English

Particular emphasis is placed upon reading, imaginative writing, poetry and confident speaking. We especially encourage reading for pleasure and have well-stocked class libraries as well as the main library to facilitate this. Our girls develop into sophisticated, accurate users of the English language. Whilst learning to speak clearly, fluently and cogently, they listen to the spoken word attentively with understanding and empathy. Effective writing is practised for a range of audiences and purposes with diligent use of appropriate spelling, punctuation and grammar and the writing and appreciation of poetry is encouraged.

Maths

Numeracy is, of course, fundamental and a problem-solving approach is adopted, with an emphasis upon the basic skills of number. Young children are encouraged to use the wide range of practical resources available to support their learning. We aim that all the girls will enjoy the subject and study it with confidence, achieving a high standard in numeracy and a range of other mathematical skills. Skills are built upon and methods taught and reinforced using a carefully planned course.

Science

Science is a core subject and is taught throughout the school from Reception to Year 6. We cover "Scientific Enquiry", "Life Processes and Living Things", "Materials and their Properties" and "Physical Processes". We aim to develop the girls' natural sense of curiosity about the world and help them to build up a body of scientific knowledge and understanding. The girls are taught Scientific Method, involving meticulous observation, the making and testing of hypotheses, the design of fair and controlled experiments, the drawing of meaningful conclusions through critical reasoning and the evaluation of evidence. The girls are encouraged to develop a set of attitudes which promote scientific ways of thinking, including open-mindedness, perseverance, objectivity and a recognition of the importance of team-work. We want them to become effective communicators of scientific ideas, facts and data that affect us all, and to be able to discuss, criticise, analyse and interpret evidence.

We are extremely fortunate in having a recently-built, very well-designed and well-equipped laboratory which is used by the girls from Year 3 onwards. We carry out a wide range of exciting experiments and use Bunsen burners for heating from Year 5. We use the school grounds for ecological studies, orienteering and other activities. A whole-class set of laptops and a Smartboard are available for ICT activities. We have a "Fun in Science" club available to Years 3 and 4. Visits to the Zoo, museums and other places are organised throughout the school and there are residential field trips in Years 4, 5 and 6.

We have great fun!

Information and Communication Technology

This is seen as an integral part of the curriculum at every stage and the children are encouraged to treat computers as a useful resource to assist their learning. The school is well-equipped with a range of multimedia networked machines including three class sets of laptops, interactive whiteboards with access to colour laser printing facilities, scanners, digital cameras, carefully controlled broadband Internet access and a large number of relevant software applications. These enable pupils to follow their ICT schemes of work as well as cross-curricular activities.

Geography

At Bute House we believe that Geography is important because, in learning about their world, children can make sense of it and develop an identity through learning about their immediate environment and place this in context with the wider environment. Throughout their studies, the girls learn about other cultures and countries. They are encouraged to increase their geographical skills and to identify geographical features. In addition, the girls are able to develop their knowledge of environmental issues and to form their own opinions on such issues. We aim for the girls to enjoy the subject of Geography and develop confidence and a sense of achievement.

Geography is taught throughout the school from Reception upwards. We broadly follow the National Curriculum. There are opportunities to enhance the girls' studies through fieldwork and workshops, including a five-day residential trip to Skern Lodge in Devon.

History

Our aims in History are that all the girls will have an interest in, and knowledge of, the past and enjoy History, developing confidence and a sense of achievement. They will be introduced to the skills of understanding and interpreting the past and be taught to express themselves clearly in both speech and writing and to develop their reading and comprehension skills.

History is important because, in learning about the past, the girls can make sense of the society in which they live now and gain a sense of chronology. We study a range of topics covering British history and the wider world, using the National Curriculum as a framework. Topics include: Ancient Greece and Egypt, Aztecs, Romans, Saxons, Vikings, Tudors, Victorians and Britain in World War II. There are many workshops and visits designed to enhance the girls' studies, including a residential trip to York to study Vikings.

Religious Education

This is an important part of the curriculum. A carefully planned programme, which includes a multi-faith element, is taught to every girl. We aim to teach a wide range of concepts, skills and attitudes, which encourage children to ask searching questions and to develop open and tolerant minds.  We encourage the pupils to gain self-understanding, to explore relationships with others and to consider the place of the individual within the local community and the wider world. This is achieved in classroom-based lessons as well as through whole-school activities and assemblies.

At all stages in the school the pupils study four of the world's major religions - Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Hinduism - through topic-based activities ranging from Creation stories, to Leaders, Pilgrimage and Holy Texts. We highlight the similarities between religions rather than the differences so that the children are first able to relate to and understand them better and then reflect on their own beliefs. People representing these religions visit school to lead assemblies and hold various workshops and a range of festivals and events of the Christian, Hindu, Islamic, and Judaic faiths are acknowledged.

French

French is taught at Bute House from Reception to Year 6 by a native speaker. Some of the lessons involve a French assistant, who is also a native speaker. In the Lower School the work is mainly oral as the pupils learn to develop their listening and comprehension skills through songs, role-play, games and activities on an interactive Smartboard as well as listening to stories and acting them out. The girls gradually develop their written skills from Year 3 upwards and understand how a language works. Emphasis is put on the cultural aspects of learning French as well as on the language itself through discussions in class and projects done by the pupils. There is access to a mini language lab, which enables pupils to work in small groups, and this includes, for Years 5 and 6, working on the magazines they subscribe to, "Allons-y" and "Bonjour". Various CD-Rom programmes are used for whole-class lessons on the interactive Smartboard as well as being connected to laptops for pupils to work on in pairs with the use of headphones. The programme "Espresso" also provides a wide range of activities and sketches which are stimulating. The aim is for the pupils to leave Bute House and arrive at secondary school with an appetite for learning modern foreign languages, having enjoyed an exciting introduction to French culture.

Latin

Latin is taught to all girls in Years 5 and 6. Our aim is to make this language as exciting as possible so that the girls do not view it as a dead language but see it is very much alive in their own vocabulary.  They are encouraged to relate the grammar in Latin to that of English and French. The girls particularly enjoy acting out scenes of family life, therefore doing as much speaking in Latin as reading and writing it. It also enables them to link their knowledge of the history of Roman Britain, taught in Year 5, with facts they pick up in Latin.

Citizenship

Citizenship is a communal activity, which is relevant to the management and organisation of the school as well as all aspects of the curriculum. Our aim is that all children will develop confidence and responsibility, play active roles as citizens, develop healthy and safe lifestyles and foster good relationships with respect for the differences between people.

In all our teaching the key concepts of citizenship involve the understanding of rights and responsibilities in relation to self, others and the wider community, with a sense of justice and fairness. The girls write the school Code of Conduct and the "Bully Book" themselves, after much discussion in class.

In the classroom a variety of teaching strategies are used, along with Circle Time and the use of Edward de Bono's ‘Six Thinking Hats'. The girls develop a positive learning culture by becoming aware of others' need for recognition and self-esteem. They are given opportunities to tackle difficult behaviours and small-group work provides an opportunity for shy, quiet children to find their voice. Children are formally taught the skills of conflict management through a course run by visiting experts and there is a Friendship Bench in the playground.

Each year the Life Education Bus visits the school for a week and every class is taught a structured programme of life skills by the skilled Bus staff.  A Police Schools Involvement Officer visits each class three times a year. The topics covered include crime and consequences, dangerous play and looking after yourself, healthy eating, drugs