CHAPTER
HOUSE
PREPARATORY
SCHOOL

Outline Prospectus

Our Philosophy

Thorpe Underwood Hall

Academic Aims

The Kindergarten

The Pre-Preparatory Department

The Preparatory Department

Information Technology

An Active Education

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Further Information

Outline Prospectus

Chapter House Preparatory School is special because, in everything we do, we try that little bit harder to learn, enjoy and find self-expression.

We prepare children of all levels of ability to act with confidence and consideration as we equip them with the academic background to succeed in the Common Entrance Examination and, later, in senior school.

We share our magnificent campus with Queen Ethelburga's College and provide facilities of the highest standard for the children at work and play.

Our Kindergarten provides all year round care for children aged 3 months to 3 years.

Boys and girls from 2½ to 11 years are eligible to join us for their pre-preparatory and preparatory education. Residential facilities at the school are available for girls and boys from the age of six upwards. Day pupils may stay until 6 pm. or later by arrangement, if this is more convenient for the parents.

Our Philosophy

• To offer all pupils a broad and balanced curriculum
• To treat all pupils as individuals
• To strive for academic excellence
• To promote self-confidence and independence, but also co-operation
• To foster a spirit of enquiry
• To encourage self-discipline and expect a high standard of behaviour
• To provide a happy and stimulating environment for study
• To prepare pupils for future educational and working environments
• To foster and promote caring for others and spiritual development
• To encourage physical and mental fitness
• To promote community and global awareness
• To equip pupils with technological expertise
• To provide a safe and secure environment in which pupils can thrive

Thorpe Underwood Hall

At the heart of our magnificent campus with its modern amenities, is Thorpe Underwood Hall. We are beautifully situated between Harrogate and York.

The Campus on the Thorpe Underwood Hall Estate extends to over 100 acres of grounds and includes an enclosed, walled, 'secret' garden, a formal rose garden with a fountain, acres of informal lawns. As a foundation for a happy and secure school environment, the Thorpe Underwood Hall campus has few equals.

Our school is a very happy one where firm, no-nonsense rules apply and we expect upright behaviour, good manners and personal integrity.

The environment we provide is a cheerful, energetic and secure one where boys and girls can achieve to their full potential, helped and encouraged by a committed, able and highly motivated teaching staff.

We believe that all pupils leaving Chapter House Preparatory School take with them the best that they can achieve academically. This is supported by the ability to enjoy life, gain success and thrive in the educational environment which awaits them in senior school and, eventually, in higher education and their future careers.

The Kindergarten

The kindergarten is purpose built and includes separate baby and toddler areas, a kitchen, washing facilities and a fully equipped outdoor playing area.

The manager of the Kindergarten is a qualified NNEB teacher with responsibility for all children up to the age of 4 so that there is a smooth transition from the kindergarten to the pre-preparatory department of Chapter House and beyond.

The Pre-Preparatory Department

Chapter House pre-preparatory department gives younger children their all-important introduction to the learning environment from the age of 2½ years.

We provide a very effective introduction to those concepts which are central to successful learning, without subjecting the children to any feeling of pressure; learning is presented to these young children in an enjoyable, easily assimilated way.

The Preparatory Department

Early school life is a time of discovery; children have a thirst for knowledge and understanding which Chapter House provides for in an exciting and structured way. The children find this stimulating and involving.

Our academic programme consists, in essence, of two strands. We equip children with the means to learn, explore and develop ideas; we also provide a thorough grounding in the necessary technical skills

Children benefit from class teaching in the early prep. school years. This enables them to forge strong classroom relationships and develop a sense of security whilst the form teacher gains an accurate insight into each child's abilities and interests; any problems can be successfully identified and tackled at an early stage. Class sizes are small.

We give every child a thorough grounding in all subjects covered by the National Curriculum, and at the same time we stimulate individual interests and creative ability. Children achieve an extremely high standard in their French studies and German is introduced at the age of 10. Every child is encouraged to develop their own potential to the full and to achieve the highest academic standard of which he or she is capable.

Chapter House School is particularly well equipped with its own Computer Centre housing Pentium computers with the very latest software packages, and the children become used to working with computers at an early stage in their school careers, both as a subject in their own right and as an aid to learning other skills.

Class work is supplemented by relevant study trips and fieldwork, which could be a simple nature walk on the school campus or a visit to a specialist activity away from the school. A residential environmental studies trip takes place each Spring for pupils aged nine and over.

There is ample opportunity for children to develop their skills and to study drama and music; two of the many ways in which we encourage them to grow in confidence and self-expression as their knowledge and academic horizons expand.

Musical concerts and dramatic productions are performed regularly for parents and many pupils join the Choir and the Instrumental Group.

At the age of eleven pupils leaving Chapter House move up to Queen Ethelburga's College to complete their school education. Chapter House staff are fully qualified in primary education and are dedicated to providing a happy, purposeful atmosphere in which all our pupils can thrive. We firmly believe that, given the right environment and encouragement, every child has the ability to succeed.

As pupils progress through the school they are introduced to specialist subject teaching. Our staff enjoy their individual subjects and ensure that lessons are stimulating and fun, whilst working towards targets way beyond the normal junior curriculum. Full and detailed reports are issued each term and parents also have regular opportunities to talk to each of their child's teachers individually to discuss progress.

Information Technology

Every pupil who leaves Chapter House will have impressive IT skills to enter a world which is demanding a higher and higher level of computer literacy. We have invested in the latest technology with fast Pentium computers in our very large multi-media network and in stand-alones throughout our academic departments. Our new IT department is shared with Queen Ethelburga's.

In some departments and in the reference rooms pupils can access the Internet under supervision, as well as using the quality information on CD rom. We have an IT Development Director who assesses the needs of individuals and plans courses in Computer Literacy and Information Technology.

Our pupils can become confident in the use of modern software including the latest processing, spreadsheet and database, publishing and drawing packages, presentation software and all the skills necessary to provide coursework in all subjects to the highest standard.

All day pupils may have the loan of a powerful multi-media computer to use at home, with connectability to the school network while they do their homework.

An Active Education

Children thrive on a balanced blend of physical and academic activity; Chapter House is well equipped to provide both, and there is a wide range of options undertaken to develop fitness and sports.

Physical Education is provided for in our large, modern sports hall which is well equipped for gymnastics and indoor games. All pupils are competent swimmers, working towards life saving and water skills awards in weekly lessons taken in our indoor heated leisure pool.

The school offers excellent outdoor facilities and a wide range of sports including rounders, cricket, netball, football, rugby, hockey and tennis. After-school and weekend sporting fixtures take place throughout the year against other local preparatory schools. Riding is a very popular option and our Equestrian Centre is amongst the finest in Europe, staffed by well qualified BHSI and BHSAI instructors. Our riders have the benefit of superb, all-weather outdoor arenas and an international standard indoor arena, with the facility to use the ponies provided or to bring their own.

Our playgrounds include a play house for the infants, a play fort for the juniors and a real fire engine to encourage physical activity and imagination. In the Chapter House play room we have a small pet area and computer games facilities to cater for all interests.