Junior Department (Years 3 & 4)

Our Junior Department provides an excellent education for boys at the age of seven and eight years old. They are taught by their own class teachers, the main pastoral carer and point of contact for parents, in classes of around 20 pupils. Each year group shares a teaching assistant. Our Junior boys receive specialist teaching in Design & Technology, French, Music, R.S., Games and Physical Education. New boys, who join us at seven, integrate easily with our own Pre-Prep boys in the new classes. For some lessons  boys are taught in three sets. They have a six lesson day each lessons lasts fifty minutes. 

Year 3 have a full afternoon of Games on a Thursday and Year 4 on a Tuesday. Whilst a large proportion of the day is dedicated to English and Mathematics, boys have appropriate teaching in all other subjects.

In PE the boys are taught the basic skills of athletics, cricket, hockey, rugby and tennis. Inter- school fixtures are played, particularly in rugby, cricket and athletics. Boys have swimming lessons from qualified instructors at Merchant Taylors' School each week.

Many boys start to learn to play musical instruments in Year 3. They have opportunities to play in ensembles and the orchestra and all boys enjoy singing in the Junior Choir. The Junior Drama Club is very popular and puts on a play in the Spring term. All boys have the opportunity to join a wide variety of clubs at lunch times and after school. These include Chess Club, Art & Craft Club, Drama Club, Digital Art Club and a Ball Games Club in the Summer Term. Boys benefit from educational outings such as a visit to the Roman remains at St Albans. 

During Years 3 and 4 boys are well prepared for the challenge of full time subject specialist teaching in Year 5.