Independent Pre-Preparatory and Preparatory School
for boys in Hampstead, London NW3
C
urriculum
At Lyndhurst, the early years at the School are taught by the Class Teachers for most lessons. The emphasis is on the many different aspects of Literacy and Numeracy that are taught and reinforced at this age, with additional topic work in History, Geography and Science. Each week these classes have also Junior French, P.E. and their Art and Music as well as, from age seven, their Games afternoons.
As the boys move up the School, forms are increasingly taught by the subject specialists. In Year Five this is the case for one-third of the lessons, and from Year Six onwards for all classes.
Staffing
The School's dedicated team of staff includes Classroom Teachers and Assistants for the younger boys, and the Specialist Subject Teachers. In this way, the School's academic and pastoral needs are fully provided for. Provision is also made within the staff for some individual help, should this, at times, be appropriate.
Academic
The curriculum includes Maths, English, Science, French, History, Geography, Religious Studies, Information Technology, Music, Art, P.E. and Games, with Latin from Year Five onwards. During the three senior years, the classes are split into smaller groups. Ancient Greek is also taught to the top group in the final two years, and Study Skills in the final three years.
Art, Design and Technology
Art is taught by the Art Specialist to all classes from Year Three. A full range of skills and techniques is taught, to enable all boys to begin to produce artworks they can be proud of, and to develop abilities to enjoy in the future. The Art course is lively and wide-ranging: in addition to fine art, it includes modelling, construction and design work. The boys are taught the skills of planning and design and how to take these on to both make and test their designs. Art history and appreciation and art topics are also included in the curriculum.
Gifted boys can be given extra preparation with a view towards Art Scholarships available at some Senior Schools.
Music
All classes from Year Three have lessons with the Music Specialist, in which boys are taught about music of different kinds and idioms, and all have much opportunity for music-making. Boys are encouraged to take up an instrument, and the School has lists of tutors for a variety of instruments. Small groups of musicians and singers practise and there are performances to the School and to parents. Some individual instrumental tuition is also available.
Boys with a particular talent can be prepared for Senior School Music Scholarships.
Information Technology
The School has two banks of networked laptop computers, on which the boys are taught appropriate skills and the integration of these into their other curricular work.
Boys are instructed on the many aspects of constructive computer use, including touch-typing, information storage and retrieval, word-processing, spreadsheets, use of search engines, layout and design.
Lesson delivery can be enhanced through the use of digital projectors and interactive whiteboards, and boys gain experience of PowerPoint presentation of their own material.
Use of the Internet is also taught under strict control and supervision.