school handbook| Wilberforce House Reception-Year 3 |
Spencer House Years 4-6 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Assembly | 10.35-10.50am | 10.45-11.00am |
| Morning Break | 10.50-11.10am | 11.00-11.20am |
| Lunch Break | 12.30-13.30pm | 12.35-13.25pm |
| Afternoon Break | 14.50-15.00pm | — |
NB: All girls go into the playground at breaks, except when it is raining hard or they are attending extra lessons or clubs with a member of staff. Normally if a child is not well enough to go outside at playtime she should not be sent to School.
| Pre-prep | Reception | 4-5 years | Wilberforce House |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5-6 years | ||
| Year 2 | 6-7 years | ||
| Prep | Year 3 | 7-8 years | |
| Year 4 | 8-9 years | Spencer House | |
| Year 5 | 9-10 years | ||
| Year 6 | 10-11 years |
Reception girls spend most of their day with their form teachers and nursery nurses except for specialist lessons in Music, French, PE and Ballet. From Year 1 the day is more structured and lessons are more subjectspecific. Swimming starts in the Summer of Year 2. In Year 3 the girls go across to Spencer House once a week for a double art lesson with our specialist art teacher. From Year 3 Maths and English are taught in ability groups and gradually more specialist staff are introduced in the Prep Department.
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum in Reception and from Year 1 our curriculum is based on the National Curriculum, together with the additional requirements of day and boarding school entrance exams at 11+. Formal half yearly evaluation tests start in the Prep Department.
Parents are encouraged to support topics with additional information and girls may bring in relevant items to class.
Kind and courteous behaviour is expected at all times. Discipline at School is based on a mixture of social responsibility, courtesy and respect between girls and staff, and between the girls themselves. We expect this courtesy and consideration to be extended to all visitors at the School.
Bullying is not tolerated at The Study and it is taken very seriously. We have an Anti-Bullying Policy. Often it is difficult to detect bullying and we would urge any parent or child to inform us if they are concerned. In turn, we would always contact the parents of girls involved.
It is important to distinguish bullying from isolated acts of unkindness. It does not include the occasional unkind, even cruel, remark that children make to each other as part of the process of growing up. Such comments are unacceptable but they are not bullying.
The Pre-Prep girls have drawn up their own set of Golden Rules to encourage positive behaviour around the School. They are clearly displayed in the Wilberforce House Hall and are regularly referred to in assembly.
A list of School rules can be found here and in the Prep Department girls' Links Books.
Girls at both Houses have drawn up their own set of Playground Rules. They are clearly displayed in both playgrounds.
There is a Rewards Assembly each week at both Houses. Star badges are awarded to mark achievement and effort in both school work and behaviour.
The termly fees from September 2011 are £3395.
Fees must be paid by the first day of each term. If fees are not received by the first day, the School reserves the right to refuse entry. A full term’s notice is required in writing before the removal of a girl. Alternatively, a term’s fees must be paid in lieu.
If your daughter sustains a head bump/injury in school she will be given an ‘I’ve bumped my head’ sticker to wear so that teachers and parents are aware. Where appropriate, every effort will be made to inform you, or your daughter’s carer, by telephone or at the end of the day. It goes without saying that if your daughter is distressed and/or if the injury appears to be serious, we will endeavour to contact a parent immediately.
Currently the termly premium of £6.00 is provisionally charged to fee accounts and cover will be assumed unless the School receives written notification to the contrary in advance of the beginning of the term. Cover will extend from the first day of the first term and will then be continuous.
The School derives no benefit from the insurer. Details of the Insurance Scheme Cover are given to new parents with their first fee account.
Some children have a severe allergic reaction to nuts. We therefore request that no nuts or products containing nuts are included in your daughter’s lunch box or birthday cakes shared with the class.
Children with asthma should bring in their asthma medication, clearly marked with their name, at the beginning of the school year. It will be kept in the office. This will mean that they will have access to it at all times under the supervision of designated staff. If they leave the building (e.g. for swimming or a day trip) their teacher will ensure that the medication is collected and taken with them.
Spencer House
All children with asthma should have an inhaler with them at all times. They should also bring in a spare inhaler, and spacer if necessary, clearly marked with their name. This is in case they forget to bring in their own any day. These will be kept in the office. If they leave the building (e.g. for swimming, athletics or a day trip) the girls must ensure that they have their medication with them.
At the beginning of the year the secretary at Wilberforce House and the Housekeeper at Spencer House will check that the capsules for the inhalers they keep in the school offices have not passed their “use by” date.
Please do not send your daughter to School unless she has been treated and is clear. The School has electric ‘robi-combs’ at both offices – please see the School Secretary at your daughter’s House if you would like to borrow one. If your daughter is found to have lice in her hair at School you will be asked to collect her from School and keep her at home until her head is clear.
| Year 3 | 30 minutes |
| Year 4 | 40 minutes |
| Year 5 | 60 minutes |
| Year 6 | 65 minutes |
No formal homework is set on a Friday for the weekend, except in the Summer Term of Year 5 and in Year 6 until the Spring Term exams. However, there will be occasions when relatively small amounts of homework may be set, usually for subjects where no other regular homework time is allocated.
We ask parents to help their daughters develop good learning habits at home by providing a quiet, conducive working environment, checking that the required amount of time has been spent and to ensure that homework is completed. If your daughter is regularly spending a much longer or shorter time than the set amount, please let her Form Teacher know, via the Link Book or in person.
This is an extremely important form of home/school communication so please ensure a parent or guardian reads and initials the book every evening. Your daughter should write all her homework instructions in this book and it is also used for sending home day to day messages. Your daughter’s Form Teacher checks the Link Book every morning so any message you have written in the book will be seen. You will find a record of your daughter’s credits, merits and debits at the front of the Link Book and a list of her achievements at the back.
Regular formal and informal assessments are carried out throughout the School. If we are concerned about the progress of a particular child, individual assessments in School may be carried out by Mrs Lawrence, our Learning Support Coordinator, following discussion with the Form Teacher and parents. In Years 1 and 2 we have learning support groups for English and in other years teaching assistants provide extra support.
It may be recommended that a pupil has an individual lesson during the school day with one of our specialist learning support teachers. This is an extra cost, billed directly by the teacher. We may advise referral to a qualified professional for a more specific diagnostic test. Parents arrange the test, settle the fee direct and receive a written report. We will then discuss together how best to implement the appropriate action.
This is available to all children throughout the School. The cost is added each term to the fee account. It is regretted that no refund can be made in the event of your daughter being away due to illness. Half a term’s notice is required of cancellation. Milk is drunk during morning break.
All girls should bring a packed lunch in a named box and something for break to School each day. The School has a healthy eating policy and sweets, chewing gum and chocolate bars are not allowed. Please adhere to our nut free policy too. Drinks should not be in glass bottles or cans. The School is unable to refrigerate lunch boxes so please choose food accordingly.
Drinking plenty of water enhances learning. We have water fountains at School but we also encourage girls to bring in water in a plastic bottle, which they may have in class. Bottles should be clearly named and filled with water only.
There are choirs at each House. Only one of these, the Chamber Choir has a selection criterion. The Study has an orchestra at Spencer House, which is open to Year 3 girls as well. Other musical groups meeting at Wilberforce & Spencer Houses include jazz, guitar, recorders, violin, cello, brass, theory, musical theatre and chamber music.
Recorder tuition is built into the curriculum (Year 2). Girls will need to purchase a Dolmetsch descant recorder (plastic), available from the School Uniform Shop.
Individual lessons generally begin in Year 2. Girls showing particular promise/potential may be invited to begin lessons earlier if a suitable teacher is available. If you wish your daughter to be added to the waiting list for instrumental lessons, please direct a letter to Mrs Brown, our Director of Music, who will then contact you when a place becomes available. Should you wish to discontinue lessons, half a term's notice in writing is required within the first week of that half term, or alternatively fees are payable in lieu. However, this does not apply if you wish to discontinue lessons at the end of the academic year, as long as we are informed in writing by the end of the summer term. Girls are withdrawn from lessons and breaks throughout the day, usually on a rotating schedule, in order to attend their individual music tuition and, because of this, it is recommended that your daughter only take one instrument unless she shows exceptional aptitude. Daily practice is expected, as is participation in the various ensemble opportunities on offer.
To help support your daughter's practice at home, parents are able to make arrangements to sit in on lessons. This is especially encouraged for beginning and younger pupils. We have a fully qualified staff of visiting music teachers and can offer the following tuition:
| Instrument | When Girls Start |
|---|---|
| Violin / Viola | Year 2 |
| Piano | Year 2 |
| Cello | Year 2 |
| Classical Guitar | Year 2 |
| Flute | Year 3 |
| Clarinet | Year 3 |
| Cornet / Trumpet | Year 4 |
| Harp | Year 3 |
| French Horn / Trombone | Year 4 |
| Saxophone | Year 3 |
| Singing | Year 4 |
The cost is payable directly to the visiting music teacher each term. The number of lessons will vary from term to term, depending on the length of the term, but your daughter will receive at least 30 lessons over the year. We have some instruments to hire from school with rates varying according to the instrument. Should we have none available, music staff can advise on other hiring sources.
Associated Board Exams are offered internally on a termly basis.
A plan of performance opportunities is structured each year so that year groups, classes, ensembles, choirs and individuals can participate. These include formal concerts, informal lunchtime recitals, music afternoons, plays and assemblies.
Girls are offered the opportunity to begin peripatetic ‘Speech and Drama’ sessions when they start at Spencer House. The sessions prepare the girls for the LAMDA exams (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts). There are usually ten sessions per term and each session lasts 30 minutes, with a maximum of four girls in a group. The cost is payable directly to the teacher. If you wish your daughter to be added to the waiting list, please put your request in writing to the teacher. You will then be contacted when a place becomes available. Half a term’s notice in writing is required if your daughter wishes to give up lessons, or alternatively fees are payable in lieu. Girls working towards a duologue or combined exam with a partner will need to continue until after the exam to avoid disruption.
If you would like to make an appointment to see the Headmistress, Deputy Head, Curriculum Coordinator or Bursar, please telephone the Secretary at your daughter’s House. Urgent appointments are usually available at short notice or you may prefer to speak to the member of staff concerned on the telephone.
It is usually possible for Pre-Prep parents to have a quick word with their daughter’s Form Teacher before registration in the morning. Once your daughter has settled into her new class, please do not come into the classroom unless you have an important message, as this disrupts the other children in the class and stops the Form Teacher from settling the children. All parents are welcome to make an appointment for before or after school if they wish. Reception parents are welcome to settle their children into the classroom for a few minutes in the morning for the first few weeks.
The Link Book is an important form of home/school contact in the Prep Department (please see Homework & Link Book).
A Parents’ Consultation Evening with teaching staff is held during the Spring Term, which we encourage all parents to attend. In the Summer Term reports are sent home about a week before the end of term so that parents have the opportunity to make an appointment to discuss the report should they wish to do so. However, please do not wait for a Parents’ Evening if you have any concerns, but make an appointment to see the relevant member of staff.
All girls will receive a full report at the end of the Autumn and Summer Term.
In the Prep Department there are twice yearly evaluation tests in the core subjects (English, Maths and Science) in the second half of the Autumn Term and in the Summer Term.
The results are recorded on the formal reports and sent home to parents. Please note the evaluation papers and scripts are not released. Year 6 evaluation tests take place in the Autumn Term prior to Common Entrance. Reading, Spelling and Verbal and Non-verbal Reasoning tests are set at appropriate times to monitor progress.
At the end of the school year parents are invited to:
This is an event for parents of girls in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. It is held at the end of the Summer Term in the Hall at Wilberforce House. Tickets are not required and full details will be given to parents before the event.
This event takes place on the last day of the Summer Term for girls in Year 3 to Year 6. It is a formal occasion and tickets are required. Full details will be given to parents before the event.
The School Council provides an opportunity for the girls to feel part of the decision making process and involved in improving school life for everyone.
Class representatives are elected each term and meetings are held regularly at both Houses.
School starts at 08.45 promptly each day and we expect girls to be in their classrooms at this time. Girls may be left in the hall from 08.15 where they will be looked after by a member of staff.
Parents should not wait with their children in the hall. If you wish to see your daughter into her classroom please do so from the playground at 08.30. Classrooms and cloakrooms are not open before then.
After 08.30 all girls should enter their classrooms from the playground and should be collected at the end of the school day at the same door.
Girls may arrive at school between 08.00 and 08.25, and are supervised in the playground until they go to their classrooms for registration at 08.25. Girls should enter the School via the side school gate (not the front door). Parents are asked to wait with their daughters until the Teaching Assistant opens the side gate and the School can accept no responsibility for girls left before the gate opens. At the end of the day, girls leave from the main front door.
Where possible we would prefer you to make appointments for the doctor, dentist etc., during the school holidays or outside school hours.
If your daughter is ill you should telephone the Secretary at your daughter’s House before 08.45 on each day of absence – then it will be marked as authorised.
Please avoid taking your daughter away from school or on holiday during term time as this causes considerable disruption to their education and also to the education of others in the class.
Leave of absence must be recorded as ‘authorised’ or ‘unauthorised’. Leave is authorised at the discretion of the Headmistress and is not an automatic right of parents. Some reasons for request of absence are authorised such as medical appointments, interviews and external examinations. Specific family reasons will be considered seriously as we wish to support any exceptional circumstances beyond the family’s control.
Parents taking family holidays during term time should be aware that teachers are not responsible for setting work that their daughter may miss, or for supplying homework. In any event it is extremely difficult to set work as the written work will normally follow directly form the teaching which has been done in class.
Please note that applications for places at some senior schools include attendance data as part of their criteria.
The School organises plays and class assemblies to which parents are invited. Details will be sent to parents as appropriate.
Should not be worn in School with the exception of official medical bracelets and small plain stud earrings. Watches may be worn by girls from Year 3 upwards – these must be named. Nail polish may not be worn.
This may be worn from Easter until the Autumn half-term, depending on the weather, but must be worn for the second half of the Summer Term.
This is compulsory from the Autumn half term and for all of the Spring Term.
School uniform is sold from the School shop which is located at Wilberforce House. The shop is open every Tuesday and Thursday during term time between 15.00 and 16.15. The shop is also open at specified times during the end of the Summer Term and before the beginning of the Autumn Term – parents will be notified. Parents may complete an order form if they only require a few items. This form can be downloaded from the website. It should be handed in at the office at your daughter’s House. Orders will be given directly to your daughter up to 7 days after the receipt of the form. Any items ordered this way will be charged to your fee account.
The Study Association runs the nearly new uniform and holds sales termly and at the beginning and end of the summer holidays.
s = Regulation and only available from the School Shop
• = available from the School Shop or Department Stores
| School Jacket | s | Navy blue. Please sew on a loop for hanging up. |
| Blouse | s | White long-sleeve with round collar |
| Dress (Summer) | s | Pale blue and white striped dress (two approved styles) |
| Cardigan | s | Embroidered navy blue v-neck |
| Games shirt | s | Embroidered white polo-shirt |
| Leotard | s | Royal blue for gym and ballet |
| Socks/Tights | • | Winter uniform – knee length navy blue socks or navy blue opaque tights |
| • | Summer uniform – plain white ankle or white knee-length socks | |
| • | Games uniform – white ankle socks | |
| Shoes | • | Navy blue or black leather. No patent leather, slingbacks or open toes |
| NB: Please do not send your daughter to school in lace-up shoes unless she can tie them herself. | ||
| Games bag | • | Blue, with name on outside |
| Hair Accessories | • | Winter uniform – plain navy blue or regulation tartan headbands, scrunchies or navy blue ribbons |
| • | Summer uniform – plain navy blue or blue and white striped hairbands, scrunchies or navy blue ribbons | |
| Sun hat | • | Navy cap |
| Waterproof jacket | s | Navy blue – that folds into pouch |
| Pinafore Dress | s | Blue plaid (knee length) |
| Sports shorts | s | Navy blue |
| Study Sweatshirt Top | s | Embroidered royal blue (for PE) |
| Tracksuit bottoms | s | Royal blue (for PE) |
| Trainers | • | White (no lace-ups) |
| Ballet | s | Royal blue skirt worn with leotard |
| Ballet shoes | • | Pink, soft toed (no ribbon, just elastic) |
| Ballet socks | • | Pink) |
| Swimming | • | Year 2 (Summer term only) – one piece royal blue costume, any towel, white hat, waterproof bag – no carrier bags |
| Book bags | s | Navy blue |
| Skirt | s | Blue plaid skirt (knee length) |
| Art Overall | s | Navy blue wrap-over. (Please sew on loop for hanging up.) |
| Skorts | s | Embroidered navy blue |
| Tracksuit | s | Embroidered navy blue |
| Trainers | • | White laced |
| Hockey Socks | • | Navy blue |
| Footless tights | s | Royal blue (Year 3-6) |
| Swimming | • | One piece royal blue costume, any towel, white hat, waterproof bag – no carrier bags |
| s | White Study swimming hat | |
| Rucksack | s | Navy blue |
| Gillet | s | Embroidered navy blue |
| Gloves/scarf/hat | • | Navy blue (No other colours may be worn) |
| Waterproof trousers | s | Navy blue (To be compulsory from September 2011) |
| Rucksack | s | Royal blue (Year 2 only) |
| Purse belt | • | Navy blue (Year 3 – Year 6 only) |
| Baselayer | White thermal |
Name tapes must be sewn on to all of the above items.
From Year 3: Large name tapes on outside of PE kit & art overall as per diagram available in School Shop
All contents as listed below must be named.
NB: You will be advised when your daughter requires an ink pen or geometry set.
From Year 2 Summer term
Descant (plastic) Dolmetsch – available from the School uniform shop.
All girls must wear the appropriate games kit. No earrings or watches should be worn. If your daughter is unable to take part in a PE lesson please send a note to her PE Teacher.
| Pre-prep | ||
|---|---|---|
| Swimming | Year 2 (Summer term) | |
| Ballet | All year | |
| Dance | Spring Term | |
| Games (ball skills, team games) | All year | |
| Gymnastics | Autumn and Spring Term | |
| Athletics Skills | Summer Term | |
| Rounders Skills | Summer Term | |
| Prep | ||
| Swimming | Year 3 | All Year |
| Year 4-6 | Autumn & Spring Term | |
| Netball | Autumn Term | |
| Hockey | Spring Term | |
| Gymnastics | Autumn and Spring Term | |
| Rounders | Summer Term | |
| Tennis Skills | Year 3 | Summer Term |
| Tennis | Year 4-6 | Summer Term |
| Athletics | Summer Term | |
When girls are playing hockey it is compulsory that they wear a mouth guard, which parents should supply. Mouth guards are available in the School Shop.
Inter-school house events usually take place at least once a term.
We run a variety of after-school sports clubs for girls in the Prep Department. The clubs offered vary from term to term. Regular friendly and competitive sports fixtures are organised against other schools. We also take part in schools’ tournaments and local and national competitions. Parents are usually welcome to watch home and away matches.
Sports Day occurs once a year in the Summer Term. All parents are welcome. Full details will be given to parents before the event.
Girls from Years 2 to 6 swim. Swimming hats must be worn. Normally if your daughter is well enough to be in School, she is well enough to swim. If she is unable to swim for one lesson, a letter must be given to her PE teacher explaining the reason. If it is likely that she will not be fit to swim for more than one lesson, please send in a doctor’s letter.
NB: Swimming is taught by a qualified swimming teacher who has a lifesaving qualification.
The Study Association is an informal association of parents, which was set up to assist the School in organising social events. The funds raised are donated to the School to purchase ‘extras’ for the girls and to the charities the girls and staff have chosen to support. It is not a parent/teacher association. Each class has a representative who attends termly meetings of the Association. Parents can contact the Association via the School website or the boxes, either at Wilberforce House (in the foyer) or at Spencer House (outside the office). The Study Association has a board at each House to display information. The Association is run on a very relaxed basis and welcomes the help and support of all parents. Further information about the Association can be found here.
