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Modern prep schools place a substantial emphasis on academics and grades are very competive. This varies from school to school, but it is fair to say that the prep schools tend to be more competive than in the state schools. At most schools the children know there precise numerical position in the their form. The form rolls used to be posted by name. Some schools use a number, but the forms are generally small enough that the children know each other's position as well. Certainly a system like this stimulateds competition anong the academically able. Some educators believe that such a system is not appropriate for children of this age because it my discourage the less academiclly able. We did not notice this and we did not notice children being teased because they were not doing well academically. Our visits were normally only one day visits, but we spent a great deal of time with the children and this is something we never noticed. There was a good deal of spirited banter among the children, but poor academic results was not involved. We suspect that the impact here is largely determined by how the schools handel it. It may well be that in a supportive environment that it may be best for a child to develop a realistic assessment of his capabilities. This is, however, a subject on which educators will have very different ideas. We suspect that the competitiveness here is less important than the individual attention afforded by small class sizes and the required prep time which mean that even boys who are not academically gifted can achieve.
Every three weeks a boy learns his position in form in the various subjects and his progress is carefully watched. Particular attention is paid to the effort he puts into his work, as distinct from the results achieved, and effort assessments are recorded at the end of the week. Apart from the full end of term reports there is a half term report sent to all parents, goving brief details of their hild's academic progress and general behaviour.
Beachborough Prospectus
Our system of monthly assessments and full reporting on each child's progress in the various subjects maintains a constant discipline within whichthe children and their parents cann measure their progress. Children also keep their own records and write reports at the end of termon how they have progressed in each subjct.
Dean Close Junior School Prospectus
