Academic Foundations
A first taste of senior school life (ages 10–12)
Designed for students aged 10–12, this programme offers an inspiring introduction to senior school through a carousel of engaging subjects taught by Charterhouse teachers, fostering curiosity, confidence, and the independent learning skills that underpin future academic success.
Where big futures begin.
Long before students step into senior school, the best ones already know what it feels like to be excited by learning. The Pre-Senior Academic Diploma gives 10–12 year-olds a genuine taste of senior academic life taught by real Charterhouse teachers, in real Charterhouse classrooms, years before they'll need to choose a single path.
Instead of one subject for the whole course, students rotate through a carousel of subjects across the programme sampling the kind of learning, thinking, and teaching style they'll meet at senior school, and discovering which subjects light them up.
A Carousel, Not a Curriculum
There's no pressure to specialise at 10 years old and no need to. Each day, students move through a rotation of taster subjects, spending focused time in each one with a dedicated Charterhouse teacher. It's designed to build curiosity, confidence, and a broad academic appetite, rather than narrow them down too soon.
A typical carousel might include:
Debate & Public Speaking — finding your voice and making your case
Young Enterprise — a first taste of ideas, pitching, and problem-solving
Science Detectives — hands-on experiments and real scientific thinking
Creative Writing & Storytelling — building imagination and expression
Maths Puzzles & Logic — problem-solving the fun way
Explorers: History & the Geographical World — bringing the past and the globe to life
Meet Senior School Teachers, Early
One of the biggest steps up to senior school isn't the subjects it's the teaching style. Here, students get used to being challenged, questioned, and encouraged by the same calibre of teacher they'll meet in years to come, in an environment built to make that transition feel exciting rather than daunting.
Building the Habits That Matter
Beyond subject content, the programme quietly builds the skills senior school will expect: independent thinking, collaborative working, presenting ideas with confidence, and taking intellectual risks in a safe, supportive setting.
Developing English as a Foreign Language
This course is ideal for students with advanced English who wish to strengthen their language skills through the study of academic subjects. For international students, every carousel subject supports English language development building vocabulary, fluency, and confidence in an academic setting, with dedicated support throughout.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Experience senior school learning through a range of subjects taught by Charterhouse teachers.
Explore a broad academic curriculum, identifying new interests and areas of strength.
Communicate confidently through presentations, discussions, and collaborative activities.
Demonstrate increasing independence, creativity, and curiosity in their learning.
Apply the study habits and learning skills expected in senior school.