Welcome to the Prep School
Elmhurst School is a small, family school and if you visit and asked our pupils about the Pre-Prep and Prep schools they may look at you in a slightly puzzled manner. We are one school. However, there are some key development milestones at play during these years which mean from an organisational perspective it is valuable to create distinctions in the educational journey. In the Prep we signal that development subtly.
Year 3 and Year 4
By lower key stage 2 our pupils are developing as independent individuals. Boundaries are more likely to be challenged and self esteem is fragile as boys and girls step away from their parents’ shadow towards their own place in the sun. Whilst this transition is a gradual one, the school lays the foundations for boys and girls to flourish with high expectations of behaviours both personally and in learning.
In the classroom, students meet specialist teachers more frequently with Science now included as a specialist lesson. In Year 4, both English and Maths are also delivered by a specialist teacher as the gentle move away from a single teacher is promoted. This shift is a key benefit of our preparatory education as students become familiar with differing expectations of teachers and build their own responsibility for learning.
Pastorally too, students are expected to take greater responsibility for their items and organisation with homework deadlines likely to be varied and more numerous. Google classroom is used across the school to manage homework load and, by Y4, students are asked to monitor their responsibilities, in the first instance.
Year 5 and Year 6
In transitioning to upper key stage two, students have an additional reminder of their seniority in the school, as they are located in their own house at number 44 South Park Hill Road. The building has a more senior feel to it in terms of display and pupils are given additional privileges to their younger counterparts at break times in outdoor and indoor spaces.
Weekly booster classes in Maths and English are offered through the crucial terms in Year 5 and 6 to support preparations for senior school exams.
Strong relationships with staff are built and, although expectations step change again in this final part of the key stage, pupils are still nurtured and supported to develop their brilliance.
