Where our young learners, aged three to four, embark on the first stage of their pre-school journey in an environment filled with excitement and discovery.

Set across two dynamic classrooms and an outdoor space, our Kindergarten ignites children’s passion for learning through meticulously planned topics and by nurturing their individual interests. Here, every moment is an opportunity for discovery and growth.

Our dedicated teachers tailor experiences that develop learning across the Prime Areas and Specific Areas of the Early Years Curriculum, ensuring a holistic approach to education. Through our online platforms, parents remain closely involved in their child’s development, sharing in the joys and milestones of their school experiences.

At Loyola, we instill a growth mindset philosophy, empowering children to take pride in their achievements and progress through the Characteristics of Effective Learning. With a focus on the Prime Areas of the curriculum: Communication and Language, Personal, Social, and Emotional Development, and Physical Development, as well as the Specific Areas: Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding of the World, and Art and Design, our curriculum prepares children for the transition to Reception.

Beyond the school day, we have wrap around care (breakfast and after school club) available for children to explore their interests and talents, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience.  

A typical Kindergarten day begins between 8.15am and 8.30am, ending at 2.50pm.

For many children, Reception marks their first experience of formal education, but at Loyola, it is simply the next step in their seamless journey from our Kindergarten class. Most of our Reception pupils join us from Kindergarten, already familiar with the environment, teachers and routines, making for a smooth transition.

We also welcome new pupils into Reception, inviting them to a taster session to ensure they feel comfortable and confident before officially joining our vibrant community.

In Reception, children embark on the final stage of the Early Years Curriculum, preparing them with the skills and knowledge they need for Year 1 and beyond.  Alongside our dedicated class teachers, children receive specialist instruction in music, drama, Spanish, PE and games, enriching their educational experience and fostering a love for learning.

Beyond the school day, we have wrap around care (breakfast and after school club and in the summer term multi sports club) available for children to explore their interests and talents, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience.  

A typical Reception day begins between 8.15am and 8.30am, culminating at 3.00pm.

In Pre Prep 1 & 2, we build upon the enjoyment and enthusiasm for learning fostered in the early years, providing a holistic educational experience that prepares our students for the challenges ahead. While following the National Curriculum, we employ a creative curriculum approach that allows us to take the best elements of traditional teaching while encouraging imaginative thinking and exploration.

Continual assessment informs our teaching and learning, ensuring that every child receives the support and guidance they need to reach their full potential.  With a focus on key learning in English and Mathematics, we equip our students with the knowledge and skills to excel in reading, writing and numeracy.

Under the guidance of dedicated and highly skilled class teachers, children delve into a wide range of subjects, including mathematics, English, science, geography, history, religious education, computing and personal, social and health education. Our specialist teachers in music, art, PE, games and Spanish further enrich the curriculum, ensuring that high standards are achieved across all areas of study.

Outside the classroom, our pupils enjoy a variety of educational visits enhancing their learning experiences and broadening their horizons. Plays, concerts and regular visitors provide opportunities for creativity, expression and exploration.

Our co-curricular offerings provide additional avenues for exploration and growth, with a timetable of lunch and after-school clubs ranging from sports to music and Eco council.  We understand that every child is unique, and our diverse range of activities ensures that there is something for everyone to enjoy.

A day in KS1 begins between 8.15am and 8.30am, ending at 3.00pm.

Pupils move to Prep (Year 3) and the start of Key stage 2.  In KS2, our aim is to provide a rich and varied curriculum which is stimulating and suitably demanding yet flexible enough to suit the ability of each child and to bring out the best in all of our pupils.

A day in KS2 begins between 8.15am and 8.30am, ending at 3.05pm.

Academic Curriculum

All classes are small and pupils receive tuition in a broad range of subjects: English, Maths, Spanish, Science, ICT, History, Geography, Personal and Social Education, Art, Music, Drama, PE and Games. 
Maths and English is focussed by streaming the class with 2 teachers and a teaching assistant. Specialist teachers are used throughout the curriculum to ensure the best level of education is provided (Spanish, Music, Art, PE, ICT).

The curriculum is tailored to the needs of the pupils and their future aspirations.  Whilst due regard is paid to the National Curriculum, our children are taught to the highest standard achievable by the individual.  To this end, our teachers ensure that every pupil is motivated, challenged and prepared for examinations and scholarships to independent schools, 11+ entry tests to local grammar schools and state maintained schools.

Assessment is an ongoing tool used by all staff.  We incorporate formative and summative data in the form of standardised testing including CAT4, formal testing which produces standardised scores, end of unit assessments alongside through our daily marking and feedback with the child.  We ensure that we triangulate hard and soft data to get the fullest picture of a child and to support them to excel on their educational journey.
All classes have a full time teaching assistant who works closely with the teacher and Head of Inclusion to promote interventions throughout the school and address any gaps in learning or to support children to expand their learning further. 

Secondary School Preparation

Our pupils achieve excellent academic results (stats) and are successful in gaining entry into schools of their choice, which may be grammar, state or within the independent sector. Each year, places are awarded in all sectors as the boys have been thoroughly prepared for entrance exams.  As a school, we pride ourselves in ensuring that we maintain the right curriculum balance and challenge to fit the ability profile of the child. 

We have many years of experience in preparing boys and this is not just around academic ability.  We pride ourselves in preparing the boys through mock interview practice, collaborative tasks and through our knowledge of the different exam styles of the various schools.  Also, speaking to past pupils and parents to get their perspective is vitally important. 

The emotional support to those sitting entrance exams and scholarships is also key. Through having positive relationships with our families and pupils, we work together to ensure we achieve the very best outcome for each pupil.

Our boys enter the exam process with confidence and a number of children are awarded scholarships to leading independent schools.

The opportunity for each pupil to play sport is essential in their development both socially and physically. Pupils have scheduled physical activities for at least two or three lessons during the week.

The main sports at Loyola are rugby, hockey, football, athletics, cricket and tennis. Children represent the school in regular fixtures with local schools and we also participate in national events.

All pupils have the chance to try their hand at a number of sports through the timetable or through after school clubs which include sailing, swimming, badminton and trampolining.

We have an all-weather pitch that caters for football and rugby  during the winter months and cricket / athletics during the summer. In addition, we also have a hard court and a sports hall.

Music

Music plays a large part in pupils’ lives at Loyola with all children receiving at least one timetabled music lesson per week lasting an hour.  It is an inspiring and creative curriculum which allows pupils to learn about music from a wide variety of genres and composers, fostering a sense of creativity, collaboration and excitement about performance.

Many pupils also take individual lessons in a variety of musical instruments including piano, guitar, violin and singing.  They perform regularly in concerts and sit music exams. They also have the chance to perform in drama productions and sing in our choir and schola.  The choir has also taken part in ‘Barnardo’s Youth events at the Royal Albert Hall and our schola has performed at Cadogan Hall and at pilgrimages to Lourdes and Rome. Our Christmas Advent Service, Summer Concert and sung Masses are key musical events in the school calendar and are interspersed with smaller musical events including themed concerts and assemblies.

ART & DT 

From Pre Prep 1 to Rudiments, all children have an opportunity to have art & DT lessons in our beautiful, light purpose-built art room. The curriculum covers a diverse range of materials, techniques, styles and cultural influences, to help each child find their creative outlet, whether that be digital art, sculpture, prop making, photography, textiles, painting or anything in between! There are art competitions throughout the course of the year, alongside a weekly sketch club and Get Creative.

Regular charity fund-raising events help pupils to understand their greater role within society.  Pupils are given the opportunity to reinforce their classroom learning with regular visits, workshops and field trips. These vary from activities in the forest, visits to museums and galleries to residential stays at activity centres.

A pupils’ School Council and Eco Council, with representatives from each class (PP1 – Ruds), meet regularly. Pupils’ concerns, opinions and ideas are brought to the attention of the Head and discussed, with decisions being made as necessary.

As the children enter Rudiments (year 6) they are offered opportunities for additional responsibilities and leadership which enable them to move on in life with confidence as well as self-reliance.  They apply for positions through a formal process involving a letter of application, a staff vote and interview to ensure that there is fairness and transparency throughout. The positions are announced at Academy (a prize giving event) at the end of the academic year to highlight the importance of the role they have. They are also buddies and play leaders to younger pupils and organise groups in school house competitions to promote our vision for collaboration and service to others.

We believe that Christ is at the centre of all we do and therefore we offer each child a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum of the highest standard to meet their spiritual, emotional, moral, intellectual and physical needs and to prepare them for the responsibilities of adult life. Every day starts with an Act of Worship, we give thanks before and after lunch and we end the day with a prayer.

The programme of Religious Education we follow is in line with the Catholic Directory as specified by the Bishops Conference of England and Wales. Religious Education is taught to all children in the school for ten percent of the timetable and is considered central to the whole school curriculum. We follow the scheme ‘Come & See.”  Here, children are taught the basics of Catholic faith and morality, through constant reference to their own life experience. They are helped to come to a fuller knowledge and love of God, which will develop into mature Christian living.

We are currently transitioning to full implementation of the new Religious Education Directory (RED) by September 2026.