Lower School

Head of Lower School Mrs. C.A. Baker

These first three years of a pupil’s life at Kent College are the foundation for the success of the student through the rest of the school. In Lower School the pupil is nurtured and encouraged to explore every avenue of opportunity. Extra curricular sport, music, art, drama and farming feature strongly in support of our academic timetable. So important do we consider these areas that in Year 7 we have included in their timetable a weekly activity session. This is operated on a ‘carousel arrangement’. This gives all new pupils a more formal taste of a few of the many extra-curricular activities available to them at Kent College

As an independent school, Kent College does not have to follow the requirements of the National Curriculum and at present departs from it to some extent. Nevertheless, we have decided that we agree with its basic philosophy, namely, that every pupil is entitled to study a central core of subjects, that certain skills and areas of knowledge should be specifically included, and that each pupil’s progress should be carefully monitored and regularly reported to parents. In addition, certain areas of knowledge, which cut across subject boundaries, such as Information Communication Technology (ICT), should be positively promoted throughout the curriculum, rather than provided only in specialist lessons.

English, Mathematics, Science and modern foreign languages form the core and continue until GCSE level. (Dyslexic and EAL students are not required to take a modern foreign language.) History, Geography, Technology, ICT, Music and Art are compulsory until the end of Year 9. Personal and Social Health Education (PSHE) is an important part of the Lower School curriculum and is compulsory for all pupils. PE / Games and Religious Studies (RS) are standard sections of the curriculum until the end of Year 11, though parents are allowed to withdraw their children from RS lessons if they wish to do so. At present we enter all pupils for the Key Stage 3 (KS3) national tests in English, Mathematics and Science. The school reports these results to parents at the same time as the end-of-year examination results in Year 9.

A valuable part of the school day for Lower School pupils is the after school supervised study hall from 4.30-5.30pm which enables the pupils to get their homework done and obviously fits more conveniently into the parents’ working day.

As a part boarding school we are able to offer the facilities of occasional and weekly boarding when the need arises, ensuring that each child’s education goes unhindered and that parents have peace of mind should they need to be away from home during term time.