Aysgarth Preparatory School: Bedale, North Yorkshire, UK

In Year 7 and 8, pupils of higher academic ability follow a ‘scholarship’ curriculum in all academic subjects. Although the content is tailored towards the particular requirements of each individual and the senior school scholarship journey, these tests – both written and interview –  have much in common with each other, all demanding:

• a standard well above that expected in the National Curriculum
• a level of challenge designed to stretch the most academic candidates
• the ability to apply higher order thinking skills including analysis, hypothesis and synthesis
• a genuine curiosity and love of learning

In order to achieve the above students develop a love of learning from an early age and are encouraged to hone their own study skills to become the most efficient learners. Knowledge of self provides the basis for critical thinking as well as taking a meta-cognitive approach to their own learning.

By virtue of small classes (average 12 children in a class) and the relatively small number of academic scholars, they benefit from an individually tailored programme to nurture their natural ability and scholarship exam preparation.  Each subject teacher has a scholarship curriculum. For more information on how we support academically strong children in the individual subjects of Maths, English, Sciences, French, Latin, History, Geography,  Religion, Ethics and Wellbeing, DT, Art and Drama (and LAMDA) please contact us.

What makes the Academic development of our pupils really stand apart is the enrichment activities we offer.

These include:

Moral Maze – Students grapple with questions such as: ‘is it possible to place worth or value on a human being?’ ‘Is it moral to be wealthy?’, ‘Is justice a human construct or is it independent of humans?’ These sessions are normally discussed over a cup of hot chocolate and make your brain go ouch! – but in a good way.

English Club – Fancy an evening reading a poem together in a small group? There is plenty to discuss – meaning, theme, character and action as well as appreciating the writers’ purpose and the effects that language, structure and form have on meaning.

French Club – An opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of not only key grammar structures but also francophone culture, history and current affairs.

Scholars’ Discussion Group – Students can choose interesting questions on a whole range of topics to ‘engage civilly in discussion and argument’; grappling with questions on human nature, ethics and morality, the universe, reality, political science, technology, and cultural and current affairs. This is a chance to present and reflect on academic interests outside the classroom.