Prep School
Children are part of the Prep Department when they are in Years 4 to 8. Housed principally in the magnificent Pugin Mansion at the centre of our 90 acre estate, the majority of pupils join us from our Pre-Prep department, but we are skilled in welcoming pupils into other year groups too, integrating all new arrivals (and their parents!) carefully and sensitively.
We structure the Prep department to ensure that the changing needs of the children are met as they progress through the School. Our Pastoral team of tutors is led by our Assistant Head Pastoral, Mrs Everton, and each department is led by an experienced member of staff who keeps an overview of each child’s progress and happiness, in partnership with form tutors and Houseparents.
Wherever a child’s mind is thrilled, they will learn
106
LAMDA and Trinity exams passed in 2022
105
A/A* grades at Common Entrance
30000
Lessons prepared and taught across the academic year
Juniors (Year 4)
Upon arrival in the Prep Department, children join Juniors (Year 4), and their curriculum is structured so that they continue to be taught a number of subjects by their form teachers, with specialist teachers for others. Juniors participate fully in the games and activity programme, but we are mindful that they are still young, and as such, we structure the day to get the best out of the children.
Middle School (Years 5 and 6)
Years 5 and 6 are taught by experienced specialists for all subjects, and increasingly are set by ability (for subjects such as French and Latin). However form tutors still remain a key part of the overall pastoral relationship, overseeing the child’s progress as an important point of contact for parents. Even at this stage, we work with parents to consider the early decisions often needed in the Senior School admissions processes, and start to identify high fliers aiming for scholarships and awards at their next schools.
Upper School (Years 7 and 8)
Some children choose to join Bilton Grange at this stage, and we aim to ensure that their transition to Bilton Grange, and then subsequently two years later on to Senior School, is a productive and enjoyable one. Our senior boys and girls are articulate, well informed, sensible and good fun and leave us fully prepared to meet with enthusiasm the new challenges that lie ahead. Through greater responsibility, opportunities to lead and the realisation that younger children are looking up to them, we believe that Upper School life is a good stepping stone from childhood Prep School to the bigger world of Senior School.
