Junior School
Building strong foundations
In the Junior School, we aim to make learning engaging in every way by tapping into children’s natural curiosity and eagerness to learn. Our students are encouraged to work hard and achieve their personal best, whether it is in the classroom, on the sports field, or through the myriad of other opportunities they have for their personal development and all round growth. Our goal is to nurture curiosity, creativity and critical thinking to prepare them for the next stages of learning.
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We aim to make learning engaging in every way by tapping into children’s natural curiosity and eagerness to learn.
EYFS — Nursery and Reception
YEAR GROUP(S)
Nursery & Reception
AGE OF CHILD
3+ – 4+
EYFS — Nursery and Reception
Our Nursery and Reception children will be following the Early Years and Foundation Stage Curriculum.
This covers seven areas of learning that understand the key points of early years development and allow teachers to focus on each child’s individual needs. Children will primarily learn through a play based approach, where the environment is regularly adapted to challenge them and the teachers act as facilitators in learning through their interactions with the children.
Some systematic teaching of English and Mathematics will take place in Reception to give the children the key skills they need to learn from the world around them. Primarily, our goal is to develop the children’s characteristics of effective learning so that they are curious, attentive, creative and critical thinkers, ready for their next stage of learning.
Areas of learning for EYFS
- Communication and Language (CL)
- Physical Development (PD)
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)
- Literacy (L)
- Mathematics (M)
- Understanding the World (UW)
- Expressive Arts and Design (EAD)
YEARS 1 & 2
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 1 provides a bridge between our Early Years and Key Stage 2 departments. Educational research clearly illustrates that children at this age still rely heavily on real experiences to cement their learning.
Therefore, much of the work they do involves practical activities. However, the teachers in Years 1 and 2 will begin to develop more of an understanding of how they are learning through these activities. This will be achieved through a mixture of their IPC learning process of Research, Record and Reflect, as well as through an understanding of our Jesuit Pupil Profile learning virtues: Curious and Active, Intentional and Prophetic, Attentive and Discerning, Learned and Wise.
YEARS 3 – 6
Key Stage 2
Throughout Key Stage 2, students begin to establish their independence and sense of responsibility in preparation for the transition to Senior School.
By Year 3, students enter a mentoring and coaching programme in which they are assigned a dedicated coach for the remainder of Junior School.
During this four-year period, students delve deeper into the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science, as well as the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). Our outstanding teachers focus on involving the students as active participants in their learning through discussion, planning, action and reflection.
At this stage, students discover their passions, strengths and how to succeed in areas they may find more challenging. They begin to live the learning virtues of the Jesuit Pupil Profile: Loving and Compassionate, Hopeful and Faithfilled, Eloquent and Truthful, Generous and Grateful. This is accomplished through a pastoral framework, woven throughout the academic curriculum, in particular through our bespoke Sympatheia programme.
Assessments are carried out informally and regularly through feedback from teachers and peer editing, as well as formally through integrated progress checks and examinations at the end of each academic year.
Areas of Learning for Key Stage 1 & 2
- English
- Maths
- International Primary Curriculum
- Science
- ICT
- Creative Arts
- PE and Swimming
- Languages
- Wellbeing
Building Strong
Foundations
1
2
Teaching
Prep Programme in Year 6
‘Prep’ is short for preparatory; the literal meaning of this is to prepare for a task. We recognise that to make the most out of their time in the Senior School, our Year 6 students need this opportunity to prepare for this next phase in their academic journey.
Maths
From Reception to Year 6, our students learn Maths through the scheme White Rose Maths. White Rose Maths is based on the Singaporean approach to teaching maths, but targeted towards achieving the UK National Curriculum overviews. The scheme uses proven tools and methods from Singapore Maths to develop a mastery of the subject at all levels. The programme focuses on CPA: visualising maths concepts using Concrete materials, illustrating them Pictorially, and finally completing Abstract problems. This is also the scheme used in St Mary’s UK (Preparatory School to Stonyhurst College), which allows us to work closely with our UK counterpart.
A Typical Day at Junior School
The school day begins at 07:50 with our daily Welcome and Registration. We will welcome students onto site from 07:35 when the gate is opened. During the drop-off window, children may enjoy socialisation with their friends and prepare for the start of the day. Lessons begin at 08:00 and the formal teaching day ends at 15:20 in the Junior School, following which students are warmly encouraged to stay for a Co-Curricular Activity (CCA).
Time
|
Nursery
|
Reception – Year 6
|
---|---|---|
07:50 - 08:00
|
Welcome and Registration
|
Welcome and Registration
|
08:00 - 08:50
|
Period 1
|
Period 1
|
08:50 - 09:40
|
Period 2
|
Period 2
|
09:40 - 10:00
|
Story and Song Time
|
Junior School Break
|
10:00 - 10:20
|
Nursery Break
|
Tutor Time / Line Time
|
10:20 - 11:10
|
Period 3
|
Period 3
|
11:10 - 12:00
|
Period 4
|
Period 4
|
12:00 - 12:50
|
Story and Song Time, followed by Lunch at 12:25
|
Junior School Lunch and Play
|
12:50 - 13:40
|
End of Nursery day 1pm
|
Period 5
|
13:40 - 14:30
|
Optional stay and play if approved by class teacher
|
Period 6
|
14:30 - 15:20
|
Junior School Rise and Shine Period and end of Junior School day
|
|
15:20 - 16:20
|
No CCAs
|
CCAs Year 1 - Year 6
|
*Please note that Year 1 will only have CCAs on a selected number of days in term 1.
|
Key Staff Members
Miss Sandra Crompton
Miss Sandra Crompton
Assistant Head of Junior School - Academic
Contact Email
Sandra Crompton joined us from Shropshire, UK, in January 2023. She holds a BSc Combined Honours degree in Biochemistry and Genetics from the University of Leeds, England.
After qualifying as a teacher, Sandra taught at several prestigious preparatory schools in the UK, where she developed an extensive knowledge of the British curriculum. Sandra brings several years of school leadership experience to her current position as Assistant Head (Academic) of Junior School. A firm believer in lifelong learning, she particularly enjoys inspiring her pupils to develop a curiosity about the world around them.A passionate horse rider since childhood, Sandra still owns her horse, Jack, who is currently being cared for by her daughter Abigail in England. Sandra can be seen cycling to work most mornings and enjoys swimming, travelling and reading in her spare time. |
Mr Samuel Williams
Mr Samuel Williams
Assistant Head of Junior Pastoral
Contact Email
Having worked at Stonyhurst in the UK for close to ten years, Sam is filled with a breadth of experience to continue leading in his role as Assistant Head (Pastoral) in the Junior School here in Penang. His own education has seen him complete studies in art and a degree in Interior Architecture & Design in Leeds, graduating with First-Class Honors. Sam gained further experience working in an architect’s practice before furthering his education with a Primary Maths Specialist PGCE at Edge Hill University. In previous summers, he has served as Director of Activities at the Stonyhurst Summer Language school, broadening his understanding of working with EAL pupils, whilst offering a rich and diverse program to support all aspects of the whole child. As a teacher, he expresses his creativity effectively, communicating his vision and innovative ideas through high-quality teaching, inspiring pupils each day.
Sam is grateful to share this opportunity in Penang with his wife Corinna, also a teacher here and their daughter, Florence, who is part of the nursery at the school. Outside of school, his interests primarily revolve around his active nature and sports. He enjoys travelling the world and watching and participating in most sports, with a particular passion for football and golf. Having spent numerous years at Stonyhurst, Sam is excited to embark on another year here in Penang and share his experiences and knowledge of the mission, values, and identity that a Stonyhurst education can provide to pupils, staff, and parents alike within the wider Stonyhurst community. As the school contiues to grow, Sam is confident that the Stonyhurst staff can continue to inspire the children to achieve the vision of excellence that this school promotes. |