In addition to the normal differentiation that takes place throughout the classes for our most able pupils, an Advanced Skills Team is selected each year from our most academically talented pupils in Prep IV.  The aim of this project is to use and further extend the boys’ skills as well as broaden their experiences.  They work in a team, under the supervision of a project coordinator, to complete a challenge or series of tasks in their free time.  Whilst this year’s challenge is to create a program that will assess, record and reward pupils for their touch typing skills, previous years’ projects have included website design, a sports day recording program and creating a DVD on the history of The Grange.

Victorian Inventions

A group of 6 boys used their combined art, ICT English and history skills to create a website about Victorian inventions.  They researched the information they used from a variety of websites, books and encyclopedias, writing it up in their own time.  The website is now used as a teaching aide by the Prep IV history teacher.

Sports Day Scorer

Until 2008, all the winners, times and scores for the annual Grange Sports Day was recorded using pencil and paper.  Three teams of boys were given the challenge to create, using their formula writing skills, a piece of software that would automate the scores and record when a school record was broken.  The winning team had their program trialed in June 2008, and it has been used ever since.  Such was the success of their program, that it has been adapted to be used during the Grange’s Swimming Galas.

History of The Grange

To mark the move of The Grange from its previous site on St James’ Street, a group of seven boys were selected to research the history of The Grange and create a DVD.  They wrote to previous Masters and teachers, as well as former pupils in order to gain an insight as to how the school has changed over the years.  The DVD charts the formation of the prep school through to the Royal Opening in September 2009.  It includes interviews, archived photos, computer generated images, recorded conversations and contemporary music