Leadership
Leadership skills are also strongly encouraged throughout the Preparatory School, and increasingly in the upper years. Specific leadership responsibilities are given to pupils in Year 8, following a course in leadership skills. The nurturing but challenging life at The Downs, together with our ‘Leavers’ Experience’ which follows the Common Entrance Exams, provides our older children with a strong platform from which they can confidently move into their senior school as independent individuals.
Year 8 Leaders
Just before the beginning of each September term the new Year 8 pupils attend a leadership camp. the aim of this adventure is to encourage this group of youngsters to try out new leadership skills and discover something about themselves which will help them lead the school for the coming year.
Leaders' Camp Poem
The struggle with tents was too much to handle
Eating sweets was banned from the tents
Not having your lunch was bad for a few
Traffic going home slowed some of the journey
Still Daisy managed to nearly be sick!
Rickety and wobbly
Open space
Pressure on the high ropes
Enjoyment was on everyone’s face
Scared of jumping off
Cooking was such a disaster
A skill we couldn’t master
Moorishly running towards the campsite shop
People there had such a shock
Several people set marshmallows blazing
In the end it was also the nougAT that was flailing
Talking till the dead of night
Enough was enough when it eventually turned light!
The tests were next
Exciting and best
As we wandered like lost sheep
Met again in a big heap
Worst was the bomb
Oh so hard to lift it from
Right out of the danger zone
‘Kross the stream we were flown
Shopping in Swanage
Pizza and fish and chips!
Arcade where James cheated the machine!
Rock and sweets!
Exploring the woodland and the streams
Truth or dare – embarrassing for some
In our tents chatting!
Marshmallows!!
Energetic and wild!
By Year 8 2007
The Preparatory School
As children progress through the Main School, they are encouraged to take more responsibility for their learning, and their contribution to school life. They grow to understand their importance in the community, both through instruction and example. This provides them with a strong platform, from which they can confidently move into their senior school as independent, self-reliant individuals.
There is a growing formality in the undertaking of academic studies as the children progress through the school. At this stage Science is split into the three disciplines (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), and the children also study French and Latin with the option to take Spanish or German from Year 7.
These subjects supplement the general academic timetable, which together with Information Technology, Design and Technology, Personal, Social and Health Education, Art, Music and Drama; provide the diverse foundation on which we pride ourselves.
Prep
It is essential to foster the discipline required to work independently, and therefore Prep (homework) is regularly set, and the children have the choice of doing this work at school or home.
Learning Support
Children who require extra learning support receive a combination of in-class support from classroom assistants and small group sessions from the English and Maths staff. We also have the help of more specialist staff who visit the school for individual sessions if requested.
English as a foriegn language will be taught in support of the curriculum as from September 2008 as and where necessary.
Our classes are currently taught in mixed ability groups with differentiation at three levels where necessary. In this way each child's individual strengths and weaknesses are catered for both academically and socially.
Year 8 Leavers' Course
Mountain Boarding
Every year after Year 8 have finished their Common Entrance exams they embark on our Leavers' Course. This is a programme of activites which takes them out of the classroom and introduces them to some of the aspects of life after prep school.
Caving
The activities may include:
- Community work in and out of school
- Studying the local area
- Learning new skills such as banking, the art of etiquette or business skills
- Preparation for growing up such 'How to fit in at Senior School' and 'How to say no to drugs'
- ...and having fun such as camping, caving, mountain boarding and a trip to Alton Towers
The Downs, Malvern College Prep, Brockhill Road, Colwall
MALVERN Worcestershire WR13 6EY
Tel: 01684 540277 Fax: 01684 540094
Created and maintained by WSI