Surbiton Prep Schools’ Podcast

In Spring 2023, the Surbiton High Prep and Senior schools achieved 'Excellent in all areas' from ISI. In this episode we interview Tracey Chong, Head of the Boys' Prep, and Louise McCabe-Arnold, Head of the Girls' Prep, and talk about what goes on in our classrooms day in, day out and what makes our school quite so excellent. We give you an insight into our philosophy of what we feel shapes a bright young mind, and we even talk a little bit about the school dog, Kona.

In a world full of screens, games and social media the importance of imaginative play has never been more important. Whether it's dressing up, small-world play or making their own games and rules, when children play away from screens and devices, they recharge and positively stimulate their brains. In this episode, Louise and Tracey (the Heads of Surbiton Girls’ Prep and Boys’ Prep, respectively) share their thoughts with parents on the importance of play and the role of boredom in primary-aged pupils' lives.

What effect does poor sleep have on children's learning? Is my child getting enough sleep? What is the optimal amount of sleep for a 7 year old? In this episode, Louise and Tracey (the Heads of Surbiton Girls’ Prep and Boys’ Prep, respectively) share their thoughts with parents on the importance of a good night's sleep.

Dealing with stress and anxiety is something that impacts us all, as adults and as children, and learning how to deal with it is vital for a healthy and happy life. In this episode, Louise McCabe Arnold and Tracey Chong (the Heads of Surbiton Girls’ Prep and Boys’ Prep, respectively) share their advice on how to support children with stress and anxiety, no matter how young they are. 

Some children are confident, others are shy; some extroverted, others introverted. But what do you do to make sure a quiet child is getting the most out of their educational environment? What do you do as a parent if you are an extrovert and your child isn’t? Or vice versa? In this episode, Louise McCabe Arnold and Tracey Chong (the Heads of Surbiton Girls’ Prep and Boys’ Prep, respectively) share their experience of working with children across the whole extrovert-introvert spectrum. 

​“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” – Ludwig Wittgenstein,

Literacy is access to knowledge. Getting your your child into reading in an enthusiastic, but non-pushy way is the key to starting their education career. In this episode, Louise and Tracey (the Heads of Surbiton Girls’ Prep and Boys’ Prep, respectively) share their thoughts on reading strategies with young children

From Eric Carle’s ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ to Julia Donaldson’s ‘Room on the Broom’, picture books are one of the most formative and magical experiences in a child’s educational development. In this episode, Louise and Tracey (the Heads of Surbiton Girls’ Prep and Boys’ Prep, respectively) share their love of picture books and their thoughts on it’s importance as a cornerstone of language and learning. 

Bereavement can be one of the most difficult topics to cover with your child. Following the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, your children may be filled with questions about death. In this episode, Louise and Tracey (the Heads of Surbiton Girls’ Prep and Boys’ Prep, respectively) draw on their combined experience of talking to pupils, parents and colleagues about death, and share their thoughts on the best approach with young children. 

According to a tremendous amount of research from a range of education academics such as Carol Dweck and Angela Duckworth, grit and resilience are two of the most important virtues that impact educational development. So, how do we build a sense of grit and resilience in our own children. In this episode, Louise and Tracey (the Heads of Surbiton Girls’ Prep and Boys’ Prep, respectively) share their thoughts on grit, how to build it, how to sustain it, and the role it plays in life-long learning.