Ethos & Curriculum

APS aims to realise the potential of each boy. We provide a secure, happy environment and work within a disciplined framework which encourages each pupil to respond to the best of his abilities.

We employ traditional 'whole class' teaching methods, using structured teaching programmes across the curriculum which have been meticulously developed and continually improved over many years.

From the Nursery through to the Infant School, then the Junior School and the final year examination classes, you can be assured that your child will receive individual attention from dedicated professionals.

The school is proud that it inspires strong loyalties and encourages family values.

The majority of the governing body are former pupils and the Chairman, Prof. Arthur Hill, and Governor and Clerk to the Governors, Mr William Furness, are sons of the original founding fathers.

Most of our excellent team of valued and highly experienced teachers have been with us for many years.

Curriculum

The APS curriculum goes beyond the demands of the National Curriculum. Our bench mark is the entrance examinations to the area's leading schools.

The main objective is to establish a rigorous grounding in the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science. The timetable is planned so that these subjects are taught in the morning when the children are usually most alert.

The development of good working habits, disciplined study, neatness, accuracy and attention to detail are also essential and will give APS boys an advantage when they move on to their secondary schools.

We provide as broad-based an education as is possible. From the age of 4 APS boys are introduced to conversational French, which is then taught throughout the school. Other subject areas are History, Geography, Music, Art, Design and Computing.

Information Technology is integrated into the curriculum so that from the very start boys can begin to develop the technical awareness and dexterity they will need to harness the potential of IT as tomorrow's leaders.

We have carefully developed teaching programmes in all subject areas which take each individual child first through the fundamentals and then progressively on to more demanding intellectual challenges.

We seek to build an element of investigation into each subject, encouraging the boys to use logic to find solutions to problems and challenges. There is also a strong emphasis on practical work, with theory often supported by tangible examples. Homework is set on a daily basis.