Prep School

Adcote Preparatory School is a happy, inclusive environment in which your daughter can learn and thrive. As a school, we understand the crucial part that building self-confidence brings into the classroom, offering the opportunity for free-thought and promoting a positive attitude to learning and education.  We give our girls the skills they need to succeed through support and positivity, both in the classroom and beyond.

The Prep School welcomes girls from seven years of age. Our Primary School form tutors incorporate the Key Stage 2 curriculum within a happy, safe and caring environment, ensuring that all the girls’ individual needs are met regardless of ability. The girls enjoy a wide educational programme and lots of learning opportunities, including topic linked trips and visiting speakers such as authors, as well as the opportunity to use technology through Google Classroom.

Class sizes throughout the Prep School are small and enable us to focus on developing individual literacy and mathematical skills, through focused target setting.

As the girls progress through the school, they are encouraged to be more organised and independent. By Year 8, which is the end of their time in the Prep School, pupils are taught by specialist teachers from the Senior School. This enables the transition from Prep to Senior school to run smoothly. Regular assessment allows for targets to be set according to individual needs.

Girls enjoy the benefit of our on site Sports Hall, music rooms, Library, woodlands area, ICT suites, Food Technology room, Great Hall and Small Hall, which is used for drama and dance. There is an excellent selection of sports on offer including gymnastics, hockey, netball, pop lacrosse, swimming and tennis.

The girls have the opportunity to participate in many creative activities, including both music and drama.  They enjoy performing on stage in our colourful, dramatic productions, which are well attended by parents. The school prides itself on its LAMDA results for Spoken English and performs in the Shropshire Festival of Verse and Prose locally, as well as the Oswestry Music Festival.

The pastoral support, along with a varied curriculum in the Prep School, provides girls with a nurturing environment in which they flourish both academically and creatively. The broad curriculum ensures that they have a rounded foundation for future academic studies. Girls can start Prep School in the Primary area in Year 3, at the age of 7, under the guidance of primary teaching staff for English and Maths, with specialist teachers for their remaining lessons. In Years 7 and 8, whilst still being under the pastoral care of the Prep School team, the pupils have lessons with the Senior school teaching staff.  They are then ready and prepared for their continuation into the Senior School in Year 9.

Small class sizes mean that we know every child and how to get the best from her academically, be that stretching the more able or tailoring support in a way that best matches an individual’s learning style. Daily focus classes in English and Maths mean that even greater support or extension is available to pupils.

As your daughter progresses through the school, she will gradually be introduced to additional facilities and opportunities beyond the classroom. When your daughter leaves the primary phase of the Prep School at the end of Year 6, she will be well prepared for the transition to Key Stage 3, with the familiar environment and Senior School teaching staff, thereby enabling a smooth transition.

For busy parents, our school hours are flexible. Children arriving at 8.00am are supervised and breakfast is available. At the end of the school day there is a supervised prep and activities until 5.25pm, followed by supper if required.