, we look to help develop the leadership responsibilities they will assume in Form 8 by allowing them to take on the roles Form 8 have fulfilled throughout the year after half-term.
As pupils progress in Forms 7 and 8 they experience a rich and stimulating education offering breadth and depth in key subjects including: Art, Classical Civilisation, Computer Science, Drama and Theatre Studies, Design Technology, English, Food Technology, French, Geography, History, Latin, Mathematics, Music, Religious Studies, Science, Spanish and Physical Education. Their timetable is reinforced by our distinct and varied list of co-curricular opportunities, where many of their activities over-lap with our Form 9 to 11 interests.
Form 8
In 2023, pupils in Form 7 and Form 8 are working within the framework of the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (PSB) for the first time with PSB replacing Common Entrance at 13+. The PSB programme of study provides pupils with a flexible curriculum to help prepare them for the challenges of life as young adults academically, personally, socially, culturally and spiritually. It does this by actively developing and tracking knowledge, skills and attitude.
In the Lent term, Form 8 pupils are assisted in choosing their I/GCSE options through discussions with Heads of Departments, subject teachers, tutors and Mr Hyett, Deputy Head (Senior Academic), as well as by attending our Options Evening. Towards the end of Form 8, pupils chose their I/GCSE options enabling them to start studying their selected Options from Form 9.