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St Catherine's Preparatory School A GSG School

St Catherines Preparatory School

What says..

Classics and thinking skills (based on De Bono’s Thinking Hats theory) are taught in the upper prep alongside French and Latin. Classrooms are buzzy yet orderly. Girls respectfully listen to each other’s points in a year 5 English lesson, while in the WonderLab - the prep’s dedicated science space - girls are stood on tables dropping spinners with squeals of delight as they learn about air resistance. Science is big here and...

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What the school says...

St Catherine’s has been a girls’ day and boarding school since 1885 and we are committed to preparing young women for their ongoing education and lives beyond school. We believe the greatest gift we can give our girls is self-belief. We educate our students, from the ages of 3 to 11, in a happy learning environment. We have around 240 girls in the prep school and, in most years, two classes per age group. Whilst we are academically selective and have high expectations, we welcome girls as individuals with their unique characters and skills.

With small class sizes and specialist teachers in science, IT, music, drama, sports, dance and languages we know how to inspire, motivate and engage girls. We are focused on developing their abilities – whether that is be problem solving at age 3, being introduced to coding aged 4 or analysing life cycles aged 10. We also provide a myriad of opportunities for our girls to grow in confidence, whether that be presenting in assembly, leading a club, speaking to younger girls on modern foreign language day in a native tongue or completing a week’s residential trip to France.

Within our grounds we positively encourage outdoor learning which offers the girls unique opportunities and experiences which cannot be taught within the confines of a classroom. Each year group takes part in a number of activities, learning a progressive set of bush craft skills. The girls also enjoy additional activities such as wild art and orienteering designed to develop their creativity and confidence. Through outdoor learning, the girls become equipped with essential life skills which they will need to succeed in our ever-changing world. Most importantly though, they have fun, make memories and build friendships which will last a lifetime.

Extracurricular activities bring a buzz to the prep school day. Girls participate in a very wide-ranging programme during lunch times and after-school from cross country, football and music technology to string orchestra, jazz, ballet, musical theatre and coding. Girls are encouraged to try new things and to develop their skills and interests. It is often whilst enjoying such activities that friendships are formed with girls in other forms and year groups.

The wellbeing of our girls is at the heart of every decision and interaction in the prep school. It is a fundamental aspect that shapes not only academic success but the overall experience of learning and growing throughout the journey at St Catherine's. Our supportive and proactive approach provides the girls with opportunities for them to grow in confidence, develop their independence and sense of self-belief. This facilitates the development of their personal, social and emotional intelligence and our aim is to create a supportive and nurturing environment in which our girls feel secure and able to achieve.

The prep school is located across the road from the senior school. The advantage of this is that we have the feel of a village school yet share the senior school’s outstanding facilities. ...Read more

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Other features

All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmistress

Since 2012, Naomi Bartholomew MA BEd Cantab, previously deputy head and before that head of English at Yately Manor. Educated at Portsmouth High School and read English and education at Homerton College, Cambridge. Spent two years in south west China with the VSO, then taught in state and independent primary schools.

We meet her in her spacious, homely office which is packed to the brim with children’s art, books and cuddly toys. There are three doorways - one that leads straight into the staff room and another to reception, plus the large glass doors that open out onto prep playground. It is here, in this doorway, that we spot a basket of Paddington Bear paraphernalia. ‘I always put a topical talking point at my playground window to draw the girls...

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Special Education Needs

Condition Provision for in school
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Might cover/be referred to as;
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), PDA , Social skills, Sensory processing disorder
Y
HI - Hearing Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Hearing Impairment, HI - Hearing Impairment
Y
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Learning needs, MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment, Sensory processing
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic , OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, Tics, Tourettes
Y
PD - Physical Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
PD - Physical Disability
Y
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay, PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Might cover/be referred to as;
Anxiety , Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health, SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Trauma
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
Might cover/be referred to as;
DLD - Developmental Language Disorder, Selective mutism, SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
Y
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty, Cerebral Palsy (CP)
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Auditory Processing, DCD, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting, Other specific learning difficulty, SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
Y
VI - Visual Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Special facilities for Visually Impaired, VI - Visual Impairment

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