Figure 1.--New Zealand prep schools still have the look of the Nritish prep schools on which they were founded. Some differences, however, have developed over time. New Zealand is probably the most British of the former British colonies and that influence can be seen in the schools.. |
Our prep school E-book here covers only Britain. We note that there are prep schools founded all over the world. Prep schools of course exist in former British colonies where the educatinal system developed similarly to the British system, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. Quite a number of prep schools exist in these countries. And to a lesser extent prep schools are found in other Commonwealth countries. To some extent these schools serve the British ex-patriat community in different countries. Here theretend to be only a few prep schools. These prep schools also appeal to locals who admire the quality of the prep school program. The schools not only follow the prep school approach of focusing on core subjects (muneracy and literavy), but the programs outside of Britin often lead to the prestigious International Baccalaureate curriculum.
A new prep school, the British International School oppened in 2006 with the only New York school with a Britain's national curriculum. As in Britain the school has a curriculum emphasizing literacy and numeracy and of course uses Bttsh spellings. The school has a uniform of red and gray.
Several major U.S. cities (including Boston, Chicago and Washington) already have British schools, making New York something of an anomaly as it did not have one. New York of course has a very cosmopolitn population as a result of businesses, consular offices, and the United Nations.
And a British school fits in with the system of international private schools worldwide. This makes it easier for the children to transfer if they leave the country. The school like most other British schools in America uses the prestigious International Baccalaureate curriculum.
New Zealand was a British colony settled beginning in the mid-19th century. The New Zealand school system, both the state and private sector was based in the British system. British educators founded several preparatory schools on both North and South Island beginning in the late-19th century. At the time prep schools were seen primarily as a boarding school, primarily because the senior schools the children were being prepared for were boarding schools. The New Zealand prep schools were founded on the same lines as the British schools. In fact, at the beginning mant Briish teachers taught at the schools. The New Zealand schools still have a look of British prep schools, although over time differences did develop. New Zealand is probably the most British of the former British colonies and that influence can be seen in the schools.
