Academic

The junior curriculum is designed to bring out the best in each pupil and allows our Junior School to offer one of the best primary school educations in Newcastle.  It is challenging, creative, diverse and exciting and has the needs of junior boys in mind at all times.

Once the Foundation Stage is complete, pupils continue at North Avenue for their time in Key Stage 1 and move to West Avenue for Key Stage 2. Throughout Key Stage 1 they study a wide range of subjects and have specialist teaching for Music, IT, PE and French. Pupils are encouraged to achieve their best academically and are continually supported by experienced staff. Through a topic based approach, our aim is for our boys to develop a questioning and curious approach to the world around them and to pursue their questions and ideas in an increasingly systematic and knowledgeable way. In the summer term, a residential visit is offered to each year group, enhancing learning opportunities outside of the classroom and encouraging independence.

From Years 3 to 6, boys are offered a broad range of subjects by our dedicated teaching staff, studying the core subjects of English, Maths and Science along with Art, Design Technology, French, Geography, History, ICT, Music, Religious Studies and Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE).  They also take part in a full programme of PE, Games and swimming.

We place a high value on a cross-curricular approach to learning where pupils are challenged and encouraged to question, debate, reflect, make mistakes and learn from them. We encourage independent research and learning skills to help develop curiosity and high levels of interest.

Sport, music, drama and the arts matter greatly.  Boys thrive with such an approach and become very well-rounded learners who understand that learning is as important on the sports field as it is in the classroom.

We are passionate that the junior years are a unique part of a boy’s development and education.  We build on boys’ success in the early years with a philosophy that ensures that boys are always taught as juniors and experience a curriculum that recognises this unique stage in their lives.  Junior boys do not come this way again and leave the stage of our school with the skills, ideas and knowledge to be successful in our Senior School.

Our curriculum leads to high levels of academic and personal success as boys enjoy a curriculum that engages and excites them.  It really is a joy to learn at the Junior School.