UCS Prospectus Pre-Prep

THE

AGE 4–7

PRE-PREP

“A distinctive education focused on the individual”

HEADMISTRESS’ WELCOME

At UCS Pre-Prep we aim to provide our pupils with a happy and enriched learning environment as they undertake their learning journey. Our well-qualiﬁed team of sta support the children in developing their academic, social and emotional skills in a broad range of subjects. Our high sta -to-pupil ratio, as well as Specialist Teachers for Art, Music, PE and French, ensures that the children are given the focused attention that they need. We aim to give each child the chance to develop at their own pace, while at the same time thoroughly preparing them for their next stage of learning. We o er rich opportunities for the children to learn

through our creative curriculum with an emphasis on intellectual curiosity. The Independent Schools Inspectorate report found the school “successfully achieves its aim to provide a happy, supportive and stimulating environment where intellectual curiosity and independence of mind are developed and self-discovery and self-expression are fostered”. We warmly welcome you to visit our school so that we can share with you our unique atmosphere.

“IF YOU ARE KEEN ON A TRAJECTORY THROUGH ONE OF LONDON’S BEST SCHOOLS, THIS IS WHERE YOU START” THE GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE

Zoe Dunn

UCS FOUNDATION

We welcome boys at 4+, 7+ and 11+, and girls and boys at 16+ to UCS. At whatever stage pupils join us, they will all quickly feel they are full and valued members of the UCS Community.

UCS PRE-PREP

The Pre-Prep on the Finchley Road site provides a happy, supportive and stimulating environment for boys aged 4–7. Children join in Reception at 4+, and transition to other schools, including the UCS Junior Branch, is made via the 7+ at the end of Year 2.

UCS JUNIOR BRANCH

In the heart of Hampstead village on the Holly Hill site and for boys aged 7–11, the Junior Branch o ers pupils the opportunity to develop academic and personal disciplines, selfconﬁdence, thoughtfulness and public spirit.

UCS SENIOR SCHOOL

The largest single element of the UCS Foundation is the Senior School on the Frognal site, which provides education for boys aged 11–18 and girls aged 16–18. Approximately half of the pupils who sit GCSE and A level exams here will have come up from the Junior Branch. The Senior School delivers education with an emphasis on supporting individuals to develop knowledge, experience and understanding, a strong sense of values, personal integrity and compassion.

UCS SIXTH FORM

As part of our Senior School on the Frognal site, the co-educational Sixth Form supplies an education that is intellectually stimulating as well as personally satisfying, where pupils progress to university with the conﬁdence and motivation of independent learners. The enormous majority of our GCSE pupils choose to stay on into the Sixth Form, where they are joined by pupils from other schools to study over two years for A level. This includes around 60 girls per year group in the Sixth Form.

“WE LOVE THE SOUL OF THIS SCHOOL”

TATLER SCHOOLS GUIDE

UCS HAMPSTEAD | THE PRE-PREP

BREADTH OF STUDY

The aims of UCS Pre-Prep mirror the ethos of the whole Foundation; intellectual curiosity and independence of mind are developed, and self-discovery and self-expression are fostered.

Learning takes place through a range of carefully planned activities including formal teaching and structured indoor and outdoor play. Pupils are encouraged to think creatively, explore their environment and problem-solve, enabling them to construct their own understanding of the world around them. This includes weekly swimming lessons, outdoor learning

and forest school sessions at the allotment, and weekly trips to the playing ﬁelds. We strive to o er as broad and unique a range of activities as possible and we further enhance our teaching by welcoming artists, authors and members of the local community to our classrooms. Individual Music lessons for piano and violin are available to all children in Key Stage One and they perform a Music recital annually. The children put on two productions a year in the UCS Lund Theatre as well as the Music recital and a special ﬁnal assembly.

“THE CHILDREN ARE VERY HAPPY HERE, AND THE SCHOOL REALLY OFFERS THE MOST WONDERFUL, WARM AND STIMULATING EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT” UCS PARENT

UCS HAMPSTEAD | THE PRE-PREP

INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY

The curriculum covers the seven Early Years Foundation Stage areas of learning, while the Key Stage One programme of study is based on our creative curriculum which blends the Arts and Sciences to give a broad, balanced and suitably enhanced curriculum. Our wellqualiﬁed and experienced sta are friendly, welcoming and supportive. Collaborative and cooperative

teaching and learning is highly valued and pupils are grouped ﬂexibly for teaching and learning purposes. The school is exceptionally proud of its high teacher–pupil ratio. Teaching Assistants support the teaching and learning throughout the school and, together with the Class Teachers and Specialist Teachers, help to create a cohesive, warm and caring environment conducive to learning.

“WE’RE SO LUCKY, [THE TEACHERS ARE] PHENOMENAL….AMAZING”

FROM PARENT IN THE GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE

PARENT

“FROM THE MINUTE THE CHILD IS DROPPED OFF IN THE MORNING THEY ARE GREETED WITH WARMTH AND COMFORT”

HAMPSTEAD | THE PRE-PREP

UCS

INDEPENDENCE OF MIND

UCS Pre-Prep believes that all children need to be happy and secure, and that learning should be fun. We cater exceptionally well for able pupils who require an environment that instils conﬁdence, develops self-esteem and enables emotional resilience. This allows pupils’ full potential to be realised and for them to develop a love of school and learning. Communication between home and school is excellent. Parents are encouraged to speak with Form Teachers and the Headmistress whenever the need arises.

Parent-teacher meetings a ord opportunities for discussion about a child’s progress, attainment and wellbeing. The school provides two written reports annually and invites parents to attend open classrooms, Sports lesson viewings, Music lesson viewings, Art shows, assemblies and productions. We encourage parents to come into the school and share their knowledge, passions and careers with the children. We embrace a partnership with our parents and this is further supported through our strong Parent Guild.

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITITES

All pupils have a wide range of opportunities within the school day to enhance and develop their extracurricular experiences.

Learning takes place not only in school but through the many educational outings in which children participate. At UCS Pre-Prep we utilise our unique geographical position and take advantage of the local amenities, such as the Camden Arts Centre, Keats House, Hampstead Heath, London Zoo and city farms.

Children also visit the outstanding museums, parks and theatres in the capital. Our Early Morning Club enables parents to drop children o at school at 8am and pupils can partake of the rich and varied o ering of clubs. This wide range includes: Taekwondo, Gymnastics, Art, Yoga, Philosophy, Eco-Warriors, Science, Languages, and Fencing.

UCS HAMPSTEAD | THE PRE-PREP

SPECIALIST ART TEACHER PRODUCES WONDERFULLY IMAGINATIVE WORK IN THESE CREATIVE BUDS” THE GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE

“THE

FROM PARENT IN THE GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE

UCS FACILITIES

The UCS Foundation o ers outstanding facilities for academic learning alongside Sport, Drama, Art, Music and co-curricular activities. With the close proximity of our three schools, pupils of all ages beneﬁt from the shared enjoyment of our facilities at the Senior School in Frognal.

The Pre-Prep has light, well-equipped classrooms, a spacious gym, a Creative Arts and Sciences Studio and a research pod on site with pupils using additional facilities across the Foundation. The 27 acres of playing ﬁelds and an all-weather surface are situated close by.

Use of the Senior School site includes the iconic Great Hall and access to

sports facilities including a 25-metre swimming pool, dance and exercise studio and tennis courts at the Sir Roger Bannister Sports Centre. Sixth Form students work with the Pre-Prep pupils on forest school activities in the gardens and allotment at the Senior School site and a number of Sixth Form students visit the Pre-Prep on a weekly basis to work with pupils on a Friday afternoon. The Pre-Prep winter and summer plays are performed in the impressive Lund Theatre and the PrePrep pupils are involved in a number of whole Foundation events including our Remembrance service and festive Carol Concert. These events and visits all contribute towards the pupils at the Pre-Prep being integrated into the UCS Foundation as a whole.