Blog

Starting school at Pre-Prep is an exciting milestone for both children and parents. At The Downs Malvern, we understand that early literacy plays a key role in building confidence and fostering a lifelong love of learning. Phonics – the system of connecting sounds with letters – is a crucial foundation for reading and writing. As […]

A Guide to Prep School Open Days: The Critical Questions Every Parent Should Ask Choosing the right school for your child is a significant decision. While brochures, prospectuses, and the school’s website can provide a great picture of an independent school, Open Days present an opportunity to explore the environment for yourself, meet teachers and […]

It is somewhat unsurprising that the British Independent Schooling System is an internationally recognised global export. The sector attracts interest and customers to our shores from all over the world as well as to international franchises from the most established Independent Schools countrywide. The dilemma for any prospective parent still remains, “how to choose the […]

Maths Confidence Begins at Home: How Parents Can Make a Difference Speaking to Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Spinning Plates podcast recently, Countdown star Rachel Riley suggested that parents may be passing on their own negativity towards maths to their children. She went on to add that joking about being bad at maths promoted bad attitudes, and that people wouldn’t boast about […]

Every year, thousands of children across the UK attend school dressed as their favourite book character in honour of World Book Day. If you live near a school you may well see all manner of costumes trooping down the road, from wizards to superheroes, doctors to dragons and even ladybirds. But is it simply another […]

What are the most important questions when considering Prep school boarding for your child? Class sizes? Sporting provision? Extra-curricular activities? Significant, but in the context of boarding, I would suggest that the crucial question is this: Will my child fit in? Will they belong? Belonging is such an innate human desire, feeling that you are […]

Prep schools necessarily focus on the delivery of a robust and stimulating academic curriculum. However, one of the most appealing aspects of this style of education is the extensive co-curricular opportunities that complement the learning taking place within the classroom. The benefits of co-curricular opportunities in prep and primary schools are far reaching. The unique […]

  For some families, the decision to opt for a Prep school education for their children is a ‘dyed in the wool’ rite of passage. For others, it is a new venture into the relative unknown. Despite widespread preconceptions, there is no such thing as a typical Prep School family – the modern range of […]