Early Years

Discover adventure, fun, exploration, and investigation in our stimulating, caring, and evolving Early Years environment for Nursery and Reception children.

Children are exposed to a wide range of new experiences as they enter early education. We recognise that each child is unique, so their development needs are individually supported in diverse ways.

Sport

Sport at Stroud involves a wide range of sports and activities where the aim is to develop the knowledge, attitude, motor skills, social skills and confidence needed to sustain a healthy and physically active lifestyle.

Pupils take part in sport from Reception, where they are encouraged to develop a firm basis of co-ordination, balance, agility and movement skills required for sport in order to foster a lifelong love of sport irrespective of ability. Specialist games staff coach through games and activities aimed at developing sporting acumen. Children also follow a programme of Gymnastics and Dance in our full sized sports hall and have the use of the on-site swimming pool and grass athletics track in the summer.

Our Middle and Senior School children progress on to learning sports specific skills, whilst still having the opportunity to experience enhancement activities such as climbing, sailing and outward bound trips. Coaching sessions are delivered in small groups by specialist staff promoting enjoyable participation at all levels.

Stroud are fortunate to have the use of outstanding facilities at Wellington Sports Ground which is shared with our senior school King Edwards VI School, Southampton. This site consists of 33 acres of playing fields, tennis courts and netball courts.

Stroud School is also a member of the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS), and regularly attends county tournaments, as well as IAPS regional competitions.

Senior School

Years 6, 7 and 8 form the Senior School at Stroud in the main house at Stroud School.

We teach all of our pupils on the same site, which alleviates the pressure on what can be an anxious transition into secondary education. As in secondary schools, our senior pupils still have a form tutor to look after their pastoral needs, but are taught entirely by subject specialists. Smaller classes in Years 7 and 8 mean the pupils still benefit from Stroud’s pupil-focused and nurturing approach, whilst also experiencing the full range of subjects offered in the lower years of secondary school.

Headmistress

Listen to an introduction from Mrs Smith, Headmistress at Stroud School.

Music

Music is a vital part of daily life, and at Stroud music is fun, challenging and varied.

Children enjoy a wide spectrum of musical opportunities, from weekly class lessons to the extensive co-curricular music activities and individual lessons. Music at Stroud brings staff, parents and pupils together, and provides the opportunity for everyone to enjoy music, as performers and listeners.

Middle School

Middle School incorporates years 3, 4 and 5 and is situated in our newly built Key Stage 2 building, (brand new for September 2020).

Middle School children are more engaged in their own learning at this stage, and as they develop their own learning styles and preferences, so we tailor the curriculum and organise experiences to enable them to achieve their full potential.

Art

We believe that art plays a fundamental part in a child’s education.

It offers opportunities to stimulate both creativity and imagination by providing visual, tactile and sensory experiences and a unique way of understanding and responding to their world. All Stroud children are taught art across the curriculum with specialist art lessons from Year 5 – Year 8.

DT

Design Technology at Stroud is innovative, enjoyable and inspiring.

In our dedicated DT and cookery rooms, lessons are practical and children’s independence grows as they are encouraged to overcome problems and meet challenges head-on. Enthusiastic staff guide children on their journey through food, materials, textiles and construction activities, ensuring they gain an extensive knowledge in all DT curriculum areas. Pupils visit the DT suite from Year 5 upwards.

Key Stage 1

Key Stage 1 refers to the two years in a child’s education from ages 5 to 7.

We have Year 1 (age 5-6) and Year 2 (age 6-7) classes. Our Key Stage 1 Woodall Building, which was opened in 2018, houses break out areas and a dedicated library. Folding walls between teaching rooms enable collaborative interaction between classes and also interactive spaces in lesson time. Each room has access to outdoor learning spaces with resources that challenge, stimulate, and develop children’s academic, creative thinking and physical skills. As well as Forest School, we have also introduced a Beach School programme of study, which further enhances learning outside of the classroom walls.

ICT

At Stroud we understand that we live in a rapidly changing world.

We believe in the importance of our children becoming confident and competent users of technology that will shape the future. Children develop digital capabilities, learning how to manipulate information in the process of problem solving, recording and engaging in creative work.

Languages

At Stroud School we are mindful of the need to prepare children for a world in which the knowledge of foreign languages brings many advantages.

We expose our children to French initially from Reception all the way through to Year 8 and introduce Spanish in Year 6. We also run Portuguese and German clubs from Years 4 – Years 6. By providing these foreign languages, we help them to develop a sense of tolerance and understanding of other cultures and nationalities, as well as equipping them with the linguistic skills to facilitate any future interactions they may have with French and Spanish speakers. Every two years we also hold a Languages and Culture Day where we promote language, culture and civilisations, and look at French, Spanish, German and Japanese languages, as well as run some fantastic activities that touch upon other cultures, such as Portuguese, Afrikaans, Turkish, Danish, Punjabi and Chinese/Mandarin.