Our Curriculum

All pupils from Woodlands to Top Form are encouraged to explore different artistic techniques and styles and to have fun whilst doing so.

Art and Design has a vital role to play in today’s society, which relies increasingly on visual communication. As Beechwood Park has a separate Design and Technology Department, the Art Department concentrates on 2D and 3D art.

The aim of the Art Department is that pupils gain knowledge of, and become proficient in, as wide a variety of media as possible, in a relevant and enjoyable way. The stimuli for work include: observational study; the work and ideas of different artists/ craft workers and cultures; thematic work linked with other subject areas/ issues in the news and the pupils’ own imaginative and personal ideas.

Specific topics include: Collograph printing, Max Ernst and frottage, worms, Venice, Gaudi… and many more!

Keen artists are encouraged to make the most of their lunch breaks through attending drop in sessions in the Art Studio, improving on what they have learned in lessons as well as honing their own individual artistic techniques and skills. And of course there is often the opportunity for a cuddle with Bruce, the School Wellbeing Dog.

At Beechwood Park, we seek to prepare our pupils for life beyond school by enabling them to become proficient in, knowledgeable of, and excited about the use of IT and how it can enhance their lives. From the very first Computing lesson in Reception,  the Computing curriculum builds towards providing pupils with the confidence to go on to apply each of these skills at Senior School. Pupils who want to extend their skills to a higher level are always encouraged to do so, for example with voxel-editing their own game environment, or 3D-printing their own designs, and a range of ‘after school activities’ perfectly complements this departmental philosophy.

From learning to type with accuracy to understanding machine learning, from using coding to move characters around a fantasy environment to learning about their digital rights and responsibilities, and from learning to be safe online to respecting the need for observing copyright, the sheer range of topics taught engages pupils from an early age, including Woodlands Nursery. Inspiration comes from the high quality of teaching resources used and topics chosen by the department.

Learning Computing is fun for many reasons, but the most obvious is that it is a ‘hands-on’ subject, and pupils thrive on experiential learning. Pupils have used simulation software to predict the effects of a tsunami and to mitigate against such a disaster, whilst also hypothesising about how to balance a long-term population of sheep and wolves in the same field.  Pupils also enter a range of national and global computing competitions.

At Beechwood Park , we are lucky to have have suites of iPads, and Chromebooks, two PC labs, and one Apple Mac computer lab.

Dance and Drama lessons at Beechwood Park are practical and dynamic; pupils work to develop their performance, devising and evaluative skills in a variety of different theatrical genres.

All pupils regularly perform to large-scale audiences in our well-equipped Performance Hall. Beechwood Park pupils are confident, expressive and articulate performers. Recent productions include Junior versions of The Lion King, Mulan and The Wizard of Oz, Private Peaceful and Emil and the Detectives as well as physical theatre versions of The Witches, 80 Days around the World, and a film version of The Wind in the Willows situated around the school grounds.

Through their Beechwood Park School journey, pupils develop a wide range of transferable skills through the exploration of child-centred themes and topics, and participation in collaborative projects with other departments across the School.

Pupils experience theatre trips and workshops with visiting practitioners, our popular LAMDA Acting courses are also taught by professional actors and we achieve excellent results. A well-established drama scholarship programme propels more able pupils onto their next schools.

The study of Design Technology encourages critical thinking and fosters curiosity in how things work. From Year 3 upwards, pupils venture into the specialist DT Department, where we focus on the real world skills and processes that are used in the design process to make, manufacture, invent and engineer products. Pupils learn about engineering and mechanical systems to solve technical problems, and use model making to communicate ideas, learn about materials, their properties and how to manipulate them. Staff introduce principles of electronics, from simple circuits in single geared robots to advanced soldering and PCB construction.

Each project has relevance to skills used in the real world, from architectural modelling, to space exploration, civil engineering or costume design. We combine and reinforce pupils’ knowledge from science, maths, history, geography, CS and music into practical hands on experiences.

Computer aided design is a key skill, from 3D modelling for our 3D printers, or vector illustration work for our Laser Cutter. Pupils are introduced to these machines and how they work quite early on – this is usually only possible in secondary schools.

The workshop is fitted with 3D printers, a laser cutter, vacuum former, scroll saws, heat press, plastic bending tools, pillar drills and a whole host of hand tools.

We compete in the national First Lego League Robotics Competition, where pupils work as a team to build and code robots to complete a series of challenges.

The department runs open sessions during lunch breaks for pupils who want to work on their own independent projects, giving them full access to the machines and tools under supervision of the Head of DT. This includes more focused and advanced sessions for those more able pupils who are working towards a DT scholarship.

Our aim is to teach children how to use English, whether in its spoken or written form, as efficiently, concisely, imaginatively, and accurately as possible – and to help them enjoy discovering its huge potential for communicating the full range of human experience.

Our talented and experienced team share their passion for literature with pupils in a plethora of creative tasks: poems, stories and even novels! We are very proud of our successes in the BBC 500-word competition, with three children in the top 50 over the last 5 years.

We believe that reading is key – those who read, succeed. The Library is the heart of the School and children review and recommend books to their peers, both in lessons and in after-school activities. The “book buzz” is at its peak during World Book Week during which the School is overrun by costumed characters from favourite novels. The proof of our success in reading is evident in our sponsored reading event held in October. This annual whole-school readathon has regularly raised over £4000 for the Read for Good charity, since its inception in 2010.

We use a variety of IT resources to provide an interactive and engaging learning experience for pupils: iPads in class, Chromebooks in the Library, or lessons in the Computer Suite; book quizzes online; an interactive spelling programme and learning platforms such as Century and Planet Bofa.

Pupils in Woodlands start the basics of letter formation and sound recognition, and then the Junior Department, they start to become writers of words and sentences, learning how to organise and punctuate writing. By the end of Year 2, most are independent readers raring to go, many having proudly read their first ‘chapter’ books! Teaching assistants are on hand to motivate any struggling readers and the Learning Support team work closely with teachers to provide targeted support.

By Year 6, pupils are busily engaged in writing their own woodland novel, inspired by trips into the Beechwood Park bluebell woods where they enjoy the stimulus of nature and the great outdoors to fuel their sensory writing in Treetops.

In the Senior Department, pupils are immersed in Shakespeare, through trips to The Globe, live workshops and an in-house Shakespeare competition. They also enjoy performing poetry both in solo and group competitions in order to foster confidence and public speaking skills. By Top form, spelling, punctuation and grammar are advanced and comprehension skills are honed so that every pupil leaves Beechwood Park, confident, equipped and prepared for their next school.

Pupils are given the opportunity to develop rhetorical skills in debating forums in class, clubs and in an inter-house competition.  In 2022, the Beechwood Park team won the Rotary Club Youth Speaks competition, and our 2023 team is competing in the National Finals.

Pupils excel in public examinations and many win academic scholarships to their next school.

We are lucky to have a well established Forest School within our wonderful woodland setting and Forest School is one of the highlights in the timetable for many of our pupils.

Our School’s own Forest School Leader is both a qualified teacher and Forest School practitioner; she runs Forest School sessions which are fun, engaging and provide a chance to connect with nature. Experiencing life outside the classroom gives children a chance to boost their independence, self-confidence and engagement with learning.

Every Forest School session promotes both creative and imaginative play, as well as physical activity, and we encourage children to learn to take managed risks within a safe environment.  Children also learn about the diversity and identification of species and to respect the environment they are lucky to enjoy at school. “Soft skills” such as negotiation, teamwork and communication are key elements of Forest School; children’s social interactions and respect for one another are always a joy to behold in the Forest School setting with many new relationships forming. It is impossible to pin the many and varied benefits down to a specific skill set or curriculum area; Forest School provides a holistic learning environment.

Our Future Skills course develops pupils’ core thinking. critical reasoning and learning skills in preparation for life at senior school and beyond.

Staff at Beechwood Park have designed a Future Skills course that is tailored to the needs of our pupils from Year 3 and upwards. It constantly evolves, reacting to an ever-changing world and to the demands of the different senior school admission assessments. We empower our pupils to develop a wide range of skills to prepare them for a lifetime of learning.

Our emphasis is on developing skills whilst having fun. Pupils participate in games and problem-solving activities that are aimed at building learning power, developing critical thinking, teamwork and communication skills.

In their Future Skills lessons, pupils focus upon their hopes, dreams, and aspirations, and consider what they need to do to achieve them. They learn to be goal-oriented, to take responsibility for their personal development and to align their actions with their goals. At the forefront of our pupils’ minds is often the desire to achieve a place at their preferred senior school. Through their Future Skills lessons, every Beechwood Park pupil is thoroughly prepared for the assessment and transition processes. We build confidence and self-esteem, giving them the tools for success.

Important skills include:

• how to tackle verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests
• how to prepare for interviews and teamwork challenges
• how to study effectively

As entrance assessments approach, pupils have free access to a number of on-line learning platforms such as Planet Bofa, ATOM Learning and Century. They use these resources both in school and at home and can complete challenges at their own pace. Our teachers monitor progress and arrange targeted interventions where necessary.

Lessons don’t stop once senior school places are secured. Our focus moves to ensuring that our pupils learn to stay healthy, safe and prepared for life in a global community. In the Senior Department, we teach elements of our PSHEE (Personal Social Health and Economic Education) curriculum through Future Skills. Pupils learn more about

• Personal and social responsibility;
• Leadership;
• Finance;
• Enterprise;
• IT literacy;
• Global awareness.

All of this culminates in the opportunity for our pupils to gain a coveted Beechwood Park Leadership Through Service Award

The Geography Department encourages a child-centred and enquiry-based learning approach to Geography.

The Department helps pupils to:

• Make sense of a complex and dynamically changing world;
• Explain where places are, how places and landscapes are formed, how people and their environment interact, and how a diverse range of economies, societies and environments are interconnected;
• Build their own experiences to investigate all scales, from the personal to the global;
• Develop questioning, investigation and critical thinking skills about issues affecting the world and people’s lives, now and in the future;
• Become global citizens by understanding their own place in the world, their values and their responsibilities to other people, the environment and to the sustainability of the planet.

Our pupils will develop a series of skills to assist them on this journey including:

• Geographical Information System and Data Manipulation to create digital maps;
• Critical thinking skills to analyse and solve problems in their world collaboratively with their peers;
• Fieldwork and data collection using live weather stations;
• Real world mapping experience through our orienteering programme;
• A variety of field trips.

Through enquiry based learning pupils can follow and develop their own interests extending their learning to a higher level.

Knowledge and understanding of the past is essential for all if we are to play a full and informed role in today’s ever changing and fast-paced society. It is essential both to grasp one’s national story as well as be able to view this in an international context. Today, the study of history is more relevant than ever and consequently at Beechwood Park School, it is taught throughout the School in varying forms.

Our aim is to help pupils learn how to discern the information they are presented with. As well as learning the stories of our island’s past, pupils are taught from an early age how to interpret sources and to develop skills in analysing reliability and usefulness. They also learn to structure their arguments to ensure they are convincing and persuasive in sharing their opinion with others.

In the Junior Department, history is covered largely through topic work. From Year 3 onwards history is taught in specific lessons. Visiting experts and excursions support the history teaching which aims to foster an interest in the past. Across the year groups history is brought to life through interactive, immersive study such as that of the Fire of London in the Junior Department and the ever popular Viking Day in Year 4.

We are fortunate to have a rich history of our own, and all pupils are given the chance to delve into the history of Beechwood Park. Beechwood Park historians also have the opportunity to take part in the prestigious Townsend Warner History Prize, as part of our scholarship preparation and programme for more able pupils.

Learning Latin at Beechwood Park School represents both fun and challenge.

Year 5 children are introduced to Latin through Minimus, a scheme of work run by the Primary Latin Project. They learn about the Roman world and, at the same time, boost their understanding of English vocabulary and grammar. Our pupils’ own original animations, art and writing have enjoyed many successes in the annual international Minimus Mythology Competition. In 2021/22, Beechwood Park was given the accolade of being crowned “Best School” for their combined entries into this prestigious international competition.

Year 6 follow a three year course to Common Entrance and Scholarship Level.

Trips have previously run to Roman Provence, the British Museum, Verulamium, and pupils have enjoyed visits from guest speakers.  The now legendary Beechwood Park Latin Plays Festival and Roman Banquet is a highlight of the Department’s varied activity programme.

For those who show a natural ability, there is also the opportunity to learn Ancient Greek in a co-curricular club.

The Main Library at Beechwood Park is housed in a wonderful room designed by Thomas Cundy for Sir John Saunders Sebright (1767-1864).

It currently holds over 10,000 modern books, ranging from classics to the latest releases, in addition to hundreds of books dating back to the room’s pre-school origins. The room has evolved to become a centre for digital learning with the addition of Chrome books and interactive screens. By combining traditional book-centred research methods alongside digital literacy in the Library, pupils are encouraged to use literacy skills and resources in a meaningful way and with purpose to broaden their knowledge and nurture different approaches to learning.

Junior Department pupils visit their own Library in the Junior Department at set times with their class and are supported by Librarians who help them choose age-appropriate books.

In the Middle and Senior Departments, each pupil has at least one session in the Main Library every week;  these sessions are supported by our School Librarians who advise on next reads, assist with issuing and returning books, and listen to pupils read.

Senior pupils may volunteer to become Librarians who help our dedicated School Librarians with many aspects of running the Library.

Throughout the school week, the Main Library hosts a number of break time and lunch time reading groups.. These small groups operate on a rotation basis allowing all pupils the opportunity to participate. Each group enjoys an age and reading level appropriate Group Reader text which is read out loud by the pupils and avidly discussed amongst the group.

In January 2018, Jonathan Stroud was appointed Patron of Reading for Beechwood Park, saying

“Books are a vital part of every childhood – for the doors they open, for the worlds they unlock, for the new dreams and possibilities contained on every page. They send the imagination soaring and they help us forge an understanding of who we are”.

The Main Library runs regular literary-inspired and topical competitions, which are very popular with the pupils. We also arrange various author visits and hold a huge book sale on World Book Day each year, which involves the entire school.

The Main Library has many other functions, and is used for exams, lessons, assemblies, rehearsals and competitions. Whilst it is a busy place, with a constant buzz of activity, it is also an inspiring and beautiful room, with vast windows offering stunning views over Beechwood Park’s sports fields.

In the Maths Department, it is our aim to foster and nurture a love of mathematics. From the very beginning of their time at Beechwood Park, children are provided with carefully sequenced learning opportunities that are designed for a Mastery approach. The Mastery method in maths acknowledges that all children are capable of being successful in maths when they have been equipped with the appropriate knowledge and tools.

Passionate teachers,who firmly believe in every child’s ability to achieve their potential, inspire pupils and help them to engage in their learning through varied approaches and learning opportunities. We encourage the development of investigative thinking, problem solving and reasoning skills and instil confidence and resilience through an appreciation of the value of learning from mistakes.

Learning is not linear and at different stages specialist staff provide pupils with additional support and guidance while at others times, teachers stretch and challenge their pupils, both in class, as well as through national competitions and workshops.

We use a variety of methods and learning opportunities to make your child’s experience a valuable one. We aim to enable pupils to recognise the beauty of mathematics and provide a solid foundation for future progress.

Every pupil at Beechwood Park, from Woodlands to Top Form, learns French, using toys, songs, books, stories, drama and games to bring the language to life, ensuring that all pupils can maximise their potential.

Our approach provides pupils with a structure which can be used throughout their education. We adopt a rigorous approach to learning correct pronunciation and to mastering verbs and grammar in a lively and interactive way, and provide opportunities for pupils of all ages to learn about the culture and traditions in French-speaking countries.

We believe language learning is fun; it brings a sense of unity to our world, and pupils learn that French is for communication.  Through their studies, the pupils develop independence, teamwork and respect for others.

Specialist teachers teach lessons in form groups from Reception to Year 5, before pupils are “set” by ability from Year 6 to the Top Form (Year 8). In the Junior Department the emphasis is on oral and listening skills; pupils sing and have fun with the unfamiliar sounds of another language. The Middle Department children learn to write in increasing complexity about their lives as they move up through the years, incorporating family, home, dates, food and animals. The interactive programmes Rigolo and Early Start French create lively ways of introducing new language. The basis of the course is the Common Entrance syllabus using Expo 1 and 2, and Studio Actif 1.

There are many opportunities for pupils to “use” their  language skills; At the annual Café du Lion,  all pupils in Year 5 serve their parents afternoon tea;  For the soirée amicale, each class in the Senior Department puts on a play which they have created in French.

Spanish is an optional subject in Year 7 and Top Form. It is a fantastic opportunity for pupils to find out what fun it would be to take Spanish to GCSE at their next school. It also allows pupils to use their Latin, French and English to make connections from their collective knowledge and widen their European experience.

We also run an after-school beginners’ Spanish activity in Year 5. This is a new venture to add to the gamut of activités linguistiques.

Music forms a very important and large part of the day-to-day life of the pupils at Beechwood Park and the department is always buzzing with activity. We aim to inspire and nurture an enthusiasm, an appreciation and a confidence in music in every pupil, regardless of ability, with our ‘music for all’ ethos.

Specialist music staff teach class lessons from Woodlands to Top Form, and include a very wide range of different elements, encompassing listening, performing and composing. From Year 5, Music Technology forms a significant part of the curriculum, using GarageBand, Sibelius and Logic software for composing, recording and editing in our Music Studio and Mac Suite.

Outside the Classroom, 16 Instrumental Music Teachers provide tuition on every orchestral instrument, delivering almost 300 lessons a week to pupils in Year 2 and above. External exam results are excellent, many pupils join the National Orchestras and Choirs, and many are awarded scholarships each year to Senior Schools. Weekly lunchtime concerts, services and large evening concerts provide multiple and varied opportunities for developing performance skills, either individually or as part of one of our five choirs or 33 varied ensembles, catering for all abilities, including our more able pupils. Further co-curricular activities include theory tuition, Music Technology and ‘Performing Arts’ clubs.

Each year we hold a large Music competition, alternating between ‘performing’ for our instrumentalists and ‘composition’ for all pupils in Year 3 and above. There are also biennial musical productions with the Drama Department. Large and small music workshops provide further learning opportunities for all pupils, and we regularly reach out into the local community, performing at local events.  Further afield, Years 5 to Top Form singers have had the opportunity to participate in a Choir Tour, visiting Belgium and Holland.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHEE) is central to pupils’ education at Beechwood Park, and permeates all aspects of school life.

PSHEE is included in the school curriculum from Woodlands Nursery to Top Form, as well as through the many and varied co-curricular activities. Our schemes of work are enriched by a variety of visiting speakers and workshops.

Through PSHEE we aim:

• To provide pupils with accurate and age-appropriate information for them to develop into confident, responsible, healthy, thoughtful and caring individuals;
• To provide pupils with an understanding of Beechwood Park’s values, British values and the knowledge and understanding to help them make informed choices about their lifestyle;
• To foster personal skills, self-esteem, respect for others and a developing sense of responsibility;
• To make pupils feel valued as individuals so that they can make positive contributions to the wellbeing of the school, the wider community and to the world;
• To develop sensitivity and a positive attitude to matters relating to equal opportunities and life in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society;
• To make the pupils and parents feel valued and supported through open lines of communication and a strong pastoral system;
• To help pupils respect themselves and others and move with confidence from childhood through adolescence into adulthood;
• To help pupils to develop good relationships and to respect the differences between people and how fundamental British values incorporate living in a multi-cultural society;
• To make pupils aware of how they can keep themselves safe, including staying safe online;
• Through Relationship and Sex Education (RSE), to enable pupils to make responsible and well-informed decisions about their lives.

The aim of the Science Department is to develop a life-long love of Science whilst providing a friendly, happy, safe and inspiring learning environment.

As specialist Science teachers, we want pupils to share our enthusiasm and fascination for Science and offer as many opportunities as possible to conduct investigations, develop research and presentation skills and effectively apply their scientific knowledge.

The Science Department boasts two fully equipped specialist laboratories for practical work as well as a prep-room. A Science Technician assists in preparing equipment and helping in lessons.

Teachers choose child-initiated active learning and pupils are always encouraged to think for themselves and to ask questions. Teaching methods include practical work, omputing, modelling, drama, singing, research, reporting and investigating; such a variety of methods allows pupils with different learning styles to achieve their full potential in Science and eventually move on to their senior schools well equipped with the skills that they require, as well as a love of Science.

Pupils are introduced to Science at Woodlands Nursery and in Reception, where Science-related opportunities are explored as the curriculum unfolds. As well as timetabled Science lessons, early Science is woven into daily activities, which are often child-led.

Older pupils follow a curriculum which encompasses both the National Curriculum and the Common Entrance syllabus, enabling every child to experience all three Sciences; Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Beechwood Park offers an enviable range of sporting opportunities for all of our pupils; pupils in Woodlands benefit from lessons with subject specialists, and pupils in the Junior Department have two Physical Education lessons per week. Between Years 3 to 6, pupils have one PE lesson and two games sessions each week. PE lessons include gymnastics, ball skills, athletics and swimming (on offer throughout the year in our pool complex).

As children move up the school, opportunities to represent the School in fixtures and tournaments increase, and we field an extremely large number of girls and boys teams from Years 3 to Year 8. Pupils from Years 5 to 8 not actively representing the school in a team on a match day have the chance to take part in martial arts, orienteering, tennis, sailing, badminton, fencing, swimming and table tennis, usually led by visiting specialist coaches, who help these pupils work towards nationally-recognised accreditations in some of these sports.

Our “Sport for All” and co-curricular programmes provide an even greater variety of sports for pupils of all sporting abilities. We believe that if children participate in a variety of sports, rather than specialising in only one sport from an early age, they can develop a wide range of tactical, technical, mental and physical skills. Additionally, they gain a more holistic understanding of teamwork, leadership and learn how to celebrate their victories and manage their defeats. The resulting breadth of skill enables our pupils better to perform in their specialised sports at a later age. Co-curricular clubs enable pupils to develop a breadth of sporting experiences; children choose sports such as swimming, lacrosse, tennis, orienteering, golf, badminton, rugby, cricket, athletics, fitness training /cross-country, hockey, basketball, table tennis, dance, fencing, global soccer and cheerleading. Clubs are open to both boys and girls.

We host a number of sport camps in the School holidays such as rugby, football, hockey and cricket.

Pupils participate in intra-school, inter-school, regional and national tournaments; sports trips and tours are organised, ranging from watching premier sporting events to weekend football tours to ski trips. All Middle and Senior Department pupils participate in House matches (e.g. rugby, netball, orienteering), sports days and swimming galas. Pupils represent Beechwood Park at an ever-increasing number of district, regional and national events where we have had a wonderful success rate. The School supports all pupils applying for sports scholarships and we enjoy an excellent success rate with children recently gaining scholarships at Berkhamsted, Queenswood and Haileybury.

The School has active links with local elite sports clubs such as Saracens, Mavericks, St Albans Hockey and CoStA Swim Club.

• What is religion?;
• How did the universe begin?;
• How does religion affect society?;

The main aim of Theology, Philosophy and Religion (TPR) is to help our children begin to ask questions like these and try to find some answers! At Beechwood Park, TPR promotes the spiritual, moral, social, cultural and intellectual development of pupils by encouraging them to explore those aspects of human experience which raise fundamental questions about beliefs and values.

Children are encouraged to develop positive attitudes towards followers of other faiths and to understand that people express beliefs and ideas in a variety of ways.

We achieve our aims through the use of:

• Visiting speakers and visits to places of worship;
• DVDs and online resources;
• Interactive whiteboards in every classroom;
• An extensive range of high-quality artefacts.

The TPR syllabus in Woodlands, Junior and Middle Departments cover a wide range of different topics. This broadly follows the Hertfordshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. Throughout the Middle and Senior Departments, we teach a term each of Theology, Philosophy or Religion. From Year 3 pupils, will also have the opportunity to study philosophy during one term, in the form of ‘Philosophy 4 Children’ – a brilliant opportunity to promote philosophical inquiry with the children and develop their critical thinking.

From Year 7 pupils study the ISEB TPR Syllabus A, comprising biblical studies, philosophy, contemporary issues and world religions.  By the end of Top Form, pupils will have covered the religions Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Theology of Christianity will also have been studied, based around two areas; God’s relationship with the world and humanity’s response to God, as seen in the Old and New Testaments.

Pupils are prepared to sit the 13+ ISEB Common Entrance and scholarship exams, as well as for other independent senior school entrance and scholarship exams.