Curriculum
Our EYFS pupils follow the latest Foundation Stage Curriculum as updated in 2021 and our Key Stage 1 & 2 pupils are taught based upon the 2014 National Curriculum. All pupils are provided with a curriculum appropriate to their needs and potential. Priority is given to developing the skills of literacy and numeracy within the disciplines of English and Mathematics, with constant review of practice in light of changing national demands. Science is taught using a ‘hands on’ approach and computer studies are well established as a separate discipline with access across all subjects to Multi – Media networked P.Cs, laptops and projectors. The National Curriculum forms the basis of the courses followed in most subjects with pupils taking the end of key stage tests at 7 and 11 years with scripts being moderated by St. Helens Local Authority at Key Stage I, and externally marked at Key Stage II. Other subjects taught are: Geography, History, Art, Music, Religious Education, P.S.H.E., Design Technology, French and Physical Education. Introducing children to a foreign language at an early stage is most beneficial and as the school has a strong French connection this language is taught to all levels from Pre-School up. Early in the Junior Department the ground work begins for a smooth transition to secondary education. Children are prepared for entry to the local grammar and independent schools and their progress is closely monitored with regular contact being maintained with parents particularly in Years 4, 5 and 6.
If there is a need to deliver lessons remotely, such as if pupils are isolating or shielding for health reasons, the child’s usual timetabled lessons will be sent to then through either Tapestry (EFYS) or Class Dojo (KS1&2). Teachers are then available to provide feedback and answer questions if necessary. However if children are ill it is expected that they use their time off school to recuperate in order to return to health as soon as possible.
Early Years
Our Pre-School Department is housed on the Garden Floor with direct access onto the lawns and gardens, providing a safe haven where children can learn and play. The unit has its own purpose built classrooms and toilet facilities. Education is initially encouraged through play, leading to a more structured learning process once the classroom situation has become familiar. Equipment and methods are specifically geared to this progressive phase where the nursery and play environment naturally evolve into a more formal classroom atmosphere. Careful assessment of each child takes place in the first few weeks and an appropriate individual programme of work is established with ongoing monitoring and review. Activities are channelled with an awareness of National Curriculum requirements. Gradual integration with the rest of the school allows a trouble-free transition through Kindergarten and beyond.
Key Stage Results
Prenton Preparatory School choose to participate in the Key Stage tests at the end of both Years 2 and 6, these are externally marked and results are reported to parents. We also administer the Optional tests at Years 3,4 and 5. In addition to the end of year tests there is regular testing from Years 1 – 6 providing us with standardised scores in many of the Key Skills. In the Key Stage 1 tests the children exceed expectation for their age. At Key Stage 2 the pupils have achieved excellent levels consistently and also attain well above the expected level for their age. In addition we prepare the children for the 11+ examination in Year 5 as well as for the entrance examinations to the Catholic schools and local Independent Schools. Our pupils have regularly performed superbly well in these tests with excellent pass rates.
A word from our Teachers…
Mrs Roberts - Pre-School
Miss Orme - KG
Mrs Dutton - Year 1
Mrs Beecroft - Year 2
Mrs Taylor - Year 3
Ms Suchdev - Year 4
Ms. Rooke - Year 5
Welcome to the Year 5 class page. My name is Ms. Rooke and I teach Year 5 and I am also the music coordinator. This means I get to plan a wide variety of musical experiences and performances for the juniors and the highlight for me is the annual ‘musical’ which we perform at the Gladstone Theatre in Port Sunlight. Year 5 is a very important year at PPS as a large proportion of local grammar school entrance examination preparation takes place. Many of these are held at the very beginning of Year 6 so getting ready for them in Year 5 is vital. We cover a great deal of new vocabulary but we do this by studying a wide selection of reading material ranging from short extracts to whole book studies. A firm favourite is ‘War Horse’ by Michael Morpurgo. I love history and I combine this beautiful story with history by teaching the children all about World War One. It is amazing how many of our relatives were in the Great War and some children bring in medals and enjoy researching their own family connections. Another favourite is the classic ‘The Railway Children’ by E Nesbit. Again I like steam trains so this is an excellent way to combine History with English. It fits in well with a topic on the Victorians and I get the children to get into a spot of role play by pretending we are in a Victorian classroom. Class trips are always fun and we have been on quite a few- we went to St George’s Hall, in Liverpool, for a drama session called ‘The Narnia Experience’, we went to the ‘Spaceport’ space museum in Wallasey, we have been to the Chester Military museum for a WW1 experience and perhaps the best one of all is our two day residential to the Colomendy Outdoor Education Centre in North Wales. We work and play hard in Year 5 but our learning is fun and we like to make it come to life as much as possible.
Mr Huskisson - Year 6
It’s not all school-selection tests, SAT’s and leadership responsibilities in Year 6: far from it! In our English studies, we enjoy lots of drama work, including writing and performing our own play scripts, and staging performance poetry. We also have debates on various topical issues, and deliver presentations on topics of our own choosing. As the icing on the cake, we also have the opportunity to take on the biggest roles in school productions. In Topic work, we have visited a Bronze Age mine, and taken part in an Iron Age re-enactment lunch and craft session, suitably dressed for the occasion of course! We learn about earthquakes and volcanoes, covering The Science Room in fierce simulated eruptions of lava. For I.T, French and Music, we go to teachers who specialise in these subjects. P.E lessons cover basketball, badminton, hockey, football and athletics skills, and sessions are held at Bidston Tennis Centre, Europa Pools in Birkenhead, and The Oval in Bebington. In June we head off to Barnstondale Outdoor Pursuits Centre, for a couple of days of kayaking, archery, rifle shooting and more. In this final term we will also have a visit by a children’s author, and attend cycling proficiency, road safety and personal development courses. Finally, we have our Leavers’ Assembly to prepare for. It’s a busy time! When we leave Prenton Prep in July, we know we will be sad to leave a place that has become so familiar to us, a place where we have learnt so much and invested so much. But we also know that we are moving on to a new and exciting phase in our lives. Year 6 is the stepping-stone between the two.