Classroom

Academic variety develops pupils’ curiosity and stimulates learning.

ACADEMIC PRIORITIES

  • To ensure that all pupils can engage fully with everything we offer, and develop their understanding, knowledge and skills, as well as their confidence.
  • To align academic rigour with creative approaches using a uniquely diverse and enriching curriculum.
  • To support academic achievement by developing the character skills of Curiosity, Respect, Empathy and Determination (referred to as CRED), resilience and effort, independence, cooperation, organisation and focus, reflectiveness and good judgement.
Junior School Lesson

An increase in the number of our teaching staff and teaching assistants means we are better able to support and challenge our pupils across all year groups. In most cases, pupils are taught by subject specialists. We use differentiated activities, review curricula, and deploy teaching and support staff, to ensure that our pupils are well supported, and challenged, within lessons.

Teacher in class speaking to two boys

OUR JUNIOR SCHOOL CURRICULUM

    • English
    • Mathematics
    • Science
    • Modern Foreign Languages (French in Y3 & 4; Spanish in Y5; Y6 carousel of Linguistics, Spanish, German, Russian, Mandarin)
    • Humanities (History and Geography)
    • Design, Technology and Engineering
    • Art
    • Religion, Philosophy and Ethics (RPE)
    • Drama and Music
    • Digital Literacy
    • Personal Social Health and Economic Education (PSHEE)
    • Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) as part of PSHEE
    • Sport and Exercise

EXTENSION AND ENRICHMENT

We promote high levels of achievement and effort, and yet we look beyond the mere acquisition of knowledge. We want children to develop the confidence to investigate and enquire, to solve problems and to take responsibility for their own learning.

Alongside academic and practical performance we aim to nurture artistic, musical, creative and physical talent and leadership qualities. We are also mindful that, as pupils grow, their aptitudes change and develop.

We seek to provide a balanced curriculum that puts emphasis on transferable skills, different learning styles, independent and team learning as well as curiosity.

Each term, we focus on a series of different themes, from creativity to problem solving.

ASSESSMENTS

We use a variety of methods to assess progress. A primary assessment tool is the everyday marking of work and giving of feedback. This indicates how well pupils have understood the learning objectives during the lesson and provides guidance about what has been done well and how things can be improved. Over time, children will develop self-assessment skills and an independent approach to learning.

Alongside this, children undertake some formal assessments during the year, which might include a standardised literacy skills test, half-termly papers in Maths and English and occasional unit tests in other subjects.

Computing Lesson
Our daughter is thriving at Highgate and enjoying the multitude of experiences Highgate offers. Junior School parent, 2024
Academic variety allows pupils to develop their curiosity and desire for intellectual challenge. ISI Inspection Report 2024
Pastoral
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