Pre-Senior Baccalaureate
In September 2023, St Andrew’s adopted the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate (the PSB).
It is a framework that redresses the balance of skills and knowledge, and reduces the pressure of a hefty final set of exams. It recognises and celebrates the children’s progress and achievement in all areas of school life, and not just across a narrow range of academic subjects.
The PSB is an assessment framework which has the development of knowledge, and six key skills at its core.
Independence
Reviewing and improving
Leadership and Service
Collaboration
Communication
Thinking and learning
The subject matter for the PSB is based on much of the content of the current Common Entrance syllabus, but it is much, much more than just a terminal assessment; we see it as enhancing the children’s all-round education, and providing a framework which will help them develop their thinking skills, rather than their remembering skills.
We believe this additional focus on key skills will mean the children are even better prepared and equipped to flourish in their secondary schools, and the competitive world beyond. However, we also recognise that pupils still need to get used to assessment and face reasonable pressure. If we don’t allow the children to experience this, we are not preparing them properly for the challenges which lie ahead. The PSB offers so much more.
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It takes a more holistic approach to a child’s education. Aside from assessing the academic subjects, art, drama, ICT, music, and sport are also assessed and feed into an externally-recognised certificate that is passed on to their senior schools.
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It allows us to adopt a more flexible approach to assessment for Years 7 and 8, from projects and presentations, to formal exams and end-of-topic tests. It reduces the pressure on pupils' final years, and by gaining a deeper education, it is more rewarding.
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It doesn't compromise academic rigour and still stretches our children. Pupils gain the knowledge set out in the curriculum, alongside the key learning skills.
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In summary, it takes the best elements of Common Entrance but with a more rewarding learning journey for children and a more exciting teaching prospect for teachers.
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Year 7 and 8 are assessed through a combination of exams, end of topic tests, projects, presentations and continual in-class teacher assessment.
In the summer term of Year 8, pupils undertake the PSPQ (Pre-Senior Project Qualification) coached by their in-School PSB Tutor. The PSPQ gives pupils the opportunity to develop their independence, curiosity, time management, research, communication and reflective learner skills, and is highly valued by senior schools.
At the end of Year 8, pupils will receive a certificate of achievement covering all areas of school life. They will leave with a toolbox full of skills, rather than just a briefcase of grades.
No. Preparation for scholarships remain unchanged. However, the grounding and breadth of thinking introduced by the PSB curriculum ensures pupils are even better prepared for their scholarship exams.
For those schools who still ask for CE to be sat in the core subjects of English, maths and science, (currently only Eton and Harrow), we will prepare children thoroughly for these exams, but within a much more interesting and engaging framework.
Having adopted the PSB has meant our curriculum is even more exciting and relevant to the world we live in today.
Has it meant St Andrew’s feels different? Not at all. Our school’s values are still the same, as is our key aim – to prepare children for secondary school and the competitive world beyond.
Academic challenge and a love of learning still prevail and our desire to keep your children stretched but not stressed remains at the forefront of all we do.
‘We believe that the PSB provides a highly effective platform for success at Abingdon. A number of our feeder schools have already implemented the PSB and the students joining us have been well prepared for the challenges of our fast-paced and ambitious curriculum. We wish St Andrew's all the best as they implement the PSB and look forward to welcoming St Andrew's pupils to Abingdon in the future.’
Mike Windsor, Head,
Abingdon
‘Bradfield College has admitted pupils from PSB schools for a number of years and has seen them thrive in their subsequent education. The PSB’s emphasis on developing learning skills and habits across and beyond the curriculum is very well-suited to the needs of a generation confronted by a fast-changing world beyond school. We are excited by this move for St Andrew’s boys and girls.’
Chris Stevens, Head,
Bradfield
‘I think this is a very exciting step for St Andrew’s to take and fully endorse it. The PSB allows schools to provide a broad and stimulating education within a rigorous framework, which equips pupils with the skills and confidence necessary for their senior school education. They are encouraged to think independently and develop a strong work ethic.’
Emma McKendrick, Head,
Downe House
‘I am confident that this popular framework will offer St Andrew’s pupils the skills and opportunities they will need and which they will enjoy, preparing them fully for entry into schools such as Marlborough, and for life beyond.’
Louise Moelwyn-Hughes, Head, Marlborough‘Every year a sizeable number of Wellington College new students join us having studied the PSB. The girls and boys are immediately engaged in the classroom and have all the skills required to excel. The PSB is an exciting framework that will set the students up at St Andrew’s so well for the learning in a vibrant senior school.’
Ed Venables, Head of Admissions, Wellington
‘We welcome the decision to introduce the PSB at St Andrew's. It provides an excellent framework to unify the curriculum across a range of subjects. It helps pupils feel a sense of direction and purpose through Years 7 and 8, & it rightly recognises the value which co-curricular activities such as music, drama and sport add to pupils' development.’
Thomas Garnier, Head,
Pangbourne
‘I am delighted to hear that St Andrew’s is adopting this progressive and future-focused curriculum which I am sure will set up the boys and girls not only for the transition to senior school, but also for their onward journey through education, the ever-changing world of work and their future lives.’
Elaine Purves,
Head, Queen Anne’s
Radley College entirely supports St Andrew’s approach to the curriculum and move to the PSB. It is important for schools to have the freedom to design their own schemes of work and the mixture of assessment types will both prepare pupils well for their senior schools and, equally importantly, provide them with a dynamic and varied learning experience. We already have a number of pupils who join us from PSB schools and arrive well prepared for the next steps of their learning journey.
Sophie Langdale, Head of Admissions, Radley
With this new development at St Andrew’s, pupils will be exceptionally well prepared for study at senior school and beyond. With the PSB, there is a strong emphasis on independent thinking, ongoing assessment, self-reflection, collaboration, communication and creativity, all of which are vital skills for university study and the world of work.
Alastair Chirnside, Warden,
St Edward’s
‘It is wonderful to see St Andrew's joining the ever-growing number of prep schools that follow the PSB. This framework’s focus on skills and developing the qualities and characteristics for life-long thinking and learning very much resonates with us.’
Tyrone Howe, Head,
Shiplake
‘The pre-senior baccalaureate provides older pupils with an academically challenging curriculum, alongside the development of a range of skills which prepare pupils well for their senior schools and their lives beyond.’ ISI
This assessment framework completed across Years 7 and 8 combines a focus on knowledge, with that of the key skills which are required in later life.
The PSB, adopted by over 50 prep schools in the UK, means children not only learn how to pass exams, but also develop the key character traits that enable them to be mentally flexible, resilient and good communicators – all attributes which will help them to thrive academically and socially and, in due course, professionally.
Aside from being an exciting curriculum for teachers, the PSB instils a love of learning for our pupils and further enhances the education children receive at St Andrew’s.
Read more about the PSB below as well.
