Core Subjects

Instilling a love of literature and the thrill of ‘discovering’ new texts are central to the path of creating thoughtful readers and powerful young writers.

That is why Bede’s annual Book Week is not just a thrilling way to start our academic year, but also a springboard for inspiring a love of reading throughout the year. The week-long festival of events includes visits and workshops from acclaimed authors as well as book-themed competitions that encourage creativity and originality. Our well-stocked library also plays a core role in promoting reading for pleasure and our experienced librarian is on hand to recommend and inspire the children with the latest titles.

It is our belief that the richness and depth of our pupils’ reading directly influence the quality of their writing, and our talented young authors are certainly proof of this. Alongside fostering creativity and curiosity about books, we encourage increasing independence in our middle year groups. Throughout these crucial years, we place great importance on key skills, not least around those all-important areas of spelling, punctuation and grammar. Children follow structured spelling programmes and a clear pathway of progression in grammar and punctuation. Furthermore, pupils are given a wealth of opportunities to learn and apply conventions of writing styles, always with a focus on purpose and audience. By modelling good practice and providing structured writing skills, children gain the essential toolkits necessary to be confident and articulate writers. Regular practice and assessment throughout the year ensure that children have developed excellent habits of checking, proofreading and redrafting their work, preparing them exceptionally well for the final stage of their Prep School journey.

Year 3 Curriculum Overview

In Year 3, we consolidate and build upon the literacy skills developed in Years 1 and 2. Classic and contemporary fiction, non-fiction and poetry promote rich discussion, analysis, creative writing and performance.

Our Autumn Term topic takes us to India, exploring diverse stories, cultures and traditions. A highlight is the visit from author Chitra Soundar during our celebrated Book Week, which inspires innovative storytelling and creative writing inspired by folktales from India and Hindu mythology.

The Spring Term journeys to the Romans. Using the book ‘Escape from Pompeii’ as a springboard, pupils are news reporters focusing on detailed commentary and unfolding events.

In the Summer term, we explore the world of the Anglo Saxons. ‘Beowulf’ becomes a central text for our ‘Myths and Monsters’ topic. Inspired by the epic tale of fighting and defeating the monster, Grendel, children have myriad opportunities for creative and persuasive writing. This includes filming lively and dramatic book reviews, which both engage and enrich their learning.

Year 4 Curriculum Overview

In the Autumn Term, Year 4 pupils embark on a journey into the underwater world, researching sea creatures and publishing informative texts. With a focus on the heroic story of Grace Darling, pupils use her tale to write news reports, focusing on the effective features and structures of the genre. Our appreciation of poetry includes various forms, with John Masefield’s beautifully lyrical ‘Sea Fever’ serving as a model for children to create their own evocative verses. Creative writing flourishes through reading the classic ‘Stig of the Dump’ by Clive King. Children explore narrative order and develop their own episodes, prequels or alternative endings. The rich themes within this novel, which touch upon social, moral or cultural issues, provide excellent stimulus for lively discussion and impactful non-fiction writing.

After Christmas, our topic takes us to South America. Children read Incan legends, which inspire them to create their own fables featuring South American animals; they research Incan society in depth, culminating in the creation of popup books. The Amazon Rainforest serves as a powerful stimulus for developing oracy skills through debate and discussion as well as writing persuasive environmental letters. Throughout this term, children also develop their performance skills by reciting familiar poems by heart, which they then perform to residents in a local care home.

The Summer Term sees us delving into the fantastic world of Greek myths. Children research Greek gods and goddesses, tracing character transformations and identifying main themes such as the timeless triumph of good over evil. A creative highlight is the design of their own mythical creature, which will feature in their unique version of a Greek myth.

Year 5 Curriculum Overview

The Autumn Term in Year 5, sparks a passion for classic fiction. Inspired by Nina Bawden’s ‘Carrie’s War’, children engage in analytical and imaginative discussions and writing. We explore story openings, with pupils crafting their own to hook the reader in different ways, thereby beginning to analyse how successful writers engage and maintain readers’ interest through diverse literary devices.

Throughout the year, communicating ideas cohesively and powerfully remains central to our English curriculum. Using core texts or engaging current and cross-curricular topics, children develop their oracy and written skills to develop persuasive speeches, using digital media to film their final presentations. Digital literacy is also a key component of our performance poetry unit in the Spring Term, where children recite and perform familiar poems by heart. They extend their understanding of narrative poetry by exploring literary classics such as Lewis Carroll’s ‘The Jabberwocky’. Later in the term, with a focus on contemporary fiction, children enjoy the compelling adventure of Jenny McLachlan’s ‘The Land of Roar’. Jenny McLachlan’s annual visit to Year 5 is a much-anticipated tradition, inspiring children as they work with the author to explore characterisation and setting, applying their understanding and imagination to create their own characters and fantasy land. Our Spring Term culminates in a residential trip, which provides real inspiration for creating creative persuasive leaflets.

Finally, in the Summer Term , children explore vital themes of belonging and diversity through Benjamin Zephaniah’s ‘Windrush Child’. They study historical transcripts from Windrush to build context, create settings, and explore migration to Britain through the resonant poetry of John Agard. Children use empathy to write letters in the role of a character and work collaboratively and collaborate to deliver compelling discursive speeches.

Year 6 Curriculum Overview

At the start of Year 6, the children begin their journey into more serious literary study and Katya Balen’s Carnegie prize-winning novel, ‘October, October’, provides a rich text for developing key literary skills. Pupils learn to annotate effectively using supporting quotations and zoom in on imagery and powerful, figurative language. They use these literary techniques and rich vocabulary to create their own characters, settings and atmospheres. Through discussions and debates, they explore the protagonist’s choices as well as its many themes, forming an excellent basis for persuasive writing. Finally, they analyse the effectiveness of the novel’s ending and craft an insightful epilogue. Throughout the term, pupils study, learn and recite a wider range of classic poetry including John Keats ‘To Autumn’.

During the Spring Term, in collaboration with the Geography department, pupils research, write and record news reports on the pressing issue of plastic pollution, utilising digital media to present their findings. Later in the term, poetry becomes a central focus as children explore form, tone and language techniques by listening to, reading and performing a range of diverse poetry linked by the theme of seasons. This culminates in the creation of their own anthology of poetry, inspired by the poems studied. Pupils are also invited to perform poetry by heart in a national competition.

In the second half of the Spring Term, children are introduced to the world of Shakespeare. They create storyboards, explore character choices that shape plot, and devise and record a choral performance.

In the Summer term, pupils explore texts from other cultures and traditions such as Elizabeth Laird’s ‘Oranges in No Man’s Land’. They create immersive settings and write an episode that incorporates a different cultural viewpoint. They also use the core text as a springboard for non-fiction writing, including writing balanced arguments and explanation.

At Bede’s Prep, our commitment to mathematics education ensures that pupils in Years 3 to 6 develop a deep understanding and appreciation of mathematical concepts.

We aim to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment where every student is encouraged to explore, question, and excel in their mathematical journey.

At Bede’s Prep, our approach to teaching mathematics from Years 3 to 6 is designed to build upon the solid foundations established in earlier years, guiding pupils towards becoming confident and skilled mathematicians. As pupils progress through these years, they are encouraged to explore mathematical concepts in greater depth, apply their knowledge to a wide range of problems, and develop resilience in tackling increasingly complex challenges. Our curriculum is structured to ensure that pupils not only acquire essential mathematical skills but also develop a deep understanding of the subject, preparing them for the demands of secondary education.

Year 3

In Year 3, pupils begin to transition from the concrete, hands-on experiences of Key Stage 1 to more abstract mathematical thinking. The focus is on developing fluency with numbers up to 1,000, including secure understanding of place value. Pupils learn to use formal written methods for addition and subtraction and are introduced to multiplication and division with an emphasis on the 3, 4, and 8 times tables. Fractions are also a key focus, with students learning to recognize, compare, and work with simple fractions.

Geometry lessons introduce right angles, basic properties of shapes, and the concept of symmetry. Measurement work continues with a focus on length, mass, capacity, and telling the time. Pupils are encouraged to apply their learning in practical contexts, helping them to see the relevance of mathematics in everyday life

Year 4

As pupils move into Year 4, the curriculum builds on the skills developed in Year 3, with a strong emphasis on multiplication and division. Pupils work with numbers up to 10,000, developing their ability to perform calculations using formal written methods. Mastery of multiplication tables up to 12x12 is a key objective, enabling pupils to tackle more complex arithmetic problems confidently.

The study of fractions deepens, with pupils learning about equivalent fractions and beginning to add and subtract fractions with the same denominator. Geometry lessons cover the properties of shapes, including symmetry and angles, and introduce coordinates on a grid. Measurement topics include converting between different units, solving problems related to time, and exploring the concepts of area and perimeter

Year 5

In Year 5, pupils’ mathematical understanding is expanded further, with work on numbers up to 1,000,000. The curriculum emphasises fluency in all four operations, both mentally and through formal written methods. Pupils are introduced to the relationship between fractions, decimals, and percentages, learning to convert between them and solve related problems.

Geometry lessons include the classification of angles and the calculation of area and perimeter for composite shapes. Pupils continue to develop their understanding of coordinates, working with the first quadrant. Measurement topics cover more complex units and problems, including those involving volume and capacity, reinforcing pupils’ analytical and problem-solving skills

Year 6

Year 6 is a crucial year as it prepares pupils for the transition to secondary education. Pupils work with numbers up to 10,000,000, ensuring a strong grasp of place value and arithmetic operations. Algebra is introduced, giving pupils the opportunity to explore patterns, sequences, and simple equations. The curriculum also consolidates understanding of fractions, decimals, and percentages, with pupils solving a wide range of problems involving these concepts.

In geometry, pupils study the properties of circles, calculate angles within shapes, and work with coordinates across all four quadrants. The introduction of ratio and proportion is another key aspect of Year 6, providing pupils with the skills to tackle more advanced mathematical problems. Measurement work includes solving complex problems involving area, perimeter, and volume, ensuring that pupils are well-prepared for the challenges of secondary school mathematics.

Although separate topics have been mentioned above, mathematics is an interconnected subject and no topic is taught in isolation. The pupils are supported and encouraged to move fluently between representations of mathematical ideas in order to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and have competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems. Children will engage in periodic assessments to evaluate their grasp of the material and will receive advance notice to allow time for reflection and revision of the recently completed unit. Additionally, these updates will be posted on Google Classroom to keep parents informed.

The children are taught in three well equipped laboratories supported by a science technician.

In Year 3 & 4, where the children are taught predominantly by their class teacher, they come into the laboratories for practical sessions. When the children move into Years 5 and 6 science is taught by specialist science teachers. Using a child centred approach to learning we aim to stimulate curiosity, interest and enjoyment in this subject.

Children love to explore their environment, both the natural one and that created by man. The unique location of Bede’s, at the foot of the South Downs and on the beach, provides ideal opportunities for practical investigations of the natural world. Science extends that intuitive sense of enquiry by encouraging them to predict, measure and explain their observations. At all stages, emphasis is placed on the development of the key scientific skills: observing, hypothesising, predicting, investigating, recording and interpreting.

Year 3

Pupils in Year 3 take fortnightly trips to our local beach, as part of “Bede’s on the Beach”. This is a fantastic learning opportunity for the children, providing them with the opportunity to identify seasonal changes and discuss how the different weathers affect the beach-front. When the tide is out, the children are given the opportunity to explore life in the rock pools and gain a first-hand experience of different sea creatures and their habitats.

Year 4

In the Autumn the Year 4 science curriculum begins by building upon the children’s knowledge of the animal kingdom. They gain a deeper understanding of the animal groups, including vertebrates and invertebrates and use classification keys to identify their unique features. This information is then applied to animal diets, digestion, and teeth focusing on the difference in animals’ teeth compared to humans. This is followed by identifying how sounds are made, finding patterns between the pitch of a sound and the features of the object that produced it, between the volume of a sound and the strength of the vibrations. Children learn how to construct simple series electrical circuits, identifying and naming its basic parts, including cells, wires, bulbs, switches and buzzers. This is then applied to a real-life setting, for example lighting up a lighthouse.

Year 5

In Year 5 we start the academic year by looking at properties of materials including hardness and strength flexibility and magnetic behaviour. They then study reversible changes and changes of state. Later we look at different types of forces and how they are measured.

Year 6

The Year 6 science curriculum starts with the topic of electricity. This provides excellent opportunities for practical investigations of conductors and insulators by making switches that push, turn and slide from cardboard, split pins and paper clips. The children make models of faces with two eyes lighting up and thereby discover some of the difference between series and parallel circuits. In the study of humans and other animals pupils learn about the structure of the heart and lungs and the effect of exercise on the pulse rate. The opportunity to examine animal hearts and lungs up close, is always exciting! As part of the British Heart Foundation’s initiative to provide emergency life support training in the community, Bede’s Prep also enjoys an annual visit from ‘Heartstart’ which teaches life saving skills, including how to put unconscious patients into the recovery position, using manikins and CPR techniques.