English at Gidea Park Prep is at the core of our curriculum, taught by form teachers in small classes. Effective communication, accurate inference, and sensitive response are crucial for a child's development and future contribution to society. From Nursery and Reception, we foster speaking and listening skills, supported by a structured phonics program to ensure independent reading abilities in the Prep Department. We actively encourage parental involvement in nurturing this valuable skill. Writing is developed alongside reading, as we believe a strong foundation in core skills is key to English success.

As pupils progress, our focus subtly shifts to include inference, deduction, grammatical awareness, spelling, and presentation. Careful listening is emphasised, recognising its significance in all aspects of school life. We prioritise discussion and the formation of individual opinions, striking a balance between linguistic and literary skills, oral and written expression, and creative and mechanical abilities. Literacy skills are honed, and children are encouraged to read daily to enhance their vocabulary and analytical capabilities with complex texts.

To prepare students for the challenges of senior school, we introduce basic techniques for verbal and non-verbal reasoning, offering regular testing to familiarise them with task completion within specified timeframes. Additionally, we provide opportunities for enriched learning through activities like plays, poetry reading, and World Book Day celebrations.

Science holds a central role in our understanding of the world, and at our school, we aim to highlight its importance in everyday life. Through a practical approach, we foster curiosity, interest, and enjoyment, integrating Science into a broader knowledge and skill set.

In Pre-School and Pre-Prep, the form teacher delivers the science curriculum, while specialist teachers take over in the purpose-built Science Room during the Prep years. Our comprehensive program covers the National Curriculum and extends it considerably, providing students with a thorough understanding of the three sciences.

We nurture the skills necessary for exploration and investigation, empowering students to comprehend scientific issues and explain the reasons behind natural phenomena. Our lessons emphasize hands-on experiments and investigations, encouraging students to see themselves as scientists and appreciate that science is not just a subject, but a way of thinking, gathering thoughts, and developing theories.

As part of the Royal Society Schools Network, we promote students' recognition of the practical applications of science in the world and its implications for individuals and communities. Our curriculum fosters independent work and teamwork, emphasizing evidence-based knowledge and understanding. By Year 6, students are expected to plan and conduct fair tests, accurately use equipment, make precise measurements, draw conclusions from their results, and present them using various graphs and charts.

The Humanities subjects play a vital role in helping our students navigate the complexities of the world we inhabit. Through history, geography, and religious education (RE), real-world issues are brought into the classroom, fostering an understanding of the past and its relevance to the present, as well as the local and global environment.

At Gidea Park Prep, we strive to make history, geography, and RE engaging, captivating, and meaningful. These subjects provide insights into our world, our interactions with the planet and its inhabitants. We aim to inspire our students to explore the wonders of our planet's past, present, and future.

In history, students delve into the reasons behind events and their consequences, leading to discussions on citizenship, an integral part of their holistic learning journey. Religious education encourages students to investigate fundamental questions posed by humanity, reflecting on diverse religious and cultural perspectives within our school community.

Geography helps unravel the complexities of our world, teaching students about location, landscape formation, and the intricate relationship between people and their environment. Throughout these Humanities lessons, students are encouraged to inquire, question, and utilize their evaluation and reasoning skills. Field trips to local areas, places of worship, and historical sites provide students with hands-on experiences and adventures in their learning journey.