Academic
overview
Ashvale Schools’ academic framework, based on the National Curriculum of England, helps pupils secure internationally recognised qualifications that open doors to the world’s leading universities.
The other half of education is equally vital – character development, empathy, creativity, service. Provision in our schools is designed around our academic value-add ethos that seeks for every child to outperform expectations.
Ages 3-5 / Early Years
Evidence-based early learning
Quality early years education is the foundation of all future academic success. We believe strongly in the importance of helping children to acquire confidence in reading, writing, speaking and numeracy in a safe, caring and creative environment.
Evidence-based programmes such as the University of Oxford’s NELI help the children to make rapid progress in language acquisition, as the key that unlocks all future learning. We use a tailored version of the Early Years Foundation Stage where learning is primarily through play: vital for young children’s social, emotional and intellectual development.
Ashvale Schools invests in recruiting and professional development of teaching staff who combine empathy and care for the youngest pupils with academic rigour.
Ages 5-7 / Pre-Prep
Discovering the excitement of the world in pre-prep
Pupils transition gently from play-based learning some more formal teaching in the pre-prep years. Literacy and mathematics form the core of our provision, as in most schools, although Ashvale has particular expertise in bilingual education. We aim for children to leave the pre-prep being able to speak and listen effectively in two languages.
The children benefit from subject-specialist teaching from a young age, although teachers mainly come to classrooms at this stage. Even for these very young children, we aim to create opportunities to practise presenting and performing with confidence.
Ages 7-11 / Junior Prep
Breadth and depth: laying the groundwork for senior school transition
These years are the ‘engine room’ of the school, with children building their knowledge with breadth and depth in their studies. The curriculum is a thrilling mix of core academic subjects, creative, sporting and character education.
This is the stage when a child’s personality really shines through; at the heart of our educational approach is helping each child to find their individual voice.
The children start moving around the school campus for some of their specialist lessons. Children are encouraged to take some responsibility for their own learning by recording homework and reading.
Through these years, a considered approach to assessment enables leaders to track the academic value-add of teaching and ensure that each pupil is making progress towards the personal milestones in their Future Schools Pathway.
Year 6 has become a critical year for the admission processes into senior schools. Preparation for entrance assessments, pre-tests and interviews can potentially be a stressful time. The aim of Ashvale’s Future Schools Programme is to help pupils and parents navigate the journey with as little stress as possible. Each school hosts a Senior Schools Fair, which is specifically aimed at pupils and parents in this phase of the school, to help them choose the right-fit options for their next step in education.
Ages 11-13 / Upper Prep
Independence and self-discovery in the pre-teen years
These precious pre-teen years are a time of wonder and huge personal development for children. The beauty of a specialist preparatory school is creating space for pre-teens to still be children, to not grow up too fast. There are opportunities, also, that come from 12 and 13-year-olds being the oldest pupils in the school; these young people can take advantage of leadership opportunities or be given meaningful positions of responsibility they would not have in a typical secondary or all-through school.
Most pupils will have secured their senior school offers, allowing the academic programme in the final two years of prep school to broaden. Provision is designed to help children develop independence so that they are ready to take ownership of their education in senior school and beyond, with a greater breadth of subjects and introduction to research, revision and personal time management.
Every child has their own 13+ Future Schools Pathway, with personal goals and milestones along the way. Many pupils will be preparing for scholarships or end-of-year exams that will be sent to their senior school to secure their offer. Once the exams are finished, our final year pupils embark on an exciting Leavers’ Programme, which celebrates their achievements, deepens friendships and challenges them beyond their comfort zone.
