Academic
Children at The Downs enter the Prep School in Year Four. Whilst they become accustomed to the thrill of increasing independence, they remain largely class taught in two colourful, adjoining classrooms that create a sense of unity for the year group. The two dedicated and caring teachers deliver most of the curriculum but as the children move into Year Five they are taught by specialist teachers who happily foster further interest, enjoyment and intellectual challenge.
The pupils follow the Common Entrance syllabus, a syllabus that is based on the National Curriculum but enables the school to make the most of its independence: Years Four and Five enjoy an unusual allocation of the Creative Arts, Years Five and Six study the Theory of Music, Science is taught in the three separate elements, French is introduced early in the Pre-Prep, Latin and Spanish being taught later in the prep school where there are also plans to introduce Mandarin.
Classes are of mixed ability but from Year Five the children are set in Maths, English, Science and French. Those gifted academics are nurtured towards Scholarship Entrance. Bristol schools candidates are prepared for entrance in Year Nine but along with other pupils, take the Common Entrance Exams at the end of their final year.
