Lower Prep
The Lower Prep is made up of Pre-Kinder, Kinder, 1st Prep and 2nd Prep.

Each level has six classes of approximately 24 children. There are 2 fully qualified, bilingual teachers in Pre-Kinder and Kinder. In 1st and 2nd Prep, a support teacher for the level assists the classroom teacher. The majority of texts and materials used in the School come from the U.K. Music from Pre-Kinder upwards is taught by a specialist teacher.

In the Lower Prep we have the assistance of four learning support teachers and two School counsellors.

Pre-Kinder (Infant House)

Pre-Kinder classes base their curriculum on the areas used in the Foundation Stage Curriculum of England, adapting the content to fit the needs of the children. There is a strong focus on personal, social and emotional development in the first weeks to allow children to feel secure and settled in School and able to develop their language and thinking skills.



The areas of learning are:

Personal, social and emotional development
Communication, language and literacy

Mathematical development

Knowledge and understanding of the world (including Information and Communication Technology)
Physical development (gross and fine motor skills)
Creative development (Art, Music and imaginative play) 




The above learning areas are taught through topics. In the first semester, the main topic is ‘All About Me’ and in the 2nd semester the topics include ‘Animals’ and ‘Food’.

At the beginning and end of each year, children in Pre-Kinder are given a baseline assessment, which allows the teachers to monitor each child’s progress and help them achieve the goals of Pre-Kinder and prepare them for Kinder.

Kinder (Infant House)

In the Kinder classes, a timetable of teacher-directed and curriculum based activities builds on the Pre-Kinder program with:



English daily literacy, time based on whole class, group and individual activities. Phonics and whole word reading, language skills through books and literature, role play, rhymes and poetry.



Mathematics: Using the well established and successful Heinemann Maths scheme, the children work on simple practical mathematics and mathematical ideas.



Science: The science programme ‘Discovery Works’ is used to provide pupils with many opportunities to construct their own knowledge of science through hands-on activities that are pertinent to the concerns of their daily lives.



Personal, Social and Health Education 

Art

Music
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Physical education: Children have 2 lessons a week with a P.E. teacher.

1st and 2nd Prep (Thatcher Building)

The children move to a purpose–built building where they follow Key stage 1 of the Literacy and Numeracy strategies. These programmes reflect the best UK practices and are adapted by our experienced teachers where necessary. The level of English amongst the children at this stage is something of which we are very proud and we continue to enhance their learning through a balanced curriculum which values creative and physical development. The children are now introduced to formal Spanish classes and have the option of Religion classes, taught in Spanish.

In English we continue using a wide range of reading schemes, developing practical writing skills and understanding spelling skills and word patterns. Cursive writing (initially introduced in Spanish) is used in English when the child is ready.

Mathematics and Science follow the same programmes introduced in Kinder which develop their critical thinking skills through direct, interactive teaching. There continues to be an emphasis on PSHE with a wide-ranging programme, which includes learning more about themselves and their emotions. A more formal homework policy is introduced.

The subjects taught at these levels are:
English
Mathematics

Spanish

Natural Science

Personal, Social and Health Education

Religion

Art
Music
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Physical Education

Upper Prep
With the vital foundations of independent thinking and self-discipline laid in the Lower Prep, the pupils enter 3rd Prep ready for the academic challenges ahead. Over the four years that they spend in the Upper Prep pupils will understand quickly that there is much more to School than merely repeating facts that the teacher writes on the board. The curriculum is a means of helping children to learn what is essential for preparing them for the Senior School and beyond, so that they are able to fulfil their role in society as adults.

The use of the English language is central to the academic curriculum throughout these four years, with much of each subject’s syllabus based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales. Literacy, in both English and Spanish, plus Numeracy are seen as the bedrock of the Upper Prep but the other subjects are very important too. 



Subjects such as Music, Drama, Art and Design Technology are taught by specialists and are seen as central to the curriculum rather than bolt-on extras. Work is differentiated so that all pupils are able to show what they can do rather than what they cannot do. Not all pupils can be scholars but they can all learn the determination to do their best at all times, so there is an emphasis on personal endeavour. During these years each and every child should be able to find at least one thing that they can say they really enjoy about School.

When pupils leave 6th Básico we hope that they will have discovered their personal strengths, have the wisdom to acknowledge any weaknesses; they will be self-confident without arrogance, self-disciplined and have the strength of character to make the correct choice when faced with difficult personal decisions.

In brief, the goals are to give the knowledge, analytical and evaluative skills combined with the attitudes and moral values that are central to their intellectual and spiritual development.

 

Senior
The Senior School curriculum is a blend of national and international programmes that aims to prepare our pupils for further studies at the university of their choice anywhere in the world. The international curriculum is linked to the Cambridge IGCSE and A Level programmes and all pupils are prepared for international examinations in a wide array of subjects in 2nd and 4th Medio.
 
The School also teaches the Chilean National Curriculum in preparation for the PSU, Chiles university admissions examination. Both programmes are taught in an integrated approach throughout the School. In the Senior School all pupils must study English as a separate subject and many other subjects use English textbooks and resources.
 
Pupils are required to study Sciences, Mathematics and Social Studies. They are expected to communicate to a very high standard in Spanish and English both orally and in writing). IGCSE and A Level are all in English. Our pupils at The Grange are usually fluent in both languages by the time they leave School.
 
For more information please visit the Cambridge International Exams Website : www.cie.org.uk

Rector                                                            Rachid  Benammar
 
Gerente                                                          Cristián Pubill (OG 75)
 
Head of Senior School                                Lance Baguley
 
Deputy Head Senior School                       Irene Villarroel  (OG 79)
 
Head of Prep School                                   Colm Flanagan

Deputy Head of Prep School                     Carolina Varela
 
(Mr. Colm Flanagan, Miss Sarah Patterson,               Deputy Head of Prep School                      Sarah Patterson
Mr. Cristián Pubill, Miss Irene Villarroel,
Mr. John Kenny, Mr. Rachid Benammar,                     Head of Academic Office                           John Kenny
Miss Carolina Varela and Mr. Lance Baguley)