Pupils shape their world with a pioneering new life skills programme including learning to navigate the London Underground

This summer term saw the launch of the exciting new Shaping My World initiative which included participation from the whole Prep and Pre-Prep school in acquiring characteristics and skills which will stay with them for life.

Originally devised to support the whole college pupil journey around its renown World Ready programme, the young pupils embraced activities over a 6-day programme created to build invaluable skills for life. These activities were aimed at differing age groups and included creating a 3-course meal, sewing, conversation skills, financial budgeting, community work, creating an App, and even learning to clean their own shoes or do the laundry.

The whole programme is built around pupils embracing and showing evidence of the 4 US’s- AdventuroUS, CurioUS, IngenioUS and GeneroUS; the idea is that everyone is in it together, hence ‘us’.  The real test came alive when Year 8 pupils were challenged with navigating across London using the Underground on an old-fashioned scavenger hunt.

Ardingly Prep Headmaster Harry Hastings, who spearheaded the programme, was delighted with the pupils’ and staff approach and success, “These characteristics are the foundation of any pupil preparing for the world outside of school and at Ardingly Prep we want to make sure these characteristics are firmly rooted in our pupils going forward. I am so proud of all our pupils at Ardingly Prep who immersed themselves with such enthusiasm.” The initiative will become commonplace as part of the timetable in September as every child will have a weekly Shaping My World lesson.