The Senior School is a really happy place. We have eight forms with approximately 16 children in each year. There are two year 7 and two year 8 classes. Although there is some flexibility in age range in each class it is generally the case that children are placed in their correct chronological year group. In exceptional cases, children are put up a year and close attention is paid to how well these students fit in socially.
We have two sites, the Jill Sturdy Centre (JSC) at 5 Glisson Road, and our main, new site at The Temple, Abington. Upper School students use both sites, enjoying the spacious art room at the JSC and modern laboratory while also getting great pleasure from the beautiful grounds and feeling of spaciousness at the new site.
Students wear standard school uniform Monday – Thursday inclusive, which should all be clearly labelled with your child’s name. Friday is non-uniform day. When we have Sport, students are allowed to wear the Sports uniform all day, this being the school tracksuit or another blue/black tracksuit.
Students are prepared for IGCSE exams in their final two years at the school. Where possible the course of study begins in the summer term of Year 9 after students have taken their Cambridge Checkpoint examinations (national testing, similar in style to SATS but internationally recognised). The Cambridge IGCSE is the world’s most popular international curriculum for 14–16 year olds. The examination centre, run by the University of Cambridge states the following:
Cambridge IGCSE is an international curriculum that develops students’ skills in creative thinking, enquiry and problem solving, and gives them excellent preparation for the next stage in their education. Schools can offer any combination of subjects. Each subject is certificated separately. Over 70 subjects are available, offering a variety of routes for learners of different abilities.
Schools worldwide have helped develop Cambridge IGCSE. It incorporates the best in international education for students at this level. It develops in line with changing needs, and is regularly updated and extended. Cambridge IGCSE teachers can draw on excellent resources, training and advice from subject experts. Cambridge IGCSE has wide recognition from higher education institutions and employers around the world as evidence of academic ability.