Independent Schools Council » Prep Schools

Science teaching at prep schools

Rudi Eliott Lockhart — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:57:58 +0000

Today’s publication of the latest of The Royal Society’s ‘State of the Nation’ reports makes for interesting reading. The report casts light on the teaching of Science and Maths between the ages of 5 and 14, and draws attention to the paucity of science specialists in primary schools, it also concludes that the testing regime in England has “stifled creativity”. The study points out that science is a practical subject that requires an understanding that cannot be achieved by the simple rote learning that teaching to the test encourages. This is an important and well considered report, but it is not one that pays heed to the independent sector, indeed, the two main criticisms within the report do not apply to the teaching of science in independent schools. The Royal Society highlight that only 3% of primary teachers at maintained schools in England are science specialists and only 2% are maths specialists, but figures from ISC’s own Teacher Survey paint a rather different picture for the independent sector. 8% of primary level teachers at ISC schools have a science undergraduate degree while 5% have maths degrees. This is important because, as the Royal Society report points out, even though many primary school teachers are generalists it’s important for teachers to have access to specialist advice, particularly in relation to a teacher’s subject knowledge, where perceived lack of personal knowledge can lead to low confidence and influences teaching approaches. This means it’s advantageous to have at least one science and maths specialist in each school. As for the report’s other main criticism, the independent sector is also fortunate to be free of much of the regime of testing that leads to the culture of teaching to the test in the maintained sector, so this concern does not apply to independent schools to the same degree: independent schools are able to focus on inspiring their pupils and teaching them to really understand science, rather than to regurgitate facts. The teaching of science is one of the great strengths of the independent sector. This is often demonstrated by university entrance figures and impressive A-level results, but it’s also due to the superb standards of science education at prep level. This strength is not just about having access to labs and other facilities, but the use of specialist teachers and a commitment to establishing scientific method and basic knowledge at an early age when pupils’ imaginations and enthusiasm are at their most fertile.

Teacher Taster Days in independent schools

Amy Cheung — Tue, 11 May 2010 13:35:39 +0000

If you are a teacher in training, or interested in working in an independent school, then Teacher Taster Days will offer a valuable insight to what it’s like teaching in the independent sector.

What are Teacher Taster Days?

Designed for undergraduates or postgraduates who are interested in teaching; teachers in the state sector who would like to find out more about teaching in independent schools; or if you are simply looking for a career change – these sessions will give you the practical opportunity to have a taster of what it’s like to work in an independent school. Independent schools can use these days to promote teaching in the independent sector, in their schools, and also allow them to meet their potential employees.

What happens on a Teacher Taster Day?These taster days may vary between schools. Most will be half a day to a full day but others may be significantly longer. A majority of independent schools use their Teacher Taster Days to allow potential teachers to observe lessons, meet key staff and participate in school tours. Aside from the core curriculum subjects like Maths, Science, and English – the creative and performing arts also have a strong place in independent schools in order to provide an all-round education for pupils. For that reason, some independent schools may offer an insight to their extra-curricular activities during their Teacher Taster Days and this may also be a good opportunity for you to show any extra-curricular skills you may have that will be beneficial to the school.

At the end of the Teacher Taster Day, you will leave feeling better informed of what it’s like to teach in an independent school. Do remember that you are only seeing one school; and to get a better picture of the sector you could even arrange visits to other schools.

How can I find independent schools that offer Teacher Taster Days?

Simply go to the ISC Teaching Zone, where you will be able to search for independent schools by county who currently offer Teacher Taster Days. ISC currently have schools in over 34 counties offering Teacher Taster Days, all of which can be found through the ISC website. Here, you will be able to obtain further information about the respective Teacher Taster Days, as well as contact information to help you arrange your teacher taster day.

Searching for school by county?

Rosie Keeling — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:41:13 +0000

Are you looking for an independent school for your child in a particular county? If so then why not try our County School Search.

The County School Search allows you to search for schools by country: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as well as search for schools in one or more English counties i.e. Devon, Leicestershire etc. In addition you can further refine your school search by selecting options such as day, full boarding or weekly / flexible boarding as well as gender such as boys school, girls schools, boys (some girls), girls some boys, coeducational and boys and girls taught separately. Finally there is the option to refine your search by selecting the age group your child will be going into from nursery, pre-prep, prep, senior and sixth form.

Try the County School Search

If you want to immediately see all ISC independent schools in a particular county then alternatively you can click on the relevant links below:

If you have any queries relating to looking for independent schools then please contact our free ISC information & advice service (ISCias) by calling 0845 SCHOOLS (7246657) or send an email to information@isc.co.uk and we will be very happy to help you. We also have lots of useful information in our Parent Zone.

Pre preparatory, prep, junior, senior and sixth form what do they mean

Rosie Keeling — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:10:30 +0000

An Independent or ‘private’ school generally contains four different departments according to the age range of the pupils. Some independent schools contain all four departments where as others may only cater for pupils within a particular age range such as prep.

Independent pre-preparatory (pre-prep) school
Pre-preparatory or pre-prep, caters for two to seven year olds and is also known as nursery school.

Independent preparatory (prep) and junior school
Preparatory or prep is also known as junior school. Traditionally prep school begins at seven years and ends at eleven or thirteen. On the whole the independent sector tends to use the terms preparatory and prep and the maintained sector junior. However, independent junior schools are becoming more frequent.

Independent senior school
Senior school caters for pupils from eleven years to eighteen or from thirteen to eighteen. The latter being particularly the case with some boy senior schools.

Independent sixth form
Sixth form is for students aged sixteen plus and lasts for two years.

If you are looking for a school then why not use our school search? The school search allows you to search for schools by a range of criteria including options such as pre-prep, prep, senior and sixth form as well as other criteria such as geographic region and school type such as day or boarding school as well as whether the school is coeducational or not

For an even more detailed search you can use our personalised advanced school search. The personalised advanced school search allows uses to refine their search by factors such as subjects, sports and exam types offered as well as the schools religious affiliation and whether or not the school offers school fee assistance such as school scholarships or bursaries.

A list of independent schools by London borough is also available as well as a list of independent schools by county and town.

Looking to attend a school open day? Then search for upcoming school open days using our school open day search.

Further information on pre-prep, prep, junior, senior and sixth form:
School structure (state vs independent schools)
Pre-prep schools
Prep schools
Senior schools
Sixth form

Prep Schools – A Tough Decision?

Liam Butler — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:36:52 +0000

As the credit crunch bites it seems that many parents are cutting down on ‘luxuries’. This should mean a sharp downturn in pupils entering the independent sector and an increase in people moving into the state sector shouldn’t it? Perhaps not as more and more parents consider their child’s independent education to be a necessity rather than a luxury.

However, many parents are still forced to decide between prep and senior education, and continue to ask themselves when is the best and most cost effective time to put their child into an independent school. Surely you can just move a child at 11 or 13 into an independent school can’t you? The simple answer is yes, of course you can but perhaps this is ignoring the potential benefits of a prep school education.

Prep schools generally cater for pupils aged 7 upwards and children then move onto their senior schools at 11 or 13. They are a perfect way to ‘prepare’ children for their senior school years of GCSEs, IB, A-Levels or even Pre-U. It could be argued that by choosing to put your child into a prep school you are not only giving your child a short term benefit but ‘investing’ in their future. At aged 11 or 13 pupils are expected to take a school entrance exam like the Common Entrance paper or perhaps try out for an academic award via a much tougher scholarship paper. It should be noted that prep schools will teach a curriculum that lends itself to these senior school entrance exams so it might be the case that prep-school attendees are given an ‘upper hand’ when it comes to gaining entrance to their chosen senior school.

Small class sizes, great facilities, fantastic pastoral care and enthusiastic teaching staff are just some of the many reasons parents choose a Prep school education for their child. A prep school education means investing in the future, and not just ‘the now’.

For free impartial information from ISCias (ISC information and advice service) on all types of independent schools including prep schools, you can call 0845 SCHOOLS (7246657) or email information@isc.co.ukWe are available to help week-days 9-5.

By Liam Butler – Information Officer

Visit ISC’s Parent Zone for information on ISC schools
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