Curriculum
Topic
At The Mount, our Topic curriculum presents an engaging, creative, and comprehensive programme meticulously crafted to ignite the children's curiosity about the world around them. Through a diverse array of lessons, we delve into a broad spectrum of subjects spanning history and geography. Our aim is to immerse students in the captivating narratives of Britain's rich historical legacy while fostering an appreciation for the diverse tapestry of civilisations worldwide.
In our exploration of history, students embark on a journey through time, delving deep into the annals of Britain's past. Additionally, they broaden their horizons by studying various civilizations, thereby gaining insights into societal diversity and cultural intricacies.
Furthermore, our geography curriculum equips students with key terminology and foundational concepts essential for understanding the interconnectedness of our world. We encourage pupils to develop a nuanced understanding of their local area while simultaneously cultivating a global perspective by exploring how it fits within the broader context of the world.
Through our Topic curriculum, we strive to instil in students a profound appreciation for the richness and complexity of our world's history and geography, fostering inquisitive minds eager to explore and understand the world around them.
Music
At The Mount School, we are dedicated to empowering every student to unlock their musical potential and cultivate a lifelong passion for music in its myriad forms. Our approach to music education is grounded in the belief that providing a comprehensive foundation in musical skills and knowledge, while nurturing individual interests and talents, is essential for fostering well-rounded musicians.
Through a diverse array of activities encompassing singing, instrumental proficiency, listening, composition, and performance, students are afforded the opportunity to develop their musical abilities within a supportive and dynamic environment. Beyond the acquisition of technical skills, our music curriculum places a strong emphasis on instilling values such as teamwork, self-expression, and perseverance. Music serves as a vehicle for fostering creative thinking, building confidence, nurturing personal growth, and fostering cultural understanding, enriching the lives of both individual students and the wider school community.
All students benefit from weekly timetabled music lessons, where they engage with a rich and varied curriculum designed to cater to diverse learning styles and interests. Additionally, students are encouraged to participate in our extracurricular music activities, including the Mount Melodies school choir and our Ukulele Orchestra, both of which hold rehearsals during lunchtime. Our music ensembles enjoy regular performance opportunities, showcasing their talents at in-house events, school shows, and regional venues. Furthermore, we offer a range of peripatetic music lessons in guitar, drums, and piano in collaboration with The Kirklees Guitar School, providing students with the opportunity to explore and develop their musical talents under the guidance of skilled instructors.
Science
Science education holds a pivotal role within the curriculum at The Mount School, where fostering fundamental skills, knowledge, and concepts in the subject are deemed essential aspects of children's learning.
Our primary objective is to cultivate and nurture the innate curiosity of our students regarding the world around them, fostering a set of attitudes that promote scientific inquiry. These include engaging in open-ended tasks, demonstrating perseverance, maintaining objectivity, and recognising the significance of teamwork. Our overarching aim is to instil an understanding of the scientific method, which encompasses meticulous observation, hypothesis formulation and testing, designing fair and controlled experiments, employing critical reasoning to draw meaningful conclusions, and evaluating evidence. Through this process, students develop proficiency in communicating scientific ideas, facts, and data effectively. Furthermore, we endeavour to build a foundational body of scientific knowledge and understanding that serves as a springboard for future inquiry, all the while ensuring an environment brimming with enjoyment and enthusiasm.
Within the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework, our youngest learners are introduced to science concepts and principles through experiential learning and exploration.
At Key Stage 1, pupils progress to observing, exploring, and posing questions about living organisms, materials, and physical phenomena. Collaborative inquiry becomes integral as they gather evidence to address inquiries, linking their findings to basic scientific concepts. They commence the evaluation of evidence and the consideration of fairness in tests and comparisons, utilising reference materials to deepen their understanding.
At Key Stage 2, children delve into a broader spectrum of living organisms, materials, and physical processes. They develop the ability to establish connections between various scientific ideas, employing simple models and theories to explain natural phenomena. Application of scientific knowledge extends to familiar contexts, including personal health and environmental impact considerations. They undertake more structured investigations, independently and collaboratively, employing a range of reference sources to support their inquiries. The articulation of their work's significance, utilising scientific terminology and graphical representations, becomes paramount.
To support learning, we employ knowledge organisers for each unit of study, elucidating key scientific skills, facilitating explicit links to prior learning, and delineating crucial facts and vocabulary through visual aids.
In Key Stage 1, children commence each unit of study by completing KWL grids, capturing their existing knowledge, questions, and subsequent learning. As learning progresses, these grids evolve to incorporate newfound knowledge and understanding. In Key Stage 2, we monitor learning progression through short written assessments administered at the commencement and culmination of each unit of study, thus ensuring a systematic evaluation of each child's development. Classroom discussions and targeted questioning complement these assessment strategies, providing a comprehensive insight into students' progress.
Modern Foreign Languages
At The Mount, all our pupils from Lower Kindergarten upwards have the opportunity to learn a modern foreign language (MFL) as an integral part of the school curriculum. Our teaching methodology incorporates a diverse range of materials and media, fostering an environment where pupils can enjoy expressing their ideas and thoughts in another language while comprehending and responding to other speakers proficiently.
During the introductory phase, language acquisition is mainly oral, facilitated by engaging activities such as songs and games, emphasising enjoyment and participation. Lower Kindergarten and Kindergarten students explore simple topics including numbers, colours, greetings, animals, and food and drinks. As pupils progress into Forms I and II, we introduce basic phrases and elementary grammatical concepts such as action verbs and negatives. Encouragement to communicate in French is integral to our approach, with ongoing assessment of both oral and written proficiency. Utilising ICT forms an integral part of our teaching methodology, catering to individual learning needs by providing more challenging programs for higher ability pupils while offering support to those who require additional assistance. Our curriculum adheres to the guidance outlined in the Curriculum Languages Programme of Study, which we have tailored to align with the ethos of our school and the capabilities of our pupils.
We employ a variety of techniques to actively engage pupils in the language learning process, gradually increasing the focus on reading, writing, and listening skills alongside speaking proficiency as pupils progress through the Prep School. French is the primary language of study from Forms I to IV, with plans underway to introduce additional language lessons in Spanish for pupils in Forms V and VI.
Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education at The Mount Preparatory School
As Hudderfield’s premier independent preparatory school, we prioritise children's health and wellbeing as the cornerstone of our educational philosophy. We firmly believe that fostering a safe and nurturing learning environment is essential for achieving high standards of achievement and attainment. In addition to maintaining academic rigor through a dynamic and engaging curriculum, we devote significant attention and dedicated time to nurturing children's personal development and emotional growth.
Central to our approach is the implementation of the Jigsaw personal development program, which embodies a cohesive vision aimed at helping children understand and appreciate their identity and their place in the world. Developed as a whole-school initiative, Jigsaw offers a comprehensive and structured scheme of learning spanning from Lower Kindergarten to FVI. This program encompasses various aspects of personal and social development, health and economic education, emotional literacy, mental health awareness, social skills, and spiritual development, delivered through one lesson per week.
The PSHEE (Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education) curriculum promotes a mindful approach, with the overarching goal of empowering children to recognize and embrace their authentic selves while navigating their relationships in an ever-evolving world. Through Jigsaw, we strive to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to thrive personally, socially, and emotionally, both within and beyond the classroom.
Financial Education & Money Management
Financial education and money management skills are essential for children, even at the primary school level, as they lay the groundwork for responsible financial decision-making later in life. Introducing financial concepts early on helps children develop a solid understanding of the value of money, budgeting, and saving. By learning about concepts such as earning, spending, and saving in a structured and age-appropriate manner, children can develop healthy financial habits from a young age, setting them on the path towards financial literacy and independence as they grow older.
Moreover, financial education within primary schools fosters important life skills beyond just managing money. It teaches children critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills as they navigate financial scenarios and make choices about how to allocate resources. Additionally, it promotes responsibility and accountability as children learn to make informed decisions about spending and saving. By integrating financial education into The Mount Preparatory School’s curriculum in Forms V and VI, we empower our children to become financially savvy individuals who are equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern world with confidence and competence.
