The Academic Curriculum at Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School
A traditional yet flexible curriculum prepares our pupils for life in Senior School. Specialist staff contribute to the teaching of our oldest pupils across subject areas. However, the link to the form teacher is always maintained so that the care and progress of each child is followed closely.
Interactive learning with digital tools
Independence in learning, self-discipline and taking responsibility are encouraged at this stage, as is a sense of fun, exploration and curiosity.
Creativity is encouraged in the delivery of lessons. Staff make full use of IT resources and technology – tablets, Smart interactive boards and Chromebooks – to enhance learning.
We prioritise ‘computational thinking’ to get your child ready for studies ahead and so that he or she will be equipped to participate effectively in today's digital world.
We challenge and nurture our children to develop their skills in listening, literacy and numeracy and provide a curriculum that has a strong focus on teaching the core subjects of English, maths and science.
Solid preparation for your child's future
Our aim academically is to prepare Year 8 pupils for entry into the senior school or future educational path of their choice.
Assessments become gradually more formal through Years 5 and 6, and then in Year 7 examinations will take place at the end of all three terms.
This is in preparation for Year 8 where mock scholarship and Common Entrance examinations will take place in November and February, before senior school entrance examinations later in the year.
Click on an individual subject to see the full scheme of work for your child's year-group
STEM skills are a big priority at Sompting Abbotts and we encourage their real-world use - as in this demonstration by our Year 8 students. In the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important as we face the benefits and challenges of both globalization and a knowledge-based economy.
How the best prep schools are honing 'sharp' skills for the workplace ahead
Our Insight
Well done to Year 3 for their brilliant pop-up Egyptian Museum which opened for one day at the end of their Egyptian history studies. All the fascinating artefacts were made and labelled by the children. As expert Egyptologists, they guided pupils from the other year groups around their collection which included cartouches, the Rosetta Stone and gold sculptures from pharaonic tombs.
Learning a language from an early age can boost overall academic achievement. Children begin learning French from age 2. By Year 8, many are working at GCSE-level French.
What child doesn’t love to collect handfuls of glossy brown conkers? At Sompting Abbotts, they don't just fill their pockets — even socks become makeshift pouches. And so, at this time of the year, we send the children out into our school grounds to look for shiny conkers (not that they need any persuading).