Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School Prospectus

RAVENSCOURT PARK PREPARATORY SCHOOL Prospectus
A co-educational independent school for children from 4 to 11 years old

welcome
Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School is a lively, co-educational and non-selective
independent school for children aged 4 to 11.
RPPS provides an education
of the highest quality with
an engaging curriculum that
is varied, exciting and forwardlooking,
whilst also preparing
pupils for transfer at the end
of Year 6 to some of the best
independent schools in the UK.
We are a thriving school, taking
pride in a holistic approach to the attainment of each child’s
potential - intellectual, physical, social and spiritual. Our talented
and dedicated team of teachers nurture and inspire the children
so that they flourish academically and emotionally.
of Year 6 ready to make the most of the opportunities ahead
of them, both at their choice of senior school and in later life.
This prospectus will provide you with a flavour of life at RPPS.
Please do come to one of our Open Mornings, or arrange a
separate appointment, so that you are able to visit us to see
for yourself what we offer our pupils.
Carl Howes,
Headmaster
RAVENSCOURT PARK
Part of the
Be part of
the family...
While our pupils are with us, they will engage in the excitement
of learning and develop the confidence to question, analyse
and express their opinions. The stimulating environment at
RPPS encourages children to become resourceful, resilient,
reflective and enthusiastic learners who are able to learn from
their mistakes and build on their successes.
We form strong and trusting partnerships with our parents.
We operate an ‘Open Door Policy’, where parents’ comments,
views, contributions and suggestions are valued. We also
welcome parents’ direct support with activities such as hearing
children read, accompanying day visits and at special events
throughout the year.
We engender in our pupils the values of respect, compassion,
tolerance and community responsibility. At RPPS, laughter and
learning go hand-in-hand and our children leave us at the end
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OUR PHILOSOPHY
Mission
The schools within the Gardener Schools Group are committed
to providing an education of the highest quality that meets
each individual child’s needs and abilities. We seek to engender
curiosity and creativity in each of them. These are the main
principles of our philosophy, which underpins all aspects of
our Reception to Year 6 programme:
1. We believe that each child should be nurtured, inspired
and motivated to allow them to fulfil their full potential.
2. Our approach is holistic with a balanced focus on a
child’s intellectual, moral, spiritual, physical and emotional
development.
3. We engender confidence and self-esteem, leading to
intellectual risk taking and a love of learning.
3. Innovation and flexibility – we continuously reflect on our
practice, constantly seeking to improve. We encourage
initiative and embrace change.
4. Our place in the world – we promote the understanding of
what it means to grow up in a Britain of the 21st century,
preparing our children to make positive contributions in school,
work and life.
5. We value education as a journey and not simply as a method
for passing exams.
Outcomes
Our children are inspired and motivated by outstanding teaching.
They are resourceful, resilient, reflective and enthusiastic learners.
We give our children the confidence to collaborate, have an
opinion and make mistakes in order to learn.
“..a happy and
thriving school which
prides itself on a holistic
approach to the attainment
of each child’s potential -
physical, social, intellectual
and spiritual.”
ISI
4. We cultivate values of respect, compassion, tolerance
and community responsibility in each child.
5. We are non-selective in our approach to admissions.
Values
Our values reflect our philosophy and permeate all aspects
of school life and apply to all members of our community:
Our children become expressive and confident communicators.
They understand the importance of contributing to their
community and to each other’s lives.
They value diversity and leave school as well-rounded individuals,
ready to make the most of the opportunities on offer to them.
1. Excellence in teaching and learning – we are committed to
the provision of the highest standard of education for each
child and we always celebrate achievement, however small.
2. Communication – we operate a true ‘Open Door Policy’ where
we make ourselves available to those who need to speak to us
and communicate face to face whenever possible. The school
is a welcoming place for parents and your involvement in
school life is regarded as essential.
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Grounds & Facilities
RPPS is housed in four separate buildings located on a single site in Hammersmith,
West London. There is a beautiful vicarage building which was the original home for
the school when it opened in 1991 and the site as a whole provides a comfortable,
vibrant and homely environment for the children.
With the addition of the Gardener Building in 2011, the school increased its physical space and is able to provide a wealth of new
curriculum opportunities throughout the school. RPPS has specialist on-site facilities including a multi-purpose Auditorium, Library,
Music Suite, Art Studio and Science Laboratory.
Additional facilities include a gymnasium, ICT suite and large outdoor playground space. RPPS is situated next to Ravenscourt Park
which is one of the Borough’s flagship parks boasting twenty-acres. Not only do the children enjoy exploring and discovering nature
here, it provides the setting for the majority of PE and Games lessons, including the use of the tennis courts and multi-use games
area. It is also a social hub for parents and children who walk through the park on their way home and offers many facilities including
a walled garden, multiple play areas, and a paddling pool. There is a real sense of family and community and there are many family
events which we host in the park such as whole class picnics.
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What we offer
Our rich and varied curriculum has been
carefully crafted to enable each child to
thrive. From Early Years to Upper School,
all areas of the syllabus are balanced to
promote the intellectual, spiritual, moral
and physical development of the child.
At every stage, we aim to broaden and deepen our children’s
awareness and understanding of the world around them and
of their place within it. By bringing out individual talents and
realising abilities to the full, we aim to instill both confidence
and a life-long love of learning in each child.
Our Lower School (children aged 4-7) encompasses the
Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Upon entry
into our Reception classes, children have the opportunity to
learn through independent and guided play, with a focus on
developing positive relationships with peers and the class
teacher. Teaching and learning gradually becomes more
formalised to incorporate discrete subject areas in Years
1 and 2.
Upper School pupils (aged 7-11) also have a class teacher,
but an increasing number of their lessons are taught by
subject specialists in our state-of-the-art facilities.
Pupils may develop special educational needs at any time,
be they cognitive, physical or emotional. Where appropriate,
our Learning Support Department offers personalised provision
to ensure that each child receives the support required to
help fulfil his or her potential.
Our curriculum integrates Information & Communication
Technology in every subject. Our children may produce a
multimedia presentation to report a science experiment, create
a web page in geography, or join an after school club teaching
animation and editing. E-safety education is embedded within
the curriculum for all year groups. We encourage the use of
digital technology to enhance and extend the children’s learning
as much as possible, yet still value the traditions and merits of
handwritten, well presented work.
At RPPS we strive to instill a love of music in each pupil for life.
The curriculum encompasses a wide range of genres, ensuring
that children have an appreciation of music in all its forms. Aside
from class lessons, pupils have the opportunity to participate
in whole-school and group performances and are encouraged
to join our extra-curricular clubs such as the Chamber Choir or
Orchestra. We also offer individual peripatetic tuition including
percussion and voice.
Our programme for Religious Education follows the Discovery
RE scheme which covers the major world faiths. We welcome
children and families of all denominations and faiths, and from
those where no faith is professed. Regular assemblies provide
opportunities to develop awareness of world religions and of
important humanitarian and spiritual issues of both topical and
permanent relevance. Academic learning is related wherever
possible to the world beyond the classroom and is supported
by offsite explorations, as well as visitors to the school. In
addition, our creative themed weeks give pupils the opportunity
to explore a topic in particular detail through workshops and
theatrical performances.
Guest speakers are regularly invited to address the children
or deliver subject-specific workshops, helping to bring
investigation and research to life.
As a non-selective and inclusive school, we take pride in
motivating and developing each child. By encouraging our
children to challenge themselves with their learning and to
have a growth mindset regarding making mistakes, our pupils
develop resilience, perseverance and adaptability which are
such important skills for senior school and beyond.
“By encouraging
our children to challenge
themselves with their learning
and to have a growth mindset
regarding making mistakes,
our pupils develop resilience,
perseverance and adaptability
which are such important
skills for life.”
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Enhancing Education
Enrichment
Much of what we offer happens outside the school walls and
the regular timetable. Each class has at least one off-site
educational visit per term. Constantly evolving, our programme
of educational visits is generally linked to topics covered in the
curriculum but often takes advantage of unique events going on
in our city. Typical trips include visits to Shakespeare’s Globe
Theatre, Living Rainforest, the Roald Dahl Museum and Kew
Gardens. Our current residential trips programme commences in
Year 3 with a two-night stay at Sayers Croft, an outward-bound
centre in Surrey. Years 4, 5 and 6 venture a little further afield to
Moorland Hall, experiencing the Devonshire countryside and a
rolling programme of challenging outdoor activities, including
caving, rock-climbing and kayaking. In addition, pupils in the
Upper School may opt to attend the biennial overseas music
tour, the Year 5 sports tour to Jersey or the Year 6 ski trip.
have the option of doing their homework. Parents can register
and pay for the care service at the start or may use it on an ad
hoc basis when the need arises.
Transport
We have a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint and
limit congestion. We make every effort to adopt an eco-friendly
approach in all we do. Families are encouraged to walk, cycle
or use public transport to come to school.
The calendar is punctuated with opportunities for visits to
museums, galleries and theatres. Distinguished visitors –
authors, painters, musicians, scientists – enter our gates to
enhance the children’s learning via presentations or interactive
workshops such as the Justice System and Thinking Skills.
Clubs
We believe in encouraging the children to have a wide range of
interests outside the curriculum; we therefore offer a variety of
clubs both before and after school. These vary from year to year
but usually include art, pottery, chess, dance, science and ICT
among an array of further sports and music clubs.
Wrap Around Care
We are aware of the difficulties for parents who are unable
to bring their children to school or collect them at the end
of afternoon lessons. We therefore offer a care service from
8am until 6pm. At the end of lessons, pupils have access to a
selection of interesting games and recreational activities under
the close supervision of specially appointed staff. Older pupils
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Communication
We view effective education as a partnership between pupils, parents and teachers.
The most important link is between parents and the child’s class teacher.
Teaching staff are generally available at the beginning and end of the school day to speak to parents and further consultations with
our Senior Leadership Team or Headmaster can be arranged by appointment. The elected Parent Governor provide an additional
forum for communication and discussion.
Daily communication takes place through the Reading Record in Lower School and the Homework Diary in Upper School, which
move between home and school with each child, and by email. Our team of office staff are also available at reception to answer
any queries. Class teachers report verbally on pupil progress at parent interviews in the autumn and spring terms. A detailed written
report is distributed to parents prior to parent interviews at the end of each academic year.
Letters about events and clubs are emailed to parents during term time and can also be accessed through our Parent Portal tool
on the website. We publish an online diary, news pages and blogs so that parents can keep up with news from residential trips
and other events. Parklife, our half-termly newsletter, offers parents a snapshot of current school life and developments.
“We view
effective education
as a partnership
between pupils,
parents and
teachers.”
Above all, we operate a true ‘Open Door Policy’ whereby regular communication between school and home is of paramount
importance.
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Registration &
Admission
what next?
Registration
Children join the school in Reception once they have reached their fourth birthday. Parents
can register their child by completing the registration form online: www.rpps.co.uk/register
or filling out the paper form enclosed in this prospectus.
This registration fee is non-refundable and does not guarantee that a place will be offered.
We strongly recommend that children are registered on their first birthday.
Offer
Children registered on or before their first birthdays are entered into a ballot. Following the ballot,
parents whose registrations have been successful will be invited to meet with the Head of Lower
School or Early Years Leader for an informal visit with their child. Children registered after their
first birthday will be seen according to the date of registration after this birthday.
Siblings of current pupils are given priority for places and thereafter children are seen according
to their date of registration until all available places are filled. Places in other year groups
throughout the school may become available from time to time. A registration form should be
completed and when a place is available the family will be invited in for an informal meeting
with the Head of Lower or Upper School and to meet the Headmaster.
Pupils at both Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School and Kew Green Preparatory School are
offered entry automatically to our Gardener Schools Group senior schools, Kew House School
and Maida Vale School. In all but exceptional circumstances, this will offer the guarantee of
4-18 years education for those families who would like to choose this path. For those wishing
to choose other senior schools, our preparatory schools will continue to support and prepare
children for the external examinations, maintaining our long track record of success at 11+.
Browse our website
www.rpps.co.uk
Book a visit online at
www.rpps.co.uk/openmornings
Feel free to call us for further information
020 8846 9153
Complete online registration form
rpps.co.uk/register
Acceptance
On receipt of an offer letter, parents have seven days in which to accept a place. At this stage,
the deposit, a signed acceptance form and proof of identification are required. The deposit will
be returned to parents once the child leaves Year 6, subject to all outstanding fees being settled.
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Dalling Road
Ravenscourt Gardens
Stamford
Brook
(9 min walk)
Chiswick High Road
St. Peter’s
Square Garden
CHISWICK
Ravenscourt Park
Hamlet Gardens
Ravenscourt
Park
Beavor Lane
Great West Road
Ravenscourt
Avenue
Vencourt Pl
Ravenscourt Road
Latymer
Sports Centre
River Thames
Ravenscourt Park
(3 min walk)
HAMMERSMITH
King Street
A315
Furnivall Gardens
St. Paul’s
Church
Hammersmith
(13 min walk)
Hammersmith Flyover
WEST KENSINGTON
Ravenscourt Park
Preparatory School
16 Ravenscourt Avenue
Hammersmith
London
W6 0SL
W: www.rpps.co.uk E: admissions@rpps.co.uk T: 020 8846 9153 @RPPSlondon