... pupils concentrate on their work well and apply themselves positively to it.” ISI Report 2004

Main School Life

Pupils enter the Main School aged 7, when they join Form 3.  For the first two years of Main School, pupils have their own form tutor for the majority of subjects, but are introduced to different specialist subject teachers for certain areas of the curriculum, such as French, ICT, Music and Sport.  From Form 5 upwards, pupils continue to have form tutors, but all lessons are taught by specialist subject teachers in subject rooms.  The role of the form tutor is to provide pastoral and academic support for the pupils and is the first point of contact for parents.

In Main School, children continue with their core and foundation subjects (English, Maths, Science, Religious Studies, History, Geography, Music, Games and PE, ICT, Art and Design) as in the Pre-Prep Department.  In addition to these subjects, the children also study Latin from Year 6.

An average school day is as follows: Main School starts at 8.30 am, when the children are registered.  Shortly after this, the whole school meets for a short chapel service.  Three 40 minute lessons are followed by morning break, then two further lessons are followed by lunch.  Supervised homework is timetabled after lunch, followed by a one-hour ten minutes games session and a final break before the two final lessons of the day.  Main School finishes at 5.30 pm, with the option of staying for tea until 6.15pm or 7.00pm at no extra charge.  The extended school day allows for a range of enrichment activities and extracurricular clubs, such as Chess, Art, ICT, Band, Gymnastics, Lego, Drama and French.  On Thursday and Friday nights, children have the option of ‘flexi boarding' where they can board overnight.  Pupils also attend school on Saturday, when they have the option to leave at 12.50pm or 5.00pm (if involved in matches).  In practice, pupils attend two out of three Saturdays, with the third Saturday being an exeat (weekend off).


The Curriculum

One of our aims at Yarlet is to provide an all-round education.  We therefore offer a broad and well balanced curriculum which provides a wide range of learning opportunities.  Please click on one of the adjacent links to find out more about each subject area. The curriculum is delivered by using a diversity of approaches.  Along with more traditional methods, children will have the opportunity to: work in groups to complete tasks or solve problems; investigate and experiment; work independently on challenges or projects; apply their knowledge and understanding of ICT; undertake practical work and perform.

English and Drama Mathematics Science ICT French History Geography Religious Studies Latin Sport

Academic Aims

Main School pupils are aged between 7 and 13 and to the age of 11 work towards Key Stage 2 examinations. Pupils wishing to leave at 11+ are also prepared to sit examinations to the senior school of their choice. However, the majority of pupils stay to 13+. The 11 to 13 years is an important time in the life of Yarlet boys and girls. This is the time when, academically, they are prepared for Common Entrance and Scholarship examinations to senior independent schools. This is also the time when pupils ‘grow up' - they become more involved in the daily running of the school; take leading roles in plays, concerts and sports teams. At 13, they leave Yarlet as confident young adults, prepared and ready to move on to the next stage of their academic life.

At the age of 11 (Year 6), children undertake National Tests. At Yarlet, almost every pupil reaches level 4 or 5 and we would expect the percentage results within those levels to be far higher than those achieved in State and many other Schools.


Assessment and Reporting to Parents

Each child's performance is regularly assessed from year 1 of the Pre-Prep onwards. In year 2, in addition to the National Curriculum Key Stage 1 test, a separate test is carried out by the Dyslexia Institute, which identifies any areas where individuals may need support, and also assesses aptitude. These tests, along with the teacher's ongoing assessments, form the platform on which targets are based for each child as they move into the Main School.

Reporting to parents takes place every term. From Year 3 onwards, the full end of term report includes a written report from the subject teacher and two grades: the first representing attainment in class work and examination results and the second representing effort. Each grade is explained to parents in the report booklet. Targets are set for each child and their assessments are reviewed by Form Tutors on an individual basis. Form Tutors and pupils discuss all areas of the report and identify ways to improve as well as recognising and rewarding excellence.

At each half-term an assessment paper is circulated to parents. This does not include a written report, but updates parents on attainment and effort grades achieved in each subject during that particular half-term. Accordingly, parents are updated, in writing, six times each academic year on their child's progress.

Curriculum information is circulated to parents on a termly basis and Parent/Teacher meetings are also held annually. These give parents the opportunity to discuss their child's progress and development with each teacher and the Headmaster.