In L6, pupils are following a timetabled day. They are taught by senior school teachers in French, Art, Drama, Home Economics, Music and PE and this involvement with Senior School and the organisation required to follow a timetabled day prepares the pupils to move confidently into Senior School.
All four elements of language; reading, writing, listening and talking are taught. A structured reading scheme –Literacy World - is used as a whole language programme. Personal reading is also encouraged.
We believe in teaching spelling and there is a structured scheme in place, called Quota where children work at their own pace, setting their own limits. Formal comprehension work is continued as are grammar lessons which teach knowledge about language, punctuation and structure. Listening and Talking activities take place on a regular basis.
Our writing programme for L6 contains the following
All pupils visit the school’s well-stocked Library each week where they receive instruction in Library Skills by our School Librarian and they take out books of their own choice for reading at home.
Maths is taught in ability groupings. This means that we can vary the size of groups and the content and pace of lessons to match the ability of the pupils. Our less able group is taught in a small group where pupils are given individual support and consolidation. Our most able are given a wide variety of challenges and problems to solve. The core texts in operation are Heineman Level 5 and 6 and Maths in Action D, according to the ability group.
Number work focuses on using numbers up to millions, decimals and fractions. Work on angles and the use of the protractor also takes place.
Practical Maths includes work on shape, length, weight, volume and time. Consolidation work within class consists of mental maths plus written number work.
In our teaching of Science, History and Geography, we aim to develop in pupils a curiosity and a greater understanding of their past and heritage and of the world around them. We develop their research and investigative skills as well as their analytical thinking skills and their evaluation of evidence. Much of the work will involve them in discussion, in working as a team, in drawing on information from different sources or in practical experiments.
Topics covered include Christianity and Hinduism.
Pupils go on the bus up to Mayfield, our superb Sports facility. There are two sessions each week, taught by specialist teachers, one focusing on indoor PE such as gymnastics, games and dance and the other focusing on outdoor Games such as Rugby, Hockey, Cricket and Tennis. A six-week block of swimming is also undertaken.
Children are taught by a specialist teacher once a week.
Art, Drama and Home Economics are taught by specialist teachers from Senior School. This lays the foundation for continuing these subjects into Senior School.
Pupils visit the ICT suite each week for an exciting lesson with our specialist teacher.
Pupils are taught by Senior School Languages teachers, two periods a week. This will form the basis of their learning in French. All pupils will take a second Language in Senior School, choosing from German, Spanish or Latin.
Parental supervision with homework is hugely beneficial. It is the pupil’s responsibility to note down homework set in their homework diary. Normally homework in L6 consists of reading, learning spelling and completing a short written exercise either in Maths or Language. Occasionally research work for an environmental studies topic will be set. Homework in L6 should not take more than 45 minutes per night.