Academics
The impact of small class sizes—averaging 15 children—cannot be underestimated when it comes to the individual attention each child receives in every lesson. Over the course of a week, month, term, and year, this focused, one-on-one interaction with teachers accumulates, offering a substantial advantage for our children.
Our teachers genuinely know every child they teach; their strengths, their weaknesses and their action plan to improve. We think this is invaluable in promoting development across academic, physical, spiritual, moral, and cultural dimensions. Through a multi-sensory teaching approach, we cater to diverse abilities and learning styles, ensuring all students progress. Differentiation is central, providing support for pupils with special educational needs, as well as opportunities for gifted students to achieve scholarships.
Curriculum
Our curriculum aligns with the National Curriculum, Jersey Curriculum, and ISEB syllabuses, preparing students for the ISEB Pre-Test, Common Entrance, and scholarships to prestigious schools. With small class sizes and a low pupil-to-teacher ratio, we deliver personalised education in a nurturing environment.
We offer robust programs in Art, Music, Science, Engineering, and ICT, with state-of-the-art facilities including a Sports Hall, Dance/Drama Studio, Gymnasium, and Swimming Pool. As a non-selective school, we enrich and challenge children of all abilities, consistently exceeding expectations for senior school entry.
We emphasise the importance of interpersonal communication, engaging students in assemblies, drama, and concerts to develop public speaking and performance skills. We focus on soft skills, body language, facial expression, and vocal tone, preparing students for success in all aspects of life.
Nursery And Reception
In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the curriculum is structured around the EYFS Framework. This framework emphasises three essential areas that spark children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning while enhancing their capacity to learn, build relationships, and thrive. These areas are:
1. Communication and language
2. Physical development
3. Personal, social development
Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Expressive Arts and Design are interwoven throughout these areas to reinforce and enhance the three core areas.
Pre-Prep: Years 1 - 2
In Years 1 and 2, we build on the enjoyment and enthusiasm for learning cultivated in Nursery and Reception. Our goal is to provide a broad, balanced education with a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy, integrating these key areas into all aspects of learning to ensure strong connections. We employ a variety of resources to inspire and engage the children.
Our aim is to develop essential skills and create a foundation for future learning that children can carry into their prep school journey. By the end of Pre-Prep, your child will have received a thorough academic grounding, healthy self-esteem, and good social skills – key elements for thriving and forming positive relationships.
Juniors: Years 3 - 4
Learning in the Juniors is built on a strong foundation of English, Maths, and Science, which is further enriched by an increased range of subjects, including the Humanities, French, ICT, drama, music, and more. Our approach emphasises creating a stimulating and creative learning environment that nurtures intellectual curiosity, motivation, and responsibility. We aim for our pupils to develop the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Above all, we strive to instil a lifelong passion for learning that will continue to guide them as they progress into the Seniors.
Juniors continue to follow the Pre-Prep Department timetable but join the Senior School for various events throughout the year, including: assemblies, House meetings, Sports Day, Festival of Lessons and Carols and the Summer Concert.
Juniors are set two preps a week, in addition to daily expectations of reading, spelling and rapid recall of number bonds and tables.
Seniors: Years 5 - 8
We look to build upon the strong foundations that have been built within the younger years of the school.
Ample curriculum time is allocated to essential core subjects across all year groups, culminating in a challenging final Common Entrance exam or academic scholarship in Year 8. From Year 5, English and Maths are taught by subject specialists, while the focus on Science grows as students advance through the school, increasing to three hours in Years 7 to 8. Science, taught by a subject specialist, emphasises both practical and theoretical learning and takes place in our dedicated laboratory.
Research shows that learning new languages not only improves listening and writing skills but also boosts creativity and sharpens cognitive abilities. It broadens horizons and opens doors to a wide range of opportunities. From Year 3, pupils begin learning French, with Spanish introduced in Year 5. Both languages are taught by native speakers, providing an immersive and authentic learning experience.
Our humanities curriculum, encompassing Geography, History, and Religious Studies, offers pupils opportunities to explore how the world functions. Their studies culminate in internally set exams and assessments throughout Year 8. These subjects help pupils build a broader skill set and gain valuable experience with coursework.
We believe every child is an artist, and our goal is to build confidence through creative play and visual self-expression, allowing their potential to flourish. Art is a vital part of our curriculum across all year groups, but from Year 4 onwards, pupils are taught by a specialist in our dedicated Art Room. Whether painting stunning coastlines, working with ceramics, or exploring textiles, our school has a rich artistic heritage. We are actively involved in Jersey’s creative arts scene and proudly support the Jersey Eisteddfod each year.
Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. In doing so, they acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they also develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. From Year 3 upwards pupils are taught Engineering by a subject specialist and in a dedicated workshop. Children seeing their dreams realised or ideas work for the first time creates unforgettable emotions and lifelong memories.
We believe that by offering a broad and balanced education at such a young age will enable children to flourish as they move forward on their educational journey.
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