Prep Curriculum

Our curriculum is consistent, relevant, and progressive with high expectations at the very heart of all subjects and areas. We are driven to ensure our children know what it is like to work hard, where we are focused on ensuring that we challenge, scaffold, and support them to achieve beyond their potential.

We are also steadfast in providing children with memorable learning opportunities: utilising our location and facilities to enrich their experiences, encouraging them to take risks and step outside of their comfort zone.

Each subject also focuses on several subject-specific skills to ensure that our pupils are fully prepared for life at the Senior School. Parents can see the progress their children are making in each subject by viewing their child’s eChart whenever they wish.

The eChart provides parents with regular, targeted feedback enabling our pupils to make accelerated progress as well as giving an up-to-date overview of their performance in each subject. It shows comments from a child’s subject teachers alongside an attainment descriptor and an effort score, which is updated every half term.

This system replaces end of term written reports as we believe feedback is significantly more valuable when provided consistently and promptly. It provides parents with more frequent and relevant feedback regarding your child’s learning which can then be discussed with the form tutor or one-to-one tutor.

Our curriculum has always been tailored to the needs and interests of each pupil to develop a truly unique educational experience for all.

Meet our prep school teachers

Teachers (Prep)

Steve Hardy - Teacher of Maths

Steve Hardy

Teacher of Maths

Sarah Symons - Learning Support and SENCo

Sarah Symons

Learning Support and SENCo

Sarah Hicks - KS2 Teacher - Year 3 Form Tutor

Sarah Hicks

KS2 Teacher / Year 3 Form Tutor

Michelle Carter - Nursery Practicioner

Michelle Carter

Nursery Practitioner

Kim Walker - Teacher of Art and DT

Kim Walker

Teacher of Art and DT

Kieran Higson - Head Riding Coach

Kieran Higson

Head Riding Coach

Jemma Gosling - PE Teacher

Jemma Gosling

PE Teacher

Jean-Marc Cravero - Teacher of French

Jean-Marc Cravero

Teacher of French

Heather Nye - Reception Teacher

Heather Nye

Reception Teacher

Gail Geliot - Teacher of EAL

Gail Geliot

Teacher of EAL

Flora Davies - Year 5 Class Teacher, Boarding Resident

Flora Davies

Year 5 Class Teacher, Boarding Resident

Ellie Lee - Year 1 & 2 Teacher

Ellie Lee

Year 1 & 2 Teacher

Elizabeth Haynes - Teacher of Spanish

Elizabeth Haynes

Teacher of Spanish

Dawn Ball - Teaching Assistant and Forest School Leader

Dawn Ball

Teaching Assistant and Forest School Leader

Helen O'Sullivan

Helen O’Sullivan

Nursery Lead / Deputy DSL (Pre-Prep)

Girl in prep school library

How does our approach benefit pupils?

  • Pupils are given the level of structure and support appropriate to their specific year group, be that emotional, pastoral, or academic
  • Pupils develop a creative, curious, innovative, and analytical approach. They are encouraged to ask questions and to challenge convention intelligently
  • Problem solving and critical thinking are encouraged in all subjects
  • Our pupils leave Bryanston Prep confident in their own skin, clear on what they stand for, with a strong sense of responsibility and a desire to contribute to society
  • Pupils learn to communicate confidently, sensitively, and effectively with adults and peers, and to manage their time efficiently
Prep School Boys in Class

One-to-one

The value of a child being in a small class (no more than 15) cannot be underestimated in terms of the individual attention given to each child every lesson. Over a week, a month, a term and a year the cumulative one-to-one attention from teachers adds up to provide a significant advantage for our children.

Our teachers genuinely know every child they teach; their strengths, their weaknesses and their action plan to improve. We think this is invaluable.

Children start learning digital studies, Art, French and Music from Year 1.

By Year 5, science is taught by a specialist, with the added benefit of lessons in the science laboratory. All children add a further language, Latin or Spanish, in Year 6.

Prep school child

A seamless step to senior school

Our pupils benefit from the extensive facilities of the senior school very early on in their educational journey. They have access to some of the best academic, co-curricular, sports and recreational facilities of any school in the UK.

From Reception, all children have weekly swimming lessons and this integration and sharing of resources builds as they children get older. The Lower Prep has concerts and performances and from Year 6, academic lessons such as art and DT. Years 7 and 8 also has sports coaching by senior specialists as well as science lessons and a weekly lunch in the senior dining hall.

By Year 8 our pupils feel well prepared and excited to move on to senior school life. These weekly visits have ensured the development of confidence, independence and an understanding of senior school life, all while taking part in age appropriate learning.

It’s an exciting time for all our prep school leavers

Having got to know our children so well, especially during the one-to-one mentoring sessions throughout their senior years at the prep school, we are able to help, guide and assist our children and their families with any fears or anxieties they may have, during the transition period.

Naturally, we hope Bryanston School is the most suitable senior school for your child, but we know that not all our pupils will go on to study there.

When the time comes to move on to a senior school, we work with each child and their family to find the right school for them. Whatever you choose, you can be assured that we are here to help to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible.