Academic Matters
Curriculum Class Size The Specialists Where To Next?
Our Results Homework Help Class Names National Curriculum  

The Curriculum

At Rudston we teach all National Curriculum subjects from Lower 3 to Upper 4 (for an explanation of the class names, click here). In Lower 1 and Lower 2, Foundation subjects are taught. Additionally, French is taught from Lower 2, so children at Rudston have seven years experience of a foreign language before they go on to Secondary school. Children also have the opportunity to learn Latin in Upper 3 and Upper 4.

Class Sizes

We believe that all children benefit from being taught in smaller classes so our maximum class size is 24. In Lower school, all classes have two members of staff: the class teacher and a nursery nurse. This means that the pupil:staff ratio is 12:1 in these classes. Research has shown that younger children fair particularly well in classes with small pupil:teacher ratios. ICT and design & technology are also taught in smaller groups throughout the school.

The Specialists

Lower school children and those in Upper 1 are predominantly taught by their class teachers, who are themselves specialists for the ages they teach. They are also taught by subject specialists for French, ICT, music and games.

Children in Upper 2 are taught by subject specialists for music, French, games, ICT and science.

Children in Upper 3 and Upper 4 are taught by subject specialists right across the curriculum.

Where To Next?

Most of our children go on to independent secondary schools when they leave Rudston. We take the role of 'Preparatory' school very seriously, and work hard with the children to prepare them for the various entrance exams set by these schools. Our children are very successful at gaining entry to their chosen schools. This year our leavers have been accepted by Sheffield High School for Girls, Birkdale, Mount St Mary's and Ranby.

Some parents may wish to send their child to an LEA secondary school, in which case they will find that Rudston has given them something of a head start. We are able to give the next school a National Curriculum level even though formal SATS tests have not been undertaken.

Our Results

Our results speak for themselves.

2004 Key Stage 1 SATs results

% Level 2 or above (Level expected of 7-year-olds)
Rudston
IAPS Average*
National Average
Reading
95
NOT
85
Writing
95
82
Mathematics
100
AVAILABLE
90

 

% Level 3 or above (Exceptional Performance)
Rudston
IAPS Average
National Average 03
Reading
30
NOT
28
Writing
40
16
Mathematics
35
AVAILABLE
29

IAPS is the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools. The data is based on those prep schools choosing to sit the SATs who submit their results to IAPS.

2004 Key Stage 2 SATs results

% Level 4 or above (Level expected of 11-year-olds)
Rudston
IAPS Average
National Average 03
English
90
96
74
Mathematics
95
93
73
Science
100
99
86

 

% Level 5 or above (Exceptional performance)
Rudston
IAPS Average
National Average
English
64
52
26
Mathematics
55
53
28
Science
91
69
40

 

 

% Level 3 or above (Exceptional performance)
Reading
39
60
30
Writing
39
23
9
Spelling
56
45
26
Mathematics
72
55
31

 

Beyond The School Day - Helping With Homework

For those Upper School children that need extra help with homework, or for those children whose parents are unable to collect them at 3.30, we run Late Prep. This is staffed Monday - Thursday afternoons by one of our teachers, who will help your child with any homework they may have, and may also hear them read.

For more homework help, look at our Links page, where you will find lots of subject specific and general websites that will hopefully provide your child with the assistance they need.

The Class System

At Rudston, 'Lower School' equates to the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 in state schools. 'Upper School' is equivalent to Key Stage 2.

Lower 1 = Foundation 1
Upper 1 = Year 3
Lower 2 = Foundation 2
Upper 2 = Year 4
Lower 3 = Year One
Upper 3 = Year 5
Lower 4 = Year Two
Upper 4 = Year 6

The National Curriculum

The National Curriculum was introduced into state schools in 1988 as a way of ensuring that all children receive a 'broad and balanced education'. It has undergone several revisions, the most recent having been introduced in 2000. Independent schools are not required by law to teach to the requirements of the National Curriculum, but most choose to, to some extent.

The Subjects:
Mathematics
Information & Communication Technology
English
Design Technology
Science
Art
History
Music
Geography
Physical Education

Schools are also required to teach Religious Education and Personal, Social & Health Education. Children at Rudston also learn French and Latin.