Settling into the Prep School

JOINING ARDINGLY College PREP SCHOOL

• New Parents’ and Pupils’ Tea. This provides an opportunity for everyone new to Ardingly College Prep School to spend some time getting to know other new parents, pupils and all the Prep School teaching staff.
• Holiday Club. Boys and girls are also able to join the Holiday Club during the summer, which is an excellent way for them to familiarise themselves with the Prep School, meet some of the teachers and get to know some older children.

Transition within Ardingly Prep School

• Moving Up Afternoon. During the Trinity term, all year groups in the Prep School have a ‘moving up’ afternoon to familiarise them with their new classroom and form teacher.
• Familiarisation. Children in Year 2 are eager to move up to their new classrooms ‘up the hill’ and this transition is made easier because they have already spent some time with the older children during the school year, visiting from time to time and joining children in KS2 for  the end of the term, Celebration Assembly.

Finding a sense of place and belonging

• During the first week of the academic year all girls and boys take part in an overnight camp, including team building activities, to get to know one another and build trust and relationships with each other and with staff. 
• Team Building. Once they join the College there is a full programme of induction and team building to ensure boys and girls settle in as quickly as possible.
• Throughout the academic year, each year group takes part in further team-building sessions. One of the most popular activities is the “on the water” raft day at our neighbouring Ardingly Reservoir. 
• Every teacher knows each of the 400 pupils as individuals, either as their form tutor or class teacher, or from supervising assemblies, activities, sports, play times and school trips. 
• Year groups are divided into classes, each with a form tutor who understands each child, looks after their welfare and academic progress, and is the first point of contact between parents and the school. 
• Pupils love being part of a House. It fosters a sense of belonging and children are spurred on to earn ‘pluses’ for their House. Team loyalty is cemented through participation in Inter-House competitions in music, sport, art, drama, photography, and debating. 
• Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE) is built into the curriculum via separate lessons led by form tutors and specialists in the field, including nurses from our own Medical Centre. During these classes we reflect, discuss, and consider how we behave, think, and feel in our everyday dealings.