St Nicholas Prospectus

STRIVE TO BETTER AN INDEPENDENT CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY SCHOOL

a warm welcome to Saint Nicholas

Educating young people is a privileged opportunity and one that we take very seriously here at Saint Nicholas School. Whether the pupils are in the Pre-school or approaching their GCSE examinations, their personal and academic development is monitored closely and students are all equally valued.

For over 80 years, Saint Nicholas School has been providing an education for the whole child within its nurturing family atmosphere. We aim to ensure that pupils achieve their full potential both academically and in the wide range of activities available to them outside the classroom. To achieve this goal, Saint Nicholas School has a committed and dedicated staff who know the pupils well and children benefit from the smaller class sizes, which enhance their enjoyment of learning and their personal achievement. At the end of their time at the school, we want pupils to leave us as more confident and caring human beings, having successfully completed their GCSEs and prepared for the next phase of their lives.

For parents, choosing the right school for your son or daughter is one of the most important decisions that you will ever make. This prospectus can only give you a flavour of what life is like at Saint Nicholas School, so I would encourage you to visit us and experience the school for yourself, either on an Open Day or for a private tour on an ordinary school day. You will be assured of a warm welcome and I very much look forward to meeting you.

small enough to care, large enough to inspire

Saint Nicholas is a remarkable school which prides itself on enthusing, challenging and supporting every pupil to achieve their very best. Pursuing the highest standards in all that we do, Saint Nicholas aims to inspire active and curious learners who stretch themselves in all aspects of school life. Academic success is celebrated alongside personal development and at the heart of our school are happy confident young people with high aspirations, a strong moral compass and a determination to succeed.

Pupils work well together and feel both supported and encouraged by the highly qualified and dedicated teaching faculty. Small classes promote excellent relationships and enable our staff to quickly identify strengths and weaknesses and get to know their pupils as individuals. Our extensive curricular and extra-curricular activities are designed to ensure that Saint Nicholas pupils are not just numerate, literate and articulate but also develop the collaborative skills and emotional intelligence which are so important for their future success.

Located on a single site of fourteen acres, Saint Nicholas is divided into four constituent parts: The Pre-school (aged 2 ½ to 4), the Lower School (aged 4 to 10), the Middle School (aged 10 to 13) and the Upper School (aged 13 to 16). The school has superb facilities including a sports hall, swimming pool and theatre as well as extensive outdoor learning and playing areas.

SAINT

SAINT NICHOLAS SCHOOL

a sporting pedigree

At Saint Nicholas we ensure that every pupil has the opportunity to participate and excel in a range of sporting activities. Our ethos is one of participation and enjoyment within a context of physical challenge and competition. Sport plays an important role within the personal development of our pupils, promoting team work and selflessness and reinforcing values of determination and fair play.

The school’s fourteen acre site provides a wonderful setting for extensive facilities which include playing fields, a sports hall and swimming pool. We are fortunate to have a dedicated team of PE specialists providing the opportunity for every boy and girl at the school to reach their potential in a full range of sports including; rugby, football, netball, cricket, rounders, athletics, gymnastics and swimming.

Regular fixtures take place with other maintained and independent schools and excellent relationships with local sports clubs ensure that we are able to stretch and challenge our most able performers.

taking the stage

Promoting creativity and developing confidence, music and drama are key components of our curriculum. Throughout the school the emphasis is on active participation and enjoyment, helping pupils to develop confidence and self-esteem as well as an appreciation of the arts as a whole.

Taught by specialists across the school, music and drama can change the way pupils feel, think and act; stimulating personal expression, reflection and creativity.

At Saint Nicholas the theatre and music department are vibrant spaces and there are a wide range of opportunities throughout the year for pupils to perform. Alongside our own staff, visiting peripatetic music teachers contribute considerably to the extra-curricular programme and broaden the opportunities to study and practice music at the school.

SAINT NICHOLAS SCHOOL

SAINT NICHOLAS SCHOOL

creative thinking

At Saint Nicholas, there are many ways to demonstrate and enhance creativity, not least within art & 3D design, both of which are thriving within the school. Within an ethos where ‘having a go’ is promoted, pupils’ imaginations are unleashed through encouragement and opportunity. Accommodated within three specialist areas, pupils experiment using a large variety of resources and medium. There are exceptional talents within the school, producing work of high quality; equally there are the large numbers of children who simply love the creative subjects and the opportunities for expression that they afford.

SAINT NICHOLAS SCHOOL

pre-school

At Saint Nicholas education starts at 2 ½ years of age as pupils enter Little Saints, our Pre-school. From the first day onwards, our priority is to ensure that our pupils feel safe and secure: in short that they look forward to coming to school.

Learning is fun and engaging and our ‘Little Saints’ experience a balance of child and adultinitiated activities which promote learning through play. Each child has a ‘key person’ who is responsible for a small group of children and for developing an excellent partnership with parents. The outstanding pre-school staff have high aspirations for our children and ensure that individual learning goals are founded on the needs and abilities of each child.

Our dedicated outdoor learning spaces are a real strength of the pre-school experience. The outdoor classroom, muddy and eco areas allow children to drive their own learning and to develop their self-confidence in an environment which promotes challenge and discovery.

As part of Saint Nicholas, our pre-school pupils also make full use of the school’s superb specialist facilities including sports hall, theatre and the extensive grounds.

lower school

(Reception - Year 5)

Building on the bright start pupils have made in pre-school, we continue to place great value on learning which is fun and engaging but which also ensures challenge and a breadth of opportunity from an early age.

Learning and laughter are both essential parts of the school day and each child feels valued, happy and secure. We have high aspirations for all of our pupils; most of whom work beyond age related expectations and thrive on the breadth we offer across the curriculum. Our excellent Lower School staff are supported by a team of specialist teachers who deliver physical education, music, drama and French to all pupils from Reception to Year 5.

Our broad curriculum, facilities and rich diet of extra-curricular opportunities ensure that our pupils are readily engaged and quickly develop their self-confidence, knowledge, skills and understanding.

We value a close relationship with parents and with them ensure that pupils develop the traditional values of respect and tolerance which are fundamental to our happy school.

SAINT NICHOLAS SCHOOL

SAINT NICHOLAS SCHOOL

middle school

(Year 6 - Year 8)

Our aim within the Middle School is to provide the very best of specialist education across a broad and varied curriculum. As a school we believe in providing learning opportunities that engage, inspire and above all make learning fascinating and fun. Each day is busy, engaging and challenging and we encourage our pupils to commit fully to school life in order to gain as much as possible from their experiences.

Our specialist teachers and enriched curriculum inspire our pupils to embrace challenge at every opportunity. Alongside the core subjects of English and maths, pupils study separate sciences (biology, chemistry, physics) modern foreign languages, Latin, computing, history, geography, art, 3D design, food technology, music and religious education.

Within small classes and tutor groups we quickly get to know pupils as individuals, supporting their academic progress and personal development through high quality teaching and excellent pastoral care.

Our pupils thrive on the varied challenges and opportunities both within and outside the classroom. They flourish in a happy and purposeful atmosphere where there is always a ‘buzz’ of activity and where learning is a pleasure.

upper school (Year

9 - Year 11)

With a strong academic ethos, rich curriculum, and excellent pastoral care, the Upper School provides a wonderful learning environment for all its senior pupils. Opportunities within and outside the curriculum are rich and varied and the expectation is that pupils will make full use of all that the school has to offer.

We encourage our pupils to set themselves the highest standards, think dynamically, work collaboratively and develop the leadership skills which will prepare them for a future which promises considerable change.

GCSE study begins in Year 9, allowing a full three years to prepare for these important examinations. The core curriculum subjects of English, mathematics, science and modern foreign languages are complemented by a choice of humanities, computing, art, 3D design, food technology, music and Latin.

We seek to nurture independent learners who are confident in the use of new technology and have the skills necessary to access knowledge, develop understanding and to improve their problem solving abilities.

Whether in the classroom, on the stage, sports field or through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, developing life skills and inspiring confidence in our pupils is at the heart of our mission at Saint Nicholas.

SAINT NICHOLAS SCHOOL

SAINT NICHOLAS SCHOOL

expanding horizons

The extra-curricular programme is a real strength of the school. Our aim is to provide opportunities and experiences which help to develop rounded and confident young people, who are not afraid of ‘having a go’ or trying something for the first time.

As well as clubs and activities before school, at lunchtime and after school, there are also concerts, drama productions, competitions and House events which take place throughout the school year. Our trips and visits whether local, national or international are special events for children of all ages. From a trip to the local Post Office, to send a letter to Father Christmas, to trekking through the mountains of Peru, these experiences create memories for life.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme is extremely popular at the school and is a considerable success. This internationally renowned award encourages pupils to challenge themselves through a number of different sections including: volunteering in the community, physical recreation, personal skill and expeditions.

The ethos of service and charitable enterprise is particularly strong at the school and resonates strongly with our values. Pupils of all ages organise and support bake sales, coffee mornings and various other events in order to raise money for the local community and national charities.