Figure 1.--Even in the pre-prep there is a strong rmphasis on literacy and numeracy. As a result when the children reach the prep school itself they have a solid basic foundation in Enhlish and mathematics..
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Figure 1.--Even in the pre-prep there is a strong rmphasis on literacy and numeracy. As a result when the children reach the prep school itself they have a solid basic foundation in Enhlish and mathematics.. |
The traditional prep-school program began for boys about 8 years of age. Early prep-schools were flexible about this, but fter World War I, increasinglt the schools became more strict boy the age of entry. After World war, escpecially by the 1970s, prep schools became establishing pre-preps. They varied as to the age of entry, but commonly they dealt with children 5-7 years of age. There were many reasons for this development. There was the obvious academic purpose of ensuring that the children were properly prepared for preparatory school. Having a pre-prep ensured that the children could move seemlessly into the preparatory program. It also should be remembered that prep schools are all small businesses. Having a pre-prep ensured a continuity of new entrants into the preparatory school.
Boys aged between 5 and 7 are accepted into a small class of a maximum of 14 with a specialist teacher. The boys also play games every day, weather permitting. The idea of accepting them at such an early age is to ensure a thorough grounding in Reading, Writing and Arothmetic.
Beach Hall Prospectus
A favourite writer of mine is Garrison Keiller who begins his Ambridge-type accounts of small-town America with the words 'It has been a quiet week in Lake Woebegone.' Nobody considering writing about a typical week at the Pre-Prep could possibly begin with those words. To begin with, no building housing seventy high-spirited indivduals (and I include the staff in that!) could possibly be quiet in the sense of dull.
Each Monday, for instance, is a revelation of exciting weekend activities and social life. To add to this, the Chaplain starts the day off with his own brand of drama. Staff all have work planned for the week, however unrealistically, and Monday is the day when refreshed, one feels able to achive it all, and it is likely to be a vigorous and stimulating day. A couple of ballet sessions, preceded by a flurry of lost hairbands and leotards, winds up the day.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are musical days with violins, pianos and recorders being played with various degrees of skill in various rooms in the school. And Wednesday is also, as one of the children put it, 'A Way Day'. Not in the British Rail sense but in the sense of speech and drama and Margaret Way who entertains us each week. Friday is a day for commendations, to look back over the preceeding week to see just how well everyone has done and to award badges and praise.
Throughout the entire week, of course, there are activities such as games, swimming, art and craft, cookery, sewing ans after-school clubs -- all of which involves a high degree of organizationand fun. Add to this all the specil events of the year, outings And the cAre ofour idiosyncrATic collection of livestock. Palytimes too provide moments of drama -- friendships forged or broken, knees bandaged and bumps embalmed, dens in the undergrowth battled over with primitive ferocity.
All of this without ever putting pencil to paper, or opening a book! It is quite amazing to look back over the weeks and reflect on how much progress has taken place -- even the children are pretty impressed when they go through old books. But a 'quiet week in Pre-Prep -- no, I don't think there is such a thing!
Elizabeth Gibbs, Junior Wyvern (Queen's College Junior School), 1989-90.
Parents of prospective new entrants are encouraged to pay an early visit to the school and in the case of the youngest entrants -- boys of 4 1/2 - 5 1/2 -- it has been found most beneficial for them to spend a day or two with their prospective teachers, in class, in the term prior to entering school. This practice has proved successful in removing any doubts in a child's mind about what is facing him and consequently allays parents' anxieties. Extra care of these youngest entrants continues in the first year with the adoption of a timetable staggering their routine from that of the older boys so that they have full access to all the school's facilities, free of the bustle and pace of senior school life.
Boundary Oak School Prospectus
