Learning in

Year 4, Year 5 & Year 6

From Year 4, all subjects are taught by specialist teachers . Students move from one specialist room to another to truly embrace the senior school style

Each class has a Form Room in which they are taught by their Form teacher the following subjects: Religious Studies and Personal Social Health and Economic Education (PSHEE).

With a clear focus on wellbeing, your child will grow in confidence , self-belief and resilience during their years at Devonshire House.

The School collaborates with Place2Be , a children’s mental health charity. Working with pupils, families and staff, they provide mental health support through one-to-one and group counselling as well as offering training and professional qualifications for our educators.

We encourage pupils to see the beauty and value of Maths in their everyday lives . Every pupil is capable of mastering Maths through a growth mindset approach in both learning and teaching. Maths has many different facets; adaptive reasoning, creativity, procedural fluency, extrapolating ideas and taking intellectual risks.

Mathematics English

The English curriculum includes writing , reading , grammar , spelling and speaking . Your child will learn about all the different components of the English language through poetry, narration, modern fairy tales, descriptions... They will also learn to apply this knowledge to write, allowing them to express their ideas in a variety of ways, both in focus tasks and in play.

Humanities

Our History curriculum covers a wide range of historical topics from the Roman Age all the way to learning about life in modern Britain. We ensure that all our students get a broad historical foundation. Through Geography , children build an understanding of the complexity of our world and appreciate the diversity within nature and global communities. Religious Studies form the basis of the school’s ethos of care, respect, knowledge and valuing of others, which are vital for good spiritual, moral and social development.

Languages

French specialist teachers deliver fun and creative lessons. Gaining confidence and developing analytical thinking, attention to detail and problem-solving are our objectives. Learning Latin from Year 6 gives our pupils a window into History. Being the roots of many modern languages, it also deepens our children’s understanding of grammar and vocabulary

Technology

Children receive a broad education with weekly practical lessons with real-world application . We focus on Digital Graphics, Computer Aided Design & Manufacture, Coding, Robotics and Electronics as well as traditional computer skills, making entensive use of professional tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Google SketchUp or our 3D printers.

Physical Education & Games Science

Students will focus on a variety of activities such as Basketball, Uni Hockey, Volleyball, Football, Netball, Rugby, Cricket, Tennis and Athletics. We use our two playgrounds as well as external facilities such as the Stone X Stadium . Competitive fixtures are arranged regularly with many of our local Prep Schools. All children have the opportunity to take part. With a strong emphasis on practical learning, pupils are taught the combined science in our modern and fully equipped science laboratories . Interwoven with dynamic teaching of the syllabus, pupils will be encouraged to follow their curiosities, to share their passions, and to find out answers to the questions they have about the world around them.

Music

Chilren develop their skills in performing , listening , composing , improvisation and responding to musical stimuli through singing, moving, dancing, playing various percussion instruments and acting.

They learn to understand and use basic music theory , note reading and music vocabulary. Several lessons are dedicated to exploring the history of music through time.

From Year 7, pupils deepen their music production knowledge and skills using technology with Garage Band on the iPad.

Art & Design

Children have weekly Art and Design lessons. Each year, they learn skills in handling a wide range of 2D and 3D mediums , exploring topics linked to classroom learning in other subjects as well as building an understanding and appreciation for Art History . Children are encouraged to enjoy expressing themselves creatively.

Drama

Pupils study once a week the wonderful world of fairies and make believe. They learn how to express their feelings through improvisation and discussion on modern day issues.

In Year 8, pupils are in charge of producing a play from start to finish which is part of the Houses competition. ICT is greatly used in Drama lessons when creating movie trailers , researching authors, or filming interpretations of given scenes with iPads.

We prepare our pupils for all aspects of 11+ and 13+ exams. This being done well, the exam process does not have to be stressful. That is our commitment.

From Year 4, students undertake two rounds of internal examinations per year - designed to give familiarity with the process and develop confidence in their strategies and skills.

Revision lessons and mock sessions are dedicated throughout the years - enabling students to gain practical, guided experience in how to revise.

We offer every conceivable marginal gain for your child in this process. Our Senior Leadership Team is directly involved , liaising with senior school registrars and guiding parents as often as they would like.

Preparation for 13+ recognises the broader range of subjects that can be tested and the general move to written exams .

Our students make excellent progress at this stage, well above national average .

An Independent Research Project is carried out in Year 7 and in Year 8. This is similar to the conception of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) that can be taken for ‘A’ levels and develops excellent research and presentation skills on a subject of their choice. Each pupil has a dedicated mentor throughout this journey.

Our most popular destinations include:

- Francis Holland School, Channing, South Hampstead High School, Queenswood School.

- UCS, Merchant Taylor’s, Wetherby.

- Mill Hill, Queen’s College.

Facilities

The Middle School is located in Arkwright Road, in a Victorian House packed with charm and history.

Just a few steps away, our Upper School pupils find their classrooms at Lyndhurst Gardens, in a beautiful and spacious building.

Combined, Devonshire House Middle & Upper schools counts two of each specialist rooms and playgrounds.

Devonshire House Preparatory School is a member of the Dukes Education family.

Dukes is a family of schools, teachers, learners, and parents connected by our pursuit of an extraordinary life for every member of our community.

It may be that another Dukes school is suitable for your child. If so, we are happy to advise and recommend them. One of the benefits of being part of the Dukes Education family is that we can offer priority entrance to your child who will not be required to sit the 11+ entrance assessment.