Leaving the smaller environment of the Pre-prep, pupils progress through Prep to find that increasing age and responsibility have their rewards.

A wide range of opportunities will open up to them – from representing their school at sport to taking new subjects that stretch their abilities. Our pupils continue to benefit from highly favourable staff: pupil ratios and enjoy specialist teaching in Humanities, Modern Foreign Languages, Science, Drama, Art, Music, Forest School, PE and Games, Swimming, Computing, Engineering and DT as well as Reasoning.

Pupils entering Year 3 remain form based for most academic subjects as they adjust to the excitement and challenge of joining the Prep Department. Form tutors and older children mentor them to ensure they get to know their new surroundings quickly and take advantage of the even greater opportunities available to them. Pupils in Year 4 continue to receive teaching in form groups, but with an increasing input from specialist teachers.

From Year 5, pupils are entirely specialist taught enjoying a broad, balanced education delivered by knowledgeable, expert teachers. With teachers who are passionate about their subject, and have a deeper knowledge in their area ensuring they can both motivate and challenge pupils. Our pupils are excited by learning and make excellent progress, this is reported to parents on a half-termly basis to support the home-school partnership working to benefit your child.

As their journey at Bickley Park enters the final four years, we believe the value of the prep school system is most clearly illustrated. Rather than leaving at 11 and finding themselves small fry in a senior school, they work towards gold-standard exams when they are 13, which provide excellent preparation for G.C.S.E. Our pupils perform well in entrance examinations gaining places at a wide variety of schools often with scholarships. Whilst some pupils leave Bickley Park at 11 years old, with a high percentage going on to grammar school, most stay until 13.

As senior pupils, they enjoy significantly greater responsibility than peers already at senior schools. Pupils gain leadership skills through undertaking significant positions of responsibility. Entering the teenage years in this position can give them a tremendous sense of achievement and security at a crucial time in their lives.

We firmly believe in the benefits to be gained from a broad curriculum. The Four Quadrants offer a huge range of opportunities for pupils to acquire a love of learning, fire their interest and develop skills for life.