Year 6 – Memories to Last a Lifetime

The Kent Test takes place at the beginning of the Prep 6 year (in September), while ISEB, independent schools entrance exams and scholarship exams are scheduled for later in the year. Our Prep 6 pupils are well prepared for their senior schools’ entrance process, whatever that might be, through both the teaching and learning that takes place daily within the classroom, and through our Mind Masters sessions (held outside curriculum time) which focus on consolidating learning and developing techniques for all tests and exams. We firmly believe that children will be happiest and most successful when matched with a senior school that suits their strengths and interests, and we work closely with families throughout their time at Spring Grove to make this important choice. 

At the end of Prep 5 all pupils are invited to apply for positions of responsibility including Head Boy and Head Girl and their deputies; Sports’ captains; Charity, Languages, Art, Performing Arts, Eco Music, Technology and Forest School prefects; and House captains. The heads of school and their deputies present awards at Friday assemblies, and the Languages prefects lead our French Breakfasts. The Charity prefects help to organise fundraising events for their chosen charities, and the House Captains lead Austen, Chaucer, Conrad and Dickens in the various House competitions throughout the year.

All of our Prep 6 children have the opportunity to lead school tours for visitors at Open events – and we know that they are always our best ambassadors.

Our Friday Family assemblies give every child in the school the opportunity to stand on stage every term and take part in a presentation to the whole school community. In the Autumn term it is SG tradition that the Prep 6 children take on the serious responsibility for our Act of Remembrance, as well as raising money for the Royal British Legion by selling poppies around the school. 

The House system is an important part of the pastoral structure at Spring Grove, bringing together children from years 1 to 6, and offering opportunities for the older children to lead and take responsibility. The House Jamboree, held at the end of the first half of the Autumn term, is a great example of House collaboration, with the Prep 6 children taking the main parts and acting as role models for the younger pupils in these fun entertainments.

The Spring Grove Challenge is a scheme for children in Prep 5 and Prep 6 which allows them to collect SG Credits for their commitment to service around the school, their excellent work and their effort in all areas of school life. The prime aims of the scheme are:

• To foster pupils’ confidence, independence and a breadth of interest as individuals.
• To create a strong sense of identity as a whole community and of responsibility for younger children.
• To develop pupils’ sense of responsibility for their school environment and for society as a whole.
• To encourage children to be involved in a wide range of activities both in and out of school.

Pupils collect SG Credits to win Bronze, Silver, Gold and Supreme Challenge awards, and we celebrate their achievements in our Friday Family assemblies.

In the Summer term, all Prep 6 pupils have the opportunity to take part in the government’s national cycle training programme – Bikeability. The aim is to make sure children have the practical skills and knowledge to know how to cycle safely on the roads. Over the course of a week, the training takes place under the watchful and expert eyes of the Bikeability instructors both in school and out on the local roads.

The leavers’ production is a highlight of the Summer term. It’s a culmination of all the drama, dance and music skills the children have learned during their time at Spring Grove, and it’s always a fantastic show!

In the Summer term the Prep 6 children enjoy a week away at a watersports centre near Tewkesbury (in Gloucestershire) where they take part in team-building exercises, challenge themselves in activities such as abseiling and sailing, and most importantly spend time with friends and have fun!

The end of the Summer term comes all too quickly… but we make sure to celebrate our wonderful Prep 6 pupils before they move on to their senior schools. A Memories Assembly features a video charting the Spring Grove journey of all of our Year 6 children, no matter when they started in the school. This is followed by a final ‘treat day’ – an outing to the trampoline park, or the local watersports centre, for example. Then it’s the final day, and our Prep 6 children arrive in style to be met by the whole school wishing them ‘farewell’ and ‘good luck’. The day culminates in our Final Assembly and Prize Giving where we celebrate every one of our leavers. Then the Head Girl and Head Boy give their final speeches, and hand over to the incoming, newly announced Heads of School. And so we say farewell and a new year begins…