A decade of difference – 10 years of preparatory education

John Weeks, Headmaster at Brighton College Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep School, says 10 years in a prep school is ideal preparation for life and work...

The progress made and building blocks laid during the first 10 years of a child’s education are unparalleled during an individual’s lifetime. I am always astounded by the transformation in children from when they arrive in our nursery to when they graduate from Year 8 and pass into the College. Our 13-year-olds are confident, resilient, academically curious and most importantly for me, kind. From the age of three there has followed a real decade of difference.

Before starting my role as Headmaster of Brighton College nursery, pre-prep and prep school, I was Headmaster of the London Academy of Excellence, a free (state) school in East London for 16- to 19-year-olds. The school was set up in 2012 because none of the local 11-16 schools had their own sixth forms. Pupils with good GCSE results were either having to travel long distances to secure a good A-level education or were moving on to vocational courses locally which saw them fall well below their academic potential. The academy now sends 15 pupils to Oxford or Cambridge universities each year; only two pupils had secured this achievement in the year LAE opened.

Despite the school’s successes, teaching at a sixth-form-only school had some significant challenges. One of these challenges was that in addition to teaching the sixth formers in their three or sometimes four A-levels, we had to ensure that they settled quickly to a very new environment, versed them in interview techniques, secured them relevant work experience, developed their ‘employability’ skills, immersed them in our extra-curricular programme and ensured that they were champions for fundamental British values.

Two years, 18 months really, hardly seemed long enough. The time pressure we faced at LAE made us think very carefully about the values we wanted our sixth-formers to hold as they made the ultimate step into the adult world. We were very aware that the world today is fast moving and complex; we needed to make sure that the skills that we extolled were sufficient to prepare the sixth formers for the world of work in 10 or 15 years’ time. Interestingly, the six core values at LAE chimed very closely with the ethos here at Brighton; respect, humility, independence, excellence, kindness and resilience.

Many people have asked me about my move from leading a school with 18-year-olds to a school that educates children from the age of three. Of course there are differences, but these core values are most certainly a strong and common thread. They are also timeless. The ability of an individual to respect others for who they are, to reflect on one’s own strengths and weaknesses or to extend a hand of kindness (even when your own chips are down) will still hold the same importance in 100 years as they did 100 years ago. Curriculums change, exam systems come and go, pedagogy evolves but these traits are undisputed.

Now, I feel spoilt to be in charge of a school where we have ten years to nurture and develop these values through our curriculum, pastoral systems and extra-curricular experiences. I should add that all three of these spheres play an equally important role in embedding our values. The children here have the added benefit of continuity in this regard when they move into the College.

So, practically, how do we embed these values in our children during their ten years with us? It is a blend of experiences from both inside and outside of the classroom. The Nursery and Pre-Prep have a varied and progressive curriculum; French and Mandarin teaching, for example, begins in reception, alongside specialist art, PE, games and music lessons. Pre-Prep pupils also benefit from weekly lessons in computing, teaching vital IT literacy and e-safety, alongside library lessons aimed at inspiring all pupils to read and learn about a range of literacy genres from the earliest age. At six years old, children are given the opportunity to take up individual instrumental lessons taught by our music specialists and become confident performers in our weekly assemblies and annual concerts.

As the children progress from the Pre-Prep to the Prep in Year 4, their world of learning expands to incorporate curriculum drama, home economics, design and technology and Latin, alongside the traditional maths, English, science, languages and humanities subjects. Our co-curricular provision is also extended, incorporating LAMDA courses, choirs, music ensembles and orchestras. Over 50 clubs and activities are offered to the children during lunchtimes and after school, ranging from sewing or chess to debating or hockey; there is something for every interest.

This rich learning environment offers a decade of opportunities which will bring out the very best in each of our children. Those building blocks and crucial core values mentioned earlier are all cemented through this vast array of experiences. We know, as they move into the College, that they are fully prepared to launch themselves into a happy and fulfilled adult life. A child’s sixth-form (and GCSE) years will fly by, which is why it is all the more important to make that decade of difference from the age of three.