There are over 270 pupils in this part of the school - 60% are
boys and 40% girls. Currently there are around 90 different Upper
School children, 50 boys and 40 girls, experiencing a total of just
over 110 nights of boarding each week. Although we do not have full boarders, flexi-boarding is extremely popular with pupils and parents.
The maximum class-size is 19. Classes in Year 8 have an average
size of 17 pupils. In Year 7 the average is 18, in Year
6 it is 16 and in Year 5 it is 15. For a number of subjects, the
pupils are taught in sets rather than in class-groups, so the numbers
in each teaching-group are smaller.
There are four year-groups: Year 5 (10-year-olds); Year 6 (11-year-olds);
Year 7 (12-year-olds) and Year 8 (13-year-olds). These are National
Curriculum year-groups. In Year 8 there is a top form for the academically
more-able pupils, a second form, and two parallel forms - each of
mixed ability.
In Year 7 there is setting in English, Maths, French, Science,
Geography, History, Latin and Spanish. In Year 6 there is setting
in English, Maths, French, Science and Latin, and setting in Maths
in Year 5. For other subjects the pupils are taught in form groups.
STAFFING There are 29 full-time
teaching Staff, and 8 part-time. We also have a full-time laboratory
technician, a full-time DT technician, a full-time ICT systems manager,
a full-time ICT technician, and a part-time librarian and art technician.
There are approximately 17 peripatetic music teachers.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS All children
who have been offered a place come in to be tested. The mixture
of internal and standardised tests we set is to enable us to be
certain that the child can cope with the academic demands, and to
place him/her in the right class.
NATIONAL CURRICULUM Being an independent
school, we are not bound by the National Curriculum, but we aim
to teach to it as closely as we can. In general terms, the majority
of children in Year 5 will be working at Levels 3/4; those in Year
6 at Levels 4 and 5; Year 7 at Levels 5 and 6, and Year 8 at Levels
6 and 7. The 13+ Common Entrance examinations are set at Level 6
and 11+ at Level 4.
SUBJECTS WITHIN THE CURRICULUM These
are: English, Maths, French, Science, Geography, History, Religious
Studies, Latin (in Years 6, 7 and 8), Spanish (in Years 7 and 8),
Art, Design Technology, Music, Physical Education, Drama, Study
Skills (Year 5), Information and Communication Technology and PSHE
(Years 5, 6 and 7 - Citizenship for Year 8).
SCHOLARSHIP CANDIDATES We are keen
to encourage very able children to try for scholarships offered
by senior schools in the academic subjects, Art, Music, Physical
Education Design Technology and ICT. Normally these scholarships
will be taken at 13+, but there are academic scholarships to other
schools to be won at 11+ and 12+. There are also all-rounder scholarships
available at senior schools, and a number of our children sit these
every year. In Year 8 we do have a separate scholarship form, in
which we place pupils who we think will benefit from working at
a faster rate, and a higher level. Some will go on to sit scholarships, others will take the higher-level Common Entrance
papers in Maths and Latin. Subject Heads select possible scholarship
candidates at a meeting near the beginning of the Autumn Term in
Year 8. Taking into account parental wishes, we select only those
pupils who will enjoy the challenge, have the time available for
the extra preparation required, and who will perform capably in
the scholarship examinations. Parents are responsible, in liaison
with DCPS, for completing the scholarship application form and submitting
it before the closing date for entries.
CRANBROOK SCHOOL
ENTRY A significant number of our 13+
leavers every year go on to Cranbrook
School. Year
8 boarding candidates sit the Cranbrook
entrance tests in late November/early December, having had an interview at Cranbrook School
earlier in the term. The tests are: a reasoning test, a maths test
and a short, 20-minute English writing task). Year 8 day pupils
take their entrance tests (same requirements as for boarders) in
late February / early March. Results are usually posted to parents
just after the end of the term in which the tests have been taken.
Cranbrook
School send
full details of the procedures to those parents who have registered
their children.
YEAR 6 LEAVERS We do have a few
pupils who leave at 11+. Parents may wish them to move to their
senior schools at the earlier stage, and the pupils take 11+ Common
Entrance, grammar-school entry tests, or Junior Scholarships. It
may have become apparent that some pupils will not be able to cope
with the academic programme in Years 7 and 8. Such pupils may require
specialist, individual attention in a small school.
"CLINICS" AND EXTRA HELP
There are many extra sessions provided by the Staff for those pupils
who find aspects of the work difficult, or who need additional help
in preparation for entrance or scholarship examinations. Maths and
French clinics, in particular, are held regularly. Full details
are to be found on the Activities Sheet distributed to parents at
the beginning of term. Those candidates who will sit a reasoning
/ IQ test as part of their examination are given special practice
to prepare them for their test.
We do run, several times a term, a range of Saturday morning subject
clinics (9.00 - 12.30pm)
for Year 8 pupils to help them prepare for entry to their senior
schools.
MUSIC LESSONS AND ACADEMIC CLASSES
We are very keen to encourage the arts at DCPS, and because of the
large number of pupils learning musical instruments (230 pupils
have individual instrumental lessons during normal school-lesson-time
each week. (Year 8
pupils, and those with important academic examinations approaching,
have music lessons, as far as is possible, out of class-time.) The
music lessons are on a rotational basis so that a pupil will not
miss too much of any one subject. Staff monitor
the situation carefully, so that a pupil catches up on missed work
and his/her academic performance does not suffer. The full range
of orchestral instruments is taught, including, guitar, drumkit,
piano and voice. We have 17 visiting music staff. There are currently 14 extra-curricular
musical activities on offer. (See the Music Department prospectus
for further details.)
SPORTS FIXTURES AND ACADEMIC LESSONS It
is our policy to encourage the children to participate in a wide
range of sporting activities, so although we do not like them missing
lessons for ordinary sports fixtures, we do allow them, within reason,
to miss lessons for national, county, or area competitions, provided
that the pupil catches up on work missed on return.
SPECIAL HELP Each pupil's progress
is monitored closely. If it is felt that a pupil needs extra help
with spelling, reading, handwriting, oral expression, or other language
problem, then the pupil concerned can be withdrawn during lesson-time,
normally during an English period, or before or after school. In-class
support is offered by the Special Needs department. Those children
with marked English presentational problems are strongly encouraged
to make use of the school word-processing facilities. Touch-typing
is highly recommended.
SCHOOL REPORTS FOR PARENTS We
provide a half-term report for parents of Yr.5, 6 and 7 pupils in
the autumn and summer terms, and an end-of-term report every term.
As we hold Year 8 Parents' Evenings shortly before half-term in
the Autumn, we do not provide a half-term report for that year-group.
The half-term report for Year 7 pupils indicates the effort and
standard-grades gained by the pupil in each subject, and contains
a comment by the form teacher and headmaster. The Year 5 and 6 half-term
reports indicate effort grades, and contain a comment by the Form
Teacher and Headmaster.
The end-of-term report gives a comprehensive series of grades on
a variety of subject-performance-aspects, and term and exam percentages.
There are also comments from the form teacher, and Headmaster, as
well as a pupil self-assessment. House-parents also provide a report
on their boarders. For children on Cranbrook assessment, there
is an indication of their most-recent assessment grades in each
subject. In their last term, Year 8 pupils have a summary end-of-year
report rather than a full, detailed one; as do Year 7 pupils at
the end of the Spring Term, since Parents' Evenings will have been
held.
INTERNAL FORTNIGHTLY REPORTS These
reports, after the first fortnight of term, are for any new children,
those pupils who had disappointing end-of-term reports, those who
might be sitting entrance exams that term, or those who have changed
form or set. These reports enable us to see whether a good start
to the term has been made.
WORK-REPORTS If it is felt by the form
teacher and other Staff that a particular pupil is really not working
hard enough, the child may be given a special work-report slip to
be signed by the member of Staff at the end of every lesson, and
by boarding Staff or parents at the end of prep. The report is shown
to the Year Tutor or Headmaster every morning before assembly. Pupils
are not normally kept on work report for more than a fortnight.
It has to be said that these reports rarely have to be used!
FORM TEACHERS The Form Teacher
has overall responsibility for the well-being of the pupils in his/her
class and for monitoring the academic and pastoral progress of each
individual. The Form Teacher is the first point of contact for parents
of pupils in Years 5 and 6, though the parents may also wish to
arrange an appointment to see the Headmaster. For pupils in Years
7 and 8, we have a Tutor system in operation. It is the Tutor who
is the first point of contact for the parents of these pupils. Staff
are always very happy to discuss a pupil's progress with
the parents whenever necessary. The best time is usually after school
between 4.15 and 5.15.
YEAR-GROUP TUTORS The Year Tutor has
overall responsibility for the academic and pastoral well-being
of the whole year-group. Any queries, particularly to do with the
pastoral side of school life within the year-group, should be addressed
to the Year Tutor, the pupil's form teacher, or the Director of
Pastoral Care.
BOARDING HOUSEPARENTS The Houseparent
has responsibility for the well-being, both pastoral and academic,
of his/her boarders, and will monitor progress closely in liaison
with the Form Teacher or Tutor.
SUBJECT HEADS The Subject Head is
responsible for the schemes of work and the teaching within the
department. He/she also visits Little Stream and Nash House from
time to time to see the work that is going on there in preparation
for entry to the Upper School.
Any queries relating to the work of the department should be referred
to him/her.
DIRECTOR OF STUDIES The Director of
Studies has overall responsibility for the curriculum, the preparation
of pupils for exams, time-tabling, Staff training, and general academic
policies. Any general queries relating to such aspects should be
addressed to him. He can offer parents guidance on particular scholarship
requirements.
FUTURE SCHOOLS It is important that
parents bear in mind future schools for their children. The Headmaster
will want to know first and second choices as soon as possible,
but certainly by the beginning of the child's penultimate year.
Parents should arrange to see him if they would like advice regarding
future schools.
PARENTS' EVENINGS There are several
special evenings during the year set aside for parents to see all
the Staff who teach their child. In the Autumn Term, during the
first fortnight, parents of pupils in Year 7 have the opportunity
to meet their child's tutor, and parents of children new
to the Year 5 are invited to meet the Year 5 Staff at a social evening.
In the Summer Term, there is an information evening for parents of Year 7 pupils.
This is to explain Scholarship, Common Entrance and Cranbrook entrance procedures,
and to answer any queries that parents may have. In the Autumn Term
there are two Year 8 and two Year 7 evenings. In the Spring Term
there are two Year 6 evenings and two for parents of Year 5 children.
At the beginning of the Summer Term there is an evening for parents
of Common Entrance candidates to have progress reports as the exams
approach.
INTERNAL STANDARDISED TESTING We
test the children regularly as they come up through the school so
that we can monitor progress, and use the information in selecting
a suitable senior school for each individual pupil. The standardised
testing comprises verbal and non-verbal, spelling, reading and maths
assessments. Year 5 and Year 7 pupils sit Cognitive Ability tests
during the Autumn Term.
INTERNAL EXAMINATIONS Year 8 pupils
have exams every term. Years 5, 6 and 7 have mid-year tests early
in the Spring Term, and full exams in the Summer Term. Pupils in Year 8 who have taken external entry/scholarship exams in a particular
term, will be expected to take internal papers only in those subjects
which they did not have in their entry/scholarship exams. During
the internal exams, they will often go to assist in Nash House.
Scholarship candidates (apart from Cranbrook
candidates) are set scholarship papers for internal exams. To prepare
them for their final year, Year 7 sit their summer-term exams (normally
Common Entrance-style papers) in the John Leakey Hall.
COMMON ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS 11+
(Jan.): English 1 and 2, Maths and Science. 13+ (June): English
1 and 2, Maths 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 (including a mental arithmetic
test), French (including an oral and a listening comprehension),
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, History, Latin and Religious
Studies.
11+ lasts 2 days (1 hr. 45 mins. each day); 13+ lasts just over
3 days. The more-able 13+ CE candidates (Year 8) usually offer Maths Papers
2 and 4, and Latin Level 3. A geography fieldwork project is required
from all candidates, and is submitted to the senior school in March.
Year 8 pupils have their fieldwork at Felixstowe, Suffolk,
in the first half of the Autumn Term.
SCHOLARSHIP EXAMINATIONS These
are held at any time during the Spring and Summer Terms, depending
on the school concerned. Generally speaking, for an academic scholarship,
the candidate offers the full range of academic subjects with a
choice of 2-3 additional, harder papers in a range of subjects.
GOVERNORS' AWARDS The Governors provide
annually 4 special financial awards for pupils who have shown outstanding
academic potential. These are awarded each Summer to the two most-deserving
pupils in each of Years 6, and 7. The award cannot be won by the
same pupil in consecutive years.
BURSARIES The school offers a few means-tested bursaries for pupils in the older age-groups.
LIBRARY PROVISION The Upper School has a very attractive, spacious library (Dewey System) with a wide
range of reference-books, fiction, cassette-tapes, and popular magazines,
and is equipped with 15 networked PCs. Total stock (fiction and
reference) is approximately 4,000 titles. All are computer-listed
and bar-coded, and we have a part-time librarian to help with the
running of the library, and to recommend reading.
YEARS 5 & 6 READING Years
5 and 6 have a timetabled weekly reading-session so that we can
closely monitor reading-progress. Each pupil has a special blue
reading-record booklet in which to record his/her week's reading.
HANDWRITING We have a set school
policy on the presentation of written-work so that all pupils and
Staff know what the expectations are.
STUDY SKILLS We do regard the
children's acquisition of study skills as being highly important,
and teach the pupils specific ways of improving their performance:
storage-systems, reading-techniques, note-taking, ways of remembering
important information such as facts and vocabulary., how to revise,
etc. We do issue the pupils with notes on how to revise effectively
for exams, and require them to practise many of these methods both
in class and in prep. Study skills are incorporated into work in
all subjects. Year 5 pupils have a weekly study skills lesson.
COMPUTER-PROVISION We have a special
computer-room fully equipped with 25 networked PCs with flat-screen
monitors. Pupils also have access to printers and a scanner. In
addition, each classroom has its own computer. We encourage the
pupils to use information communication technology as much as possible
in all subject areas. Years 5, 6, 7 and 8 all have a timetabled
ICT lesson each week. A number of children use laptops for much
of their work.
STAFF TRAINING AND MEETINGS Twice
a year we have Staff In-service Training Days to develop Staff expertise
in particular areas which will benefit the teaching our pupils receive.
Staff are encouraged to attend refresher courses at least every
2-3 years so that they are familiar with developments in their subject
area(s). The two days before each term starts are given over to
INSET and departmental meetings to discuss the teaching and arrangements
for the forthcoming term. Regular departmental and boarding meetings
take place throughout the term. There is a full Staff meeting in
the Common Room every fortnight during morning break.
LIAISON There is close liaison
between Little Stream and Upper
School so that
the transition between Years 4 and 5 is as easy as possible. The
Junior Subject Co-ordinator plays a key role in curriculum continuity
between Little Stream and Year 5. Year 4 spend a day at Upper
School in the
Summer Term preceding entry to familiarise themselves with the facilities
and Staff. The Year 5 Tutor visits Little Stream regularly. We do
establish close links with, and hold meetings with, our main receiving
senior schools, particularly Cranbrook.
We aim to hold such a meeting at least every two years. It provides
the opportunity for department Staff to meet their counterparts
in the senior school and to discuss the work that is being done
in Years 8 and 9. We try to make the transition from Year 8 to 9
as straightforward as possible.
If you would like any further information about our academic policies,
please do not hesitate to contact us.
September 2009
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