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Academic

Explore below to learn more about academic life in the Prep School

At Leweston, learning is an adventure from the very start. Our Pre‑Prep (Reception to Prep 2) lays the foundations for happy, confident learners; our Prep (Prep 3 to Prep 6) builds independence, specialist teaching and breadth of opportunity, all within a nurturing, inclusive community. 

Ages & Structure

  • Pre‑Prep (Ages 4–7) — Reception, Prep 1 and Prep 2. Each class has an experienced class teacher for security and continuity, supported by teaching assistants in larger classes. 
    Pre‑Prep offers a joyful introduction to school life, combining a secure, nurturing environment with specialist teaching in languages, arts, sport and Forest School from the very first year.
  • Prep (Ages 7–11) — Prep 3, 4, 5 and 6. Depending on year size, pupils are taught in one or two classes capped at 20, with teaching assistants supporting larger groups. As pupils move through the Prep, they benefit from specialist facilities, including dedicated Art and Science departments, Design Technology rooms and the school theatre as well as teaching from Senior School staff.

"Leweston is a caring school with lovely staff who know their pupils well and provide them with opportunities to grow in both independence and confidence. They provide a rounded education in a lovely setting with a wide range of activities available to all. "

Current Parent

What Learning Looks Like

  • Curious minds, rich curriculum: Children explore exciting cross‑curricular topics that spark curiosity and immerse them in learning, blending literacy and numeracy with wider subjects. We encourage pupils to take ownership of their learning and understand their learning style as they grow. 
  • Specialists from the start: From Reception, pupils enjoy specialist lessons in French, Spanish, Art, Music, Religious Education, Performing Arts, Forest School, Computing and dedicated PE and Swimming each week.
  • Outdoor learning: Weekly Forest School and wellie walks in Pre‑Prep bringing the curriculum to life.
  • Progress with the right stretch: Teachers tailor planning so every child is challenged just enough to make sustained progress, with assessment tracked carefully across the curriculum.
  • Contact with home: Assessment and communication are seamless thanks to our online learning journals, which share progress, photos and achievements with families in real time

SATs‑Free Zone: Learning Without Limits

Leweston Prep is proudly SATs‑free. We do not prepare pupils for national SATs tests in Year 6 because these assessments can narrow the curriculum and create unnecessary anxiety. Instead, we focus on robust teacher assessment across the full curriculum, cross‑checked with light‑touch benchmarking (e.g., INCAS), so we can teach for depth and breadth throughout Prep 6 rather than spending the year revising. 

This approach means Prep 6 remains a teaching year rich in subject matter (from Shakespeare to coastal development), public speaking awards, and a celebratory residential, helping pupils finish Prep as confident, resilient, inquisitive and adventurous learners ready for Senior School.

Homework: Purposeful and Balanced

Daily habits include reading and practising times tables, alongside weekly spellings. Each child receives a weekly homework sheet with core tasks and one or two linked activities, plus optional topic‑related extensions to encourage pupil‑led enquiry.

Expectations are age‑appropriate: in Reception to Prep 2 this means regular reading, weekly tables and spellings, and the occasional consolidation task, but no formal homework.

In Prep 3 to 6 pupils continue with regular reading and weekly tables and spellings, and also complete linked homework to deepen understanding, set on Friday and due on Tuesday.

Homework is supported through a daily after‑school prep club for Prep 3 to 6 and a weekly support session for Reception to Prep 2. Many families collect at 5.45pm, with the majority of homework already completed.