From Years 3-5, pupils are taught English in their own classrooms, helping them feel at home and at ease in a familiar place.From Years 6-8, pupils are taught in specific ‘English’ rooms to help broaden their horizons and give them a feeling of progression. They are mainly upstairs in Day End, where specialist teachers are based. The classrooms are beautifully bright and airy, with views right out over the roofs of The Junior. They are also full of colourful displays and examples of pupils’ English work to inspire and help learning.

As with any subject, computer skills are important so we use the ICT suite next to our ‘English’ rooms, which contains more than 20 computers and so there are many opportunities for pupils to use ICT to help them research and write English projects. All of the classrooms also have an interactive whiteboard for both teachers and pupils to use and internet access is available in every room.

As well as within classrooms, children are taught in the drama studio or hall, ideal locations for when speaking and listening are the focus of the lesson. We also use our well-stocked school library - a delightful chalet style room with a balcony, comfy bean bags to relax on with a book, tables to work at and a view of the rugby and cricket pitches!

Indeed, The Junior has an amazing number of books available for pupils to borrow - both fiction and non-fiction. We have reading lists that help direct pupils to the ‘right’ books for their age and level, as well as daily newspapers, magazines and articles which pupils are encouraged to look at during break or free time. “Top Gear” magazine is often seen being poured over by various boys after school before prep!

Victoria Beevers, Head of English