Leadership
Team building in preparation for leadership.
Leadership skills are strongly encouraged throughout the Preparatory School, and increasingly in the upper years. Just before the beginning of each September term the new Year 8 pupils attend a leadership camp. the aim of this adventure is to encourage this group of youngsters to try out new leadership skills and discover something about themselves which will help them lead the school for the coming year.
The nurturing but challenging life at The Downs,Malvern College Prep together with our ‘Leavers’ Experience’ which follows the Common Entrance Exams, provides our older children with a strong platform from which they can confidently move onto their senior school as independent individuals.
The Preparatory School
As children progress through the Main School, they are encouraged to take more responsibility for their learning, and their contribution to school life. They grow to understand their importance in the community, both through instruction and example. This provides them with a strong platform, from which they can confidently move into their senior school as independent, self-reliant individuals.
There is a growing formality in the undertaking of academic studies as the children progress through the school. At this stage Science is split into the three disciplines (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), and the children also study French and Latin with the option to take Spanish or German from Year 7.
These subjects supplement the general academic timetable, which together with Information Technology, Design and Technology, Personal, Social and Health Education, Art, Music and Drama; provide the diverse foundation on which we pride ourselves.
Prep
It is essential to foster the discipline required to work independently, and therefore Prep (homework) is regularly set, and the children have the choice of doing this work at school or home.
Learning Support
Children who require extra learning support receive a combination of in-class support from classroom assistants and small group sessions from the English and Maths staff. We also have the help of more specialist staff who visit the school for individual sessions if requested.
E.F.L.
English as a foriegn language is taught in support of the curriculum as and where necessary.
Setting and Streaming
Our classes are currently taught in mixed ability groups with differentiation at three levels where necessary upto Year 5. In Year 6 pupils are set for Maths and English and in Year 7 and 8 pupils are set and streamed. In this way each child's individual strengths and weaknesses are catered for both academically and socially.
Year 8 Leavers' Course
Mountain Boarding
Every year after Year 8 have finished their Common Entrance exams they embark on our Leavers' Course. This is a programme of activites which takes them out of the classroom and introduces them to some of the aspects of life after prep school.
Caving
The activities may include:
- Community work in and out of school
- Studying the local area
- Learning new skills such as banking, the art of etiquette or business skills
- Preparation for growing up such 'How to fit in at Senior School' and 'How to say no to drugs'
- ...and having fun such as camping, caving, mountain boarding and a trip to Alton Towers