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

Every child deserves the best early years education.
YEARS 1 & 2

Key Stage 1

YEAR GROUP(S)

Years 1 & 2

AGE OF CHILD

5+ – 6+

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

YEAR GROUP(S)

Years 3 – 6

AGE OF CHILD

7+ – 10+

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

Building Strong
Foundations

Stonyhurst is an innovative school supported by strong traditions, leading in educational development. Our methods of learning are continually evolving, but our primary aim remains constant:

1

to help our pupils become ‘men and women for others’ whilst creating a prosperous future.

2

We foster respect, self-discipline, resilience, confidence and concern for others, which stands our pupils in good stead throughout their Stonyhurst education, into the College – and beyond.

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.

Sympatheia

The Stonyhurst Sympatheia programme is a method of teaching and learning in which we meaningfully identify, develop and apply academic and social-emotional knowledge, skills and understanding to address a ‘real world’ community issue.

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

Assistant Head of Junior School – Academic
Year 6

Mr Samuel Williams

Assistant Head of Junior Pastoral
Year 6

Ms Katherine Gott

English Coordinator
Year 6

Ms Hannah Darville

Year 5

Mrs Emma Hambling

Year 5

Mr Craig Laidlow

Year 4

Ms Alice Horne

Head of Elements (Upper KS2)
Year 5

Mrs Corinna Williams

Year 4

Ms Joanna Summers

Year 4

Mr Joseph Matthews

Year 3

Ms Carolyn Thompson

Head of Prep (Lower KS2)
Year 3

Mr James Melody

Year 3

Mrs Olivia David

Junior School Teacher

Ms Lucy Grant

Year 2

Mrs Esme Melody

Head of Pre-Prep (KS1)
Year 2

Mrs Samantha Stallard

Year 1

Mrs Colette Armstrong

Year 1 Play room Leader
Year 1

Mrs Lucy Vale

Reception

Ms Soné du Plessis

Reception

Ms Jessicca Xavier

Nursery

Ms Amareena Jayabalam

Nursery

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