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School Life

Juniors

JUNIOR OVERVIEW

SCHOOL DAY

HOMEWORK AND EXAMS

Our Juniors Department consists of four classes: Forms 3, 4, 5 and 6. There is a maximum of 22 children in a class unless there are exceptional circumstances. The syllabus is designed to follow Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum and extends to cover the requirements of Senior School examinations, which the pupils sit at the age of eleven. Our broad curriculum is taught by specialist staff and includes English, Mathematics, Science, Information Communication Technology (ICT), French, History, Geography, Music, Art and Design and Design Technology, Physical Education and Games. We also have a strong Personal, Social, Health Education and Citizenship programme.

At St David’s we are passionately committed to ensuring that each of our pupils achieves their full potential. As each child progresses through the School, their academic progress and social development is carefully monitored. Assessment is carried out through observations and testing in class time, and by internal exams which take place during the Autumn and Summer Terms. Parents are kept informed about their child’s progress with termly and half-termly ‘Interim’ reports; and Parents’ Evenings are held three times a year. In addition, parents are welcome to discuss any problem, whether academic or otherwise, with their child’s Form or Subject teacher at any time.

We prepare the children for the 11+ entrance examinations required by senior schools of their choice, both grammar and independent. The Head Teacher and Class Teachers support the parents through this process by offering a ‘Choices Evening’, and individual consultation meetings. This ensures that each child’s needs are fully met, both in terms of finding a best fit school and fulfilling any scholarship requirements at secondary level. St David’s pupils progress to schools such as Caterham, Wallington County Grammar, Nonsuch High School for Girls, Croydon High, Woodcote High School, Royal Russell, Sutton Grammar, Trinity, Wallington High School for Girls, Woldingham, Wilsons and Whitgift.

Children should be dropped off at the bottom of the steps to the playground area from 8.10am. If it is wet, please leave them at the cloakroom door and your child should proceed through to the School Hall.

Junior School Day
8:35amRegistration
9:00amAssembly (Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays)
9:05amAssembly (Wednesdays)
8:50amAssembly (Fridays)
9:20amPeriod 1
9:55amPeriod 2
10:30amBreak
10:50am Playground whistle
10:55amPeriod 3
11:30amPeriod 4
12:05pmPeriod 5
12:35pm Lunch commences
1:30pmPlayground whistle
1:40pmRegistration & Reading time
1:50pmPeriod 6
2:25pmPeriod 7
3:00pmPeriod 8
3:35pmHome time for Form 3
3:40pmHome time for Form 4
3:45pmHome time for Forms 5 & 6

AFTER SCHOOL CARE
We have an After School Club, called Daffodils, which is run by Jancett Playsafe. Provision is provided from 3pm until 6.30pm and children need to be registered to attend. Please click here to find our more about our Daffodils club and information on how to register for this service.

HOMEWORK
It is our aim at St David’s to promote a positive and enthusiastic approach to learning. Homework is a vital part of our study programme. It reinforces what has been taught and teaches children to work independently and plan their work. When parents take an interest in their child’s homework this provides immediate support, by showing that both parents and School have the same objectives.

It is the policy of St David’s that homework is set on a regular basis for all children according to their individual needs. Reading books are sent home on a daily basis, and parents are asked to comment on their child’s reading if appropriate, to check their homework every night, and to sign the homework diary accordingly. Spellings are sent home on a weekly basis to be learnt and practised at home. In addition, each class has a homework timetable indicating exactly which subjects are set each day.

TYPES AND STYLES OF HOMEWORK SET
Parents should be ready to observe numerous different forms of homework all of which are valid and essential. For example:

  • The writing or redrafting of an essay
  • Learning by rote: vocabulary, spellings, poems, multiplication tables etc.
  • Drawings/diagrams
  • Reading
  • Preparing an oral presentation
  • An investigation into a topic, requiring some form of home activity or research (e.g. internet/newspaper/maths investigation etc)
  • The completion of classwork
  • Assessment and Reporting

ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING
Assessment is carried out continuously through observations and testing in class time, and by internal exams which take place during the Autumn and Summer Terms. Parents are informed about their child’s progress at regular intervals:

  • Each half-term: Interim reports detailing effort and achievement
  • End of each term: Full written report detailing next targets to achieve
  • Each term: Parents’ evening with form and subject teachers