Classes

Pre-School

Our Pre-School class is a private day care facility run under the Minimum Standards guidance from Social Services.

The Pre-School class is available for girls in the year before they are due to start primary school. In the Pre-School class, learning is underpinned by the Pre-School Curriculum and incorporates the six areas of learning:

Language and Literacy Development
Early Mathematical Experiences
Personal and Social Development
The Arts
The World Around Us
Physical Development and Movement

Each month Pre-School cover the six areas of learning through a topic based approach. Topics include; Myself, Birthdays, Autumn, Winter, World Cultures, The Circus, Spring and Nursery Rhymes. There are strong links between Pre-School and Prep and transition to Prep 1 is smooth.

The girls enjoy weekly Forest School sessions where they enjoy outdoor learning experiences in which they have the freedom to explore using multiple senses which is fundamental for encouraging creative, diverse and imaginative play.

This facility is organised by the Pre-School teacher and she is assisted by the Pre-School Assistants.

Prep 1

In Prep 1 pupils follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum for the Foundation Stage. This includes the following areas of learning, Language and Literacy, Mathematics and Numeracy, World Around Us (including History, Geography, Science), The Arts (including Music, Drama and Art and Design), Physical Movement and Development, Personal Development and Mutual Understanding and Religious Education.

Pupils participate in lessons and activities which are carefully planned to be interactive, engaging, challenging and also to develop their skills and capabilities for lifelong learning. These skills fall under the umbrella of Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities and incorporate the skills of; Thinking, Problem-Solving and Decision Making, Self Management, Working with Others, Managing Information and Being Creative.

In Prep 1 the classroom assistants support the class teacher and also the Prep 1 pupils. They listen to pupils reading, support during practical activities and assist pupils with their formal written work, whether it is working independently, in pairs or in small groups.

Special events during the Prep 1 school year include:

Pupils receive specialist teaching for PE, Music and Drama throughout the year.
Spanish begins in the summer term of Prep 1.
Educational Visits – these occur throughout the year and are linked carefully with current topic work.
The Christmas Performance and Prep production – pupils have a chance to perform a song on stage during the performances.
Sports Day – all pupils participate alongside pupils from Prep 2 - 4.

Prep 2

Prep 2 is the final year of the Foundation Stage. In Prep 2, we aim to build on the learning which has taken place in Pre-School and Prep 1, by providing the girls with an appropriate learning programme which will help to develop the skills and competencies needed to succeed in school and future life.

Young children learn best when learning is interactive, practical and enjoyable for both the pupils and adults in the class. In Victoria College Prep, we aim to provide the girls with a stimulating, exciting and enjoyable learning experience. Our happy and relaxed atmosphere encourages self-confidence and consideration for others.

In Prep 2, our learning incorporates the Foundation Stage areas of learning and these include:

Language and Literacy

This area of learning includes Talking and Listening, Reading and Writing. The girls enjoy reading books, exploring the library, shared news times, phonics, High Frequency Words and independent writing tasks.

Mathematics and Numeracy

This area includes Number, Measures, Shape and Space, Sorting, Patterns and Relationships. Many of our numeracy lessons use the wide range of practical mathematical equipment and resources available in Prep.

The Arts

This area of learning incorporates Art and Design, Music and Drama. Many art and craft activities are related to our topic based classroom themes. The girls enjoy the opportunity to paint, create collages and to work with play dough and clay. The girls benefit from specific teaching in Music and Drama.

The World Around Us

In this area of learning we study a wide variety of topics throughout the year. These topics include The Local Area, The Farm, Australia and Light and Dark. To enhance this learning, the girls have the opportunity to undertake a number of visits beyond the classroom.

Personal Development and Mutual Understanding

In this area of the curriculum, the girls are taught self-awareness, self-respect and respecting others, health and safety, and relationships with others through a varied programme.

Physical Development

The girls are taught PE by our Prep PE specialist teacher. She teaches all aspects of PE including Athletics, Dance, Games and Gymnastics.

In addition to these areas of learning, P2 girls also enjoy Play Based Learning activities which link closely to the class topic learning.

Special events in Prep 2 include:

Educational visits- these are linked to our topics and include Streamvale Farm and pizza restaurant.

Prep Christmas performance- all girls from Prep 1-Prep 3 take part in our annual Christmas production.

Music Morning- this event is organised by the Belfast Education and Library Board. This is an opportunity to perform music alongside other local schools.

Sports Day- our annual fun-filled event in May.

Prep Annual Production- a whole school performance in which every pupil from Prep 1- Prep 7 takes part. Past productions have included The Sound of Music, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Wizard of Oz.

Prep 3

Throughout the P3 curriculum we hope to stimulate the children’s enthusiasm for and interest in their work, encouraging neat presentation and the ability to set out written work in a legible, orderly fashion. A caring attitude towards others, especially those who are less able, is encouraged at all times, as the girls learn to appreciate their own strengths and weaknesses, and those of others. Practical work and structured activities are carried out both individually and in groups in all aspects of the curriculum, to stimulate curiosity, enhance learning, extend understanding and provide enjoyment.

The girls enjoy weekly classes in Drama, Music and Swimming, where they benefit from the expertise of specialist teachers. ICT forms an integral part of the curriculum and the girls have the opportunity to use the Senior School ICT suite and classroom computers in a wide variety of activities, participating in the exciting challenge of competing against children all around the world on World Maths Day. Artwork is varied, and includes painting, pastel work, collage, clay modelling and textile work, where the girls learn to sew with large needles and enjoy creative fabric and felt work. Each term we look at the work of an artist and learn about his style before trying it out.

P3 outings reflect the topics taught at the time; we study Birds, Living Things, Weather, Schools and Keeping Healthy. We include visits to support these topics and invite visitors providing expertise about road safety, dental care, managing our finances and visitors from other countries.

The P3 girls are the main actors in the Prep Christmas Performance and enjoy the challenges of Sports Day and the Swimming Gala.

Prep 4

Prep 4 is the second and final year of Key Stage 1 and we aim to continue the development of the concepts, knowledge and skills acquired in P1, P2 and P3, while building each pupil’s confidence to enable her to become an increasingly independent worker. Continued emphasis is placed on personal, social and emotional development as well as specific skills in Communication, Using Mathematics, and Using ICT. Lessons are carefully planned to provide worthwhile, challenging and enjoyable learning experiences. Our areas of learning are as follows:

Language and Literacy - the essential points of reading and writing including phonics, grammar, spelling, reading, handwriting and expressive skills are consolidated and developed further, while the pupil’s oral communication skills are enhanced through connected talking and listening lessons. ICT skills are incorporated into all aspects of the curriculum.

Numeracy - Pupils develop knowledge, understanding and skills in Number, Shape and Space, Measure, Handling Data and Processes in Mathematics. The aim is to develop and consolidate an understanding of mathematical processes and abstract concepts through practical activities, application and practice while procuring a sense of enjoyment.

World Around Us - Topics studied throughout the year include Journeys and Transport, Houses and Homes, World War 2, Mighty Me, and Hurricanes and Tornadoes.

The Arts -

Art and Craft- Art and Craft activities are inspired by class topics

Drama- link with topic or literacy activity and provides a wide range of experiences

Music- Pupils learn about composing and performing. and they develop their creativity by investigating, combining and experimenting with sounds.

In addition, Prep 4 pupils also have the opportunity to receive specialist music tuition from external music tutors in a wide range of musical instruments.

Personal Development and Mutual Understanding - Pupils enjoy activities which encourage them to investigate issues for themselves, to suggest solutions and to make decisions based on what they have learned.

Physical Development and Movement - Our specialist P.E. teacher delivers the curriculum which includes Athletics, Dance, Games, Gymnastics and Swimming.

Religious Education - lessons focusing on on encouraging children to become informed and inquisitive about their own and others’ religious beliefs and practices.

Using ICT - ICT skills are developed and incorporated throughout the curriculum and in Prep 4, pupils have the opportunity to complete specialised ICT tasks which assess and recognise their attainment.

French - Pupils have the opportunity to begin learning French and participate in a range of enjoyable activities including singing, drama, games and role play.

Spanish - Specialist Spanish lessons introducing pupils to basic vocabulary.

Special Events include:

Class trips - Trips are linked to class topics and include visits to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra, Castle Ward and the museum.

Nativity and school production

Swimming Gala

Sports Day

Prep 5

In Prep 5 we seek to provide a warm and stimulating atmosphere where the children are encouraged to be more independent in their learning and where each child may develop her full potential.

Study continues to follow a broad and balanced curriculum of Language and Literacy, Mathematics and Numeracy, the World Around Us, Personal Development and Mutual Understanding, ICT and Physical Education. Creative and expressive studies include Art, Music and Drama, with Music and Drama both being taught by specialist teachers. The girls also benefit from a specialist teacher in Physical Education and they participate in Hockey, Gymnastics, Athletics and Swimming. The girls continue with their French studies with our specialist language teacher, once a week.

The main cross-curricular topics in Prep 5 are Our School, Stone Age Man in Ireland, Forces and Magnetism, Pets, Modern and Ancient Egypt. The girls participate in a Stone Age workshop in the Winter term and also receive a visit from a vet in the Spring term.

To develop independent research, ICT and Literacy skills, the girls complete a written project on a chosen pet. This is then followed by a “Bring Your Pet to School Week” – the highlight of the year!

As part of our Art curriculum, the girls take part in an Art workshop at the newly refurbished Ulster Museum and are given a guided tour of one of their latest exhibitions. We also take this opportunity to visit their Early Man in Ireland exhibition as part of our topic work during the Winter term.

Prep 5 often participate in a Music morning, organised by the Belfast Education and Library Board. This is an opportunity to listen to and perform for other schools.

Pupils can develop their musical talents further by performing in our annual Key Stage 2 music recital in May. Every child in the class performs in our performance at Christmas time and the whole school musical in the Spring term.

Prep 6

Pupils in Preparatory 6 are within Key Stage 2 of the Primary Curriculum. In Victoria College Preparatory School, the girls have opportunities to experience a broad and balanced curriculum, with an emphasis on developing skills for life long learning.

We follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum for Key Stage 2 in preparing the girls for transition to secondary school. Assessment is an integral part of the learning programme that helps to build a comprehensive picture of the progress and learning needs of each child.

Much of the learning is approached through themed topic work in the areas of ‘The World Around Us’ and ‘Personal Development and Mutual Understanding’:

The Vikings: the girls participate in a variety of interactive activities, culminating in a fun filled Viking Workshop event in the school. They use Language and ICT skills to design advertisements, write newspaper reports and letters. Through Art and Design the girls design models of ships, houses and Viking jewellery.
Finding out about our own country of Northern Ireland, engages the girls’ ICT skills as they research, design and produce tourist brochures. They have opportunities to carry out role play as travel agents and television presenters.
The children are highly motivated to discover all they can about the World’s Rainforests through visits to the Ulster Museum and from classroom visitors. The girls discover skills as weather presenters as they film their own weather forecasts for the Amazon. They are actively concerned about the environmental issues of deforestation. They use language and ICT skills to design trail guides to the Amazon and ‘Save the Rainforests’ posters.
Health awareness is important and the girls are encouraged to develop life long healthy habits. They learn about the importance of a balanced diet and create their own healthy menus. As part of PDMU, the girls discover the harmful effects smoking and alcohol and learn how to deal with peer pressure.

We are lucky to have the expertise of specialist PE, Drama, Music teachers. Prep 6 pupils have weekly lessons in these subjects. During PE classes, the girls participate in modules of Hockey, Gymnastics and Athletics. In addition, they have a weekly swimming lesson in our own pool. The girls have opportunities to compete in swimming galas in school and elsewhere. Many Prep 6 girls also join the Hockey Club, held weekly after school and compete in inter school hockey tournaments.

Prep 7

Prep 7 is one the most important and enjoyable years for pupils at Victoria College Prep as this is the last year before moving to Post Primary School. During this final year at Key Stage 2 the girls have opportunities to experience a broad and balanced curriculum, with an emphasis on developing skills for lifelong learning.

We follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum for Key Stage 2 and prepare the girls through the transition process to their next school. Assessment is an integral part of the learning programme that helps to build a comprehensive picture of the progress and learning needs of each child.

The Prep 7 teacher is responsible for the girls’ progress in Literacy, Numeracy, World Around Us and The Arts as well as their pastoral care. In addition the pupils receive specialist teaching for French, Music, PE and Drama. Learning opportunities include:

Language and Literacy - the essential skills of writing are further developed through the teaching of advanced punctuation and skills in redrafting and editing. Reading is developed through the teaching of prediction, inference and deduction strategies. Spelling is targeted through a metacognitive approach whilst pupil’s oral communication skills are enhanced through connected talking and listening activities

Numeracy - Pupils develop knowledge, understanding and skills in Number, Shape and Space, Measure, Handling Data and Processes in Mathematics to Level 5 standard. The aim is to develop and consolidate an understanding of mathematical processes and abstract concepts through application, practice and the use of ICT.

Using ICT - ICT is fully integrated into the curriculum and pupils enjoy using a variety of software including Excel, Movie Maker, PowerPoint, Publisher, Scratch and iPads.

World Around Us - Pupils learn through a topic based approach. Topics covered include Space, Titanic and Edinburgh.

Art - Art and Craft activities are inspired by class topics. We study a variety of artists including Van Gogh, George Seurat and Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Drama - Prep 7 take the lead role in the annual whole school production, and so develop skills in confidence and team work.

Music - Pupils learn to play the recorder and enjoy specialist teaching. In addition, pupils also have the opportunity to receive specialist music tuition from external music tutors in a wide range of musical instruments.

Physical Development and Movement - Our specialist P.E. teacher delivers the curriculum which includes Athletics, Dance, Hockey, Gymnastics and Swimming.

French - Pupils have the opportunity to learn French and participate in a range of enjoyable activities including singing, drama, games and role play.