Prep

Welcome to the Prep

What is the Prep at Spring Grove?
The Prep at Spring Grove is made up of Years 3 to 6 – known as Preps 3, 4, 5 and 6. The younger years continue to be housed in classrooms in the beautiful 17th-century house that forms the core of the school, while the older children move to modern classrooms, built in the school grounds as part of the SG50 legacy.

With an excellent staff:pupil ratio and an inclusive House system, our Prep children continue to develop their academic skills and grow in confidence within the school’s nurturing family environment. Form teachers work together with specialist Maths, English, French, Art, Music, Dance and Sports staff to ensure that each child reaches their potential and enjoys the broad and varied curriculum. Children are assessed regularly to monitor their progress, parent consultations are held twice a year, with a full written report in the Summer term.

Outside we make the most of our beautiful rural setting, with sporting activities three afternoons a week, regular visits to Forest School and Beach School in the Summer term, and a wide range of extra-curricular outdoor clubs and activities.

Overview of Preps 3-6

• Teaching by experienced, well-qualified staff with specialist knowledge
• Excellent staff:pupil ratio
• Increased use of specialist subject teachers
• Chromebook provided for every pupil
• Regular assessment of pupil performance
• Two parent meetings and a full written report per year
• Access to high-quality learning resources
• Latin in Prep 6
• Forest School
• Regular sports fixtures for all
• Weekly swimming lessons (Summer and Autumn terms)
• Children in School Houses (Austen, Chaucer, Conrad, Dickens)
• All children perform in a show (Spring term for Preps 3 & 4, Summer term for Preps 5 & 6)
• Assembly presentations every term
• KS2 clubs available
• Curriculum trips with residential trips in Prep 5 and Prep 6
• General preparation for senior school entry – Kent Test, ISEB, scholarships to independent sector
• Individual music lessons available
• Leadership roles for all Prep 6 children
• Challenge Award Scheme encourages breadth of learning

Extra-curricular

Through involvement in House entertainments, plays, assemblies, quizzes, singing, orchestra and other musical ensembles, our children perform with impressive confidence, and we are particularly proud of how many of our Prep children learn an instrument. Educational trips are organised throughout the year to complement the curriculum and enhance the children’s learning. Representing the school in a sports team is a new opportunity from Prep 3, with friendly matches introduced from Under 8 level upwards.

Challenge Award Scheme

In Prep 5 and 6, children spend their final two years at Spring Grove School collecting credits as part of the Challenge Award Scheme, which encompasses not only their special achievements inside school, but also sport, charity, community involvement, challenges and clubs outside school, encouraging a true breadth of learning.

Preparing for Senior School

In their final year, all Prep 6 children take on leadership roles as School prefects, ready to face the challenge of moving on, whether this is to a grammar school via the Kent Test (11+), to other local state schools or within the independent sector, with a significant number of Spring Grove School pupils each year winning scholarships to independent schools. See the Life After Spring Grove page for more information.