Upper Prep
Kate Ingamells - Upper Prep Head
Head’s Message
It is my privilege to welcome you to the Upper Prep at The Grange School. Our pupils are inspired to be creative, curious, and courageous in their learning; where risk taking is encouraged and making mistakes is considered part of the learning process. We are nurturing bright minds and preparing our young Grangeonians for a world that requires flexibility, resilience, inclusivity, and a sense of service.
The ethos and values that were instilled in our School by our Founder are still as relevant today as they were then. Our guiding principles imbue all that we do in Upper Prep, empowering our pupils to reach their potential in a happy, nurturing, safe environment where their individual personalities and talents can flourish. Academic standards are high, and we believe that a holistic education is incredibly important; our facilities and co-curricular programmes reflect this.
Pupils develop a joy of learning where success leads to greater confidence and personal responsibility. We ensure that firm, educational foundations are constructed upon which future learning in the Senior School, and beyond, can be built. Respect and kindness towards oneself and others are paramount, and this is extended to our local community through our Spirit of Service programme.
It is an honour to be the Head of such a dynamic, vibrant, and successful School. There is so much on offer that I would simply encourage you to come and see us; only then will you really get a feel for what makes our School truly unique and very special.
Our SMT People
Academic Programme
From 3º Básico to 6º Básico
With the vital foundations of independent thinking and self-discipline laid in the Lower Prep, the pupils enter 3º Básico ready for the academic challenges ahead. Over the four years that they spend in the Upper Prep pupils will understand quickly that there is much more to School than merely repeating facts that the teacher writes on the board. The curriculum is a means of helping children to learn what is essential for preparing them for the Senior School and beyond, so that they are able to fulfil their role in society as adults.
The use of the English language is central to the academic curriculum throughout these four years, with much of each subject’s syllabus based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales and complying with the Chilean requirements. Literacy, in both English and Spanish, plus Numeracy are seen as the bedrock of the Upper Prep but the other subjects are very important too.
Subjects such as Music, Drama, Art and Design Technology are taught by specialists and are seen as central to the curriculum rather than bolt-on extras. Work is differentiated so that all pupils are able to show what they can do rather than what they cannot do. Not all pupils can be scholars but they can all learn the determination to do their best at all times, so there is an emphasis on personal endeavour and effort. During these years each and every child should be able to find at least one thing that they can say they really enjoy about School.
When pupils leave 6º Básico we hope that they will have discovered their personal strengths, have the wisdom to acknowledge any weaknesses; they will be self-confident without arrogance, self-disciplined and have the strength of character to make the correct choice when faced with difficult personal decisions.
In brief, the goals are to give the knowledge, analytical and evaluative skills combined with the attitudes and moral values that are central to their intellectual and spiritual development.
Pastoral
The Grange School seeks to achieve the full development of the potential of its pupils, through an education that allows harmonious intellectual, moral, emotional, social and physical balance. As a way of promoting integral development, we have adopted the British model of Pastoral Care, with an objective to provide permanent accompaniment and monitoring of pupils in their various areas.
All teachers have a role of Pastoral Care of the pupils. Along with this, there is a team, led by a Deputy Head (Pastoral) in each sector of the School (Lower Prep, Upper Prep and Senior School), made up of a Head of each level -from Prekider to 4º EM- in charge of monitoring their pupils, together with the head teachers or tutors of each course and with the support of a psychologist (Counsellor) in each cycle. Together with the Nursing team and the School Coexistence Manager (or Child Protection and Coexistence Coordinator), we seek to promote a healthy environment, with a school climate conducive to learning.
Together, the Pastoral Care team supports and promotes the educational hallmarks of our School, seeking that the sense of responsibility, honesty, loyalty and empathy are characteristic hallmarks, and where each member of the community develops within a framework of respect towards oneself and towards others, valuing diversity and contributing to the common good.
Upper Prep News
Weekly Bulletin
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