| endent Junior Schools offer a broad curriculum, | | | | interaction between the teacher and pupil and also |
| specialist teaching, small classes, a fantastic range of | | | | enables children to contribute to all aspects of class life |
| facilities, wholesome food, teacher-parent partnerships | | | | without having to struggle to be heard or seen. This |
| and a huge focus on the development of the individual | | | | single fact allows teachers to develop outstanding |
| child academically, socially and spiritually. | | | | relationships with pupils and help them to become good |
| On receiving a prospectus from an independent school | | | | citizens. |
| it will often say that they offer a broad curriculum, but | | | | When introducing reading to young children the ability to |
| what does this mean? The broad curriculum relates to | | | | spend a great deal of time individually with them |
| what the children will do in school. As well as offering | | | | empowers all children to develop confidence and the |
| the core subjects most independent schools offer | | | | necessary decoding skills needed for future |
| much more. | | | | development. Small classes enable teachers to provide |
| Art, drama, languages, design technology, music, Latin, | | | | the necessary attention required for the acquisition of |
| religious education, personal, social, and health | | | | this important skill. As the child is working in a |
| education, physical education and games are some of | | | | one-to-one situation, the teacher is able to establish a |
| the things common to the curriculum. Within these | | | | unique programme of development for that child which |
| subject areas will be additional disciplines. In music, for | | | | enables him or her to develop exactly the skills they |
| example children will have access to individual music | | | | need. |
| lessons. The instruments and teaching are supplied by | | | | You may have wondered why I have mentioned |
| the school at no cost to parents. Specialist choral | | | | wholesome food. In this world where we are all |
| training and opportunities to perform in a range of | | | | bombarded by advertisements for all kinds of foods it |
| contexts, all from an early age are all on offer. It is | | | | is essential to teach children the importance of good, |
| common for games to be undertaken every day and | | | | wholesome food. School lunches have had bad press |
| form a core part of the daily routine, promoting fitness, | | | | recently but not all schools are the same. Some |
| working as a team and contributing to a healthy | | | | schools have stuck to their guns and have always |
| lifestyle. The teaching of foreign languages often | | | | offered their pupils a good, healthy balanced diet |
| begins at an early age. French is the most common | | | | without the threat of the vending machine! Staff also |
| but I have known Spanish and Chinese also to be | | | | play their part when they sit with the children for lunch |
| undertaken. | | | | and discuss worldly affairs and guide children into |
| The term ‘specialist teaching’ often | | | | choosing a healthy meal. |
| crops up in a prospectus and is a core aspect of the | | | | Of course, one of the most important parts of a |
| Independent School way of life. This term relates to | | | | child’s education is their parents. Schools only |
| teachers and how the children are taught. Instead of | | | | have children for part of the day therefore it is |
| having a single teacher who teaches them for all | | | | essential that parents play their part. Parents are |
| subjects, Independent Schools organise their curriculum | | | | usually always welcome in a Prep school environment. |
| so teachers who are specialists in their subjects (i.e. | | | | Teachers pride themselves on the relationships they |
| their first degree is in the subject they teach) | | | | establish with parents and the role they are |
| undertake tuition of the pupils. For example a science | | | | encouraged to play. A good school will foster good |
| teacher will teach all the science lessons and so the | | | | relationships with parents and guide them on how they |
| children receive input from a teacher who has | | | | can play their part in the development of the whole |
| outstanding subject knowledge. Depending on the | | | | child. |
| school this may range from one or two subjects being | | | | When you visit an Independent School with a view to |
| taught by specialists to the whole curriculum. The level | | | | placing your child or children, discover whether the |
| of subject input the pupils get is second to none often | | | | education on offer really does offer a broad curriculum. |
| resulting in a higher level of understanding being | | | | Is it taught by specialists in an environment supported |
| achieved by the pupils. | | | | by outstanding facilities where excellent pastoral care |
| Coupled with outstanding teaching are small classes. | | | | supports each child’s moral and spiritual |
| Class sizes often range from eight to twenty children | | | | development coupled with an individual learning plan |
| per class but are on average around fourteen to | | | | ensuring a tailored education? |
| eighteen. This enables an enormous amount of | | | | |