Figure 1.--Modern preparatory schools place a substantial emphasis on academic basics and report impressive academic sachievement. Most prep school children complete the program 1-2 years academically ahead of children in the stte system. |
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Modern prep schools place a great emphasis on academics. This is obvious from the visits to the individual classess. The teachers are prepared annd demanding and disruptive behavior isd not tolerated. The children for their part are serious and most apply themselves to their studies to an impressive degree. The results are notable. Most prep schools report significantly higher achievement levels than the state schools. There are a number of reasons for this, including both the parents and school program. Prep schools when discussing academic achievement like to discuss two aspects more than any other. First they like to focus on the number of children who pass the Common Entrance Examination and are accepted by their senior schools. The other aspect is the number of students who earn scholsrships. The children of course all have their favorite subjects as well as activities at school. It is interesting to listen to their assessment. One interesting apect here is that while their choices of favorite subjects varies substantially, the two subjects most infrequently mentioned in maths and science. Prep schools are of course private fee-paying schools. The fees, especially for boarding, are quite expensive. This limits the students generally to the affluent or at least families in comfortable cirumstances. Most schools offer scholarships. The scholarships offered greatly from school to school. The scholarships we have noted were all academically competitive scholarships.
Most prep schools report significantly higher achievement levels than the state schools. There are a number of reasons for this. First, Prep school parents tend to be much more supportive of the schools and strongly encourage their children to achieve academically. Of course most parents in the state system do also, but there are some families who do not support their schools and their children's academic achievement. Second, the lower teacher/student ratio at prep schools means that the children receive more individual attention. Third, the curriculum places a great emphasis on core subjects, especially English amd Mathamatics. State schools do not have the same degree of focus. Here educators might debate the value of focusing so intensely on core subjects, but it is probably a factor in the academic results achieved.
Prep schools when discussing academic achievement like to discuss two aspects more than any other. First they like to focus on the number of children who pass the Common Entrance Examination and are accepted by their senior schools. The other aspect is the number of students who earn scholsrships. Most schools have a scholarship stream and scholarships forms to help assist students win the comptitive competition for those scholaeships. Some schools do much better than others. A factor here of course is the fact that some schools cater to children that are academically oriented. Of course the school program and masters involved are also important.
Prep schools vary as to how they assess the children's progress. Almost all, however, give considerable, close attention to assessment. The parents expect this. And for younger children it is important that they be given close and regular assessment as to their work. The classroom teachers provide immediate and daily assessment and reinforcement of hard woek. Here the small class sizes gives the teacher the ability to ficus on individuals to a much greater extent than teachers with large classes. Older children require less immediate reinforcement. But even the older children at prep schools are young enough that a regular program of relatively short-term assessment is valuable. There are also more formal approches to assessment.
The children of course all have their favorite subjects as well as activities at school. It is interesting to listen to their assessment. One interesting apect here is that while their choices of favorite subjects varies substantially, the two subjects most infrequently mentioned in maths and science. Here it is difficult to tell if this reflects how the subjects are tauhjt or simply that the children's opinions reflects the more rigourous natue of the disciplines.
Prep schools are of course private fee-paying schools. The fees, especially for boarding, are quite expensive. This limits the students generally to the affluent or at least families in comfortable cirumstances. Most schools offer scholarships. The scholarships offered greatly from school to school. The scholarships we have noted were all academically competitive scholarships.
