In the classroom - group reading

E-Prospectus

Educational policy: classes

The school comprises of the Nursery for children aged 3, a Reception class for children aged 4, and then classes for Year 1 - age 5, Year 2 - age 6, Year 3 - age 7, Year 4 - age 8, Year 5 - age 9 and Year 6 - age 10. Every third or fourth year there is an additional Nursery class entry, which results in a parallel class for that particular cohort.

All classes are kept to a size designed to ensure that each child benefits from a communal environment whilst at the same time receiving considerable individual attention. There are approximately 18-20 children in each class up to age 7 and approximately 20-22 children in each class from 7 to 11 years. Every class has its own teacher, and in classes up to and including Year 2 there is also a full-time assistant. In addition, the school trains Montessori teachers and a student may be allocated to work with groups of children under the direction of the teacher. The school also employs a number of additional qualified teaching staff to ensure that children in need of individual attention receive appropriate teaching and support.

The children's main point of entry to the school is Nursery at the age of three, however, there are also a small number of places available in Reception when they are four. The children move up a class each academic year until they leave at the end of Year 6 for their senior school. The school prepares children for the senior schools' 11+ entry examinations in Year 6 but does not prepare pupils for entry to other schools prior to this. Children can enter the school in other year groups if there is a vacancy and the results of assessments are satisfactory.