ENGLISH
Ardvreck has English at the heart of its curriculum. The ability to communicate effectively, both in the spoken and written word is vital to a child’s education and their contribution to society.
Our English specialists aim to enthuse children about language and literature. Significant emphasis is placed on creating a balance between linguistic, creative, technical, literacy, oral and written skills.
MATHS
Mathematics is fundamental to our understanding of the world, as it is used across the globe to communicate and analyse information essential to everyday life. Far more than being just about numbers, it is a creative subject; it allows us to explore new ideas, either in finding solutions to pre-existing problems, or in discovering, investigating, reasoning, justifying and proving new concepts.
SCIENCE
Ardvreck School is justifiably proud of its Science department with a fully equipped Science lab and specialist teachers our pupils quickly embrace an enthusiasm for Science.
With many of the world’s current issues needing to be addressed by well-educated scientists in the very near future, it is fitting that Science plays a central part in our curriculum.
FRENCH
French is taught in a lively and fun environment at Ardvreck. We aim to foster a love and enjoyment of language learning and a different culture, using a variety of teaching techniques. Enjoyment is an important part of the learning process whilst aiming for excellent results as our pupils move on from Ardvreck.
LATIN
From legal and scientific terminology, to Harry Potter and our very own school motto “Honor praemium virtutis” (“Honour is the reward of virtue”), we are surrounded by Latin. It forms the basis of over 60% of the English we use every day, and underpins French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.
Studying Latin not only makes learning other languages easier, but also helps children to improve their mental discipline and precision – transferable skills for every subject.
GEOGRAPHY
‘Geography explains the past, illuminates the present and prepares us for the future. What could be more important than that?’ Michael Palin, 2007
At Ardvreck, the study of Geography aims to help children understand more about the world around them, to foster a curiosity for the pursuit of knowledge, and to know more about the impact humans have on the planet.
HISTORY
The History syllabus aims to capture the interest of children and to develop vital intellectual skills which can be applied in a wider context. We focus mainly on British History, but we also look closely at the American and French Revolutions. Pupils are encouraged to understand that History is not an exact science and the success of individual leaders is open to interpretation.
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
The aim of the department is to give every pupil a solid grounding in Religious Studies, to develop their ability to think empathetically towards people of different cultures and beliefs and to foster an enjoyment of, and positive attitude towards, Religious Studies. Pupils learn about the three principal world faiths of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, with some references to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. Further up the school we follow the ISEB syllabus and focus mainly on the Christian Old and New Testaments.
MUSIC
Studying Music is far more than learning how to sing or play an instrument; it teaches children about other cultures, develops analytical and evaluative listening skills, and helps foster a lifelong love of an art form that surrounds us all, on a daily basis.
The aim of the Music department at Ardvreck is to develop a culture of musical excellence, with inclusion at its core.
ART
Art and Design at Ardvreck aims to stimulate creativity and fire up the imagination in pupils from Form 1 through to Form 6.
It should not be forgotten that the basic law of children’s creativity is that its value lies not in its result, not in the product of creation, but in the process itself.
FOREST SCHOOL
Our qualified Forest School leaders enable extensive use to be made of our beautiful grounds. They encourage learning through a variety of interesting and challenging activities for the Junior members of our school. These are based on problem-solving skills, working together, creative thinking, and discovering more about the local environment.
Wellies, gloves, hats and waterproof trousers are an essential part of the Ardvreck uniform as the Forest School sessions take place whatever the weather. Activities include: nature walks; campfires; gardening; knot tying; lashing skills; wildflower identification, and safe use of Laplander saws.