The Middle School (Years 5 & 6)

In Years 5 and 6 the boys are taught by specialist subject teachers and take advantage of the subject areas around the School for example the Science Laboratories and Geography Room. For a large percentage of their lessons, the two year group classes are split into three groupings. In the core subjects, English, Maths and Science, the three sets evolve from initially providing special help to the weaker pupils in small groups, to having a top, middle and third set in each subject. In Year 6 boys start to learn Latin, whilst continuing to study all the subjects which they started to learn about in Years 3 and 4.

Their main games afternoon is Friday and there is a full programme of fixtures provided for both year groups featuring inter-school matches in athletics, cricket, hockey and rugby. Boys attend after school training sessions each week. All boys have the chance to represent the school, although the better games players play more matches. Pupils continue their musical education in the curriculum whilst the more able musicians play in our ensembles and orchestra in a number of concerts during the year. There are also opportunities to take part in plays and musicals. At this age boys particularly enjoy taking part in our varied activities programme.

During our annual activity week in May, Year 6 spend a week in Northumbria at a Field Study Centre, enjoying visits to Alwnick Castle, Beamish Museum, Bamburgh Castle, Durham Cathedral and Hadrian’s Wall. At the same time, Year 5, based at School, enjoy visits to the Europa Centre for a French experience, Gunnersbury Park to learn about life in Victorian times and to study the ecological environment on our Nature Trail.

Each boy’s form teacher provides pastoral care and also facilitates the partnership between home and School. A handful of boys leave at the end of Year 6, usually moving on to local grammar schools like Dr. Challoner’s GS, QEGS, Barnet and Watford GS.