Highclare Junior Departments

 

 

Meeting Individual Needs in our Junior Departments

Highclare encourages children to participate in a diverse range of activities. An extensive extra curricular programme enables everyone to develop through a balance of work and play.

• Pupils are actively encouraged to enjoy a wide variety of lunchtime and after-school Clubs encompassing academic, creative, sporting and social needs.
• Children enjoy taking part in many team sports with competition for all through inter-School and inter-House programmes.
• Children relish many opportunities for musical performance and drama as part of Recorder Groups, Choir, individual instrument lessons school assemblies and productions.
• Pupils benefit from a wide ranging programme of Educational trips and Outdoor Education in year 6.
• After School Tuition in verbal and non-verbal reasoning for 11+ Grammar School Exams

Academic Needs - Achieving Individual Excellence

Importance is placed upon the teaching and learning of English and Mathematics and Science within a broad and balanced curriculum which meets and exceeds national guidelines aimed at establishing a solid structure and a basis for every child’s future intellectual growth.

• Academic excellence is valued and celebrated.
• There are specialist facilities for Art, Design and Technology, Music, Science, Dance, Drama and Physical Education including use of Bishop Vesey Grammar School Sports Hall and Wyndley Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool.
• Computer network and PC workstations in every classroom.
• The latest ICT developments regularly updated computer suite and networked pc’s in every classroom keep pupils up to date with new technology.
• Use of ICT to communicate and support problem solving.
• The pupil’s cognitive development is supported by use of Interactive Whiteboard Technology throughout the school.
• Timetabled lessons in verbal and non-verbal reasoning for grammar school exams
• Specialist help is available for children with dyslexia.

Welfare Needs - Achieving Individual Excellence

• An excellent pastoral system and a caring ethos welcomes each child into the warmth of the schools family atmosphere
• A close home school partnership strengthens the bond of trust between parents pupils and staff
• A nurturing environment ensures stable secure surroundings in which each child can thrive

Pastoral Needs - Achieving Individual Excellence

Developing the whole child

Great emphasis is placed upon pastoral care seeking to nurture the potential of the whole child as an individual

• Clear moral values fostered by assemblies, circle time, and PSHE
• High behavioural expectations
• Partnership between teachers and parents
• House system in junior department
• Breadth and challenge beyond the classroom to complement the academic
• Leadership opportunities and positions of responsibility including prefects and form captains
• New pupils provided with mentors
• Establishment of firm relationships based on trust

Ethnic and religious needs - Achieving Individual Excellence

The spiritual awareness of each individual is fostered through

• Regular assemblies
• Celebrating Religious Festivals
• Visiting Speakers
• Circle time
• All ethnic minorities catered for

School Standards and Expectations - Achieving Individual Excellence

Pupils are carefully guided towards a fulfilment of their personal goals through:

• High expectations meeting and exceeding national guidelines
• Opportunities for each child to meet individual targets through broad curriculum fulfilling their potential
• Monitoring of teaching and learning through classroom observations
• Monitoring of standards through subject specific curriculum monitoring

Dress standards - Achieving Individual Excellence

Pupils are encouraged to take pride in attending Highclare and in their appearance through high expectations of dress. They are supported by:

• Regular uniform checks with positive rewards
• Consistency, checking and monitoring of pupil dress by all staff
• Partnership and support from parents ensuring smart appearance at all times
• Staff as a role model

Standards of behaviour - Achieving Individual Excellence

To fulfil their academic and personal potential high standards of behaviour are expected and rewarded within a house system .

• A positive and calm atmosphere is encouraged throughout the school
• Children adhere to Golden Rules and Code of Conduct
• Classroom rules are agreed by staff and pupils
• The promotion of reasoned discussion to think through and solve problems

Interpersonal skills - Achieving Individual Excellence

Pupils are encouraged to interact and develop a wide range of social and communication skills through:

• Assemblies regular whole school, department and class assemblies
• School trips
• Staff as role models
• Speaking and listening curriculum
• Drama
• Circle time
• Dealing with conflict
• School performances

Teaching - Achieving Individual Excellence

• Teaching is class based for core subjects
• Specialised teaching in many areas
• The promotion of an effective learning environment to promote personalised learning
• Encouraging, positive and purposeful atmosphere
• High expectations through praise rewards and friendliness
• Small classes provide more time and greater opportunity for individual attention
• Differentiated work to cater for the needs of each individual child
• Regular monitoring and assessment to inform future learning
• French taught from year 3
• Providing challenges and extension for gifted and able

Pupil participation - Achieving Individual Excellence

Pupils are encouraged to actively discuss and offer opinions about issues affecting themselves, their school and community and the world at large.

• Integral part of school community
• School Council enabling decision making

Junior Boys & Girls Together

From the Autumn Term in September 2008 Junior Boys and Junior Girls will have the opportunity of learning together.

Highclare The Abbey and Highclare St Paul's boys and girls starting into Year 3 (at age 7 years) can continue their education through to 11 years together.

Margaret Viles - Headmistress, said

"As a result of our ongoing strategic review of the school, it has become clear that parental preference is to educate boys and girls together, up to the age of eleven years. Embracing change for the better, and building on the experiene of a traditional and caring ethos developed over 75 years, Highclare Woodfield, Highclare St Paul's and Highclare The Abbey provide the best possible education, whereby all pupils will achieve their maximum potential together"

Pupils at Highclare Woodfield (Nursery and Preparatory Departments at Birmingham Road, Wylde Green) will transfer to the Junior Department at Highclare The Abbey, just a short distance away, so keeping together friendships and siblings.

Pupils at the Pre-school and Preparatory Department at Highclare St Paul's will transfer to the Junior Department of Highclare St Paul's on the same site, thus ensuring their continuity of education on the same site through to age 11.

Applications for admission to Year 3 at either site are now being taken. Please ask the Registrar for details.