Junior Prep (Years 2 & 3)

At the centre of our approach to education is our desire to ensure that all pupils love coming to our small school and leave having grown into the best versions of themselves.

At the start of Form 2, our pupils move from our Princes Avenue Pre-Prep site into the historic building at Number 10 Muswell Avenue to join our Junior Prep alongside Form 3. During this period of a child’s school journey, the teachers gradually introduce pupils to a more diverse range of challenges and experiences. Both inside and outside of the classroom, pupils are encouraged to find their voices as their unique personalities develop. They use learning more as a vehicle to express themselves creatively, without being fearful of making mistakes.

The Junior Prep School day allows for opportunities for assemblies, lunch and play together (Forms 2 and 3) as well as ensuring cohesion for transition between year groups and offering ideal opportunities for some shared learning.

Curriculum

Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed to engage students in innovative and meaningful learning experiences, ensuring they leave with confidence and a strong belief in their abilities. While we adhere to the National Curriculum, our approach is tailored to the specific needs and context of our pupils.

We aim to inspire excitement and full participation in both lessons and school life. Our learning programmes are highly personalised, with students actively involved in their own learning journey. As well as engaging in regular 1:1 feedback and review conversations with their teacher regarding their learning, self and peer assessments are deeply embedded in our curriculum, allowing students to clearly understand their next steps and provide the support they need to achieve them.

Subjects

The curriculum at Norfolk House goes beyond the National Curriculum, offering a broader and more enriching educational experience. Here are the subjects/lessons we cover in Junior Prep:

English
Maths
Mental Maths
Science
Computing and IT
French
Philosophy for children
Music
Art
Geography
History
Handwriting
PE and Games
RE
PSHE and Philosophy for Children
Guided Reading

The curriculum is suitably broad and balanced for both boys and girls.

Learning and development

Our last school inspection report highlighted that “Pupils’ achievements are excellent, fulfilling the school’s aim of helping them reach their academic potential while feeling valued, fulfilled, confident, and emotionally secure.” The report also noted that “The vast majority of pupils secure places at their first-choice senior schools, often gaining admission to highly selective day schools in London.” Over the past four years, many of our pupils have earned prestigious scholarships.

Our philosophy is to make learning both enjoyable and engaging, fostering a love of learning in every child. We are deeply committed to the personal development of each student, ensuring that our approach paves the way for their individual success.

Sport

At Norfolk House, we place a strong emphasis on physical education. We dedicate two afternoons per week to sports, with instruction largely led by specialist coaches. These experts also offer additional sports clubs after school. Below is an overview of our Junior Prep sports schedule for 2023-24:

Autumn Term:

	Form 2	Form 3
Tuesdays	Football	Capoeira
Thursdays	Ice skating	Football

Spring Term:

	Form 2	Form 3
Tuesdays	Multi-skills (inc. athletics)	Swimming
Thursdays	Ice skating	Hockey

Summer Term:

	Form 2	Form 3
Tuesdays	Swimming	Tennis / athletics
Thursdays	Ice skating	Cricket / rounders

The school maintains a fixtures calendar featuring matches against local independent schools, utilising a variety of nearby venues to support our sports curriculum. Each venue is carefully selected to ensure it provides the necessary facilities to meet our sporting requirements.

Computing and IT

At Norfolk House, the Computing and IT curriculum equips pupils with essential digital skills, focusing on creativity, collaboration, programming, and digital literacy. Starting from an early age, students are taught to use technology responsibly, supported by a strong e-safety program. The curriculum fosters critical thinking, independent learning, and technological competence, preparing pupils for future challenges. With opportunities for creative projects like film-making and coding, students are introduced to advanced computing concepts early on, while teachers guide them to become IT experts. Tools like iPads, Apple TV, and various educational hardware further enrich the learning experience.

Creative Arts

The creative arts play a central role in our curriculum across the school, fostering artistic expression and skill development in every pupil.

Art

In Junior Prep, pupils enjoy weekly art lessons that build on their experiences from PrePrep. They explore key visual elements such as line, tone, colour, pattern, space, texture, and form. Through hands-on projects, they work with a wide variety of two- and three-dimensional materials, learning different techniques and processes. Each project is tied to relevant topics, allowing pupils to create thoughtful, independent final pieces.

Drama

Junior Prep pupils regularly participate in assembly performances and their own departmental productions. Form 3 students have dedicated drama lessons, while drama is integrated throughout the curriculum for younger and older pupils. Additionally, Form 3 pupils are introduced to English Speaking Board (ESB) exams, helping them develop confidence in public speaking and performance.

Music

Our innovative music curriculum emphasises hands-on learning linked to other subjects, where pupils create compositions, explore musical notation, and collaborate while discovering various musical styles. Junior Prep pupils can audition for the choir, take individual music lessons, and join the Junior ensemble, enriching their musical experience. IT is integrated to enhance music exploration and composition.

Senior Prep (Years 4 - 6)

11+ Preparation

Leavers' Destinations

The Admissions Process