Pocklington Prep School launches innovative, future focused curriculum

Pocklington Prep School is launching an innovative new curriculum ‘The Curiosity Project’, designed to develop vital skills such as independent thinking, critical analysis and teamwork.

The new curriculum will prepare pupils not only for their next steps in education but for their futures as innovators, collaborators, leaders and more.

Each half term pupils will work together on a broad conceptual question such as ‘can people change?’ or ‘what does it mean to be free?’.

Pupils seek to answer this question by delving down into subject-specific skills and knowledge to develop their thoughts and ideas.

The conceptual questions are carefully mapped out across each academic year and all require discovery, enquiry and analysis.

The usual ‘timetabling’ of subjects across a week will change as pupils’ learning may take them into week-long scientific investigation or a full day of researching and writing reports.

Mrs Cath Sweeting, Head of Curriculum at Pocklington Prep School, developed ‘The Curiosity Project’ drawing on her 16 years' experience as a teacher.

Her belief is that a pupil’s learning journey should comprise the core elements of subject knowledge and subject skills, plus the ability to debate, analyse and communicate: "As a Prep School, we take the word ‘prep’ seriously; we want to prepare children with the enthusiasm, knowledge and experience to enable them to thrive.

"As well as subject skills that are taught, practised and developed year on year, this new curriculum ensures that the learning has direction, purpose and encourages independent thinking.

"It puts pupils at its centre, instilling within them an enquiring mind, the confidence to ask questions, explain their findings and provides a fantastic springboard for their futures."

Suzy Ward, Head of Pocklington Prep School said: "This curriculum is a turning point for our Prep School and our staff have been thrilled to be a part of something so innovative and challenging.

"The use of an enquiry model to inspire students’ curiosity will set the tone for a way of learning that is markedly different from what they will have experienced before.

She continued: "Our children will be able to feel the joy of pursuit and enquiry first hand, solving problems with a degree of independence not experienced before.

"They will move through the school gaining knowledge and answers, but when they leave, we hope they have more questions and ideas than ever before!"