Kew Green Preparatory School Prospectus

KEW GREEN PREP SCHOOL Prospectus A co-educational independent school for children from 4 to 11 years old

Your journey starts at Kew Green Prep School

welcome Kew Green Preparatory School is a co-educational independent school for children aged 4 to 11.

I joined Kew Green as Deputy Head in 2005 and was appointed Headmaster in 2011. I am proud of how we have grown and of what we now represent and offer.

Within this timescale we are able to allow children to develop at their own pace via a rich curriculum where Music, Art, Sport, French and the Humanities are given a full weighting with Maths, English, Science and ICT. This approach invariably produces excellent academic results. We work to inculcate in our pupils a proper self-esteem and respect for others.

We are fortunate to be housed in an attractive building backing onto the Thames. With Kew Green cricket pitch directly opposite and the world-famous Royal Botanical Gardens next door, the site is a haven of peace and quiet and an ideal place to work, learn and play.

Above all, my staff and I enjoy working in a happy school where our children are clamouring at the gates every morning and show a marked reluctance to leave at the end of the day! I assure you we will spare no effort in order to make your child’s years at Kew Green fulfilling and successful.

The attainment of each child’s full potential in terms of physical, emotional, social, creative and intellectual development is our aim. In a world that is rapidly changing, we strive to mould young citizens by giving them personal resources and adaptable skills to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Effective learning is achieved in a warm and nurturing environment and without pressure.

This prospectus provides you with a flavour of life at Kew Green.

Please do come to one of our Open Mornings, or arrange a separate appointment, so that you are able to visit us to see for yourself what we offer our pupils.

Jem Peck, Headmaster

KEW GREEN Part of the

We are opposed to “cramming” and are keenly aware that a good education is about a great deal more than passing exams.

Our curriculum is designed on the understanding that we will keep pupils from age four to secondary transfer at eleven years.

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OUR PHILOSOPHY At Kew Green, we offer our children the opportunity to succeed, be recognised and be valued. Our pupils grow with the faculties required to tackle the many challenges that life may have to offer.

We instill in our pupils tolerance and respect for others and the capacity to celebrate diversity, embrace change and understand the importance of contributing to society. Above all, we understand that children need to be nurtured, guided, motivated and inspired to allow them to blossom.

We are a school of smiles, laughter and happiness. Our experience is that this type of approach produces excellent academic results.

“The attainment of each child’s full potential in terms of physical, emotional, social, creative and intellectual development is our aim.�

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Grounds & Facilities Often described as ‘a hidden gem’, Kew Green Preparatory School is housed in an attractive four storey building, surrounded by mature trees and nestled in a peaceful corner of Kew Green.

Next to the school is The Royal Botanical Gardens which is used by our children regularly and if you take a stroll behind the school’s playground, there is a pretty towpath by The River Thames which many of our children use to walk to school. Kew Green benefits from a spacious playground area and a beautiful green space at the front of the school which provides the setting for the majority of PE and Games lessons, including the use of St. Anne’s Church which hosts many of our concerts.

“Intelligence is knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do. Scratching your head, thinking creatively, laterally, practically and philosophically whenever you hit a snag.” A Hammond 6

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What we offer In the Lower School (ages 4-7), a secure foundation of basic skills is laid.

to speak at the school. Parents are often involved in this and we encourage them to bring as much as possible to the daily life of the school.

Particular attention is given to numeracy and all aspects of literacy – reading, spelling, handwriting and comprehension.

Oral and listening skills are also developed and these are fostered across the whole curriculum. At the same time, individual and creative expression is nurtured and encouraged.

Pupils have the same class teacher for the majority of lessons.

Digital Technology is a common thread throughout the curriculum. Children are adept at constructing multimedia presentations, creating web pages, animating and editing film, sound and photographs. We encourage the use of digital technology to enhance and extend the children’s learning as much as possible yet still value the traditions and merits of handwritten, well presented work.

We have expert specialist teachers who teach the children in Lower School for Music, French, Art and PE/Games. On first entering the school as members of our Reception classes, children have their own learning area dedicated to Early Years.

This gives the children an excellent start to their infant school education where they are able to explore and make connections inside and outside of the classroom. Early diagnosis of any special learning difficulty, where appropriate, brings help from a teacher from our ‘Progress Centre’, qualified in meeting Special Educational Needs.

Upper School pupils (ages 7-11) also have a class teacher but increasingly, more of their lessons are given by subject specialists. For all age groups, our optimum class size is 20.

At every stage, the children are given an awareness and understanding of the world around them. Our curriculum is enlivened and enriched by visitors to the school, educational trips and clubs. We aim to relate academic learning to the real world beyond the classroom, whether this is with visits to our neighbour The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, botany lessons by the River Thames or by meeting eminent guests who come

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Music is an important area of the curriculum. In addition to class lessons pupils are encouraged to join the Junior or Senior Choir and the School Orchestra, guitar, flute, violin or cello ensembles or our close harmony group.

Peripatetic teachers offer individual tuition in a wide range of musical instruments including drums and voice. The school provides Religious Education which covers a wide variety of world faiths and we welcome children from families of all denominations and faiths and from those where no faith is professed. Regular assemblies provide opportunities to develop awareness of world religions and of important humanitarian and spiritual issues of both topical and permanent relevance.

A residential experience is available for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6. Year 3 enjoy a 3 night stay at a centre in Norfolk, Year 4 are ‘Outward Bound’ at a Centre on Dartmoor. Year 5 camp on the Dorset coast for 5 days and Year 6 spend a week in Devon on water based activities and a further week skiing in France. In addition we have recently completed choir tours to Italy, France and Spain as well as various sports tours at home and abroad.

We are confident that the majority of our pupils will, without forcing, progress at a faster pace than is indicated by the National Curriculum levels.

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Enhancing Education Enrichment

Much of what we offer happens outside the school walls and the regular timetable. A compulsory residential week in an outward-bound centre is part of our Upper School curriculum. There is a ski trip to Europe in the spring term and we have established a bi-annual tour when the Senior Choir performs in venues on the continent.

Transport

We are aware of our responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint and limit congestion. We make every effort to adopt an eco-friendly approach in all we do. Families are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport to come to school.

We offer a dedicated bus service from Hammersmith and the Grove Park areas.

Most school days will see one or more groups of children setting out to visit museums, galleries, theatres and concert venues or distinguished visitors - authors, painters, musicians, scientists etc. – entering our gates to enhance the children’s learning.

Clubs

We offer a number of clubs both before and after school. They vary from year to year but usually include Art, Pottery, Drama, Science, Dance, Ballet and Philosophy. ICT clubs experiment with animation, film, photography and digital games production.

Currently, we also offer Judo and Karate, Cookery and an array of Sports and Music clubs.

Full Day Care Service

“Pupils of all ages have extremely well developed personal qualities. They are friendly, caring and confident with high levels of self-esteem.”

ISI

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We are aware of the difficulties of parents who are unable to bring their children to school or collect them at the end of afternoon lessons. We therefore offer a care service from 8am until 6pm. At 4.30pm, full day pupils are given afternoon tea after which they have access to a selection of interesting games and recreational activities under the close supervision of specially appointed staff. Older pupils have the option of doing their homework at this time in a room set aside for this purpose.

Parents can register and pre-pay for the day care service at the start of each term.

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Communication

“Kew Green pupils have an air of expectation that they are about to learn something new and exciting.”

Mr Jem Peck, Headmaster, KGPS

We view effective education as a partnership between pupils, parents and teachers.

The most important link is between parents and the child’s class teacher.

Teaching staff are generally available at the beginning and end of the school day to speak to parents and further consultations with our Senior Leadership Team or Headmaster can be arranged by appointment. The elected Parent Governor provides an additional forum for communication and discussion.

Daily communication takes place through the Reading Record in Lower School and the Homework Diary in Upper School, which move between home and school with each child, and by email. Our secretary is also available at reception to answer any queries.

Class teachers report verbally on pupil progress at parent interviews in the autumn and spring terms. A detailed written report is distributed to parents prior to parent interviews at the end of each academic year.

Letters about events and clubs are emailed to parents during term time and can also be accessed through our Parent Portal tool on the website. We publish an online diary, news pages and blogs so that parents can keep up with news from residential trips and other events. Kewlife our half-termly newsletter, offers parents a snapshot of current school life and developments. Above all, we operate a true ‘Open Door Policy’ whereby regular communication between school and home is of paramount importance.

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Registration & Admission Registration

Children join the school in Reception Year once they have reached their fourth birthday. Parents can register their child at any time from birth by completing the registration form online: www.kgps.co.uk/register or filling out the paper form enclosed in this prospectus. This fee is non-returnable and does not guarantee that a place will be offered.

Offer

Before they start school, registered children are invited in with their parents for an informal visit. Siblings of current pupils are given priority for places and thereafter children are seen according to their date of registration until all available places are filled.

Occasionally places in other year groups throughout the school may become available. A registration form should be completed and when a place is available the family will be invited in for an informal meeting with the Head of Lower or Upper School and to meet the Headmaster.

Acceptance

On receipt of an offer letter parents have seven days in which to accept a place. At this stage the deposit, a signed acceptance form and proof of identification are required. The deposit will be returned to parents once the child leaves Year 6, subject to all outstanding fees being settled.

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What next?

Browse our website www.kgps.co.uk

Feel free to call us on 020 8948 5999 for further information

Book a visit online at www.kgps.co.uk/openmornings

Complete online registration form www.kgps.co.uk/register

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T: 020 8948 5999

@KewGreenPrep