Prep Curriculum

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“Pupils develop and display high levels of self-confidence coupled with a sense of humility.”

At St Neot’s we adopt a child-centered approach to teaching and learning; every individual who passes through the School flourishes educationally. Our pupils participate in a unique and engaging curriculum that inspires independent thinking and intellectual curiosity. We support every child to achieve their full potential; to thrive in an ethos of support and to be challenged and encouraged to succeed.

   

Through the PSB, we aim to provide an outstanding education for life. We focus on the active development and assessment of six core, transferable skills: communication, collaboration, leadership, independence, reviewing and improving; and thinking and learning. From Year 5, pupils are assigned a PSB Mentor, who coaches and guides them to reflect on their preferred learning styles, healthy learning habits for life and revision techniques to support our pupils to excel in assessment conditions. PSB Mentoring Sessions occur weekly and are planned with cutting edge theory on meta-cognition and how children learn most effectively.

 

The development of our academic programme is an enriching and well-planned curriculum journey. Our academic programme is unique to St Neot’s; it is based upon, although not extended to, the National Curriculum guidelines and ISEB 13+ syllabus, which ensures that our pupils’ needs are met innovatively and impactfully.

 

We incorporate opportunities for exciting trips, outdoor learning and thematic approaches. Lessons are differentiated and tailored to meet the needs of the students; smaller classes provide targeted teaching to accelerate progress. Scholarship sessions are designed to stretch our students and prepare them for scholarship exams.

 

At St Neot’s, pupils are successful in gaining entrance to their first school of choice. We have awarded more than 30 scholarships in a wide variety of areas including academic, art, music and sport in the past two years. With a focus towards a 13+ exit point via PSB or scholarship routes, we give children the opportunities and environment they need to grow into confident and resourceful young people.

Subjects

  • English

    English sits at the heart of the curriculum at St. Neot’s. We encourage them to be creative, imaginative and accurate whilst covering key skill areas such as Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, Spelling and Grammar.

     

    English is taught by form teachers until Year 4, then by subject specialists from Year 5 onwards. Children have weekly spelling tests and library sessions. We encourage a love of reading. The English department and other members of staff regularly listen to individual readers. We inspire our pupils to become perceptive, fluent readers, who are able to engage with texts both for enjoyment and analysis. Our well-resourced Library is an important part of the school. Library sessions give pupils the opportunity to explore the broad spectrum of fiction, non-fiction, literary texts, reference material and other media. They also support research and reading for all curriculum areas as well as for pleasure.

     

    In Year 7 and 8, our English curriculum is taught through the PSB. Our curriculum equips pupils with the necessary skills for Academic Scholarship Examinations, GCSE and beyond. We study a broad range of classic and contemporary literature such as Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Trash by Andy Mulligan and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne.

  • Mathematics

    Mathematics is an essential aspect of the St. Neot’s curriculum, with links to every subject area. The Mathematics teachers have a real passion for the subject, and aim to promote an enjoyment and enthusiasm for mathematics through fun mental activities, practical tasks, enquiry, exploration and discussion. Children are encouraged to apply their knowledge of mathematical concepts in solving every day and logic problems, which in turn helps to cement their understanding of numbers and the number system.

  • Science

    Science is taught at all ages in the school, with the aim of stimulating the children’s curiosity in order to promote interest in the world around them. It is taught by class teachers up to and including Year 3 and from Year 4 onwards by specialist teachers in the school’s well-resourced laboratories.

     

    From Reception to Year 4 science is planned to deliver and significantly expand upon the new National Curriculum.

     

    During Years 5 and 6 we follow the 11+ C.E. Science syllabus as this leads directly onto the separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics 13+ CE syllabi studied in Years 7 and 8. Throughout all year groups we operate a kinaesthetic approach to learning with plenty of hands on experiments. We also make use of our wonderful grounds and facilities whenever possible.

  • Geography

    Our mission in Geography is for the children to be inspired to question and investigate the world around them, and whist doing this to have fun. The syllabus is designed to provoke and answer questions about the natural and human worlds. It develops knowledge of places and environments, an understanding of maps, and a range of investigative and problem-solving skills both inside and outside the classroom. Geography is taught by specialist teachers from Year 5.

  • History

    Learning about the past helps children to make sense of their world. They will experience the subject in many different ways, learning not just about important events, periods and people but also how these shaped and changed the world in which they live. We teach History in a lively, fun and informative way, using a wide range of multi-sensory resources and a hands-on cross-curricular approach. The use of trips, I.T. and visits from specialist groups help reinforce our learning. History is taught by specialist teachers from Year 5.

  • Computing

    The aim of our computing curriculum at St Neot’s is to build an understanding of how computers work as well as how they can be used in the real world, both in a pupil’s future and in enabling them to be good 21st Century global citizens. As a Google school all pupils from Year 3 to 8 frequently make use of Chromebooks in lessons to both collaborate with each other and enhance their learning.

  • Modern Languages

    Bonjour! Et bienvenue au département de langues étrangères de St Neot’s! There are so many reasons to study modern foreign languages. Easier travel and technological advances present our pupils with exciting opportunities to experience different languages and cultures. In the current global village in which we live, learning new languages for both communication and academic purposes is a dynamic and very sought-after skill. Language qualifications sit nicely alongside most subjects. making people more flexible and able to understand other cultures.

     

    From Reception, all children are taught French by a specialist teacher once a week, progressing to three lessons in Year 8. In the earlier stages, the language is taught through song and games. As the children move up the school they progress from learning words to learning simple sentences. In Years 5 & 6 they learn to write paragraphs of text which enable them to reach the level needed for the PSB in their final years with us. We believe that learning a language should be interactive, inspiring and fun. The department benefits from excellent resources to help the pupils develop their listening, speaking, reading, writing and translation skills. Languages are taught in a dynamic and multi-sensory way, granting all children the opportunity to progress at their own level.

  • Latin

    60% of English words are derived from the Latin language, which greatly assists the children with their spelling, vocabulary and writing across the curriculum. Latin is taught as part of the gifted and talented scheme to some children from Year 7 at St. Neot’s. It is a great way to develop a more in depth understanding of languages, particularly the English language as well as French, Spanish and other European tongues. Studying Latin improves memory skills through the learning of vocabulary and grammar and then uses logical skills to apply all of this information to work out translations. The aim for most children is to work towards a PSB certificate issued in the Summer of Year 8. Pupils also explore topics of Roman daily life and start meeting Greek heroes.

  • PSHE & RE

    R.E.: Religious and moral education includes learning about Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and other major world religions. It enhances children’s awareness and understanding of religions and beliefs, as well as of the influence of religion on individuals and communities. It enables pupils to develop respect for and sensitivity to others, in particular those whose faiths and beliefs are different from their own. It promotes discernment and enables pupils to combat prejudice.

     

    P.S.H.E.: Personal, Social and Health Education (P.S.H.E.) and the school’s ethos of good citizenship helps children to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy and independent lives and to become informed, active and responsible citizens. With everyone caring, sharing and giving fun and friendship to his or her peers, citizenship exists in every nook and cranny of the school.