Your guide to Freemen's

FAQs: Junior School

What does a typical timetable look like for children in Year 3 to Year 6 and what subjects are taught?

In Years 3 to 6, we teach a broad, balanced, creative and challenging curriculum so that every child is motivated to reach their potential. We teach the full range of National Curriculum subjects:

• English

• Mathematics

• Science

• ICT

• Geography

• History

• Religious Education

• Art, Design and Technology

• Music

• PE

• PSHE

Pupils are taught by form staff for most subjects, receiving specialist teaching in areas such as PE, Modern Foreign Languages, Music (with an emphasis on practical music-making) and Religious Education. Most lessons take place in form rooms but pupils also have use of our specialist areas including the Junior Science Lab, Art Room, Design and Technology Room, Food Technology Kitchen and the STEM Room.

What are the class sized and how large is the year group?

The class sizes on average are 20-21 children per class. There are three classes in Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 taking each year group to a maximum of 60 pupils. There is an approximate gender split across the classes and the year group as a whole.

Which schools do pupils come from when they join Freemen’s?

Our pupils join us from a large selection of schools, some more locally and some from further afield. A child’s current school has no bearing on their application and places are offered purely on merit. Approximately one-third of children will come via the state sector route and the remaining two-thirds from the independent sector. These figures are true across all year groups in the Junior and Senior School.

Which sports are taught to children in Year 3 to Year 6?

Children enjoy Physical Education and Games lessons for a minimum of three hours per week, which includes co-educational swimming, and physical skill-development as part of the PE programme. The Games programme includes football, rugby and cricket for boys and netball, hockey and cricket for girls. Additional sports practices are available often running as before school, lunch, or after school clubs. Pupils will begin to participate in a small number of sports fixtures in Year 3, increasing in number as they progress through the Junior School. The Director of Sport is expanding the diversity of sports on offer to both boys and girls, with all

co-curricular sporting opportunities available to boys and girls. We aim to give pupils a passion to be physically active for life and 100% of pupils in Year 3 to Year 6 have represented the School in fixtures this academic year.

Are the children set in any subjects in Year 3 to Year 6?

The only setting that takes place in Years 3 to 6 is for Maths, and that is only towards the end of the Key Stage (usually in Year 6), depending on the needs of the particular cohort.

What time does the school day start and finish?

The school day commences at 8.30am with registration between 8.35am to 8.45am. Children are permitted to arrive at school anytime from 8.00am and can play in the play area near the Junior School. The school day ends at 4.00pm and later at approximately 5.30pm if the children have a sports squad or after school activity.

Is there a Homework Club?

Homework Club is available in the Junior School library until 6.00pm for a nominal charge. Children can bring a snack with them to eat in Homework Club or there are snacks available for a small fee. These fees are charged to your child’s school fees account.

What co-curricular activities are there?

There are lots of different clubs and activities for all year groups in the Junior School. They are predominantly during the day during the lunchtime break, with a few available after school. All activities are booked using SOCS, which can be found using our Parent Portal.

Do you offer instrumental lessons?

The ability to play a musical instrument is particularly encouraged within the school. Although never easy, it can be one of the most rewarding studies with which a pupil can enrich their school career. Learning an instrument allows pupils to express themselves and grow in self-confidence whilst developing other skills such as hand and eye co-ordination, spatial and social skills, and self-reliance.

Instruction is given on an individual basis by a group of 17 qualified, specialist teachers who are all experts in their own particular field. All instrumental lessons take place during academic lessons, lunch and break periods, working on a system of rotation. Only members of the Sixth Form have lessons fixed in free periods.

Lessons can be booked through our Music School directly. If your child has never played a musical instrument before, during the early part of the autumn term, pupils are encouraged to attend an instrumental fair hosted in the Music School, to try out some musical instruments. Music is of course part of every child’s curriculum up until the end of Year 9.

Are there any school choirs and music bands or orchestras?

• Jubilee Choir - for children in Years 3 and 4

• Phoenix Choir - for children in Years 5 and 6

There are various instrumental groups for children including Strings, Brass and Jazz Ensembles.

What drama opportunities are there?

Drama forms part of the Enrichment afternoon in some year groups. In addition, there are performance opportunities throughout the Junior School, in class assemblies, our Christmas Carol services, plays and various concerts (including ‘at home’ and ‘extravanganza’ performances).

What languages will they study?

Pupils in the Junior school will try a number of different languages as they go up through the school: Italian, Arabic, Quecha (a pre-Colombian Amerindian language), French, Russian, Japanese, German, Latin, Spanish and Mandarin.

How do you help the children settle in when they join the School?

We welcome a maximum of 60 new children into Year 3 each year and occasionally a small number of children into Years 4, 5 and 6 if spaces become available. If a pupil joins us in a year that is not a main intake year, we will carefully select a buddy for each new pupil joining, based on the interests they revealed during their interview with us on assessment day. We aim to select buddies on the basis that they have similar interests so that they will have something in common with each other.

Their buddies will be in their class and will help them to settle into life at Freemen’s by looking after them, showing them around the school and introducing them to new friends. We will also provide new parents with the contact details of the Year Group Parent Representative who can assist with useful information and details of social events for both children and parents.

How are the pupils looked after pastorally?

In the Junior School there is an air of purpose, and a warm relationship between the children and adults. This is what most strikes our visitors. It is this harmonious atmosphere that feeds into our belief that if children are happy and confident, they will learn happily and confidently, and ultimately make a success of themselves and develop into a fully-rounded person. The pupils in the Junior School are happy but they are also articulate, engaging, courteous, caring individuals who are developing their self-confidence.

The wellbeing of all our pupils at Freemen’s is paramount and the main ethos in the Junior School is ‘Kindness, Honesty and Fun’. We encourage an open dialogue between parents and the school. If there were ever any worries or concerns, no matter how small they may appear to be, we would encourage parents to talk to us so that we can assist in any way possible.

Pupils should also feel that they can approach any of the teaching staff if they have a problem, and their form teacher is always on hand to listen and offer guidance and support. Common peer group pressures are discussed in PSHE lessons and assemblies in which children are able to explore and contemplate various outcomes of life choices, and appropriate guidance can be given.

The wellbeing of our pupils continues wholeheartedly into the Senior School, where our young emerging adults move into smaller and more intimate house-based tutor groups (normally 11-12 pupils) for registration and PSHE classes. In these classes, various issues can be discussed more openly and comfortably. Both the torm tutor and a pupil’s peers can give support and advice. There is also a programme of speakers addressing the challenges of growing up.

Year 3 Sample Timetable

FAQs: Lower Senior School (Year 7)

What does a typical timetable look like for children in Year 7 and what subjects are taught?

Year 7 is a demanding step up from the form teacher-led atmosphere of Key Stage 2. Pupils continue to be guided pastorally by a form teacher but are taught by subject specialists. Many lessons take place in our specialist areas (e.g. Science, Art, Design and Technology) and children therefore move around the Senior School facilities a great deal. Consequently self-discipline, self-motivation and a high degree of organisation are encouraged. Pupils experience a broad, balanced and challenging curriculum so that every child is motivated to reach his or her potential and these include:

• Art, Design and Technology

• Biology

• Chemistry

• Drama

• English

• Food Technology

What languages will they study?

• Geography

• History

• ICT

• Latin

• Mathematics

• Modern Foreign Language

• Music

• PE

• Physics

• PSHE

• Religious Education

Pupils in Year 7 will study three languages for one hour a week each and can choose from: French, Spanish, German, Latin and Mandarin. Pupils in Year 8 will make a choice and drop one language from the three and continue with their chosen languages up to at least Year 9.

What are the class sizes?

The class sizes on average are 20-22 children per class. There is an approximate 50/50 gender split across the classes and the year group as a whole.

Which schools do pupils come from when they join Freemen’s?

Our pupils join us from a large selection of schools, some more locally and some from further afield. A child’s current school has no bearing on their application and places are offered purely on merit. Approximately one-third of children will come via the maintained sector route and the remaining two-thirds from the independent sector. These figures are true across all year groups in the Junior and Senior School.

What sports are taught to children in Year 7?

In Year 7 pupils take part in one hour of PE a week which is taught co-educationally. In these lessons pupils develop skills in a wide variety of activities including swimming, badminton, wellbeing, football, hockey, athletics, basketball and netball, whilst also developing their character strengths such as leadership. Games is taught on a Monday afternoon, with boys focussing on rugby and football, and girls on hockey and netball in the autumn and spring terms. In the summer term all pupils have access to cricket, tennis and athletics. Sport practices take place after school and pupils will also have the opportunity of taking part in Saturday fixtures. There are a number of additional sporting co-curricular activities running at a lunchtime as well as a pre-school swim squad once a week. The Director of Sport is expanding the diversity of sports on offer within the programme for both boys and girls, such as offering girls’ football and cricket, and boys’ hockey. The department aims to make pupils physically active for life. Every pupil in the School is physically active at least twice a week, either through the Games or PE programme and every pupil in Year 7 has represented the School in fixtures in this academic year.

Are the children put into sets in any subjects in Year 7?

The year group is mixed for Games, PE, Enrichment, Modern Foreign Languages, Desgin Technology and Food Technology. Pupils work in form groups for all other subjects; there is no formalised setting in Year 7.

What time does the School day start and finish and is there a homework club?

The school day commences at 8.30am with registration between 8.35am to 8.45am. Children are permitted to arrive at school anytime from 8.00am. The school day ends at 4.00pm and later at approximately 5.30pm if the children have a sports squad or activity. There is a Homework Club available in the Haywood Centre until 6.00pm for a nominal charge. Children can bring a snack with them to eat in Homework Club or there are snacks available for a small fee. These fees are charged to your child’s school fees account.

Do you offer instrumental lessons?

The ability to play a musical instrument is particularly encouraged within the school. Although never easy, it can be one of the most rewarding studies with which a pupil can enrich their school career. Learning an instrument allows pupils to express themselves and grow in self-confidence whilst developing other skills such as hand and eye co-ordination, spatial and social skills, and self-reliance.

Instruction is given on an individual basis by a group of 17 qualified, specialist teachers who are all experts in their own particular field. All instrumental lessons take place during academic lessons, lunch and break periods, working on a system of rotation. Only members of the Sixth Form have lessons fixed in free periods. Lessons can be booked through our Music School directly. If your child has never played a musical instrument before, during the early part of the autumn term, pupils are encouraged to attend an instrumental fair hosted in the Music School, to try out some musical instruments. Music is of course part of every child’s curriculum up until the end of Year 9.

Are there any School choirs and music bands or orchestras?

There are numerous choirs and instrumental groups for children including Orchestra, Brass and Jazz Ensembles.

What drama opportunities are there?

The school supports the development of a child’s personal and academic growth at Freemen’s in and through drama. Pupils have timetabled drama lessons. Drama is used to support and explore creativity, imagination, confidence and language skills and we have confidence that when children engage in these drama activities they become increasingly aware of the use of language, both socially and academically, furthering their social and emotional development. In Year 7, pupils are able to get involved in a range of different activities surrounding drama and performance, including the opportunity to be involved in the Senior School musical (which generally takes place every other year). Pupils can enjoy drama as part of their enrichment afternoon, participating in workshops which allow them to nurture their dramatic form. In the summer of Year 7 we begin to rehearse our annual contribution to the Shakespeare Schools’ Festival, which performance takes place in the

November of Year 8. Children audition for acting parts, but also volunteer to help with backstage, costumes, make-up and marketing. Every child that wants to be involved can do so.

How do you integrate new children?

We welcome the children into the Freemen’s community during the months before they start at the school. We carefully select a buddy for each new pupil, based on the interests they revealed during their interview with us on assessment day. We aim to select buddies on the basis that they have similar interests so that they will have something in common with each other. A buddy profile will be sent to each new pupil through which they introduce themselves, welcoming them and telling them about their hobbies and interests. With the permission of both parents, we encourage them to become e-pals, so they can begin communicating with each other by email during the summer term. This has proved to be very successful and, in some cases, children have met over the summer holidays and got to know each other a little better.

Towards the end of the summer term, we invite all of the new children to join the existing Freemen’s children for a BBQ on induction day so that they can meet and chat informally. Our parent association, the FSA, usually organises a picnic at School for Year 7 parents and children at the end of the summer holidays. At about the same time the children attend Freemen’s for pre-season sport before term officially starts.

Our current pupils, moving into Year 7, are all mixed up once again in their form classes when they start back at the beginning of term, and all new pupils are equally split across the five Year 7 classes. Their buddies will be in their class and will help them to settle into life at Freemen’s. Within a few days of the Autumn term, the whole of Year 7 will head to a local PGL centre for a team-building day.

What opportunities are there for positions of responsibility?

We encourage pupils to be positive role models for the younger members of the school, and through this they grow in confidence by taking on responsibilities and being ambassadors for Freemen’s. Self-discipline, self-motivation and a high degree of organisation are increasingly important.

How are the pupils looked after pastorally?

At Freemen’s there is an air of purpose, and a warm relationship between the children and adults. This is what most strikes our visitors. It is this harmonious atmosphere that feeds into our belief that if children are happy and confident, they will learn happily and confidently, and ultimately make a success of themselves and develop into a fully-rounded person. The pupils are happy but they are also articulate, engaging, courteous, caring individuals who are developing their self-confidence.

The wellbeing of all our pupils at Freemen’s is paramount. We encourage an open dialogue between parents and the school. If there were ever any worries or concerns, no matter how small they may appear to be, we would encourage parents to talk to us so that we can assist in any way possible. Pupils should also feel that they can approach any of the teaching staff if they have a problem, and their Form tutor is always on hand to listen and offer guidance and support. Furthermore the children are encouraged to talk to their Head of Year, Chaplain, Counsellor, Nurses and Sixth Form Prefects. Common peer group pressures are discussed in PSHE lessons and assemblies in which children are able explore and contemplate various outcomes of life choices, and appropriate guidance can be given.

The wellbeing of our pupils continues wholeheartedly as they move up through the Sschool, where our young emerging adults move into house-based tutor groups for registration and PSHE classes. In these classes, various issues can be discussed more openly and comfortably. Both the form tutor and a pupil’s peers can give support and advice. There is also a programme of speakers addressing the challenges of growing up.

Year 7 Sample Timetable

FAQs: Lower Senior School (Year 9)

What does a typical timetable look like for children in Year 9 and what subjects are taught?

Year 9 provides pupils with broad curriculum coverage, which allows pupils to make informed and sensible decisions about the available options for the following year. Linked to National Curriculum guidelines, the ‘core’ subjects include English, Mathematics and the Sciences. The three Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics) are taught separately by subject specialists in a balanced science programme, which treats each subject equally. A Modern Foreign Language, French, German or Spanish, is the other main examinable compulsory element.

The core subjects are Biology, Chemistry, English, French, German or Spanish, Mathematics and Physics. Pupils also study the following throughout the year:

• Art and Design

• French

• German

• Latin or Spanish (as a Second Foreign Language)

• Games afternoon

• Geography

• History

• Physical Education (every second week)

• Religious Education

• Drama

• Music

Subjects taught in smaller groups on a carousel basis: Design and Technology, Food Technology, Computing.

Personal, Social and Health Education

PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) is taught throughout the year. Tutors cover various topics including: self-discipline and decision making, study skills, self-awareness and awareness of others, becoming a teenager, drugs and alcohol awareness, review of anti-smoking material, awareness of the disabled and the elderly as well as law and order issues. In addition visiting speakers are invited to address the pupils. As part of the PSHE programme, each form group familiarises themselves with the resources of the careers room and discusses GCSE option choices. Six topics in PSHE are covered each year: Mental Health Awareness, Relationships, Alcohol and Drugs, Living in the Wider World, Diversity and Prejudice, Health.

What are the class sizes and how large is the year group?

This year our core subject class size is 20 children per class, with tutor groups being house-based enabling each tutor to get to know and support each student closely. Optional subjects can have fewer students in the class, depending on how many choose the subject. There are five classes with approximately a total of 110 pupils in the year group. There is an approximate 50/50 gender split across the classes and the year group as a whole.

What sports are taught to children in Year 9?

‘Sport for all’ is a key philosophy and we involve as many pupils as possible in competitive fixtures, whilst encouraging individuals and teams to achieve success at county, regional and national level. High standards are set for the numerous competitive teams, with an extensive programme of fixtures at all levels and for all ages. In PE, pupils develop skills in various activities.

We want pupils to have a passion for physical activity so they participate in physical activity long after leaving Freemen’s. Around 90% of all pupils played in formalised fixtures in 2019-2020, including 100% of Junior School pupils. The vast majority of our pupils are physically active three or more times a week and every pupil in the school is physically active at least once a week.

All Year 9 pupils have a choice of pathway in their Games programme and can choose to do team sports or individual sports. With the focus team sports being rugby/hockey in the autumn term, football/netball in the spring term and cricket in the summer term. Individual sports are seasonal but can include squash, badminton, tennis, athletics, fitness, pilates and swimming. Some sport squads will take place after school and they will also have the opportunity of taking part in fixtures on Saturdays. Additional co-curricular activities such as cross country, athletics, squash and fencing are also available.

Are the children put into sets in any subjects in Year 9?

In Year 9, there is setting in Mathematics, French and Science. Setting continues in the core GCSE subjects throughout Year 10 and Year 11 but it should be emphasised that by attending Freemen’s the great majority of pupils achieve ten good GCSE grades whatever set they are placed in (pupils are not in sets for Humanities).

What time does the school day start and finish and is there a homework club?

The school day commences at 8.30am with registration between 8.35am to 8.45am. Children are permitted to arrive at achool anytime from 8.00am. The achool day ends at 4.00pm after which there is a wide ranging programme of Co-curricular activities and sports training squads. There is a Homework Club available in the Senior ICT Suite in the Haywood Centre until 6.00pm for a nominal charge of £2.00 per hour. Children can bring a snack with them to eat in Homework Hlub or there are snacks available for a small fee. These fees are charged to your child’s school fees account.

Do you offer instrumental lessons?

The ability to play a musical instrument is particularly encouraged within the school as it can be one of the most rewarding studies with which a child can enrich their school career. There is increasing evidence to suggest that children learning an instrument perform better in academic subjects. Learning an instrument allows pupils to express themselves and grow in self-confidence whilst developing other skills such as hand and eye co-ordination, spatial and social skills, and self-reliance. Instruction is given on an individual basis by a group of 17 qualified, specialist teachers who are all experts in their own particular field. All instrumental lessons take place during academic lessons, lunch and break periods, working on a system of rotation. Only members of the Sixth Form have lessons fixed in free periods. Lessons can be booked through our Music School. If your child has never played a musical instrument before, during the early part of the autumn term, pupils are encouraged to attend the Instrumental Fair hosted by the Music School, to try out some musical instruments. Music is of course part of every child’s curriculum up until the end of Year 9.

Are there any school choirs and music bands or orchestras?

The main Senior Choir, Camerata, regularly performs major choral works while the Polyphony group sings madrigals, anthems and choral music of a smaller scale. The repertoire of the Senior Orchestra ranges from symphonies by Haydn and Beethoven, to pieces as varied as the film music by James Horner, and Frank Sinatra medleys. Advanced pupils in the Sixth Form are frequently invited to play major concertos with the Senior Orchestra.

What Drama opportunities are there?

All courses are taught by Drama specialists and the department also has a full time theatre technician, allowing us to teach to the highest technical standards - including tuition in the latest computer aided lighting design software. The department has a national and international reputation for the standard of the work produced at the School. This has meant that in addition to nine Edinburgh Fringe Festival productions over the last 12 years we have also been invited to create bespoke pieces of theatre for the international symposium of the Consumer Goods Forum; performing to over 1,500 Chief Executives of the international retail industry at the QEII Centre and also for Barilla’s conference on ‘Food in a Sustainable Future’ in Milan in 2010. In recent years, we have won awards for best performance at the Leatherhead theatre, for our original production of Persephone, and continue to engage with outreach by linking with other schools and industry.

A Senior School show takes places each year, whether this be a play or musical and pupils are encouraged to audition. There are also House drama competitions and year group plays to get involved with. Students are encouraged to write, perform, direct and support all aspects of theatre and all interests are nurtured by subject specialists in this area. In 2021 a cast of Year 9 students performed an open-air production of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and more recently we have staged Jim Cartwright’s Road and Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, both in the Ferndale Theatre.

How do you integrate new children?

We begin integrating the children into the Freemen’s community during the months before they start at the school. We carefully select a buddy for each new pupil, based on the interests they revealed during their interview with us on assessment day. Buddies will be selected on the basis that they have similar interests so that they will have something in common with each other.

A buddy profile will be sent to each new pupil where the introducing themselves, welcoming them and telling them about their hobbies and interests. With the permission of both parents, we encourage them to become e-pals, where they can begin communicating with each other by email during the summer term. This has proved to be very successful and in some cases, children have met over the summer holidays and got to know each other a little better.

Our parent association, the FSA, usually organise a picnic at School for Year 9 parents and children, at the same time the children attend for pre-season sport at the end of the summer holidays.

When our current pupils make the transition from Year 8 to Year 9, students are mixed up once again in their form classes at the beginning of the Autumn Term, and all new pupils are equally split across the small form classes. New pupils’ buddies will be in their class and will help them to settle into life at Freemen’s. Within a few days of the Autumn Term, the whole of Year 9 will head to a PGL centre for a team-building weekend.

How are the pupils looked after pastorally?

In the Senior School there is an air of purpose, and a warm relationship between the children and adults. There is a harmonious atmosphere that feeds into our belief that if children are happy and confident, they will learn happily and confidently, and ultimately make a success of themselves and develop into a fully-rounded person.

The wellbeing of all our pupils at Freemen’s is paramount. We encourage an open dialogue between parents and the school. If there were ever any worries or concerns, no matter how small they may appear to be, we would encourage parents to talk to us so that we can assist in any way possible. Pupils should also feel that they can approach any of the teaching staff if they have a problem, and their Form tutor is always on hand to listen and offer guidance and support. Common peer group pressures are discussed in PSHE lessons and assemblies where children are able explore and contemplate various outcomes of life choices and appropriate guidance can be given.

The wellbeing of our young emerging adults feeling supported in house-based tutor groups for their registration and PSHE classes. In these classes, various issues can be discussed more openly and comfortably. Both the Form Tutor and a pupil’s peers can give support and advice. There is also a programme of speakers addressing the challenges of growing up. In Enrichment they also study a wellbeing programme to support them, including emotional literacy, yoga, mindfulness and understanding anxiety.

What support can be offered to a pupil if needed?

At Freemen’s, our aim is to promote the well-being and learning potential of every pupil. We recognise that children learn at different rates and will have individual needs and the Learning Support Department offers support to develop student’s skills in order for them to learn effectively. The Department works with students, parents and members of staff to ensure we provide the best learning environment possible.

Support is offered for pupils after consultation with parents and members of the teaching and pastoral staff. The support is offered in an unobtrusive way to help pupils address any areas of challenge they face. The Learning Support Department offers support for developing good study habits including:

• Essay planning, writing skills

• Proof-reading skills

• Comprehension

• Organisation

• Memory skills

• Identification of learning styles

A full version of the SEND Policy is available on request.

What are the GCSE and A level results for the last few years?

• Revision skills

• Exam preparation

• Managing exam anxiety

Please see pages 19-21 of this booklet for our latest GCSE and A Level results, and university destinations of our most recent Sixth Form graduates.

Year 9 Sample Timetable

“As well as these impressive results, it is also worth noting that our students continue to flourish outside the classroom in music and drama, as well as achieving success as part of our sports teams and regularly volunteering within the local community, not to mention all that they have accomplished in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and CCF, which cannot be reflected in exam grades.” Roland Martin, Headmaster

“These GCSE results are very impressive, particularly given how much their education has been impacted since the pandemic, and our students, staff and parents should rightly be proud of them. We are delighted that 38% of the grades awarded were awarded the top grade of A* or 9. I am delighted that pupils at Freemen’s have done so well, though am also mindful that the GCSE system as it stands currently does not do what it should to allow all young people to feel positively about their experience in education; we should all acknowledge how fortunate we are here.”

Roland Martin, Headmaster

84% 7, 8, 9s

A*

66% 8 - 9s

38% 9s 66% of grades achieved were

8s or 9s

A*,

A, 7, 8 or 9s

26% ten or more 8 - 9s

A*,

19 WWW.FREEMENS.ORG

A Level Results and Destinations

“We should like to extend heartfelt congratulations to our students who have demonstrated such a commitment to their studies; they are a true credit to themselves and to the School. The one thing of which I am certain, even amidst the uncertainty of the last few years, is that both students and staff at Freemen’s have worked consistently hard to try to ensure the best outcomes possible.”

Roland Martin, Headmaster

students achieved all A* grades

students achieved all A* and A grades

Destinations

93% placed at university of choice

64% received an offer at a Russell Group university

46% accepted to study a STEM subject degree

2 students have been accepted to study at Oxbridge

9 students have been accepted to study Medical related degrees

4 students have been accepted to study Aerospace and Aeronautical degrees

Most popular universities of 2023 Sixth Form graduates

Co-curricular

We want pupils at Freemen’s to learn, to lead and to make a difference, and this phrase from our mission statement is embodied in our wide and varied Co-curricular Programme.

Co-curricular activities are available to all pupils in the School from Year 3 (Form 1) to Year 13 (Upper 6). There is no minimum, maximum or ideal number of activities for pupils; each individual is encouraged to develop interests, stretch their understanding and challenge themselves at a rate that is right for them.

There are around 170 different activities on offer each week at Freemen’s including sports team training sessions, ‘beyond the classroom’ academic enrichment, drama productions, music group rehearsals and opportunities to learn and develop new skills such as ballet, debating, fencing, sketching, baking and Minecraft.

Many of the activities also offer leadership opportunities, where pupils in the Senior School and Sixth Form will assist younger pupils in the School. Some clubs, such as Comic and Digital Art and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are run by older pupils, under light staff supervision, for the benefit of their peers or younger pupils. Leadership of a school activity provides excellent evidence for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and many pupils work towards the Student Leader Accreditation Awards.

Freemen’s pupils are encouraged to make a difference in our own school community as well as the local community. On site, the Eco Group works across all areas of the school to ensure we respect and protect our environment as best we can. The Combined Cadet Force (CCF), along with the CCF Marching Band contribute to many whole school events and our peer mentors and well-being prefects meet regularly to support members of the school community. Our Enrichment programme takes place during curriculum time and enables pupils to make a difference in the wider community. Enrichment activities include visits to local care homes, helping children in the local primary school with reading, tea parties for the elderly and growing produce in our own Bothy garden.

Activities will change from time to time, dependent on staff availability and student interest, but the following pages show some of the activities that may be on offer in a typical Freemen’s week.

Learn and Improve

Bridge Club

From beginners to competitive players.

Junior Tennis Competitive Rally Players

Rally training for players in Year 3 and Year 4.

Baking Club

Learning the skills and science behind baking.

Batchelor Society

Discussions on hot topics.

Biological Sciences Group

Extension topics in biology; videos and talks.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Run by Sixth Form pupils.

Claremont Cooking Club

A variety of cookery styles and cuisines.

Comic and Digital Art Club

Pupil-led club building skills in digital art.

Debating Society

Practice research and public speaking skills.

French Club

Developing language skills.

German Club

Developing language skills.

Junior Art Club

Art beyond the classroom.

Junior Chess Club

Ranging from beginners to the fiercely competitive.

Model United Nations

Preparing and debating on an international scale, with opportunities in a national competition.

Modern Languages Book Club

Preparation and discussion of important non-English texts.

Political Film Club

For Senior School pupils, an opportunity to explore political issues highlighted in film.

Running Club

Improve techniques and times.

Scriptwriting Club

Opportunity to develop and perform drama scripts.

“The pupils’ achievements are supported by an extensive co-curricular programme. Pupils are encouraged to take all opportunities offered to develop their interests and discover their passions and talents.” ISI Report, November 2022

Co-curricular

Leadership Activities

Running Club Leaders

Train young runners in technique and assist in race timings.

Bridge Club Leaders

Organising and coaching younger pupils in the skills of bridge and mini-bridge.

Junior Orchestral Groups Leaders

Coaching younger pupils, and opportunities for musical directing and conducting.

Sketchbook Club Leaders

Coaching sketching.

Sports Leaders

Coaching younger pupils.

Student Leader Accreditation

A nationally recognised certificate in leadership.

Drama Activities

Upper 4 Drama Society

For Year 9 pupils interested in performing, directing or back stage crew.

Edinburgh Festival Rehearsals

Available to Senior School pupils preparing for the performance at the Edinburgh Festival.

Lower 2 Play

Rehearsals for cast and crew of the Year 4 play.

School Musical

Rehearsals for the cast and crew of the whole school musical.

Musical Theatre Club

A range of song and dance styles.

Shakespeare Schools’ Festival

An opportunity for all pupils in Year 8 to perform as part of the Shakespeare Schools’ Festival.

Music Activities

Buskers

The Freemen’s Function Band

CCF Marching Band

This is a wind band that will rehearse regularly to march with the CCF on special occasions.

Freemen’s St Giles Choristers

Singers from the Junior School who perform with the church choir at St Giles’ Church.

Music Groups

Junior Chamber Music Groups, Junior Orchestra, Mini Buskers, Buskers, Polyphony, Senior School Choir, Senior Chamber Music Groups, Senior Orchestra, Year 5–6 Choir, Year 7–8 Choir.

Sports Activities

Squash

Ranging from beginners to team players, with opportunities for fixtures.

Fencing Epee, Foil and Sabre.

Popular Sports

Football, Netball, Rugby, Swimming, Hockey, Indoor Hockey, Basketball.

The majority of our clubs are free of charge, but where external providers have been engaged, or when equipment or ingredients are required, a charge may be added to your termly invoice.

Sport at Freemen’s

We put pupils first in order to achieve our objective of making them better people who participate in physical activity for life. In order to do this we follow the 5 Ps outlined below.

1 Pupils: We treat each pupil as an individual and give them the opportunity to forge their own path of physical activity to suit them. To do this we ensure our programme is broad, to enable pupils to try numerous sports, and give our pupils a choice of activity in Games for their latter years at the school, making our programme more relevant to each of our pupils.

2 People: Physical activity can make pupils better people. A recent HMC study highlighted that physical activity has a positive correlation with mental toughness and well-being. These alongside numerous other psychological and sociological benefits are the underpinning reasons for physical activity in school. In PE lessons, we look to teach beyond physical literacy and sporting skills, and focus on other key life skills such as leadership, resilience, creativity, honesty, self-organisation and kindness.

3 Participation: We want pupils to have a passion for physical activity so they participate in physical activity long after leaving Freemen’s. Around 90% of all pupils played in formalised fixtures in 2019-20, including 100% of Junior School pupils. The vast majority of our pupils are physically active three or more times a week and every pupil in the school is physically active at least once a week.

4 Progression: Each and every time a pupil takes part in Physical Activity they should be progressing. Some of this progression lower down the school may be through deliberate play. We aim to make each pupil the best they can be, whilst ensuring that each team can achieve their collective potential. In PE we aim to be progressive, by teaching key skills within a variety of activities to develop physical literacy and pupil competency in that specific activity, whilst building a passion and confidence in physical activity.

5 Performance: Performance in a sports programme is important, but winning is not necessarily the priority. We believe in teaching via processes and, if the processes leading to the competition are correct, the score ultimately takes care of itself. Even for high performers the emphasis is on having fun, whilst progressing towards individual and team goals. We have launched a Performance Programme in the Senior School for those who represent their county or beyond, in order to develop them as sportspeople. Performance in teams can also be important, and we aim to develop this through high level coaching and mentoring, including video analysis.

What sports do pupils play at Freemen’s?

Year 3 – Year 6

In addition to the sports listed below which pupils will play regular fixtures in, all pupils in Year 3 and Year 4 have practices in which they sample rugby, football, hockey and netball. In Year 6, pupils can also try boys’ hockey and girls’ touch rugby.

Autumn Term Boys - football / rugby Girls - hockey / netball

Year 7 – Year 10

Spring Term Boys - rugby / football Girls - netball / hockey

Summer Term

All pupils play cricket in Games afternoons and can join tennis and athletics co-curricular clubs.

In the autumn term rugby and hockey are the main sports played. Pupils train for these once a week after school and in Games, as well taking part in Saturday fixtures in these sports. The second named sports (football and netball) will be trained once a week after school. This will swap in the spring term when football and netball are played as the main sports for the term. In Year 7 and Year 8 pupils can also sample practices in boys’ hockey and girls’ touch rugby.

Year 11 – Year 13

Pupils in Year 11 - Year 13 are given the option of selecting from fourteen different activities in Games each term. There are competitive fixtures in fencing, football, hockey, netball, rugby, swimming and squash as well as tennis, athletics and cricket in the summer term. We also compete in fixtures for cross country, fencing, indoor hockey, rugby sevens, squash, and swimming throughout the school.

What do pupils do in PE?

• All pupils in Year 3 to Year 11 do PE once a week.

• In Year 3 and Year 4, pupils alternate between swimming and other activities, such as movement skills, ball skills, and athletics. As they move into Year 5 and Year 6 pupils work in four week blocks, covering similar activities to those covered in previous years.

• Higher up the school (Year 7 to Year 11) pupils continue to work in four week blocks of activity and cover nine different activities each year.

• Pupils also look at character strengths in all PE lessons in order to develop them as people.

How often do pupils swim?

• Year 3 and Year 4 pupils swim every week in PE. Year 5 and Year 6 pupils will swim in alternate weeks.

• In Year 7 and Year 8 they complete three 4 week blocks in the pool not only looking at swimming but personal survival and water polo. Pupils from Year 9 to Year 11 have one four week block in the pool.

• Outside of lessons the Year 3 and Year 4 pupils have one lunchtime co-curricular session a week, and from Year 5 pupils have two swim squad sessions a week before school.

Do pupils have to play Saturday sport?

• It is an expectation that pupils participate in Saturday sport from Year 7 upwards and we ask for 2 weeks’ notice if they cannot play.

• There are sometimes festivals for the pupils in Year 3 to Year 6 on Saturdays.

Do you have specialist coaching staff at Freemen’s?

• We have experienced teaching staff in the department who are all passionate practitioners across a number of sports. They are complimented by a variety of exceptional coaching staff including coaching staff from Josh Evans soccer school, National Premier League coaches and players in hockey, Surrey Netball coach Alison Bennett and Surrey cricket coach Neil Stewart.

Getting to Freemen’s

The School works in partnership with Zeelo to offer a carbon neutral bus service to Freemen’s. The service offers live vehicle tracking and 24/7 customer support.

Our current bus services

• A service that starts in Claygate and goes through Hinchley Wood, Esher and Cobham on its way to school, and back in the afternoon.

• A return coach service that runs from Ripley through East Horsley, Bookham and Fetcham.

• A return coach service that runs from Banstead and Kingswood through Tadworth and Tattenham Corner.

• A return coach service that runs from Epsom.

• A return minibus service that runs from Oxshott Village.

• A return minibus service that runs from Wimbledon.

• A return minibus service that runs from Carshalton.

In addition, we also offer a minibus from Ashtead train station in the morning and back to Ashtead train station in the evening, both straight after school and again after co-curricular clubs and sports squads have finished.

For more information on how to book and pricing details, please scan the QR code to the left or visit https://zeelo.co/rides/city-of-london-freemens

Getting to Freemen’s by car

We are less than 10 minutes away from Junction 9 of the M25, which makes reaching us by car very easy. We are also just off the main routes to Epsom and Leatherhead.

“A down-to-earth, friendly school that’s comfortable in its own skin rather than relentlessly trying to show off its most polished side – and is all the better for it. Just the ticket for parents after a high-quality, stress-free route for their academically bright sons and daughters from age 7 right through to 18. Almost unique around here.” The Good Schools Guide

“Older pupils offer support to the younger ones, mentoring academically and pastorally, to help build their confidence and skills. The school’s leaders have successfully embedded an ethos of respect, kindness and openness across the school.” ISI Report, November 2022

How to join Freemen’s

Our main entry points are Year 3, Year 7, Year 9 and Year 12, but if we have places we will consider applications for the other years.

How to apply

Complete the online registration form by visiting https://freemens.openapply.com. The deadline to apply is 1 October the year before you wish to join. There is a £200 non-refundable registration fee, which you can pay at the time you make your application.

Entrance assessments

The assessments will take place in November for children who want to join Year 7 and above and in December for anyone wanting to join Year 3 to Year 6.

We consider the following when deciding to offer a place:

• Written assessments in English, Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning

• A one-to-one interview, which allows us to find our more about your child’s personality and interests

• Small group activities for children applying to join Year 7 to Year 10

• A confidential report from your child’s current school.

Offers of places

Decision letters will be sent by email in mid-December. The time you have to accept your place will vary depending on which year group you apply for. Most will have until the end of January. Those applying for Year 7 will have until the first working weekday in March.

Taster events

We run taster events for anyone with offers sometime in January and February if you have not made up your mind. The children will enjoy some fun activities, while parents can talk to staff and get answers to any of those last minute questions.

Accepting your place

To accept your place, you will need to sign and return the acceptance form with the £2,000 deposit for day pupils and a full term’s fees for boarders. We send out the New Starters Pack with all the information you will need to join the school sometime after the Easter holidays.

Induction events

We hold induction for pupils and parents towards the end of the summer term. Children and young people will have the chance to meet their class or tutor group, as well as their teachers or tutors. Parents are invited to an evening reception to meet other parents and have talks from the relevant of Heads of School.

Contact our Admissions Team

If you have any questions, please contact our Admissions Team by emailing admissions@freemens.org. You can also call our Admissions Team on 01372 822 423

At Freemen's, we are on the look out for children and young people like you. Whether you are an ambitious explorer, a creative thinker or a passionate leader, we want you to be the best and the happiest you can be.