Kingswood Prep School has launched a new Year 6 Diploma designed to help pupils develop the skills and qualities they will need as they prepare to move into the Senior School.
The Kingswood Prep School Diploma has been introduced as part of Kingswood’s move to an all-through school. With automatic progression from Year 6 into Year 7 now in place, the Diploma shifts the focus away from preparation for an entrance assessment and towards pupils’ wider personal and academic development.
Running throughout Year 6, the Diploma is based around six key areas, known as the 6 Ps: Passion, People Skills, Planning, Presenting, Positivity and Perseverance. Pupils will develop these skills through everyday school life, projects and activities, while also reflecting on their progress and identifying areas for development.
Throughout the year, they will build a personal portfolio of evidence including academic work, project planning, community outreach, teaching younger pupils, self-reflection and feedback from others. The year will culminate in a presentation in which pupils reflect on their progress and look ahead to Year 7.
The Diploma launched with a dedicated afternoon of activities introducing pupils to the 6 Ps. Challenges included designing a theme park, a Teacher Scavenger Hunt, team activities focused on positivity and perseverance, a Dragon’s Den-style presentation and communication games.
Libby said, “I loved designing my own theme park and bringing my ideas to life.”
Quinn added, “I loved standing up and presenting my ideas in the Dragon’s Den-style challenge.”
Mrs Helen D’Souza, KPS Assistant Head Academic, said, “The Kingswood Diploma is about giving our Year 6 pupils a final year that feels purposeful, memorable and meaningful. It keeps academic achievement at the heart of school life, while also helping children understand themselves as learners, friends and members of a wider community.
“Through the 6 Ps, pupils will have opportunities to plan, lead, reflect, contribute and grow, so they leave with greater confidence, independence and a clearer sense of the skills they will continue developing in Year 7 and beyond.”
With the January entrance assessment no longer required for pupils progressing from Prep to Senior, Years 5 and 6 can focus more fully on learning and personal development, while getting to know the Senior School through taster days and transition events.
Mr Mark Brearey, Headmaster of Kingswood Prep School, said, “The move to automatic progression gave us an exciting opportunity to think differently about how we prepare our pupils for the Senior School. Rather than preparing children for an entrance examination, we can focus on preparing them for the experience of being a Senior School pupil, developing the independence, confidence, resilience and communication skills they will need to thrive.”
Prep School pupils will continue to have the opportunity to apply for Academic Scholarships and Special Talent Awards in Art, Drama, Design Technology and Engineering, Music and Sport, with preparation and enrichment available throughout the year.
