And so to your child’s final year in the Junior Department: Year Six.

This provides the ideal opportunity for children to become more independent learners so that, when they leave the Lower School, they are well equipped for the next stage in their education which is, in the vast majority of cases, in the Upper School.

Children are given much more responsibility in Year Six and this is something they thrive upon. Children may become House Captains, Buddies, members of the Hospitality Team, Playground Monitors or Librarians.

During this year, children will start to visit the Upper School on a regular basis and use some of their facilities, such as the Library, Science labs and the Technology Department. Whilst also taking advantage of specialist areas in the Junior Department for Languages, Sport, ICT and Art.

Children are tested regularly and they will all take the Upper School Entrance Exam in January.  In the Summer Term, around May, they will also take ‘SATs-style exams’ in Mathematics, English and Science.

Educational visits occur termly. At the start of the Autumn Term, a visit to The News Centre provides children with an insight into journalistic writing and some will follow this up by helping to produce copies of The Informer which highlights the many activities taking part in the Junior Department. During this term, the netball and football teams embark on a three-day tour to Solihull.

During the Easter holidays, children spend five days in France. During this holiday, children will visit various places of interest and historical sites, whilst spending valuable time away from home with their friends. Throughout this visit, children are encouraged to speak French at every opportunity.

In the Summer Term, the children are involved in Apprentice Week – based on the popular television programme. This year, the task was to create a new drink, create and record an advertising campaign before presenting their pitch to a panel of experts.

During the penultimate week, children are invited to the Year Six Leavers Celebration; this has always provided an excellent end to their time In Junior Department.