Stone Life October/November 2013 | Page 39

INDEPENDENT EDUCATION Record pupil numbers at the start of the year S tafford Preparatory School has been open since September, 2007, and currently educates 111 children between the ages of 5 and 11. Plans are now full steam ahead for the proposed opening of a Reception Class in September, 2014 ‘It is a reflection of the hard work put in by everyone connected with SPS that the school is gaining in reputation and growing in size year on year.’ Lessons for children at SPS are taught principally by specialist primary teachers, with Stafford Grammar School staff teaching subjects such as design technology, music, ICT and PE in Years 5 and 6. Science is taught in a fully equipped laboratory. Children learn French, German and Spanish during their time at SPS. Activity beyond the classroom is plentiful – competitive sport, a wide variety of music and outdoor education, all complemented by clubs and educational visits which enrich the curriculum. The most recent dramatic productions were ‘The Wind in the Willows’ and ‘Porridge’. The School Choir sing at the Gatehouse Theatre in ‘Celebrating Music’ and in the Newcastle Festival in the Junior Choir Class, where they finished second in March. Admission to Stafford Prep at KS2 is based on an informal assessment conducted in a small group or on an individual basis. Children spend a morning or day in school during which time they are tested in English and mathematics. Entry at KS1 follows an introductory visit by the pupil. Pupils in Year 6 are prepared mainly for the entrance examination for Stafford Grammar School, but also for other selective senior schools. Five of the current Year 6 class will be moving up to the senior school with academic scholarships. During Stafford Prep’s first six years, the children have achieved some spectacular successes on the sporting front winning forty trophies locally and nationally. In 2011, the U11 tag rugby team represented the West Midlands in the Tag to Twickenham Final. In recent weeks the girls have won the ISA U9 netball tournament and U11 high fives competition, while the U10 football team was joint winners of the Leasowes Tournament. All pupils have two weekly PE/Games sessions and these are supplemented with a full programme of extra curricular activities, both sporting and non sporting. Our aim is to give our pupils an exciting and challenging primary education which will give them an enthusiasm for learning and prepare them for life at senior school in the best possible way. Parents may visit by prior appointment on any school day, with the next Open Morning taking place on Saturday, October 19th from 9.30am till 12.30pm. For further information please visit our website www.staffordprep.co.uk email reception@ staffordprep.co.uk or ring 01785 251337. October/November 2013 39