Ravenscourt Park Prep School Prospectus

RAVENSCOURT PARK PREPARATORY SCHOOL Prospectus

A co-educational independent school for children from 4 to 11 years old

Be part of the family..

welcome Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School is a lively, co-educational and non-selective independent school for children aged 4 to 11.

RPPS provides an education of the highest quality with an engaging curriculum that is varied, exciting and forwardlooking, whilst also preparing pupils for transfer at the end of Year 6 to some of the best and most selective independent schools.

We are a thriving school, taking pride in a holistic approach to the attainment of each child’s potential - intellectual, physical, social and spiritual. Our talented and dedicated team of teachers nurture and inspire the children so that they flourish academically and emotionally.

learning go hand-in-hand and our children leave us at the end of Year 6 ready to make the most of the opportunities ahead of them, both at their choice of senior school and in later life.

This prospectus will provide you with a flavour of life at RPPS. Please do come to one of our Open Mornings, or arrange a separate appointment, so that you are able to visit us to see for yourself what we offer our pupils.

Carl Howes, Headmaster

RAVENSCOURT PARK Part of the

While our pupils are with us, they will engage in the excitement of learning and develop the confidence to question, analyse and express their opinions. The stimulating environment at RPPS encourages children to become resourceful, resilient, reflective and enthusiastic learners who are able to learn from their mistakes and build on their successes.

We form strong and trusting partnerships with our parents.

We operate an ‘Open Door Policy’, where parents’ comments, views, contributions and suggestions are valued. We also welcome parents’ direct support with activities such as hearing children read, accompanying day visits and at special events throughout the year.

We engender in our pupils the values of respect, compassion, tolerance and community responsibility. At RPPS, laughter and

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OUR PHILOSOPHY Mission

The schools within the Gardener Schools Group are committed to providing an education of the highest quality that meets each individual child’s needs and abilities. We seek to engender curiosity and creativity in each of them. These are the main principles of our philosophy, which underpins all aspects of our Reception to Year 6 programme: 1. W e believe that each child should be nurtured, inspired and motivated to allow them to fulfil their full potential.

2. O ur approach is holistic with a balanced focus on a child’s intellectual, moral, spiritual, physical and emotional development.

3. W e engender confidence and self-esteem, leading to intellectual risk taking and a love of learning.

4. W e cultivate values of respect, compassion, tolerance and community responsibility in each child.

5. We are non-selective in our approach to admissions.

Values

Our values reflect our philosophy and permeate all aspects of school life and apply to all members of our community:

3. Innovation and flexibility – we continuously reflect on our practice, constantly seeking to improve. We encourage initiative and embrace change.

4. Our place in the world – we promote the understanding of what it means to grow up in a Britain of the 21st century, preparing our children to make positive contributions in school, work and life.

5. We value education as a journey and not simply as a method for passing exams.

Outcomes

Our children are inspired and motivated by outstanding teaching.

They are resourceful, resilient, reflective and enthusiastic learners.

We give our children the confidence to collaborate, have an opinion and make mistakes in order to learn.

“..a happy and thriving school which prides itself on a holistic approach to the attainment of each child’s potential physical, social, intellectual and spiritual.”

ISI

Our children become expressive and confident communicators.

They understand the importance of contributing to their community and to each other’s lives.

They value diversity and leave school as well-rounded individuals, ready to make the most of the opportunities on offer to them.

1. E xcellence in teaching and learning – we are committed to the provision of the highest standard of education for each child and we always celebrate achievement, however small.

2. Communication – we operate a true ‘Open Door Policy’ where we make ourselves available to those who need to speak to us and communicate face to face whenever possible. The school is a welcoming place for parents and your involvement in school life is regarded as essential.

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Grounds & Facilities RPPS is housed in four separate buildings located on a single site in Hammersmith, West London. There is a beautiful vicarage building which was the original home for the school when it opened in 1991 and the site as a whole provides a comfortable, vibrant and homely environment for the children.

With the addition of the Gardener Building in 2011, the school increased its physical space and is able to provide a wealth of new curriculum opportunities throughout the school. RPPS has specialist on-site facilities including a multi-purpose Auditorium, Library, Music Suite, Art Studio and Science Laboratory.

Additional facilities include a gymnasium, ICT suite and large outdoor playground space. RPPS is situated next to Ravenscourt Park which is one of the Borough’s flagship parks boasting twenty-acres. Not only do the children enjoy exploring and discovering nature here, it provides the setting for the majority of PE and Games lessons, including the use of the tennis courts and multi-use games area. It is also a social hub for parents and children who walk through the park on their way home and offers many facilities including a walled garden, multiple play areas, and a paddling pool. There is a real sense of family and community and there are many family events which we host in the park such as whole class picnics.

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What we offer Our rich and varied curriculum has been carefully crafted to enable each child to thrive. From Early Years to Upper School, all areas of the syllabus are balanced to promote the intellectual, spiritual, moral and physical development of the child.

At every stage, we aim to broaden and deepen our children’s awareness and understanding of the world around them and of their place within it. By bringing out individual talents and realising abilities to the full, we aim to instill both confidence and a life-long love of learning in each child.

Our Lower School (children aged 4-7) encompasses the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Upon entry into our Reception classes, children have the opportunity to learn through independent and guided play, with a focus on developing positive relationships with peers and the class teacher. Teaching and learning gradually becomes more formalised to incorporate discrete subject areas in Years 1 and 2.

Upper School pupils (aged 7-11) also have a class teacher, but an increasing number of their lessons are taught by subject specialists in our state-of-the-art facilities.

Pupils may develop special educational needs at any time, be they cognitive, physical or emotional. Where appropriate, our Learning Support Department offers personalised provision to ensure that each child receives the support required to help fulfil his or her potential.

Our curriculum integrates Information Communication Technology in every subject. Our children may produce a multimedia presentation to report a science experiment, create a web page in geography, or join an after school club teaching animation and editing. E-safety education is embedded within

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the curriculum for all year groups. We encourage the use of digital technology to enhance and extend the children’s learning as much as possible, yet still value the traditions and merits of handwritten, well presented work.

At RPPS we strive to instill a love of music in each pupil for life.

The curriculum encompasses a wide range of genres, ensuring that children have an appreciation of music in all its forms. Aside from class lessons, pupils have the opportunity to participate in whole-school and group performances and are encouraged to join our extra-curricular clubs such as the Chamber Choir or Orchestra. We also offer individual peripatetic tuition including percussion and voice.

Our programme for Religious Education follows the Discovery RE scheme which covers the major world faiths. We welcome children and families of all denominations and faiths, and from those where no faith is professed. Regular assemblies provide opportunities to develop awareness of world religions and of important humanitarian and spiritual issues of both topical and permanent relevance. Academic learning is related wherever possible to the world beyond the classroom and is supported by offsite explorations, as well as visitors to the school. In addition, our creative themed weeks give pupils the opportunity to explore a topic in particular detail through workshops and theatrical performances.

“By encouraging our children to challenge themselves with their learning and to have a growth mindset regarding making mistakes, our pupils develop resilience, perseverance and adaptability which are such important skills for life.”

Guest speakers are regularly invited to address the children or deliver subject-specific workshops, helping to bring investigation and research to life.

As a non-selective and inclusive school, we take pride in motivating and developing each child. By encouraging our children to challenge themselves with their learning and to have a growth mindset regarding making mistakes, our pupils develop resilience, perseverance and adaptability which are such important skills for life.

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Enhancing Education Enrichment

Much of what we offer happens outside the school walls and the regular timetable. Each class has at least one off-site educational visit per term. Constantly evolving, our programme of educational visits is generally linked to topics covered in the curriculum but often takes advantage of unique events going on in our city. Typical trips include visits to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Living Rainforest, the Roald Dahl Museum and Kew Gardens. Our current residential trips programme commences in Year 3 with a two-night stay at Sayers Croft, an outward-bound centre in Surrey. Years 4, 5 and 6 venture a little further afield to Moorland Hall, experiencing the Devonshire countryside and a rolling programme of challenging outdoor activities, including caving, rock-climbing and kayaking. In addition, pupils in the Upper School may opt to attend the biennial overseas music tour, the Year 5 sports tour to Jersey or the Year 6 ski trip.

interesting games and recreational activities under the close supervision of specially appointed staff. Older pupils have the option of doing their homework. Parents can register and pay for the care service at the start of term or may use it on an ad hoc basis when the need arises.

Transport

We have a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint and limit congestion. We make every effort to adopt an eco-friendly approach in all we do. Families are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport to come to school.

The calendar is punctuated with opportunities for visits to museums, galleries and theatres. Distinguished visitors – authors, painters, musicians, scientists – enter our gates to enhance the children’s learning via presentations or interactive workshops such as the Justice System, Thinking Skills and Cycling Proficiency.

Clubs

We believe in encouraging the children to have a wide range of interests outside the curriculum; we therefore offer a variety of clubs both before and after school. These vary from year to year but usually include art, pottery, chess, dance, Spanish, science and ICT among an array of further sports and music clubs.

Full Day Care Service

We are aware of the difficulties for parents who are unable to bring their children to school or collect them at the end of afternoon lessons. We therefore offer a care service from 8am until 6pm. At the end of lessons, full day pupils are given afternoon tea, after which they have access to a selection of

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Communication We view effective education as a partnership between pupils, parents and teachers.

The most important link is between parents and the child’s class teacher.

Teaching staff are generally available at the beginning and end of the school day to speak to parents and further consultations with our Senior Leadership Team or Headmaster can be arranged by appointment. The elected Parent Governor provide an additional forum for communication and discussion.

Daily communication takes place through the Reading Record in Lower School and the Homework Diary in Upper School, which move between home and school with each child, and by email. Our team of office staff are also available at reception to answer any queries. Class teachers report verbally on pupil progress at parent interviews in the autumn and spring terms. A detailed written report is distributed to parents prior to parent interviews at the end of each academic year.

Letters about events and clubs are emailed to parents during term time and can also be accessed through our Parent Portal tool on the website. We publish an online diary, news pages and blogs so that parents can keep up with news from residential trips and other events. Parklife, our half-termly newsletter, offers parents a snapshot of current school life and developments.

“We view effective education as a partnership between pupils, parents and teachers.”

Above all, we operate a true ‘Open Door Policy’ whereby regular communication between school and home is of paramount importance.

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Registration & Admission Registration

Children join the school in Reception once they have reached their fourth birthday.

Parents can register their child by completing the registration form online: www.rpps.co.uk/register or filling out the paper form enclosed in this prospectus.

This registration fee is non-refundable and does not guarantee that a place will be offered. We strongly recommend that children are registered on their first birthday.

Offer

Children registered on or before their first birthdays are entered into a ballot. Following the ballot, parents whose registrations have been successful will be invited to meet with the Head of Lower School or Early Years Leader for an informal visit with their child. Children registered after their first birthday will be seen according to the date of registration after this birthday.

Siblings of current pupils are given priority for places and thereafter children are seen according to their date of registration until all available places are filled. Places in other year groups throughout the school may become available from time to time. A registration form should be completed and when a place is available the family will be invited in for an informal meeting with the Head of Lower or Upper School and to meet the Headmaster.

What next?

Acceptance

On receipt of an offer letter, parents have seven days in which to accept a place. At this stage, the deposit, a signed acceptance form and proof of identification are required. The deposit will be returned to parents once the child leaves Year 6, subject to all outstanding fees being settled.

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Browse our website www.rpps.co.uk

Feel free to call us for further information

Book a visit online at www.rpps.co.uk/openmornings

Complete online registration form

Hamlet Gardens

(9 min walk)

St. Peter’s Square Garden

Sports Centre

W: www.rpps.co.uk

A315

Ravenscourt Park

Road West t a Latymer Gre

CHISWICK

HAMMERSMITH

(3 min walk)

Beavor Lane

Chiswick High Road

Ravenscourt Avenue Vencou rt Pl

Stamford Brook

Dalling Roa d

Ravenscourt G a r d ens

Ravenscourt Road

rk urt Pa Ravensco

Ravenscourt Park

Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School 16 Ravenscourt Avenue Hammersmith London W6 0SL

King St reet

(13 min walk)

St. Paul’s Church Furnivall Gardens

River Thames

E: admissions@rpps.co.uk

Hammersmith

Hammersmith

Flyover

WEST KENSINGTON

T: 020 8846 9153

@RPPSlondon @MaidaValeSchool