Junior School at a glance

Junior School at a glance

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Joining BMS has been seamless for us and Oliver, from the assessment day through to him settling in to school life. We valued the friendly and supportive environment that made Oliver feel at ease.

BMS is a place where Oliver thrives, always the right level of challenge, support and encouragement and this continues past the assessment process and into everyday school life.

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Parent of Year 4 student

like the teachers here because they “areI really extremely encouraging. They always help you if you are stuck in any lessons and they are always happy and joyful.

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Katie, Year 6

Introduction

Bedford Modern Junior School is a friendly, happy place where children enjoy excellent, enthusiastic teaching in first class surroundings. Our caring and supportive ethos ensures that children will quickly flourish as we help them explore their talents to the full and look to develop their potential.

We provide a motivating and inspirational yet purposeful environment. The children are challenged intellectually, creatively and physically whilst developing an enthusiasm for learning and a desire for success. New students quickly settle in and experience a feeling of belonging.

They have many chances to shine through our extensive co-curricular programme and are given a broad and balanced curriculum from the start. Here at Bedford Modern Junior School the children are the heart of all that we do.

Joanna Rex

The admissions “process was structured and well organised, providing real clarity about what we had to do and when as well as being fun and inclusive of our son.

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Parent of Year 5 student

Facilities The spacious buildings include light and airy classrooms alongside specialist rooms for Art, Design Technology (DT), Science and ICT. A newly refurbished library is a much used resource and our most recent extension includes the striking Christopher Fry Hall as well as additional classrooms and offices.

The youngest students benefit from a specially designated Year 3 suite of classrooms and a softened playground to help them settle in swiftly and feel at home.

The building and grounds are extremely well maintained and provide a setting conducive to learning and development. Pupils speak proudly of the facilities from which they benefit.

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Independent Schools Inspectorate

Junior School at a glance

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The curriculum and co-curricular programmes are devised to enrich the students learning and provide them all with a broad balance of subjects and activities.

We teach all the core subjects; English, Maths, Science and Humanities as well as Sport, which includes PE and Swimming, Languages, Art, DT, Music, Drama and ICT. This provides the students with a chance to experience success in a particular area whilst unearthing hidden talents. This in turn increases self-confidence and develops a real thirst for learning.

and make sure they feel comfortable in each lesson. I was quite scared when I started, but my teachers helped me to realise it wasn't scary speaking up in class.

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Machaela, Year 5

I started off in the “bottom group for maths in Year 3, but I've made a lot of progress and now I've managed with a lot of support and help to get into the top group in Year 6.

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Junior School at a glance

Curriculum

The teachers at BMS are really kind, “caring and fun. They help children

Indiana, Year 6

We also offer a wide variety of educational trips to enhance the students' understanding of the subjects they are studying as well as the world around them. We offer trips to places such as Kentwell Hall and the Black Country museum, as well as residential trips, which continue to develop the children outside of the classroom.

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Temilade, Year 3

difficulties in their lessons. Pupils speak warmly of how much time teachers give up during lunchtimes and after classes for individual or group help Independent Schools Inspectorate

My favourite thing “about being a monitor for the Junior School is definitely interacting with the students.

Alongside this is the wide range of fun activities that are available to participate in, especially the charity afternoon!

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If something is too easy, the teachers make it harder, but if it's too hard they help make it easier.

Subject teachers give excellent “support to pupils who have

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Student Support

We are committed to ensuring that all students fulfill their academic potential.

Naturally, this means that some require extra academic support in light of any educational provision they would benefit from. The school has its own specialist Academic Support department, which works with students requiring extra support and guidance. In addition, we also believe that our most academically able students should receive specific, targeted opportunities to ensure that they are stretched and challenged. We identify those in a variety of different ways and then offer specific focus and opportunities to encourage them to excel. We also have Sixth Form monitors in place, who engage with and encourage the Junior School students to seize all opportunities available to them.

Corinne, Year 12

Co-curricular Students who participate in co-curricular activities develop higher academic results, better relationships at school, and are more likely to lead healthy, active lifestyles when they leave school. Students also feel a greater sense of belonging and have a higher self esteem at school when they participate in structured sporting, performing arts and other activities.

As well as offering an extended wrap around care service, with provision from 7:30am until 6:00pm (food available to purchase at breakfast - after school care is £4.00 per session from 4.30pm), we also offer an extensive list of after school clubs. These range from tennis to choir to scrapbooking and many more, so there really is something for everyone! All clubs, apart from ski club, are free of charge and usually run until 5pm.

The clubs here come in all shapes and sizes and if you commit to a club you can learn so much!

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Flynn, Year 5

curriculum is enhanced by an extensive programme of academic enrichment activities, “forThe instance, subject-specific clubs, competitions, trips out of school, year group enrichment days

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and guest speakers.

Independent Schools Inspectorate

Our daughter Jess, joined BMS in Year 3. Not only has she flourished “ academically, but she has immersed herself in numerous extra-curricular

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activities, from sports to speech and drama. The most notable progress has been in her self-confidence, which continues to bloom.

Parent of Year 4 student

Moving on Transition to senior school

Year 6 students will have a move-up day on 21 June 2017. The day includes all our current Year 6 students and those joining us from other schools. The day provides an opportunity for all of our new Year 7 students to mix and spend time with their forms taking part in a 'normal' Year 7 timetable.

Choosing Bedford Modern “School for our children was a very easy decision to make. We were especially excited about the Move Up Day. Joining such a large school can be daunting, but the staff and existing pupils were very welcoming.

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Parent of Year 4 student

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The older you get in the Junior School the more independent you become.

“Along the way teachers encourage you to be polite and to get stuck in Alex, Year 6

Junior School at a glance

Junior School at a glance family. All the staff know and understand Jake and they provide him with the encouragement, support and recognition that makes him more inspired to learn and perform at his best. The two way communication with the school and staff mean as parents we are engaged with all aspects of Jake’s life at BMS.

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Parent of Year 6 student

bedmod.co.uk Manton Lane, Bedford MK41 7NT tel: +44 (0) 1234 332500 fax: +44 (0) 1234 332550 email: info@bedmod.co.uk /BedfordModernSchool @bedfordmodern

Find further information regarding travel and fees at

bedmod.co.uk In their report, published in January 2014, the Independent Schools Inspectorate rated Bedford Modern School as excellent in all categories. Throughout this document we have used quotes taken directly from the report: bedmod.co.uk/the-school

Bedford Modern School is part of the Harpur Trust: a company limited by guarantee Registered in England: Company Number: 3475202 Registered Office: Pilgrim Centre, Brickhill Drive, Bedford, MK41 7PZ Registered Charity Number: 1066861 If you require this information in an alternative format, please contact externalrelations@bedmod.co.uk

Key Dates Deadline for registration

02 December 2016 Years 3-6 Computerised Testing

16-18 January 2017 Years 3-6 Assessments

21 January 2017

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The parents' forum, initiated by the Junior School Leadership, gives them a constructive voice in the school.

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BMS has become like a second “home and the staff like a second

Independent Schools Inspectorate