Specialist Subject Teaching

Years 7–8 Academic Excellence Specialist Subject Teaching

In Prep School (Years 7–8) at St Peter’s, Cambridge, specialist subject teaching is an important part of preparing our Years 7–8 students for secondary school. Specialist subjects are taught by our secondary school teachers, who are all passionate experts in their fields and understand the value of the seamless Years 7–13 curriculum we offer at St Peter’s. Specialist subjects are taught in the secondary school environment, giving our Prep students the advantage of using our outstanding facilities and equipment. Our specialist subjects also help our Years 7–8 students begin thinking about what subject options in secondary school might excite them and suit their talents.

In Science we aim to spark curiosity and get our students thinking about the world around them. We aim to engage all our students by making science as hands-on as possible. The main topics we study are electricity, animal classification, bone and muscle function, caves and rocket-making. Building and launching model rockets and a field trip to the Waitomo caves are always highlights of the year. Each year level also has a field trip to see ‘real’ scientists in action.

In Performing Arts our students explore creative self-expression through music, dance and drama. This is complemented by our excellent co-curricular and itinerant programmes. Read more about performing arts for Years 7–8 by following the link below:

Years 7-8 Performing Arts

Physical Education focuses on trying a variety of sports, learning new skills, teamwork and goal-setting. Our students get to use the superb sports facilities at St Peter’s. Year 7 students get a taste of golf at our superb Golf Academy, and our Year 8 students experience track cycling in the world-class velodrome next to St Peter’s.

In Religious Education students are encouraged to reflect upon and to develop their own understanding of beliefs, morals and values. They are introduced to several religions, including Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, and visit local places of worship.

Our Languages course introduces our students to the language and culture of several countries. Students can choose three languages from Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and te reo Māori.

In Art our students explore a wide range of processes, including painting, printmaking, sculpture, drawing, and design. They are encourage to explore their creativity through thinking, discussing, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Technology gives our students options to explore working with different materials and technologies. The options, which run for one term each, are: wood, metal, fashion, digital technologies, and food and nutrition. Our students enjoy learning to use design and coding software, and exciting digital technologies like our digital fabric cutter and 3D printers. Our food and nutrition course is also very practical, with students spending a lot of time cooking in the kitchen classroom.