Fostering Curiosity

AYear 6 curriculum focused on delivering skills that are important for future success, with no formal SAT testing, fosters curiosity for the important journey into Key Stage 3 and beyond, says the Head of King’s Magna Middle School at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate (QE), Joseph Birchall.

“At QE, our mission is for all members of our community to aspire to the Hill Standard ‘To be the best that I can with the gifts that I have’. As Head of King’s Magna, the middle school of QE’s unique fourschool model, we harness this individuality through an innovative curriculum. This is a curriculum which supports the transition between the Collegiate’s primary education at Chapter House, our Preparatory school, and the demands of GCSEs and beyond in our two senior schools.”

“In a difference from the traditional school model where children stay in primary education until the end of Year 6, here at QE students join King’s Magna in Year 6, and stay with us until Year 9. We find many students are ready for a new challenge at the end of Year 5, so we made it our focus to develop a unique curriculum for this transitional year, with content designed in partnership between secondary school subject specialists and highly experienced primary age teachers.”

“Importantly, we have made a crucial decision not to assess our Year 6 students using SATS testing. Students are instead assessed formally at three points during the year using standardised and moderated “common evaluation tasks” - these are used to track progress and identify what each student can do and what they could do to improve further. This decision allows us to focus on delivering those skills that the students need to be successful in Key Stage 3 and beyond.”

“Our all-encompassing, holistic approach to developing the whole student, which is at the heart of everything we do here at QE, creates a supportive, vibrant and caring school environment throughout King’s Magna. We are committed to equipping our students with the skills and knowledge they need to move seamlessly to our College or Faculty at the end of Year 9, growing and maturing into their teenage years with confidence.”

The Details

To find out more about QE’s innovative curriculum visit qe.org for more information, where you can book on their next Whole School Open Day happening on 13 May 2023, or you You can meet the team from Queen Ethelburga’s at Independent Schools Show London on Tuesday, 23 May 2023