I strongly believe that our school's nurturing environment is unparalleled. Every day at Hoe Bridge is a unique blend of excitement and challenge and our vibrant community is driven by a shared commitment to fostering happiness, confidence, and achievement. We firmly believe that educators should provide a diverse framework for children to thrive creatively in that ever-evolving world. Empathy and compassion are central to our values, creating a supportive environment where each child is known and valued for their unique qualities. We inspire them to explore their potential through academic ambition and active engagement in all facets of our curriculum. By nurturing each pupil's individuality, we not only unlock their academic capabilities but also foster their confidence, self-assurance, and personal development.
Life in Years 7 & 8 is characterised by several key milestones that mark their progression and maturity. These milestones all lead towards the leadership programme as a central feature, offering opportunities to develop practical skills, self-awareness, and empathy. Together, these experiences prepare pupils not only academically but also personally, helping them grow into confident and well-roundedindividuals.
The move to Senior Prep represents the most significant change your child will have experienced at Hoe Bridge, promising a fruitful and exciting two years filled with new challenges and opportunities.
Our role in Years 7 and 8 is to prepare your child thoroughly for senior school in our dedicated GCSE Hub, ensuring the continuation of their learning in Year 9 as part of the wider Hoe Bridge family. Supporting an increased focus on pupil-led education and self-discovery, one of the main differences compared to Prep, is a greater emphasis on experiential learning outside the classroom environment. This approach allows vital context and the opportunity to appreciate the wider world firsthand, helping pupils develop essential skills such as independence, critical thinking, and resilience. We also ensure ample provision for the changing wellbeing needs of the children as they grow and reach this stage of mental and physical maturity, recognising the importance of nurturing their emotional health alongside academic progress.
French, Spanish, Latin, History, Geography, TPR (Theology, Philosophy & Religion), Art, ICT, Design & Technology, Music and PSHCE (Personal, Social, Health & Citizenship Education). Drama continues to flourish, with a strong emphasis on performance, production, and building confidence.
Pupils are placed in tutor groups for pastoral support and belong to academic streams for Languages, Humanities and Science, while also being set by ability in the core subjects. This structure gives children the opportunity to work with a range of different peers across the school day, promoting both social integration and academic collaboration.
Experiential learning plays a major role in enriching pupils’ knowledge and personal growth. Both day and residential trips are prioritised, including bushcraft activities that promote independence, teamwork, and essential life skills. Year 7 pupils also enjoy a trip to France, deepening their cultural understanding and enhancing their language acquisition.
Academic success is celebrated not only through examination results, but also through daily progress, character development, and the richness of pupils’ wider experiences. From Year 7, pupils are issued with an iPad to support learning, broaden subject exploration, and develop digital literacy, including the ability to assess sources and counter misinformation. By Year 9, they transition to using HP laptops and benefit from further trips designed to broaden their horizons.
Common Entrance
In Years 7 and 8, pupils follow the ISEB Common Entrance syllabus, which builds seamlessly on the foundation of the 11+ curriculum. This carefully structured progression ensures that pupils continue to work above national expectations, broadening and deepening their subject knowledge while developing key academic skills. The Common Entrance syllabus provides an ideal bridge to GCSE study, fostering intellectual curiosity, independent learning, and exam readiness.
The two year programme culminates in Common Entrance level examinations at the end of Year 8.
Happiness, Confidence, and Achievement, as our school motto proudly suggests, are the cornerstones of your child’s experience at Hoe Bridge. Balancing these three elements is crucial not only during their time at our school, but also as they transition into the final stages of education. We see it as our duty to support both you and your child in maintaining this balance, ensuring they feel valued, motivated, and emotionally secure throughout.
As children face the increased challenges of coursework and exams, along with added responsibilities and leadership roles, each child in Years 7 and 8 will experience these changes differently. Some may embrace these opportunities with enthusiasm, while others may need extra reassurance and encouragement.
Our Pastoral Team is exceptionally well prepared to support our Year 7 and 8 children through these challenges. They are always available to address any concerns, whether related to school or personal life, in a caring and positive manner. Additionally, they are more than willing to engage with families discreetly and constructively, utilising their extensive experience and specialised training to ensure that every child thrives both academically and personally.
Being a Senior Prep pupil involves far more than simply wearing the senior tie with pride. As members of this group, the pupils enthusiastically embrace a wide range of additional responsibilities that help them grow both personally and socially. These include mentoring younger pupils and being the big brother or sister, supporting class teachers in their daily tasks, assisting during assemblies, and carrying out various duties throughout the school environment. Every Year 8 pupil holds a position of responsibility, which fosters a sense of ownership and commitment to the school community. These roles include Head of School, Deputy Head of School, House Captains, Deputy House Captains, prefects and subject prefects to name just a few.
Key aspects of Year 8 life, such as the leadership programme and the Valedictory Dinner, highlight the significance of seniority and achievement, balanced with humility and respect for others. Throughout the year, pupils develop important skills such as teamwork, communication, and empathy, which serve them well beyond the classroom. Ultimately, our pupils complete Year 8 as the finest versions of themselves, well prepared for the next stage of their journey. Moving into Years 10 and 11, they will once again encounter responsibility and leadership opportunities, which take on even greater prominence in our Senior School, preparing them thoroughly for their future academic and personal challenges.
Sport remains a central part of life for our Senior Prep pupils and continues to play a key role in their personal and physical development. Senior Prep pupils enjoy a varied and extensive sporting timetable and are exposed to a wide range of high-level sports and disciplines. A key change for these two year groups is that they now combine to form the teams representing the senior end of the Prep, fostering unity and shared responsibility.
At Hoe Bridge, we emphasise teamwork and collective effort, rather than individual accomplishments. Our approach to sport is inclusive, ensuring that every pupil, regardless of ability or experience, has the opportunity to participate and compete. We are immensely proud of our sporting achievements. Our track record in regional and national competitions is outstanding, with teams consistently performing at the highest levels. Hoe Bridge pupils have represented the school in national Rugby 7s, football, hockey, netball and cricket finals, demonstrating the depth of talent within our community.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to further developing sport at Hoe Bridge. Our goal is to build on these successes, nurture our pupils’ potential and uphold the school’s proud sporting tradition for years to come.
Highlights include the Year 7 trip to the Isle of Wight, where pupils explore concepts such as motive power, sustainability and environmental responsibility. Another standout project is the dismantling and rebuilding of our electric car, which is then raced at Goodwood against other schools, a thrilling, real-world application of their learning. Pupils also have the unique opportunity to collaborate with engineers from McLaren, gaining valuable insights into innovation and professional engineering.
As pupils move into the Senior School, those in Years 9 to 11 engage in a varied enrichment programme. This encourages them to pursue their passions, discover new interests and develop as well-rounded, confident individuals, fully prepared to meet future challenges with curiosity and resilience.
As part of their geography studies, Year 7 visit the Natural History Museum to explore tectonic activity, experience the Kobe earthquake simulation, and take part in a LEGO climate change workshop that encourages innovation and creativity. A trip to Shakespeare’s Globe brings English lessons to life, as pupils rehearse scenes from The Tempest with professional actors, learning about language, stagecraft and Elizabethan theatre.
The STEAM programme sees Year 7 travel to the Isle of Wight, culminating in an electric car project with McLaren engineers, raced at Goodwood. Past adventures include a French trip to Normandy, an Alpine activity week and a cricket tour to the Caribbean, all of which offer opportunities for personal development, cultural enrichment, and academic growth far beyond the classroom.
