The Junior School offers a carefully structured and broadly based education delivered in a way appropriate to the age and the individual needs of the pupils.
The youngest boys and girls are cared for by an experienced, qualified staff in the secure and friendly atmosphere of the Nursery. Creative play complements teacher directed activities, while considerable emphasis is placed on personal and social development and the ability of the children to relate to each other in a confident and considerate way. The wellie-walks in the woods of the school are very popular!
The small Reception classes offer a smooth transition into the more formal academic curriculum and enable pupils to gain a real confidence in their reading, writing and number work. By challenging pupils to take advantage of the high standard of teaching offered by an exceptionally well qualified and dedicated staff, the school achieves outstanding academic results and consistently gains six scholarships a year into the senior school.
The school maintains a reputation among pupils and parents for being a happy place where pupils are individually known and valued. Praise is given for effort and progress and not just achievement. If pupils experience difficulties in keeping up with their work, parents are informed and help made available from a Learning Support Teacher.
The Roman Catholic values underpinning the school ethos are best demonstrated by the genuine concern and compassion the pupils have for each other and those in need. Each year hundreds of pounds are raised by the pupils for the Mother Teresa Orphanage in Delhi and other more local charities. Honesty and good manners, together with exemplary standards of personal behaviour and self-discipline are expected from the pupils.
In addition to pursuit of academic excellence, pupils have opportunities to enrich themselves in other ways including the chance to take part in the English Speaking Board Examinations and to learn a musical instrument of their choice. Those with fine voices may audition for the Schola which leads the singing at the weekly Mass and other school liturgies. Drama involves visits to theatres: workshops by visiting companies; Inter-House competitions and school plays. Other clubs include chess, German, toy making and gardening. There is an annual school ski trip and a residential outward bound week for pupils in the top year.
The Junior School has achieved success in many sporting areas. These include winning rugby tournaments; the local chess league and gold medals at judo. It has been county champions at hockey, cricket and table-tennis and has recently twice won the national mini-hockey championships of England. Coaching in athletics, cross-country, fencing, gymnastics, judo, swimming and tennis is available to pupils. The school's annual Hockey and tennis festivals attract teams from all over the South East of England.
In summary, the excellent education going beyond the requirements of the National Curriculum, and the advantages of the close liaison between the Junior Schools, ensure pupils are offered a degree of continuity and educational opportunity not available elsewhere. Above all, it is hoped pupils will acquire a real enthusiasm for academic study, at the same time becoming confident, self-reliant people with strong moral principles.
Last Updated : 1st March 1996