IJS Prospectus

Infant & Junior School 2023/24

CONTENTS

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3 Head's Welcome 4 Admissions 6 Mission 7 Values 8 Pastoral Care & Wellbeing 9 Bringing Learning Alive 10 The Best of Both Worlds 11 A Seamless Journey 12 Creative Arts 13 Outdoor Education 14 S.T.E.M 15 Sports For All 17 So Much More 19 Preparing For Senior School 20 Reputation 21 The School Day 22 Fees 23 Policies 24 Map

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Your child’s educational journey is one of the most important adventures of their young life. After all, school is more than a preparation for life - each day at school is life for them.

WATCH Click to watch Mrs Simpson’s welcome

Your child’s experiences in these crucially formative years will influence them way beyond the classroom and should equip them for a happy future and success in the adult world.

Parents often tell us they seek an environment that is stimulating, challenging and which helps their child recognise and share their individuality, interests and talents. It should be safe, warm and kind, balancing aspirations and expectations with a holistic approach. Like all excellent schools, we prize academic effort and resultant achievement, but we also value community, laughter, fun and the development of personal qualities just as much. We want your child to be happy at Nottingham High Infant & Junior School, your child will feel recognised, appreciated, respected and valued. We will foster your child’s confidence to learn, be curious, make friends and relish new opportunities, and we will support them as they grow and develop, academically and as people personally.

The verdict of our recent ‘Good Schools Guide’ independent reviewer was that ours is ‘a happy school that stands out for championing individual talents and gets these boys and girls good and ready for the more academic senior school’.

I warmly and enthusiastically invite you to come, see for yourself and explore whether your child would be enthused, stimulated and happy as part of our School.

HEAD'S WELCOME

There are a variety of ways for your child to experience all that we have to offer - Open Days, Tours and Taster Days.

ADMISSIONS Starting your child’s school journey can be a daunting prospect, so we try to make the admissions process as fun, engaging and informative as possible.

Just as you must feel confident that our school is the best environment for your child, so we must feel sure that we can offer the correct setting for them to flourish.

For full details of our Admissions Policy, please see our website Ruth Boxer - Head of Admissions

READINESS TO LEARN AT LOVELL HOUSE (Infant school - Reception, Years 1 & 2) To join our Infant School, Lovell House in Reception your child should be aged 4 or over on 1st September of their year of entry. We will invite your child to a range of activities such as ‘Show and Tell’ and ‘Stay and Play’. These sessions help you and your child familiarise yourselves with our setting and enable us to get to know your child.

If you’re applying for a place in Year 1 and Year 2 we evaluate your child’s readiness to learn in class. They will take part in our normal lessons where they will complete age and stage appropriate tasks in numeracy and literacy as well as having time to play and familiarise themselves with the school.

ENTRY TO JUNIOR SCHOOL ASSESSMENT Your child should be 7, 8, 9, or 10 years old on 1st September of the relevant year of entry.

We will invite your child to spend time with us in school. As part of this admissions assessment, we will ask your child to complete some age and stage-appropriate online mathematics activities, reasoning activities and some literacy-based activities such as reading comprehension and creative writing Typically, we confirm the offer of a place within 14 days of your child’s visit.

We enable students from diverse backgrounds to flourish in an academic, compassionate environment engaging and inspiring every pupil to maximise their potential and enjoyment. We nurture quietly confident and happy children who are intellectually curious and cared for as individuals.

MISSION

EXCELLENCE

INDIVIDUALITY

RESPECT

EMPATHY

CURIOSITY

We have high aspirations and pursue excellence across all areas of our provision. We nurture individual pupils to achieve their highest potential and make a positive impact in the world.

We value each child and member of staff as an individual and embrace diversity in all its forms.

We create the conditions in which our staff and children can be happy and flourish.

We are proud to be an inclusive and diverse community. We value kindness, integrity and modesty. We champion a culture of respect and understanding between all in the school community.

All of our provision is underpinned by empathy and tolerance. We seek to build resilience and empower children to make a difference in the world.

We value intellectual curiosity and creativity.

We want every child to develop a love of learning.

We embrace taking risks to enhance pupil development both academically and as people.

VALUES

GNIEBLLEW DNA ERAC LAROTSAP

Walk into the School and you will be struck by colourful murals emblazoned on the corridor walls. Look a little closer and you will notice roads leading to phrases such as ‘I am empowered’, ‘I am happy & healthy’, ‘I am me’. This is the Roadmap, its prominence symbolic of the emphasis we place on your child’s wellbeing.

The Roadmap is a bespoke approach to the holistic wellbeing of our School community; pupils, parents and staff. It underpins the pastoral programme at Nottingham High Infant and Junior School and it is embedded in everything we do. Founded on the premise that your child’s achievement will come from being happy, healthy and confident, rather than viceversa, this unique, age-appropriate initiative carefully develops your child’s individual character and equips them for each ‘next step’ on their life’s journey. It aims to give your child the holistic skills necessary to enjoy their primary education and continue to thrive through secondary education, further education and into their adult lives.

Your child is an individual and their wellbeing matters to us as much as it does to you. We see education as a three-way commitment between your child, their family and the School.

Communication is exceptionally important to us. Your child’s Class Teacher or Form Tutor will know them well and they are your first point of contact in person, by phone or by email.

Their priority is to work with you to ensure your child’s wellbeing.

WATCH Click to watch Deputy Head (Individuals) Christian Cordy talk about The Roadmap

BRINGING LEARNING ALIVE We want your child to love coming to school, to see education as an adventure, as something that is fun and to embrace challenge as a learning opportunity.

Yes, your child will achieve high standards with us, but precisely because school is exciting and lively, not formal and stuffy. Children learn best when they don’t even realise they are learning and when they are happy and secure.

In Reception, your child’s learning will be through practical, purposeful activities which take into account their interests. In Year 1 and Year 2, learning is often framed around exciting topics. ‘London’ will see your child writing a letter to the King and building cereal-box Tudor houses, which are set alight outside to mimic the Great Fire of London. While your child is engrossed in examining ‘poo’ from London Zoo to identify which animals are carnivores, herbivores or omnivores, their scientific research skills are being developed.

This approach expands through the Junior School where pupils enjoy a wide and exciting curriculum full of practical lessons and opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge. Trips out and visiting guests cement learning in a hands-on way throughout the school.

There are times when your child will sit at a table or desk, but there will also be plenty of time for putting the skills learned to the test in an active and creative way, both in the classroom and outdoors.

Your child will be stretched and challenged through activities and given the gift of opportunity in a supportive and nurturing environment.

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS One of the huge advantages of choosing Nottingham High School is that your child will be able to access the ‘best of both worlds’ from an early age: the security of the small Infant School and the opportunities and facilities at the Junior School which come from being part of a larger school.

In the infant years, your child will have the reassurance of being based in the safe, nurturing environment of Lovell House, with a dedicated classroom teacher and teaching assistants. They will discover new skills outdoors. Think trim trail, well-equipped playground, covered areas for protection against the elements, and outdoor education area, complete with much-loved mudkitchen.

Your child will receive specialist teaching and have access to additional facilities around the whole school. Swimming, music, language and sports tuition will all be part of the timetable. By the time your child moves up to the Junior School they will already be at ease with what lies ahead.

Class and specialist teaching extend further in the Junior School. Outside spaces, such as our covered amphitheatre and astro-pitches, allow your child to learn and play outdoors throughout the year.

As your child moves from the Infant to the Junior School, the focus remains on making school enjoyable and ensuring your child is happy and secure in a culture of high expectations, support and opportunity.

Through our inclusive ethos, your child will be guided to enjoy their learning knowing that they can take risks and challenge themselves. They will build on their skills of resilience and perseverance in a supportive and encouraging atmosphere that aims to celebrate and recognise each individual. Your child will be working at a fast pace, developing and building on their skills base, applying those to each part of our wide and holistic curriculum.

This is a school with spark and a real sense of enjoyment. At the end of the day your child will go home tired but buzzing about what they have achieved. Your child will build a fantastic relationship with their teachers who work hard to foster mutually beneficial relationships. Each will keep the other on their toes!

A SEAMLESS JOURNEY

Nothing beats the utter joy and pride – and slight trepidation - a parent feels when watching their child perform. Whether they are reading a poem in a poetry competition, playing the trumpet in a school concert or making their stage debut in the Christmas show, the skill needed is a life-long one on which they will build throughout their time here.

In the same way, your child will experience a huge sense of satisfaction as they explore the arts and experience the joy of selfexpression. The School is well resourced with its own Music School, recital studio, art studio and theatre for productions.

Whether it is singing in a choir or acting in a class or school production, your child’s natural artistic talents will be uncovered and encouraged.

CREATIVE ARTS

OUTDOOR EDUCATION The merits of outdoor education have become ever more compelling since the pandemic: improved health & well-being; better appreciation of the world around us; greater engagement in, and enjoyment of, lessons; enhanced social and communication skills; elevated problemsolving skills.

That is why your child will have regular outdoor education throughout their time at the Infant and Junior School. This is introduced in Reception with a weekly welly-wearing session, followed by termly outdoor days in later years.

Your child might come home full of tales of orienteering and slacklining, of leaf art and bulb planting in the outdoor garden, or of carving cuttlefish to create pewter castings. They might make bird feeders to learn about and record the different types of birds for the RSPB Schools’ Big Bird Watch. Food often features: cooking stick-bread on an open fire as part of fire triangle work, boiling water for hot chocolate in Kelly Kettles, pressing apples to make juice, crafting butter from fresh cream.

As your child gets older, we venture further afield: the Perlethorpe Environmental Education Centre, the Attenborough Nature Reserve, Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre and the Peak District. Invariably, your child will return fresh-air tired, with peer relationships strengthened by teamwork and self-esteem bolstered by braving new experiences.

S.T.E.M When questioned on the origins of their passion for Science, scientists often speak of a spark ignited at a young age. Wonder at how something works, curiosity peaked by a conversation, encouragement to ask, ‘What happens if…..?’

That’s why we provide an exciting range of scientific experiences which give your child ‘wow’ moments that remain with them over their time at school.

Right from Reception, we build on your child’s natural curiosity, helping them to develop a scientific approach to problems using first hand and secondary sources. Your child’s skills develop over time as we prepare them to independently think, plan and investigate their ideas in a safe and secure environment. Junior children have lessons in our science lab, equipping them with the scientific knowledge and investigative skills for a successful transition to the Senior School.

We follow the national curriculum basing our topics under the main sciences of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. However, we also bring Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths together across the curriculum through a wide variety of STEM activities and events across the school.

WATCH NHIJS pupils reflect on their Science Lessons

SPORT FOR ALL

Not only does regular exercise and sport ensure children let off steam and concentrate better in the classroom, it also provides many valuable lessons for life: courage, strength, resilience, working as a team, learning to win with courtesy and lose with good grace.

Your child will have regular swimming lessons in our school pool, as well as PE and Games sessions. These are supplemented with a carousel of additional sports’ activities and clubs such as hockey, netball, cricket, athletics, and rugby. Your child can also try other options like tennis, climbing and kurling (no ice required!) and we participate in a wide range of sporting fixtures in the city of Nottingham and with other schools further afield.

Your son or daughter might be one of those children for whom playing in a competitive and successful school team is the highlight of the week, they might prefer more informal games and matches with others of the same ability, or they might enjoy a sport where they compete alone.

However, by the time they leave the Infant and Junior School in Year 6, we aim that they will have had multiple opportunities to play in a fixture for the School, try a wide variety of sports and find the sport that appeals to them.

WATCH Click to find out more about Sports at Nottingham High School

SO MUCH MORE When your child joins Nottingham High Infant and Junior School, the chances are that you, like countless other parents before you, will marvel at how quickly they grow in confidence. One of the reasons this happens is our belief in the importance of unearthing and celebrating individual skills and talents outside of the classroom through giving your child a wide variety of opportunities.

Just as your child is so much more than their academic ability, so Nottingham High School is so much more than lessons and study. Across the week, well over 30 clubs and activities take place, making use of our superb facilities. Your child might enjoy sporting activities: cross-country, tennis or dance. Some will join an orchestra, band or choir. Others’ interests might lie more naturally in Lego club, chess or watercolour painting. What matters is that your child has the chance to ‘have a go’ and so discover what they like and where their strengths and talents lie. We listen to our ‘Pupil Voice’ and children can suggest clubs that they would like.

Success is celebrated throughout each aspect of the day but especially in our ‘Achievement Assembly’, where your child will be particularly recognised for their efforts, contribution and skills whether inside or outside the classroom. Thanks to our social media, even relatives on the other side of the world can share in triumphs too.

Unearth new talents and interests as well as refine existing skills and pursuits

Education here extends way beyond the classroom

PREPARING FOR SENIOR SCHOOL Junior School

Just as the transition from Infant to Junior School is seamless, your child’s move from the Junior to the Senior School will be both smooth and uncomplicated.

Your child will sit the entrance assessment for the Senior School, so that we can benchmark attainment levels. Entry into Year 7 is almost always guaranteed for our Junior School pupils.

By the time your child moves up to the Senior School, they will already be familiar with parts of the Senior School site and some members of staff. In this way your child is assured of an unbroken education without the bumps and dips that can occur when changing schools.

They will be ready to take advantage of all that the Senior School can offer on the next stage of their educational adventure.

REPUTATION Nottingham High School has a strong reputation for academic success, yet as you get to know us, you will discover so much more: genuine co-curricular opportunity and real care of the individual.

We were delighted to win the Community Collaboration Award for our STEM programme at the 2023 TT Education awards and to be highly commended for our Outstanding Pastoral Care at the 2023 Muddy Awards, at which we were also finalists in the Most Dynamic STEM Programme category.

2023 also saw us shortlisted for the Independent Prep School of the Year at the Independent School of the Year Awards, following being named Coeducational School of the year in 2022, and awarded for healthy eating in 2020.

We were delighted to be named East Midlands Independent School of the Year 2023, East Midlands Independent Secondary School of the Decade 2021 and to be ranked first for academic results in the East Midlands 2022, all awarded by The Sunday Times Independent Schools Guide.

Every bit as important to us though is the feedback from our parents. We are proud that pastoral care is consistently the highest-rated feature in our regular parental surveys.

THE SCHOOL DAY A

Your child can arrive at school from 8.00am and care is available until 6.00pm in our After-School Club.

T Y P I C

INFANT SCHOOL

A L

Supervision activities in class from 8am Registration is 8.30am

Y

P I C

D A T Y

A L

School ends at 3.45pm with the opportunity to join After School Club or enjoy after-school activities and clubs.

A

P I C

Afternoon lessons, which often including an assembly, also have a snack.

Y

T Y

D A

A

Clubs and activities run during lunch as well as an extended play-time outside.

A L

Y

Morning lesson are punctuated with a snack and a break outside and end with lunch in the Infant Dining Hall where the children have a choice of menus.

Y

P I C

D A

A L

JUNIOR SCHOOL Y

T Y T Y

A L Y

P I C

D A

A L

Afternoon lessons end at 3.55pm with the opportunity to join After School Club or enjoy after-school activities and clubs.

A

P I C

Morning lesson are punctuated with a break outside and end with lunch in the Senior School Dining Hall where the children have a choice of menus.

Clubs and activities run during lunch as well as an extended play-time outside.

D A

A

Activities begin in class at 8.20am Registration is 8.30am

D A Y

From September 2024

Fees are reviewed annually

Infant School Tuition Fees Infant individual music tuition Infant instrument hire Infant School lunch Infant Early Bird Club

£4,297 per term £16.69 per 20 minutes £50 per term £275 Nil

Junior School Tuition Fees Junior individual music tuition Junior instrument hire Junior School lunch Infant & Junior After School Club

£4,999 per term £24.84 per 20 minutes £50 per term Pay as you go using Wisepay £8.50 per day

Please get in touch by emailing admissions@nottinghamhigh.co.uk or by calling us on 0115 845 2232 and we will send you an application form.

FEES

The cost of stationery, exercise and text books is included in the tuition fee. Parents may wish to consider covering the School fees by means of insurance schemes. The School cannot endorse any particular scheme, but further information is available from your financial adviser. Fees are due before the start of each term and are paid by Direct Debit.

DEPOSITS Parents will be asked to pay a deposit of £800 within two weeks of an offer being made. In the event of a child not taking up his or her place, the deposit will only be returnable under special circumstances at the discretion of the Nottingham High School Headmaster and Governors.

APPLICATIONS The Entrance Assessment for admission to Nottingham High School in September 2024 for Year 3 to Year 6 will be week commencing Monday 23rd January 2023. The 'Readiness for Learning' assessment for Reception-Year 2 entry will take place towards the end of January 2024. Application forms should be completed and returned by 1st December 2023 at the latest.

We require a photo of your child on the application form along with the £50 application fee. Once we have received your application we will send you an acknowledgement email. If successful, a place will be offered to your child within fourteen working days of the assessment and your acceptance will then be expected within two weeks together with the relevant deposit.

SCHOOL POLICIES Our Safeguarding Policy alongside all other Policies are available on the School website: www.nottinghamhigh.co.uk/policies Hard copies of any policy are available upon request.

POLICIES HOW TO FIND US

CHAIR OF GOVERNORS

We are a short walk or tram journey from Nottingham Town Centre, with ‘The High School’ tram stop on the doorstep.

Directions and information on transport links can be found on our website www.nottinghamhigh.co.uk

The current chairman of Governors is Mr S. Banks. He can be contacted by email at chairman@nottinghamhigh.co.uk

Nottingham High School, Waverley Mount, Nottingham NG7 4ED