Chard School Curriculum

Chard Prep School provides academic excellence within a happy and caring environment from its Pre-School Nursery to Key Stage 2.  Throughout the school, the needs of the individual child are recognised and catered for by a team of enthusiastic and well-qualified teachers.  Classes are intentionally small, each with their own full and varied timetable.  Although emphasis is placed on the ‘3Rs’ which form the core of the curriculum, the curriculum is extensive and varied and prepares the children well for their future schools, which include Colyton Grammar School and regional Independent Schools. The school is also noted for its strengths in Sport, Music and Drama, and Languages are taught throughout.

Reception children make regular Forest School visits, collect leaves and natural materials to produce artwork and learn how to make dens. As well as their timetabled Music, Games and Language lessons with the specialist teachers.

In addition to the curriculum, there is an extensive programme of after-school extra-curricular activities, which are free of charge (unless delivered by an external provider). There are frequent musical and theatrical performances, which showcase the pupils’ outstanding musical and theatrical abilities; the most recent performance was ‘The Wizard of Oz’ by the Juniors.

Recently, several Year 6 pupils have won scholarships to a range of schools including The Park School and Queen’s College, Taunton. In addition, five Year 6 pupils have gained places at Colyton Grammar School following the 11+ entrance tests. The sports teams have been performing well with the boys’ football team playing in the Independent Schools Association National Final, the hockey team getting through to the county final, the netball team qualifying for the area final and two pupils winning Silver medals at the Independent School Association National Final.

From Year 3 onwards, classes are taught in specialist subject rooms with specialist subject teachers. As well as an extensive curriculum, the School provides learning support.