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A variety of changes have occurred at prep schools in recent years. And at the same time more parents have turned to private education because of increasing disatidfaction with the state schools. Many prep schools now have children whose parents were no educated at private schools. Even so, prep schools still educate only a small fraction of British children. There have also been considerable changes in the curriculum, although the focus on numeracy and literacy continues. Many schools have toned down the focus on sports, although sports continue to receive considerable attention. Many schools have greatly broadened the school program, increasing the emphasis on academics, the fine arts, and other elements of the program. Another major change has been the trend toward coeducation. This has been a factor in transforing many once spartan schools into facilities with more amenities and homey atmospheres. Of course these are changes that the children themselves do not preceive. They take the schools as they experience them and are little aware as to what the schools were like before they arrived. Many of the teachers, on the other hand have noted the many changes at the schools.
... the Independentb Association of Preparatory School's numbers for 1978 show a small fall in boarders, but an increase of 2,800 day boys, an increase of 371 boarding girls and 464 day girls. It is this rise in the girls numbers which is most interesting, six years ago there were barely 700 girls in I.A.Ps.S schools, now there are 5,750 and to show that we do not live in the past a "marriage has been arranged" between the Association of Headmistresses of Preoaratiry Scholls and I.A.P.S. sometime in the future. The Common Entrance for boys and girls schools is going to be combined at 13+ and there is a hope that this will be mirrored at 11+ and 12+ as well.
Headmaster's Editorial, The Downs School Record, 1979.
