LEH Foshan recently welcomed parents to an engaging workshop designed to provide insight into the Prep School’s curriculum. The event highlighted the unique approach of the British Thematic Curriculum, showcasing how it fosters meaningful learning experiences and prepares students with essential life skills. This article provides a recap of the event, the key features of the curriculum, and how our thematic approach continues to evolve to meet the learning needs of our students.
What is the British Thematic Curriculum?
The British Thematic Curriculum at LEH Foshan Prep School organises learning around broad, interconnected themes rather than isolated subjects. Core areas such as reading, mathematics, science, and writing are embedded within topics such as communities, environmental issues, or historical events. This method helps students see the connections between what they learn in the classroom and the world around them.
Through this integrated approach, students are not only mastering academic content but also developing essential skills in reasoning, collaboration, communication, and creativity—competencies that will support them in higher education and future careers.
Why Choose a Thematic Curriculum?
Thematic learning ensures that students understand not just what they are learning but also why it matters. By presenting lessons in context, students retain knowledge more effectively, as they attach ideas and skills to specific situations. Furthermore, collaboration among subject teachers promotes cohesive lesson planning aligned with curriculum outcomes.
Evolving to Meet Students’ Needs
Ms Bateman, Head of Prep School, highlighted the key improvements in the Prep School’s curriculum over the years and the evolving nature of both curriculum design and teaching strategies:
The thematic curriculum and its delivery are constantly updated and adapted to meet the needs of our students. As the Prep School evolves, so does the way we teach, ensuring each child receives the support they need to thrive. Lessons are designed to be engaging and meaningful, fostering curiosity and encouraging students to reflect on how their learning applies to the world beyond the classroom. By creating a productive classroom environment alongside a robust, adapted Prep School curriculum, we can support our students’ learning progress even further.
In addition to academic progress, the Prep School places a strong focus on extra-curricular activities and pastoral care to enhance the delivery of the curriculum. Ms Bateman explained:
Our activities are more than just extra-curricular—they are essential to providing a well-rounded education. Whether it’s through science fairs, art clubs, sports teams, or day and residential trips, these experiences complement classroom learning and allow students to develop new skills. We also offer comprehensive wrap-around care, from breakfast club to homework support, ensuring that every aspect of the child’s school life is enriching and well-supported.
An Interactive Workshop Experience
During the workshop, our experienced Prep Teachers, Ms Babb and Ms Clarke, gave parents a glimpse of how a typical lesson unfolds. Their demonstration included several hands-on activities inspired by the Mount Vesuvius eruption of AD 79, showcasing how history, geography, reading, and science blend seamlessly into the thematic curriculum.
Parents took part in activities such as:
KWL grids to document what they know, what they want to learn, and what they have discovered.
Creating a timeline of the eruption to develop sequencing skills.
Mapping Pompeii, which reinforced spatial awareness.
Volcano experiments to encourage scientific inquiry through hands-on learning.
After the workshop, parents shared positive feedback about their experience and the insights they gained into the teaching methods used at LEH Foshan. Some of their comments included:
We now know how our children are taught and learn at LEH.
We realise it’s not easy for children to learn such complex topics—this workshop helped us appreciate their efforts.
The immersive class experience gave us insight into how teachers guide students through new topics.
It was inspiring to see how interdisciplinary research methods connect geography, science, and maths.
The hands-on approach allows children to learn in creative ways that go beyond textbooks.
We gained a better understanding of the daily lesson structure and how different scaffolding methods support learning.
As the Prep School enters its third year, LEH Foshan continues to refine its curriculum and enhance the learning experience for students. We extend our gratitude to all the parents who participated in the workshop and shared their valuable feedback. Together, the school and families are building a learning environment where children feel supported, inspired, and prepared for future challenges.
If you would like to learn more about our Prep School, we invite you to stay connected with us through our school communication emails and WeCom (for current parents), as well as all our social media platforms (for both current and prospective parents).
We also host Prep School Open Days every month—our next one is on 30 November 2024! Prospective families will have the chance to explore the school, meet our British teachers, tour the facilities, and enrol their child in taster lessons. If you are interested, simply scan the QR code on the poster to register. We look forward to welcoming you
