BCPS Prospectus
Transcript of BCPS Prospectus
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BUCKINGHAM COLLEGE
PREPARATORY SCHOOL
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A message from the Headmaster
A childs first impressions of school life will form the basis for his entire academic
and social perspective. His desire for learning and approach to school work is formed
during his first formative years.
At Buckingham College Preparatory School, we are fortunate in having small classes
where our teachers can differentiate between pupils and have time to care for their
individual needs. Accordingly, we can provide opportunities within our daily routine
to stimulate self-motivation, self-assurance and the seed of ambition. We pride
ourselves on providing a caring and supportive environment where pupils are able to
develop their skills and talents, as well as learning to show a real concern for others.
Indeed, an ISI inspection in 2011 noted that the standard of pastoral care provided
and support for pupils is excellent. This is due in no small part to our staff actively
promoting a happy and purposeful atmosphere.
Our study programme covers a seven year span from Reception to Year 6, laying
emphasis on continuity at every level. This is achieved with a system of continuous
assessment and targeting, using performance and diagnostic tests, so that pupils are
fully prepared for entry into the Independent and Grammar Schools at the age of 11.
Our impressive results can only be achieved in a school where the pupils are not only
well motivated but also feel happy and secure. This can be attributed to teachers and
parents working in harmony for the benefit of all.
We also offer a wide and stimulating range of
club activities to foster an interest in creative,
artistic, musical and sporting pastimes, as well
as providing the opportunity to develop a boys
character.
I do hope that our prospectus gives you a flavourof what is, after all, a quite remarkable school.
However, I appreciate the fact that a prospectus
can only tell you so much and nothing can really
replace a visit. If you would like to see the school
for yourself, I would be delighted to show
you round.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Laurence Smith
B.A. (Hons), M.Sc., LCP., P.G.D.E., Cert Ed.
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Our Aims
The school achieves its aim to support pupils in reaching
their full academic and social potential in a caring and
stimulating environment.
ISI Inspection Report 2011
We aim for real achievement by fulfilling pupils true academic and social
potential and by offering recognition and praise for effort and success.
We aim to provide a planned, broad, balanced and cohesive curriculum
which meets the needs of all pupils.
We aim to be caring and supportive by meeting the childrens academic,
social, physical, emotional and spiritual needs, and by exemplifying high
standards of behaviour in the way we relate to others.
We aim to work towards set targets so that each pupil will become a
balanced and fulfilled person.
We aim to work as a team by being flexible as well as encouraging and
praising others, in order to improve confidence, self-esteem and self-
awareness.
We aim for commitment by promoting an enthusiastic approach to school
life from staff, pupils, parents and governors and by providing a positiveand supportive learning environment.
We aim for continued and positive progress by frequently monitoring and
constructively reviewing personnel and their work practices to ensure a
happy and well motivated staff.
We aim to provide the best possible resources by the continuous review and
renewal of the school's needs.
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Early Years Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) precedes Key Stage One and is designed to
ensure that all children are kept healthy and safe, at the same time developing knowledge
and skills which are both broad and balanced. In doing so, it builds a firm foundation on
which to base future education and skills as well as resilience for life.
Teaching and learning in Reception and the Nursery is shaped through seven aspects that
are interlinked. These are implemented through planned, purposeful play, with a balance
between adult-led and child-initiated experiences.
The three prime areas are seen to be crucial for igniting childrens curiosity and enthusiasm
as well as expanding their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive as they progress
through the four Specific Areas of learning and development.
Prime Areas
Physical Development
Communication and Language Development
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Specific Areas
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts
Parent Partnerships
We value parents/carers as important
partners in childrens learning, for we
seek their unique knowledge,
thoughts and opinions in order to
combine with our professional
expertise. In this way, teaching and
learning can be tailored to eachindividual childs needs.
Wellbeing and Involvement
We monitor each childs wellbeing and level of
involvement in play as this provides us with useful
information to ensure they are receiving, and arereceptive to, a learning environment of the highest
quality.
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Buckingham College Nursery
The Nursery sessions are as follows:
These sessions run on a daily basis, even
through the school holidays. Hot meals and
drinks are prepared on the premises by the
staff of Connect Catering on a daily basis (all
inclusive of fees).
Session Start Finish
Morning 8.00 am 1.00 pm
Afternoon 1.00 pm 6.00 pm
All Day 8.00 am 6.00 pm
The Nursery follows the Early Years
Foundation Stage with its 7 Areas of
Learning (see opposite page). The NurseryManager, Deputy Manager and Nursery
Nurses are always on hand to ensure that a
childs progress through these areas are both
supported and continually monitored.
Parents of boys in the Nursery who wish their sons to transfer to the Preparatory School
should submit their sons for an assessment in December prior to entry. The second siblingqualifies for a 25% remission of fees and a third, 50%.
The Buckingham College Nursery is coeducational and comprises two rooms, the
Caterpillar Room and the Butterfly Room, with its climbing frame and secure, enclosed
play area. As it is situated on the same site as Buckingham College Preparatory School, thechildren in the Nursery have access to the schools facilities.
The numbers are small (no more than 21 at any one time) which means that all the children
necessarily benefit from a warm and friendly environment which that entails.
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A Rich and Varied School Life
Music
Music plays a very special part in school life. Pupils are encouraged to take up an
instrument as early as Year 1 and between 60% and 70% of Junior School boys play one ormore orchestral instruments.
All boys are invited to perform in assemblies or at the annual School Concert, and those
who have passed Grade 1 or above, audition for the school orchestra.
The Choir has also performed at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of the CLIC Sargent Cancer
Fund.
The Director of Music and his peripatetic staff ensure that boys sit grade examinations
regularly.
Expressive Arts Week
The Expressive Arts Week in the Summer Term attracts entries from pupils in a wide
variety of categories, including music, model-making, drawing and painting, creative
writing, poetry reading and cookery.
Club Activities
The School offers over twenty extra-curricular activities covering all year groups and a
wide range of sports as well as a number of recreational and creative pursuits.
A Breakfast Club runs from 7.30 am. until 8.00 a.m. every day, followed by an Early
Birds Club until 8.15 a.m.
A Homework/Activity Club is also open daily to all pupils after school until 6.00 p.m.
All clubs are free of charge with the exception of Speech and Drama, Judo and theBreakfast and Homework/Activity Clubs.
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Drama
Boys are given every opportunity to perform in dramatic productions. Every class presents
its own assembly each term and there are Infant and Junior plays at Christmas. The Year 6
boys produce their own Leavers Play in the Summer Term.
Art
Art is an integral part of school life, with boys work displayed throughout the School, both
on display boards and in the communal theme corridor. Every year, a number of boys have
their paintings selected by the Royal College of Art for the Young Art Exhibition in aid of
Cancer Research U.K. and subsequently displayed in their gallery.
Sport and Recreational Activities
Sport maintains a very high profile at the School, with boys having the opportunity of
representing the School in many sports.
Football, Rugby and Hockey are played during the winter months and Cricket in thesummer, all at Under 9 and Under 11 levels. For all field sports boys are taken by minibus
to the local Harrow Town Sports Club, a matter of minutes away.
Judo continues to thrive with approximately one third of the school population taking part.
Grading sessions are arranged on a regular basis.
Staff organise the Inter-School Championships/Gala in cross country and swimming as well
as an Inter-House swimming gala and Infant and Junior sports days. House competitions,
involving all sports except Judo, are keenly contested.
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A Broad and Balanced Curriculum
The Curriculum
The following subjects are taught in every school year group Mathematics, English,
Science, Geography, History (Understanding of the World and Humanities, respectively, in
Reception and Year 1), R.E., Music, I.C.T., Art, P.E., Games and Swimming (exceptReception). Additional subjects such as D.T., French, Spanish and Verbal Reasoning are
introduced when appropriate.
Infant pupils (Reception to Year 2) are taught predominantly by their class teacher for
reasons of bonding and familiarity. They are then introduced to subject specialists in
preparation for entry into the Senior Independent and Grammar Schools. Year 5 boys are
taught Mathematics in one of two sets.
Assessment
Performance and diagnostic testing support
the teaching programme, with standardised
assessments in English, Mathematics and
Verbal/Non Verbal Reasoning taking place
during the first two terms for Years 3 to 6.
Years 1 and 2 have their own internal
assessment. Junior pupils all sit internal
examinations in seven major subjects at the
end of the Summer Term. These objectivemeasures of ability allow us to monitor
each boys progress.
Curriculum Development
Curriculum Development Meetings, heldweekly after school, allow staff to discuss
and evaluate subject areas. The Director of
Studies ensures that short, medium and longterm plans are in place and systematically
reviewed. Curriculum Outlines are provided
to parents at the beginning of each term.
Languages
From the age of five, boys learn French from a specialist teacher and in Year 6, Spanish.
Annual trips to a linguistic centre also encourage them to become multi-lingual.
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I.C.T.
Our I.C.T. Specialist ensures that Information Communication Technology plays a majorrole in curriculum content and every boy receives at least one lesson per week. The
Reception and Year 1 classes also have frequent access to the adjacent Computer Room
whilst Years 2-6 are provided with laptops in order that I.C.T. can be taught in any numberof subject areas. All boys also have restricted access to the Internet as an invaluable
educational resource.
Library
Boys have ample opportunity to use our well-stocked Library which is upgraded
continually. Those chosen as librarians have responsibility for its efficient running.
Religious Education
Christian doctrine is delivered in all
curriculum areas by a specialist teacher but,as a Christian school in a multi-ethnic
society, we also recognise and value other
faiths. In consequence, pupils have the
opportunity of celebrating festivals such as
Eid, Holi, Rosh Hashanah and Chinese New
Year as well as Christian holidays. Four
morning assemblies each week are times for
corporate worship and opportunities for
boys to read or perform in front of theirpeers. There are also staff and class
assemblies on a regular basis.
Learning Support
The School sets particularly high standards
in all areas of education but appreciates that
a few pupils may experience mild learning
difficulties. For these boys, a specialistteacher provides individual programmes of
study both in the classroom and in the
Learning Support Department.
Homework
Homework is an extension of the school day. It promotes self-discipline and self-organisational skills. Reception pupils receive ten minutes per night, increasing to one hour
and ten minutes for boys in Year 6, and their homework diaries are expected to be signed
daily by parents.
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A Supportive and Caring Environment
Pastoral Care and Discipline
The School prides itself on the pastoral care it provides. Small classes, and a relatively
small school population, ensure that staff know boys individually and can monitor theirbehaviour and academic progress easily. Staff are on duty at all break-times and daily staff
meetings allow them to discuss the welfare of individual pupils.
Staff have a number of disciplinary sanctions at their disposal, from the loss of Golden
Time at the end of a week to in-School and out-of-School detentions and report sheets. It
is rare, however, for matters not to be resolved at an early stage. All incidents are recorded
and are scrutinized by the Headmaster.
Captain of the School, School Prefects, House Captains and a Games Captain are appointed
at the beginning of the academic year and Form Captains appointed half-termly.
Parents Evening and Reports
The Home-School partnership at B.C.P.S. is a
very strong one. Parents are kept up-to-date
with their sons progress in the form of twice-
termly grading sheets as well as reports at theend of the Autumn and Summer Terms.
Although Parents Evenings are arranged
during the Autumn and Spring terms, staff are
always available to discuss any issues with
parents either before or after school.
The Society of Parents and Friends
The School is fortunate in having thesupport of a lively and hard-working
Committee who organise a variety of
events such as the Christmas Fair, QuizNight, Bollywood Night and, of course,
the Summer Fte. These events raisefunds towards equipment and projects to
enhance the lives of all the boys.
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Charities and School Council
Boys are committed to supporting various charities throughout the year.
In school we have a very active and committed School Council. Every year, two pupils fromeach year group are elected on to the School Council, and they help run, organise and
manage different fund raising activities for charity.
School Trips
Junior School boys may take part in over 20 trips
during the school year, including a five day
residential trip in the Summer term for boys in
Years 3-6.
The school operates two minibuses, enabling boys
in all year groups to enjoy a variety of trips inlocations far and wide.
They help support many different charities such as
Children in Need, Operation Christmas Child, Red
Nose Day, Sports Relief, Marie Curie Cancer Care,
St. Lukes Hospice and Harrow Christmas Care.
They are an important part of the student body and
they work hard for their chosen charities.
For the children it really helps to develop empathy
and makes them appreciate difficulties that others,
less fortunate than themselves, may be goingthrough.
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Our Location
The Preparatory School occupies a deceptively spacious site on Rayners Lane, a few
minutes walk from Rayners Lane tube station (Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines). It iswell served by bus routes H9, H10, H12 and 398.
Buckingham College Preparatory School
458 Rayners Lane
Pinner
Middlesex
HA5 5DT
Telephone: 020 8866 2737
Email: [email protected]
Part of the E. Ivor Hughes Educational FoundationRegistered Charity Number: 293623 Company Number: 1975995
Buckingham College School Buckingham College NurseryBuckingham College
Preparatory School
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Information Sheets
This prospectus is intended as a guide only and does not form part of any contract. Although every
care has been taken to ensure that the information is correct at the time of printing, the School
reserves the right to amend terms and conditions from time to time. Parents wishing to place
specific reliance on a statement in the prospectus should seek written confirmation of that statement
before accepting the offer of a place. Buckingham College Preparatory School expressly excludes
any representation or warranty (expressed or implied) to the fullest extent possible.
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Buckingham College Preparatory School
458 Rayners Lane
Pinner
Middlesex
HA5 5DT