School Life

Form Teachers / Tutors

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All children are under the care of a key worker (Nursery), form teacher (Reception - Year 4) or tutor (Years 5 & 6), who is responsible for looking after them throughout the academic year.

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Class Groups

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Class groups are carefully worked out and the teachers make sure there is a balance of ages, abilities, personalities, friendships and genders. The classes are mixed up each year to ensure that all children get to know each other by the end of their time at Prince's Mead. For these reasons, we do not accept parental requests for classes. Move Up Day takes place at the end of the Summer Term and gives the opportunity for all the pupils, current and new, to meet their new form and teacher/tutor.

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Buddy System

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Your child will have visited Prince’s Mead prior to joining the school and we make every effort to ensure that when they join the school they feel at ease. Every new pupil is paired up with a ‘buddy’ to help make them feel at home in the first few days at school. In the Michaelmas Term, Year 1 children are also given a Year 6 buddy as they join a ‘House’ and attend House meetings weekly.

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House System

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Children are assigned to one of our three Houses: Beech, Chestnut and Oak (siblings are put into the same House). The House system is used to encourage hard work, good manners, healthy competition, leadership and teamwork. There are several popular annual House related events and competitions. Crown points can be earned for good work or good behaviour and these are added to both house and individual totals. House meetings take place each week. House points are read out in assembly every week. 

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Heads of House

Beech: Louise Hodson

Chestnut: Naomi Small

Oak: tbc

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Rewards

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Crown points are awarded to pupils who actively demonstrate one or more of our Crown Values - kindness, curiosity, respect, courage, and ambition. A certain number of points have to be collected in order to receive a Crown badge which are awarded weekly in Friday Prayers and the points added to House group totals. Every child awarded a Crown badge will be given one to wear for the week by their form teacher. They will then return the badge on Friday for other children to be awarded them.

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Year 4 to Year 6 have Crown cards which keep a tally of their points and which they keep in their possession.

Reception: 3 Crown points = 1 Crown badge

Year 1 to 2: 5 Crown points = 1 Crown badge

Year 3 to Year 6: 6 Crown points = 1 Crown badge

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Children aim to gain as many points as possible, to enable their House to win the end of term trophy.

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Headmaster’s Commendations are awarded to pupils who have shown outstanding effort or achievement in or out of class. Recommendations are made by the teachers/tutors for the Headmaster's consideration. It is worth 5 Crown points.

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​​End of term certificates

At the end of each term certificates are given to two children in every form for effort and achievement. Colours are also awarded to pupils at the end of each term in sport, music and drama.

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Leadership Opportunities

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We aim for all our children to develop the ability to make their mark on their senior schools having benefited from the experience of responsibility and leadership at the top of Prince’s Mead. Year 6 children embrace the responsibilities and leadership skills that come with being at the top of the school. They can earn positions such as Head Boy or Girl or Prefect, amongst others. These pupils will also have privileges' and are invited to join the Headmaster for the Prince's Mead end of term Big Breakfast in the term that they serve.

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Senior pupils are expected to set high standards in their appearance as well as in manners, courtesy and general conduct around the school.

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Assemblies

 

Assemblies or ‘Prayers’ form a vital part of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural education and reinforce the ethos and standards of the school. The Headmaster’s assembly ‘Friday Prayers’ takes place at the end of each week at 8.40am in the Sports Hall. The whole school community is invited to attend and it provides an excellent window into school life. There is no need to book in advance and we welcome parents to attend as often as possible. End of term assemblies are normally a little longer than Friday Prayers due to the breadth of termly awards that are celebrated. Monday Prayers are for children and staff only.

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​Behaviour

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The maintenance of good discipline is essential for the school to fulfil its aims and maintain its ethos for the benefit of pupils and it is an expectation that pupils and parents support these procedures. Our system of discipline is based on mutual respect between staff and pupils, encouragement and the reinforcement of good behaviour are key. Where sanctions are necessary they are appropriate and proportional to the level of misconduct and carried out as soon as possible so a child can then make a fresh start and move on.

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Children are not allowed to buy, swap or sell any items at school. This is to avoid the unfairness of making a mistake concerning the value of any property. Our pupils do not need money at school. If children are delivering money to school, it must be in an envelope and taken to the School Reception or given to the form teacher/tutor when they arrive at school. On rare occasions, children may be invited to bring in money for specific school trips or charitable events. On these occasions, money will need to be kept in a named purse or wallet.

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Behaviour is managed effectively and, in a manner appropriate for each child’s stage of development and individual needs. The school has a Behaviour Policy which is adhered to by all staff.

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​Lunch & Snacks

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Children enjoy a freshly prepared lunch; creating a social occasion with plenty of conversation and learning opportunities. We provide healthy, balanced meals, with an emphasis on low salt, sugar and fat content and we introduce children to a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables. There is plenty of choice and the staff ensure that every child eats a balanced meal. If your child requires a special diet please contact Matron. Information about menus is published in 'The Link', our weekly e-newsletter.

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Morning and afternoon breaks provide a variety of snacks throughout the week (e.g. fruit, cheese or breadsticks). The children partaking in after-school clubs are provided with a savoury club snack e.g sandwiches, pizza, filled roll and a drink and therefore do not need to bring in food from home.

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The school operates a no nuts policy.

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Birthdays

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A birthday cupcake with a candle is provided by the kitchen and the whole Dining Room sings "Happy Birthday" on a child’s special day.