Prep – Years 3–6

Growing independence, ambition and curiosity

The move into Prep marks an exciting stage in a child’s Crown House journey. Building on the strong foundations of Early Years and Pre-Prep, pupils are encouraged to become increasingly independent, thoughtful and responsible learners.

Our expectations grow with them. Pupils are challenged to question, discuss, reason and explain their thinking, while teachers continue to know each child well and understand their individual strengths, needs and next steps. As a proudly non-selective school, we are ambitious for every pupil and focus on enabling each child to make the strongest possible progress from their own starting point.

Our broad and academically rigorous curriculum provides secure foundations in English and Mathematics alongside Science, Humanities, Languages, Technology and the Creative and Performing Arts. Specialist teaching across subjects including Music, Drama, French, PE, Games and Computing brings additional subject expertise and variety to pupils’ learning.

The Crown House Tapestry enriches this academic curriculum through its strands of Mindset, Digital Literacy, Health and Wellbeing, Global Citizenship, Creativity and Entrepreneurship, and Sustainability. Together with our Learning Behaviours and Meta-Skills, it helps pupils make connections between what they learn, how they learn and the wider world in which they are growing up.

Years 3 & 4

In Years 3 and 4, pupils begin to embrace the increased opportunities and responsibilities of Prep. We encourage enquiring minds, perseverance and growing independence while maintaining the warmth, support and strong relationships that characterise Crown House.

Pupils broaden their experiences through specialist teaching, clubs, educational visits, sporting opportunities and performance. Study Skills, including verbal and non-verbal reasoning, develop logical thinking and problem-solving, while the Year 4 residential provides an important opportunity for children to develop confidence, friendship and independence away from the familiar school environment.

Years 5 & 6

As pupils progress through Years 5 and 6, expectations around organisation, independence, resilience and personal responsibility increase further.

Children build upon established knowledge and skills, tackle increasingly sophisticated ideas and take greater ownership of their learning. In English and Mathematics, continuity of specialist teaching allows staff to develop a detailed understanding of pupils’ progress and provide carefully targeted support and challenge.

Academic development is accompanied by an increasing emphasis on personal development. Pupils are given opportunities to lead, represent the school, contribute to pupil voice, participate in sport and performance and take greater responsibility within the Crown House community.

Educational visits and residential experiences broaden horizons and provide opportunities to apply important skills beyond the classroom. Throughout Prep, our approach combines academic ambition with creativity, wellbeing and personal development, preparing children not simply for their next school but for the increasing independence that comes with it.