The final two years at Heath Mount enable children to remain children but develop into responsible, fully independent learners and young people. There are many leadership opportunities available to assist in their development and ensure that they are fully equipped for the demands and challenges of Senior School life when they move on at the end of Year 8. Pastoral care remains high and children stay as a form group for two years, with a mix of Year 7 and 8 pupils in each form, helping them to support each other and become mentors for the younger cohort when in Year 8. 

Depending on their choice of future school, children follow either the Heath Mount Libellum or Common Entrance pathway of study as they begin Year 7, both of which prepare the children for entry into their chosen school. We work with each child to ensure that standards are maintained if they have already gained a place for Year 9 or support children’s individual entry requirements if they are sitting examinations over the course of Years 7 and 8 at the future school.

Internal scholarships are available as children enter Year 7 for those who are academically highly able, who excel on the sports field or who are identified as being talented artists or musicians. Our scholars have opportunities to participate in enrichment activities to refine their skills and develop their talents. These enrichment activities can include workshops, visits to pertinent locations, the development of presentation skills, as well as listening to guest speakers.

Gillam’s modus operandi is grounded in his belief in keeping kids young, which is obviously important as a Head of a Prep that goes up to age 13. Of this he says around 80% stay on to Year 8, and feels strongly that it’s in these years that children go through the biggest changes in life, make their strongest friendships and really develop their learning habits.

What Heath Mount can offer in the additional two years are leadership opportunities at a younger age – more chances to be top dog than if they go straight to Senior school from Year 6. This could be anything from playing for the first sports teams, leading assemblies, going on camps, and the chance to be looked up to by the younger kids. These are the kinds of privileges that they wouldn’t get until A level if they left in
Year 6.

Muddy Stilettos School Review