Prep Curriculum

At Sevenoaks Prep, science is an exciting and dynamic subject that inspires curiosity and fosters a lifelong love of discovery. Our engaging curriculum follows a blend of the National Curriculum and ISEB Common Entrance frameworks, ensuring pupils develop a strong foundation in scientific knowledge and skills.

Learning is both practical and theoretical, with an emphasis on hands-on experimentation and active investigation. Pupils are encouraged to ask questions, explore ideas, and think critically about the world around them – developing not only their understanding but also their confidence as young scientists.

To support pupils in achieving their full potential, we run dedicated scholarship sessions for those preparing for academic scholarships at senior schools, including Tonbridge and Sevenoaks. We also offer booster sessions that provide opportunities for revision, catch-up, or general support, ensuring every pupil feels confident and well-prepared in their scientific learning.

Beyond the classroom, we offer a wide range of opportunities to extend scientific learning. Pupils can take part in Science and Engineering Clubs, Eco Club, and special off-curriculum STEAM days, which have included visits from the McLaren F1 team, planetary space scientists, and global explorers. Alongside our external speaker lecture series, pupils are enabled to see how science connects to real-world innovation and future possibilities.

Our science laboratory in the Centenary Centre provides the perfect environment for practical discovery – from heating chemicals with Bunsen burners to hatching ducklings. Through this vibrant and hands-on approach, pupils gain not just knowledge, but a genuine excitement for understanding how science shapes our world.

From Year 3 to Year 8, all pupils at the Prep enjoy engaging and challenging mathematics lessons designed to nurture confidence, curiosity and a deep understanding of number. Our curriculum follows a concrete, pictorial and abstract approach, enabling children to explore mathematical concepts in practical, visual, and written forms. Every lesson includes opportunities for problem solving and reasoning, encouraging pupils to think like mathematicians.

In Years 5 to 8, pupils are taught in an accelerated set and parallel sets, ensuring that every child receives the right level of support and challenge to reach their full potential. Across all groups, we foster a growth mindset: pupils are encouraged to take risks, persevere through challenges, and celebrate mistakes as valuable steps in the learning process. Additional booster sessions are available to support pupils preparing for entrance examinations to their future schools.

Beyond the classroom, pupils further develop their love of mathematics through a range of enrichment opportunities such as Pi Day and NSPCC Number Day. In Upper Key Stage 2, pupils take part in the Primary Mathematics Challenge, while those in Key Stage 3 participate in the Junior Mathematics Challenge – both inspiring and stretching our young mathematicians to achieve excellence.

At our school, we believe that a high-quality computing education should spark curiosity, creativity, and confidence in every pupil. From the earliest years, pupils are encouraged to explore how technology works and discover the exciting ways it can be used to create, communicate, and solve problems.

In Pre-Prep, learning is hands-on and playful. Pupils experiment with Bee-Bots, Logo, and Purple Mash, exploring patterns, sequences, and simple programming as they begin to understand how computers think. As they progress through the Prep years, their skills deepen as they create digital projects, learn coding with Scratch, and develop their abilities using Microsoft Office 365. These experiences help pupils think logically, collaborate effectively, and build confidence with technology, laying the foundations for future success.

Computing is closely connected to Mathematics, Science, and Design Technology, helping pupils see how ideas link across different subjects and come to life in meaningful ways. Alongside this, we support pupils in becoming responsible and confident digital citizens, learning to use technology safely, creatively, and respectfully.

The computing department focuses on nurturing and expanding pupils’ love for the subject. We aim to create engaging and challenging lessons that inspire curiosity and creativity, while ensuring that technology is always used in a safe and responsible way. By embedding digital safety and practical computing skills across the school, we strive to equip every pupil, from Reception to Year 8, with the confidence and knowledge to use technology beneficially.

Our goal is to help pupils develop the essential skills they will need for their future, whether in education, the workplace, or everyday life, while fostering a lifelong enthusiasm for learning in the digital world, hopefully having some fun along the way.

English teaching at Sevenoaks Prep is underpinned by the enthusiasm and expertise of staff who share a genuine love of literature and a commitment to fostering a culture of reading for pleasure among pupils. All four elements of a successful English curriculum – reading, writing, speaking and listening – are promoted through both the taught curriculum and a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities, including drama, debating, book clubs and competitions.

The school library sits at the heart of our community and sets the tone for the reading areas and accessibility of books across the classrooms. Pupils are encouraged to make full use of this space during break and lunchtimes, supported by our Year 8 library prefects who help to maintain an organised and welcoming environment. Our library provision has been further enhanced by recognising its multi-functional role and creating a dedicated quiet reading area adjacent to the main library. We work closely with our local independent bookshop to select high-quality texts that span a range of genres and global themes, inspiring our young readers to explore new perspectives and ideas.

Our annual Word Explorers Day fosters curiosity and a spirit of inquiry into words and their origins, while termly visits from renowned authors, illustrators and storytellers inspire pupils to read widely and develop a deeper appreciation of literature. Our curriculum is text-based, drawing upon the CLPE’s Power of Reading approach to ensure that high-quality, diverse and engaging texts lie at the heart of teaching and learning. This approach enables pupils to explore language in depth, respond thoughtfully to a range of literary forms, and develop both their comprehension and written expression. By engaging with carefully selected texts that reflect a variety of voices, cultures and experiences, our pupils become confident, reflective readers and writers who appreciate the power of literature to inform, challenge and inspire.

GAMES  

Games are a central part of school life, with pupils taking part in at least two sessions each week, alongside regular fixtures against other schools.  These competitive opportunities, combined with participation in local and national tournaments allow pupils to represent the school, develop teamwork and experience the excitement of competition. The core sports programme includes football, rugby, cricket, netball, hockey, athletics and cross country.  Through these activities pupils build physical competence, tactical understanding and resilience, while learning the values of respect, sportsmanship and commitment. 

In addition to the core curriculum, a broad extracurricular programme runs throughout the day, offering activities for all interests and abilities. Clubs are delivered by experienced Prep sports staff as well as specialist external coaches, ensuring high-quality provision and varied experiences. Pupils can take part in activities such as tennis, including lessons and one-to-one coaching with Match Point Tennis, football development sessions with the Chelsea Foundation and strength and conditioning training with The Better Body Group.  

Further opportunities include pickleball, judo, gymnastics, golf, yoga and street dance, giving pupils the chance to explore new interests, develop different skills and stay active in a fun, engaging way. This diverse programme supports the development of well-rounded individuals, encouraging participation, confidence and a positive attitude towards physical activity in and beyond school. 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The Physical Education and Games programme offers pupils a wide range of opportunities to develop skills, confidence, and a lifelong enjoyment of sport. Our holistic approach recognises that success is not defined solely by athletic performance, but also by effort, understanding, attitude, and personal development. This ensures that all pupils can progress, achieve, and build a positive relationship with physical activity, while supporting both mental and physical wellbeing. 

The curriculum is carefully designed to provide balance and progression across physical, cognitive, and personal development through the “Head, Heart, and Hands” framework. Pupils engage in a broad range of activities, including health and wellbeing, creative movement, net and invasion games, and athletics, building strong foundations for future study and lifelong participation in sport. This inclusive approach values teamwork, leadership, resilience, and respect, helping every pupil to succeed and develop confidence and motivation. 

Music

Music plays a large part in pupils’ lives at The Prep with all children receiving at least one timetabled music lesson per week lasting an hour.  It is an inspiring and creative curriculum which allows pupils to learn about music from a wide variety of genres and composers, fostering a sense of creativity, collaboration and excitement about performance.

Many pupils also take individual lessons in a variety of musical instruments including piano, drums, guitar, violin and singing.  They can be part of a variety of school musical groups and bands, performing regularly in concerts and sitting music exams. They also have the chance to perform in drama productions and sing in our choir and chamber choir.  The choir has also taken part in ‘Young Voices’ at the O2 and our chamber choir performs at IAPS music events.  Our Christmas Concert, Summer Concert and ‘Prep Idol’ are our largest musical events in the school calendar and are interspersed with smaller musical events including house music, informal lunchtime concerts and music assemblies.

Drama

Every pupil from Year 3 upwards has a weekly drama lesson with a curriculum that encourages an understanding of performance techniques, exploring types of theatre from around the world, featuring both scripted and improvisation work.  There are four school drama productions in the Prep school each year and all pupils are encouraged to take part, either on stage or behind the scenes.  The Senior School Play takes place each December for pupils in Years 7 and 8, allowing cast members to tackle ambitious and engaging plays which really stretch their acting abilities and talents.  In March, Year 5 and 6 pupils make up the cast of the Middle School Play, and Year 3 and Year 4 each put on a summer show.  In addition, House Drama is an annual competition where Year 8 pupils direct and produce short plays involving pupils across Years 5 to 8.  LAMDA sessions are available for pupils from Year 1 and pupils take part in a range of external competitions.

Art

From Reception to Year 8, all children at the Prep have art lessons in our beautiful, light purpose-built art studio. The curriculum covers a diverse range of materials, techniques, styles and cultural influences, to help each child find their creative outlet, whether that be digital art, sculpture, prop making, photography, textiles or painting, or anything in between. There are regular art competitions throughout the course of the year, alongside weekly art club and scholarship sessions for selected children in Year 7 & 8. In Year 7 & 8 the lessons take on a more self-directed format, encouraging the children to take more creative license over their work and be self-reflective in their practice, preparing them for the type of work they will encounter in their secondary schools.

Scholarships

Pupils who excel in any of the creative arts subjects are encouraged to pursue scholarships at their destination schools and we have an excellent track record of scholarships at a range of schools. They are supported through the process by subject staff who have an excellent knowledge of the requirements for different destination schools.

In the Prep, Years 3-6 participate in Outdoor Learning each and every week.  We are lucky enough to have three main sites to utilise throughout the school year and to use in the different seasons, allowing us to explore the changes in the natural environment.

The activities are child led, giving children opportunities to follow their inquisitive minds and have control over how they spend their time outdoors.  Through observations, the qualified staff build the lesson activities around the interests of the children; this could be building habitat homes, using tools to create craft out of natural resources, shelter building, creating recipes in the mud kitchen or making structures for their own play to name a few.

Children have the opportunity to learn how to take responsibility for their own actions and that of their peers, they learn how to manage risk when undergoing fire lighting, cooking and using tools such as a bow saw, bill hook, sheath knife or palm drill.

Connecting with nature is so important for our wellbeing and it is wonderful to see how the children utilise the acres of land here at The Prep, enabling each individual child to thrive in their own way.  Being in the outdoors gives children the time to enjoy the freedom of a classroom without walls – problem solving and exploring with their peers and simply challenging themselves and having fun!

At Sevenoaks Prep, we are committed to equipping students with the confidence and skills they need to succeed in their applications to secondary schools.

Many students will sit the Kent 11+ Test for Grammar Schools in September of Year 6, while others will take the ISEB Common Pre-Test or similar assessments for entry to independent schools.  To ensure thorough preparation, reasoning is integrated into the weekly curriculum from Year 3 onwards, with the focus and time devoted to this increasing through Years 4 and 5.  Additionally, an after-school Study Skills Club is offered during the Summer term of Year 5, providing further support.

Our approach is balanced and blended, using a variety of paper-based and online resources, including Atom Learning, to develop students’ reasoning skills. For those sitting additional written papers for selected schools, we also provide additional, targeted sessions in English, Maths, and Critical Thinking.

As interviews are a key part of the application process, Year 6 pupils participate in practice interviews with a senior member of staff, helping them build confidence and articulate their thoughts effectively.