School Structure – Upper School

The Times newspaper top 100 Prep Schools 2012 places Lyonsdown School at number 25 in England and Wales. As our school is non-selective on entry into Pre-Reception and Reception, we feel especially proud of this accolade and believe that part of the reason for our academic success can be put down to the fact that we have a high proportion of specialist subject teaching, particularly in the upper school (Years 3 to 6).

At Lyonsdown we value the individual talents, subject knowledge and interests of our teachers, and use this to structure a learning programme which gives our pupils the best possible environment in which to gain essential knowledge, values and skills in a broad and balanced curriculum.

Each class has a form teacher (who may also be one of our specialist subject teachers) and a form room where time is spent together at the beginning and end of each day. Form teachers are responsible for the pastoral care of the children in their class.

The academic year is filled with many events, but two of the highlights for the girls in the Upper School are the Christmas Carol Service and the End of Year Summer Production. In the past, productions have included Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and Lewis Carol’s, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ as well as productions which the girls themselves have scripted. These have included a ‘Victorian Music Hall’ and ‘We’ll Meet Again’, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the start of Word War II.

Each year, Years 5 and 6 enjoy separate 3 and 4 day residential trips. In October, Year 5 go to Fairthorne Manor, an outdoor activity centre owned and run by the YMCA in Hampshire. In May, Year 6 enjoy the many delights of The Isle of Wight, visiting Osborne House and Dinosaur Isle amongst other places of interest.