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
We believe strongly in the importance of effective early years education, specifically 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. Formal academic learning is balanced with play: vital for young children’s social, emotional and intellectual development.
Ashvale Schools invests in recruiting and professional development of teaching staff who have both empathy and care for our youngest pupils, and academic rigour.
Ages 5-7 / Pre-Prep
Personalised pathways to university and higher education
The final two years, the Sixth Form, in Ashvale Schools is all about helping pupils open doors to the world’s leading universities with globally recognised specialist qualifications – A Levels. Each pupil has a personalised pathway to higher education, co-created with leading experts on university admissions counselling.
Our partnership with Scholar6 helps older pupils reflect on their strengths and weaknesses, hence choosing subject options where they will excel.
We encourage our oldest pupils to develop leadership experience by running co-curricular societies and clubs. Extended Project Qualifications (EPQs) – highly respected by British universities – provide external recognition to pupils’ research and presentation skills.
Ages 11-13 / Junior Prep
Breadth and depth in secondary school
Ashvale's secondary academic provision, with Cambridge International GCSEs offers pupils breadth and depth in their studies, keeping as many options open as possible for specialisation pre-university.
However, being well educated is not simply a matter of academic qualifications: our schools’ enrichment programmes empower pupils to find their voice and communicate effectively. Co-curricular options boost teenagers’ motivation, powering the academic value-add of our educational approach, and providing opportunities for older pupils to take ownership of their learning.
In keeping with our ethos, each pupil has an individual pathway to further study – whether staying with us, or moving to a different school or curriculum model.
Ages 11-13 / Upper Prep
Preparatory education: promoting independence
Ashvale's core educational expertise is in primary/preparatory education. Our curriculum is based on the respected National Curriculum of England, adapted to the local context of each school.
Provision is designed to help children develop independence so that they are ready to take ownership of their education in secondary school and beyond. Ongoing assessments monitor each child’s academic progress and allow for effective communication with parents that demonstrates the academic value-add of an Ashvale education.
ISEB Common Entrance secondary transition assessments are available at 11+ and 13+ to provide pupils and families with an academic milestone at the end of a child’s primary or middle school education.
