notting hill prep school prospectus

NOTTING HILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL

1

CONTENTS FOREWORD BY JANE CAMERON, HEADMISTRESS 2

ETHOS OF THE SCHOOL – COMMUNITY WITHIN A COMMUNITY 4

THE SCHOOL STRUCTURE 6

TREATING ALL CHILDREN AS INDIVIDUALS 12

CURRICULUM POLICY 14

PREPARING CHILDREN FOR SENIOR SCHOOL 20

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS 22

ENTRY PROCEDURE 24

2 N O T T I N G H I L L P R E PA R AT O R Y S C H O O L

FOREWORDBY JANE CAMERON, HEADMISTRESS

Notting Hill Preparatory School wasfounded through the collaboration of parents and teachers, and thispartnership forms the cornerstone of our philosophy. I believe that goodcommunication and mutual supportbetween parents and teachers can only enhance a child’s opportunity to progress and benefit fully from all that school has to offer.

Through a broad-based curriculum ouraim is to ‘educate’ children in the truesense of the word. We strive to developan excitement and passion for learningand to create an environment wherechildren can explore, question andappreciate the richness of our cultureand that of others.

I firmly believe that every child hastalents and needs. It is ourresponsibility to ensure that wenurture all talents, allowing them toshine, whilst supporting individualneeds. Developing their strengths andtalents, and having the courage totackle personal challenges, allows eachchild to maximise his or her potential.

The key attribute of any good schoolmust be the quality and commitment ofits staff. The professionalism, passionand nurturing approach of our teachersis second to none. It ensures thatNotting Hill Prep is an exciting andstimulating place to be, a place wherechildren feel challenged and supportedin equal measure.

The whole school community is unitedin recognising that everyone has theright to begin and end the day in ahappy frame of mind. Thus kindness,courtesy and concern for others arepromoted as defining values of ourethos. Rarely a day goes by that I donot witness children’s enormouscapacity for empathy or find myselfstruck by their perceptive insight anduncomplicated wisdom. We appreciateand celebrate a diversity of qualitiesand talents, and a generosity of spiritthat every single member of NottingHill Prep brings to the school.

This prospectus is intended to give youa flavour of what makes Notting HillPrep special, but I would encourageyou to come along for a visit andexperience the school for yourself.

3

‘I firmly believe that every childhas talents and needs. It is ourresponsibility to ensure that wenurture all talents, allowing them to shine, whilst supportingindividual needs’ JANE CAMERON, HEADMISTRESS

ETHOS OF THE SCHOOL A COMMUNITYWITHIN ACOMMUNITY

The aim of Notting Hill PreparatorySchool is to nurture happy, confident,well-rounded children who are eager to progress both academicallyand socially.


‘I’m impressed bythe way the schoolvalues each child’sdifferences andcreates space forthem - there is no‘cookie-cutter’approach at NHP’ PARENT, 2006

Notting Hill Prep is based on theprinciple that a successful educationmust be built on a partnership betweenteachers and parents. Strong linksbetween home and school areencouraged to support the commongoal of ensuring that each child feelssecure, valued and happy.

An environment has been createdwhere children’s views and ideas arerespected, where they are stimulatedand motivated to explore and discover,and where they learn to appreciate theirindividual abilities as well as those ofothers. The school is committed tofostering academic excellence, toensuring that each child develops anawareness of the diverse nature of today’ssociety and to encouraging a sense ofresponsibility both within the school and inthe wider community.

5

THESTRUCTURE OFTHE SCHOOL

Notting Hill Preparatory School is a co-educational school for childrenbetween the ages of five and 13.


Notting Hill Preparatory School currentlyoccupies a building that was purpose-built as a school in 1902 and has beenrefurbished and adapted for moderneducational purposes. Facilities includean assembly hall, art room, sciencelaboratory, library, ICT room, musicrooms and an outside play area.Classrooms are light and airy. The largeassembly hall, which is equipped as agym, is also an ideal setting forassemblies, concerts, school plays andother school events.

Whole school events, which requiregreater capacity, take place in St John’sChurch, Lansdowne Crescent. Additionalfacilities are available in the YouthCentre opposite where the children

have lunch and can use the playground.Other local venues such as Perkes Field,Linford Christie Stadium, WestwaySports Centre, Avondale Park andKensington Leisure Centre provideadditional recreational areas andfacilities for our sports activities.

In line with the planned expansion ofthe school, additional premises havebeen acquired close by. The newannexe will provide extra space for atheatre, science laboratory and diningarea, as well as additional classrooms.

THE STAFFIn order to provide the higheststandard of education, the calibre of teachers is of paramountimportance. The teaching staff atNotting Hill Prep have been selectedon the basis of experience,commitment to the ethos of the school and proven ability to motivatechildren and inspire learning.

‘The quality of pupils’ learning, attitudes and behaviourthroughout the school is very good and is endorsed bytheir willingness to learn and be challenged. They arewell motivated and oral skills are positively developedacross all age groups. When given responsibility forclassroom tasks, they show increasing self-confidenceand consideration for others’ INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE, 2005

7

In the lower school, subjects are mainlytaught by form teachers supported byteaching assistants. From Year 4 upteaching is largely subject-based.Designated specialist teachers co-ordinate the school’s curriculum. Drama,Music, French and Sport are taught byspecialist teachers throughout theschool. Specialist Art instruction is givenfrom Year 3. Individual music lessons aregiven by specialist peripatetic teachers.

THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS The school’s Board of Governors acts asan independent body responsible foroverseeing the provision of a highstandard of education.

YEAR GROUPS AND HOUSESYear groups are divided into parallelclasses up to Year 6. After Year 6, whenmany of the girls and some of the boysleave for their senior schools, we moveto single classes for Years 7 and 8.Reception is always a one-class intake, aschildren with birthdays in the secondhalf of the academic year (March toAugust) enter the school directly into aYear 1 class (see Entry Procedure later inthis prospectus).

‘The atmosphere of the school isfriendly, lively, yet calm and happy. Thecorridors are filled with children busilymoving about the school and enjoyingtheir environment. Doors are held openfor each other and the children chatenthusiastically. The children and staffare polite and respectful towards eachother at all times. It would be a joy tobe a part of such a community’ PROSPECTIVE PARENT, 2006

Notting Hill Prep is divided into fourhouses: Arundel (green), Blenheim(yellow), Lansdowne (blue) and Elgin(red). Children are assigned to a housewhen they join the school andmembers of their family join the samehouse. Each house has a pupil HouseCaptain and a member of staff Head ofHouse. House meetings are held once afortnight and activities and charityevents are organised by the childrenunder the guidance of the Head ofHouse. Inter-house competitions andmatches are organised.


Classes have a maximum of 20 children.

Lower school:Reception to Year 2 (ages 5 to 7) Middle school: Years 3 to 6 (ages 8 to 11)Upper school: Years 7 and 8 (ages 12 and 13)

9

10 N O T T I N G H I L L P R E PA R AT O R Y S C H O O L10 N O T T I N G H I L L P R E PA R AT O R Y S C H O O L

ASSEMBLIES Each day at Notting Hill Prep beginswith an assembly, which helps toreinforce a sense of unity and sharedidentity in the school. The assembly is aspecial and important part of life at theschool and provides an opportunity topromote the ethos of kindness and carefor others. It is also a time toacknowledge and applaud endeavourand achievement. The assemblies arenon-denominational. The customs andbeliefs that children of all religions bringinto the school are recognised andappreciated. Children are encouraged toplay, sing, perform, recite and contributein an active way to these dailygatherings.

11

PASTORAL CARESchool rules are kept to a minimum andare generally to ensure the safety andhappiness of the children while they are in school. Children are expected torespect the teaching staff, other adultsin the school community, their fellowpupils and property. It is expected thatchildren will be attentive, well behavedand hard working in the classroom.Kindness, courtesy and consideration forothers are highly valued and positivelyreinforced by all members of staff.

Our ethos of providing a happy,supportive environment in whichchildren feel confident to ask questionsand explore will require children todevelop self-discipline and a sense ofpersonal responsibility.

Any wilful, conscious desire to intimidate,frighten or hurt someone else isregarded as bullying. Such behaviour,which involves the illegitimate use ofpower in order to hurt or offend others,is regarded as bullying behaviour. AtNotting Hill Prep bullying and bullyingbehaviour are not acceptable and willnot be tolerated. All the staff are alert toany potential occurrence of thisbehaviour, and pupils and parents areencouraged to report any such incidentat once should they become aware of it.There is a staged procedure in place todeal with bullying and in the event thatsuch an incident is reported, it will bedealt with swiftly by staff in accordancewith the school’s bullying policy.

It is a cornerstone of the philosophy ofthe school that all pupils at Notting HillPrep have the right to start and end theirday in a happy frame of mind.

UNIFORM The uniform is designed to be practicaland flexible. It is supplied by TheChildren’s Warehouse and can beordered by mail or on line atwww.childrens-warehouse.com

11

‘There is a tremendous energy andpositive air about the school. I believethis is generated by the staff – whothrough their inspirational teachinggive the children confidence to believethat all things are possible’ PARENT, 2006

TREATING ALLCHILDREN ASINDIVIDUALS

The style of teaching at Notting HillPrep aims, above all, to be responsive tothe differing needs of individual pupilsin the school.


A variety of teaching techniques is usedto support the requirements of all pupilsacross the academic spectrum and toenable them to realise their fullpotential. The school works hard toensure that each child is able to takeadvantage of the school’s wholecurriculum and be included in allaspects of school life.

ASSESSMENTSChildren are assessed regularly through a combination of progress monitoring,standardised testing and in-houseexams. Pupils in Reception and Year 1are given baseline assessments duringtheir first term in school. The aim is toobtain a pupil profile that will informteachers and provide data against whichfurther progress can be measured.

Teachers also monitor progress throughongoing observations, discussions andinformal tests at the end of units of work.Children are given timely and sensitivefeedback about their performance withthe aim of helping them to set their owntargets, rather than competing againsttheir peers. Children in the middle andupper school are taught how to developrealistic learning and performancetargets. In so doing they can take a directrole in raising their own expectations andgaining knowledge about their strengthsand weaknesses.

Formal assessments are held for Year 3and above in the form of in-house examsin the Autumn and Summer terms. Years

1 and 2 are assessed through moreinformal end of unit tests.

Annual standardised tests inMathematics and English are used inYears 1-6 to give objective data showingvalue added progress. Staff use thisinformation to indicate clearly progressbeing made, to inform teaching andplanning and to review and analyse thecurriculum.

Through regular assessment we aim toensure that children are well prepared for performing in timed conditions andconsequently enjoy the opportunity toshow what they have learned. Whereappropriate, differentiated elements areintroduced into papers in order to allowevery pupil to experience success.

13

‘“Child-centred” is a much overworked phrase these days. But Ireally believe that at NHP everychild’s voice is heard and valued’ PARENT, 2006

CURRICULUMPOLICY

The curriculum at Notting Hill Prep isdesigned to provide children with abreadth of knowledge that will inspirethem to want to learn more.


Children are prepared for a world thatnot only places a high value oneducational achievement, but also onartistic flair, social awareness,independence and diversity. They aregiven the opportunity to test anddevelop their talents across a broadlybased and academically stimulatingcurriculum that promotes intellectual,artistic, aesthetic, physical and socialdevelopment. Extra-curricular activitiesalso allow deeper exploration ofsubjects of particular interest, as wellas the development of individual skillsand talents.

The curriculum includes the statutoryframework of the National Curriculum.It has been extended to reflect theparticular ethos of the school and willcontinue to be developed in responseto children’s needs.

While literacy and numeracy arestressed in the early years, pupils aretaught Mathematics, English, Science,French, History, Geography,Religious/Moral Studies, Sport, Art,Music, Drama and ICT throughout theschool. Personal, Social, HealthEducation and Citizenship also form anintegral part of the general curriculumfor all children, but are taught moreformally to older children. Latin isintroduced in Year 5 and Greek isprovided for those children for whom itis a requirement for entry into theirsenior school of choice. Art, Music,Drama and Sport are emphasised asessential elements of a complete

education. Road Safety education andenvironmental issues are alsointroduced as part of our school TravelPolicy.

Great importance is also placed onproblem-solving and reasoning skills inall subjects. Pupils in Years 5 and 6follow a formal programme of thinkingskills. Study skills are also introduced inYear 6 so that pupils can acquiresuccessful revision techniques and makeefficient use of study time prior topublic examinations. Pupils are carefullyand thoroughly prepared for CommonEntrance and School Examinations atthe ages of 11 and 13 years.

It is our intention that pupils shouldleave Notting Hill Prep with a strongacademic foundation, combined withthe self-esteem and confidence in their

15

‘One of the main achievements of theschool is the inclusive approach tomusic. It helps to give the school itsunique character. Music is woventhroughout the curriculum. Singing andplaying music are great confidenceboosters. The assembly is a veryimportant part of the school day andknits the group together, everyonesinging with one voice, sharing acommon experience, an emotional surge’TEACHER, 2006

OUTDOOR PURSUITSIn Years 6-8 pupils spend a week at anoutward bound activity centre wherethey can experience rock climbing,abseiling, mountain biking, sailing,windsurfing, kayaking, archery, shootingand initiative courses.

A school ski-trip is organised in theEaster holidays.

MUSIC AND DRAMAMusic and drama are distinctive features of Notting Hill Prep. The emphasis is onenjoyment, working together anddeveloping skills that provide fulfilmentand help promote self-confidence.

All children are encouraged to discovertheir musical potential and realise theirnatural talents. During music lessonschildren learn to develop their vocal

rounders and athletics in the Summerterm. Inter-school fixtures are arrangedin all the major team sports for pupilsin Year 3 and above. Lessons take placeat Perkes Field, Kensington for theyounger children and at the LinfordChristie stadium and associated pitchesfor the older children.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION The PE curriculum includes gymnastics,basketball, short tennis, tennis,badminton and swimming. We use ourgym for these lessons as well as thelocal Kensington Leisure Centre.Children showing particular flair orinterest can join one of our earlymorning or after-school clubs.

abilities and social skills that willensure that they are fully prepared forthe exciting challenges ahead. We aimto instil in our pupils an enthusiasticanticipation of the next stage of theireducation following a happyexperience at prep school.

SPORTSport is an integral part of Notting HillPrep life. The physical educationdepartment offers a varied, balancedand differentiated curriculum that givespupils the opportunity to experience adiverse range of activities. FromReception, pupils are taught PE, Gamesand Swimming by specialist staff.

GAMESFootball and netball are the main teamsports in the Autumn term; rugby andhockey in the Spring term; cricket,


‘The quality of communication across theschool is fantastic and ensures thatevery child’s needs are met andnurtured through appropriateassessment and target setting’ TEACHER, 2006

Each year, at Christmas time, the choir performs for the elderly at theKensington Day Centre. Children areencouraged to take Associated Boardor equivalent examinations. The school also participates in the national ‘Music for Youth Festival’,competing with 1500 schools for theopportunity to perform at the RoyalAlbert Hall.

17

and instrumental skills, to improviseand compose and to become familiarwith a wide range of music, past andpresent. Over two-thirds of the pupilsplay a musical instrument. Individualtuition is provided by specialistteachers on a variety of instruments,including piano, violin, cello, recorder,saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, guitar,drums, trombone and French Horn.

Children are encouraged to join theschool choir and orchestra, as well asother music groups.

Assemblies as well as formal andinformal concerts provide a platformfor performance, as it is important forchildren to learn that one of the keyaspects of playing an instrument iscommunicating with an audience.

ART AND CRAFTArt and craft are important aspects ofthe curriculum at Notting Hill Prep andchildren are able to explore a widerange of materials, experiment with avariety of techniques and acquirepractical skills. The quality of artworkproduced is of a very high standard.The children are introduced to artists ofdifferent periods and styles, as a meansof developing their aestheticappreciation. As they acquire skills andknowledge they will develop theconfidence to express their owncreativity and individuality through their art and craft. The artisticendeavours of the pupils are celebratedin displays around the school, in end-of-term shows and exhibitions and through participation in competitionswhere appropriate.

HOMEWORKAt Notting Hill Prep we believe in thevalue of homework as a way ofcomplementing and reinforcing workdone in school. It helps to ensure thatchildren have assimilated newconcepts that have been introduced inclass. It also gives children theopportunity to acquire personalorganisational skills and develop theself-discipline to work at homeindependently. Whenever possible,homework will be differentiated in

content and time limitations in orderto accommodate individual pupils’needs and abilities. Teachers aim towork in partnership with parents toensure that children are able to workconfidently and independently at thetasks set.

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDSChildren with special educational needs,identified either prior to entry or during their time at the school, aregiven additional support from theSpecial Educational Needs Coordinator(SENCO). A specialist speech andlanguage therapist also serves the schoolif needed.


19

‘The teaching staff are very confident andnot afraid to encourage individualityamongst the children. This energy and“can do” approach means each child getsthe chance to shine’ PARENT, 2006

The SENCO will suggest strategies tohelp children reach their potential andfacilitate their learning in class. Thelearning support role is integrated inthe classroom wherever possible. In theevent that a child requires individualspecialist tuition this is given by theSENCO, who is qualified to deliver awide range of interventionprogrammes. Specialist tuition will alsobe available for pupils who needsupport transferring between twoeducation systems. Individual lessonsincur an additional charge.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIESA range of extra-curricular activities isoffered at the end of the school day.These clubs help to extend the maincurriculum and develop individualtalents and interests. Clubs may beadded in response to interest anddemand from children and parents.Interests and activities currently covered include judo, yoga, drama,dance, gym, badminton, needlecraft, art, chess and challenge club.

OUT-OF-SCHOOL TRIPSWe are fortunate to live in one of theworld’s great cities. At Notting Hill Prep we make use of the many andvaried opportunities London offers to extend children’s knowledge of their environment, their culture andtheir history.

Visits are made to museums,exhibitions, parks and special places of interest as they relate to differentaspects of the curriculum. Residentialfield trips are also organised for older pupils.

PREPARINGCHILDREN FORSENIOR SCHOOL

At Notting Hill Prep children are givensupport and encouragement todevelop the self confidence to embracefresh challenges.


AFTER NOTTING HILL PREPWe recognise the importance ofplanning for the next stage of eachchild’s education.

Year group meetings with parents areheld well in advance of finalregistration dates for senior schools togive a thorough introduction to theapplication process and to ensure assmooth a transition as possible. Boysand girls are prepared for entry to bothboarding and London day schools.

The staff will provide the necessaryinformation on each child’sperformance and potential to enableparents to base their decisions onrealistic expectations, and theHeadmistress and Deputy Head are

happy to offer advice on schools bestsuited to each child’s character andpotential. Exam techniques andspecific entry requirements will beincorporated into the curriculumduring the years prior to taking publicexaminations. Parents will be kept fully informed of developingexpectations in relation to these examsand, if necessary, will be offered adviceon how best to support thepreparation process.

21

‘The school has achieved in equalmeasure the right balance betweennurturing happy and enthusiasticchildren and providing appropriateacademic rigour to attain excellentexam results’ TEACHER, 2006

INPARTNERSHIPWITH PARENTS

At Notting Hill Prep we believe therelationship between the school, thechild and parents is central to asuccessful education.


Parents have been very closely involvedwith the school from its earliest days andhave given their support in many ways.We consider partnership with parents anessential ingredient for ensuring children’sprogress and a sense of well-being.

Parents’ Evenings are held twice a yearto discuss and review children’s progresswith the teaching staff concerned.Attainment and effort grades areprovided every term and a full writtenreport is given at the end of theacademic year. A regular newslettergives details of activities and eventstaking place throughout the term.

The Headmistress supports an opendoor policy and is always pleased to seeparents. Communication betweenteaching staff and parents is given thehighest priority.

Informal social evenings are arrangedthroughout the year and parents areinvited to concerts, assemblies, playsand any performance opportunities.

The Parents’ Association organises socialand fundraising events. It holds regularmeetings and acts as a bridge betweenthe school and local community groupsand charities. It provides an opportunityfor new parents to meet one another, forpromoting the welfare of the school andfor fostering school/parent relationships.All parents are automatically membersof the Parents’ Association.

23

‘The school is an extremely friendly,welcoming and incredibly inspiring place.There is the opportunity to talk withteachers at any time – very impressive.My daughter is very happy and can’t waitto go to school each day’ PARENT, 2006

ENTRYPROCEDURE


JOINING NOTTING HILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL

ENTRY PROCEDUREReception and Year 1

Entry for places in Reception and Year 1 is non-competitive.

We operate a two-tier entry system toenable children to start school as close to their fifth birthday as possible:

• children born between September and February enter the Receptionclass at 41⁄2

• children born between March andAugust enter Year 1 at 5+.

Entry into each class will be decided byballot. Siblings will be exempt from theballot and will automatically be offeredplaces if they are available. Ballots willtake place twice a year: in May forSeptember to February birthdays, and inNovember for March to August birthdays.

One year before entry into the Receptionclass, and two years before entry into Year1, the successful candidates will beasked to confirm their place by paying adeposit. In the event that there are stillplaces once all deposits have beenreceived, offers will be made to those onthe waiting list until the class is full andall deposits have been received. Everyeffort will be made to balance boys andgirls in each class.

YEAR 2 AND ABOVEPupils entering Year 2 and above areassessed to ensure that the school’seducational facilities meet their needs.Most children will be assessed in theSpring term for entry the followingSeptember. The assessment procedurewill comprise: papers in English andMathematics; problem solving andverbal and non-verbal reasoningactivities; an interview with theHeadmistress or Deputy Head.

Parents will be informed of the resultsno later than two weeks after the lastassessment date. Efforts will be made tobalance the number of boys and girls ineach class.

If you have any questions about theentry process, or any of the informationin this prospectus, please do not hesitateto contact us.

NOTTING HILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL95 LANCASTER ROAD

LONDON W11 1QQ

TELEPHONE: 020 7221 0727

WWW.NOTTINGHILLPREP.COM

[email protected]

EDITED BY CAROLE FITZGERALD | DESIGNED BY SUGARFREE DESIGN LIMITED, LONDON O20 7619 7430 | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICHARD LEWISOHN

notting hill prep school prospectus

Documents