Dean Close Preparatory School - Values

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Who am I ?

O U R

V A L U E S

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Dean Close seeks to treat every member of the School community as unique and equally valuable

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Nurtured The Christian faith is seen as life enhancing and dynamic and therefore a positive force in the School, even to those who do not share this faith.

Our Christian ethos means that everyone is truly valued as an integral member of our community. This brings shared trust and respect and closer bonds of friendship and understanding than are usual in a school of our size.

Teachers get to know the children in the classroom, on the sports field, in the day and boarding houses, in the orchestra, choirs and after school clubs. This means they see the different facets of every child, giving them indepth knowledge of each individual, their strengths and their weaknesses.

It is in the Houses that house parents are able to monitor and guide the social and moral progress of every child, taking time to talk to children and their parents about the highs and lows of their day. There is also always time for a game of pool, table tennis, air hockey or table football!

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Exploring

Dean Close fires the imagination and enthusiasm of

academic excellence whilst supporting the less able

every pupil, giving them each a love of learning and

on an individual basis.

helping them to grow into independent thinkers.

Every specialist teacher brings a love of their subject Whether the children are experimenting in the science

into the classroom to deliver memorable, effective

laboratories, pond dipping in the brook or perfecting

teaching that stimulates and inspires each child.

the use of the lathe in the design technology

Exciting visits seek to reinforce this: visiting HMS

workshop, they are encouraged to use a multi-sensory

Victory, the court of King Henry VIII, glacial passages

approach to learning.

or the rainforest in Bristol. Whilst visiting Olympians, explorers and Vikings bring the outside world in to

We aim to meet the educational needs of a wide range of individual abilities, extending the most able to

the classrooom.

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Dean Close prepares its pupils for life by providing them with a strong and proven education underpinned by the School’s values

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Dean Close holds community, respect for others and relationship as key principles at the heart of the School

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At Home For boarding pupils, living in school brings friendship and fun, shared lives and laughter.

Home is one of the three large regency boarding houses specifically designed for boys and girls as they progress from playing with cars and dolls to games of pool and pyjama parties.

Before school there is time for an early morning swim, a choir rehearsal or to build a den. At the end of the day there is always a warm welcome when they come home and then games to be played, models to be glued, smoothies to be made and laughter to be shared.

With a busy programme of weekend events there is never a dull moment and whatever is going on there are always lots of friends to share it with, trips to Drayton Manor Theme Park, Gloucester Rugby Club or the ice skating rink. At home there is a woodland and brook to explore, acres of fields for a game, rollarblade hockey on the covered play area, Dance Wii, go-karts, a paddling pool, guinea pigs or chilling out together at a 'piazza and film night'.

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Prepared

We believe that sport is for everyone; the joy of

Whether it is cantering at the riding school, hitting a

physical activity and the thrill that comes from being

golf ball onto the fairway, taking aim at the shooting

part of a team. All pupils enjoy organised sport at least

range, pounding the running machine in the fitness

four times a week and represent the School in home

suite or practising a demi pliĂŠ in the dance studio,

and away matches.

every child can appreciate the buzz that comes from physical activity.

With our outstanding sports facilities, coupled with specialist coaches - many of whom have played at a

Being fit and healthy is not all about formal sport. At

professional level in sports such as rugby, hockey,

break times the covered play area allows children to

tennis, golf, swimming and cricket - every child has

work off excess energy in any weather, all year round.

the opportunity to find a sport that they enjoy, with some excelling at county and national level.

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Dean Close pursues excellence without being exclusive

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Dean Close helps children to develop the important quality of empathy through drama. The actor is able to experience how someone else thinks and acts

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Playing My Part

By its very nature, Drama requires children to invest

The extremely popular drama department means that

physically, mentally and emotionally in the portrayal of

by the time a child leaves the Prep School they have been

someone or something else – helping them to grow as

involved in a drama production, be it on stage or behind

individuals. It is about many things - theatre, acting,

the scenes.

developing presentation and communication techniques, instilling confidence, developing self-esteem and

There is also class drama taught by specialist teachers

having fun!

and additional ‘Speech and Drama’ lessons which

Two productions are performed annually, giving every

examinations and for the Cheltenham Festival of

prepare children for the LAMDA verse and prose child in the School the opportunity to be involved. Most

Performing Arts. Dean Close Prep School is renowned in

recently – ‘The Wizard of Oz’, A Midsummer Night’s

the county for winning more prizes and accolades than

Dream’ and ‘Joseph and his Techni-coloured Dreamcoat’.

any other school at this event.

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In Unison Whether it is competing in ‘Battle of the Bands’, playing a viola concerto in assembly or winning chorister of the year at St Paul's Cathedral - the band width is inexhaustible.

The philosophy that every child is musical pervades the teaching: in the Music School where individual lessons are taught, in class music lessons where every conceivable instrument is at hand to try, or in the music computer room where children can use software to compose.

There is a dedicated Music School and 28 full time and visiting instrumental staff, including the world renowned Carducci Quartet, who are the quartet-in-residence, teaching strings to everyone from the enthusiastic beginner to the aspiring professional.

The musical community is further enhanced by the internationally acclaimed boy choristers of the Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum who are all educated at the Prep School. They provide the highest standard, regularly demonstrated in chapel services and concerts, which inspires the various orchestras, ensembles and musical groups to give of their best.

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Dean Close believes giving a child a love of music is giving them a gift for life

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Dean Close encourages pupils to be ambitious and to use their talents to the fullest

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Creating

Whether it is having the courage to enter Junior Master

throughout the School. Young artists are inspired

Chef, building homes for endangered species, creating

by visits to art galleries and exhibitions, and the

gargoyles out of clay, project leading the design and

engineers of tomorrow by visits to the Red Bull

creation of a life size Wendy House for disabled

Formula 1 Workshops or to the NEC to observe props

children or growing carrots and cabbages for the

in production.

School’s kitchen, Dean Close loves to embrace everyone’s creative ambitions, both great and small.

From robotics to cartoon-making, from website design to jewellery-making, the range of creative opportunities

Visitors will quickly appreciate that Dean Close takes

helps a child discover hidden talents and interests,

huge pride in the children's work by exhibiting it

providing light relief from the academic rigour.

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Individual Dean Close encourages children to challenge selfishness, greed and consumerism and discourages too much focus on fame, money and celebrity.

We expect much from our children simply because we know each one has so much to offer in who they are, as much as in what they can do. Children have the opportunity to explore new activities at lunchtime and after school, from the quirkiness of the Norman Wisdom Film Club to the entrepreneurial skills acquired through the Website Design Club. Many clubs are for no purpose other than fun, but others involve specialist preparation for formal exams to give an additional focus for progress, achievement and satisfaction.

The School believes that our gifts are used most effectively in the service of others. Children are encouraged to think of others by supporting charity events, growing vegetables in the School garden and helping at a local school for disabled children. Experience has proven this is a valuable lesson at such a young age and one that teaches empathy, kindness and a sense of duty.

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Dean Close affirms that we are all comprised of body, mind and spirit and encourages children to explore all facets of their personality

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I am

Dean Close

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www.deanclose.org.uk

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DEAN CLOSE PREPARATORY SCHOOL Lansdown Road Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL51 6QS Telephone 01242 512217 Email dcpsoffice@deanclose.org.uk www.deanclose.org.uk

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