Upper Prep pupils are encouraged to think critically, collaborate, and innovate through a dynamic STEM curriculum and exciting project work:
Specialist teaching in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths.
Creative projects such as pine sweet machines, 3D plywood lettering, audio speaker systems, and beach boxes.
A broad range of co-curricular STEM activities that promote exploration and competition.
Our programme empowers pupils to become confident thinkers and future innovators.
Upper Prep has access to all our specialist Arts staff, equipment and facilities. Productions alternate each year between musicals (e.g. Finding Nemo) and plays (e.g. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).
Our Arts’ scholars are encouraged to perform regularly at weekly recitals and in our Performing Arts Scholars’ Evening. There are scholarship opportunities across all our disciplines: Art, Music or the Performing Arts (Drama, Dance or Musical Theater).
Pupils also benefit from a wide range of Arts-related co-curricular activities, both during the school day and after school.
This is where we hone the skills previously learnt and can offer a higher level of competition and challenge. However, we can also provide a wider range of options and activities in this age group, thus giving individual opportunities for development as well as the core sports.
Ballard focuses on invasion, net and individual sports to encourage a high-level of performance whilst trying to reduce common mistakes often seen on the sports’ field. We have had many successes in tournaments and against much larger schools with this approach.
Within Ballard we have staff who have competed at a national level at sport and coach men’s and women’s teams to regional success. The guidance that is provided as mentors is invaluable to the key lessons that our pupils need to learn to compete at the highest level in and out of School. Many pupils at this stage go on to represent their county in a variety of sports including: athletics, triathlon, hockey, swimming, netball, rugby and football.
There are many extra-curricular sports’ opportunities available to pupils in order that they can develop their skills further.
Upper Prep pupils have a fantastic array of opportunities. Leadership qualities and confidence are encouraged and built upon. Whether it is dramatising gothic horror or asking a sensitive question of a Holocaust survivor, our pupils are provided with the skills to live Ballard Life to the full.
Prefects develop teamwork skills and confidence with specific training sessions and team building. Ballard pupils have the opportunity to enter a challenging Dragons Den competition taking on the role of young entrepreneurs with relish. An array of trips stimulates our pupils’ minds: Harry Potter World, Normandy, Bude, and the Isle of Wight to name just a few. Combined with all the co-curricular opportunities, there is plenty to keep them busy.
Upper Prep marks the transition from a mainly form-based, cross-curricular work to set-based specialist work. We develop pupils’ independent learning whilst increasing their levels of responsibility.
Many pupils go on to become Prefects and House Captains in Year 8 as well as mentors to pupils lower down the school.
