JUNIOR SCHOOL
Preston Montford trip
Herts Maths Challenge
B
created a wide variety of challenging initiatives this year, both online and in person. We were delighted at the enthusiasm and commitment the students have shown. Some highlights included:
eyond the challenges of adapting to the pandemic, the Junior School has continued to teach with passion and ambition, ensuring that the academic curriculum is diverse, inclusive, and challenges pupils’ thinking. Junior School staff have reflected and built on the outcomes of remote teaching to enhance pupils progress and School experience. Investment has been made in IT and Surface laptops for both IT suites and one to one classroom devices have been provided for all pupils. This has had a significant impact on the quality and effectiveness of not only our Computer Science teaching, but the increased use of technology in lessons enhanced the learning experience and provided opportunities to create content, share and present knowledge and ideas in a variety of exciting ways.
E NGINEERING, DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY Our Learning Hub is now fully operational, with dedicated IT suites for First School and Lower School pupils. New hardware has been introduced into the computing curriculum enabling pupils to use crumble boards and programme microbit robots using python code. New software including Pear Deck, Sumdog Maths and Grammar have also been introduced. We have also been very excited to use our new Green screen. It has been an exciting addition and has been used in innovative ways in lessons and assemblies. A range of creative STEAM projects were introduced during remote teaching. Reception built Aladdin’s lamp, Year 2 made flying machines and in the Lower School pupils made natural art sculpture projects inspired by artist Andy Goldsworthy. A group of Year 10 students led a mini F1 club for our Year 5 & 6 students, supporting them to produce their own model car during this exciting activity.
Singing outside
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Intellectual interests have been fostered through ‘off screen days’ and mixer days. Examples include a Subject Passions Day in which pupils chose challenges in subjects they were most interested in. The day was set up with a tour around the nonfiction shelves in the new library. In Science, the challenge was to create a balloon rocket, make a model of a famous landmark using recycled materials and identify a series of different twigs. In Music, they made a musical instrument based on a series of percussion instruments they had been learning about. During Black History month each class researched and created posters and powerpoints with information about a Black icon. At the end of the week the students presented their research. These initiatives encourage the pupils to reflect on the different subjects they learn and consider their intellectual interests. Providing an element of choice encourages girls to take risks, become more independent and curious. This develops their academic confidence and creativity. We are always looking for ways to stretch and challenge all pupils in different ways and have
rimary Maths Challenge - All Year P 5 & 6 took part and received 4 golds, 10 silvers, 16 bronze and 9 highly commended.
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4 7 girls sat the Junior Maths Challenge (aimed at Year 8 students) receiving 6 golds with 1 qualifying for the Olympiad and 5 qualifying for Kangaroo. 9 silver and 10 bronze medals were awarded. These are the best scores to date.
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ll 96 Year 3 & 4 pupils sat the A First Maths Challenge 47 were awarded gold, 32 silver and 16 bronze medals.
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erts Maths Challenge H our teams scored 156 (average overall score 121)
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e-mapping our lives - a Royal R Geographical Society competition
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ear 6 Challenge Day with Y archery, fencing, problem solving and climbing.
Archery
Rock Climbing 15
