Independent School Parent Awards 2022: Shortlisted for INDEPENDENT SCHOOL OF THE YEAR FOR WELLBEING
FROM THE HEADMASTER
Here at Reigate St Mary’s, we provide children with an all-round education, developing their thinking skills and motivation so that they become lifelong learners, fully prepared for senior school and beyond.
All of this is achieved through our relentless focus on wellbeing. The school philosophy is underpinned by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, as we recognise that self-esteem and a sense of belonging are both critical to ensuring that your child achieves their potential. We aim to nurture and develop their grit, determination and resilience, setting them on a path to a happy and successful adulthood.
A rich, broad and stimulating curriculum, alongside truly holistic and individual support, ensures that each child can develop their strengths and accelerate their academic attainment as they progress through the school. A successful transition to senior school will build upon these successes, and ensure your child continues to be happy, healthy and fulfilled in the next stage of their education.
With this in mind, we are committed to helping you find the senior school that is the best fit for your child. More often than not, the outcome is Reigate Grammar School (typically 80% of our cohort transition there), where links and familiarity with the school make it a natural choice. However, if this is not the environment best suited to your child, we offer an outstanding programme of preparation and support so that they can move on to other excellent senior schools.
Marcus Culverwell Headteacher
KEY INGREDIENTS OF OUR ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Thorough preparation for senior school is about so much more than testing. We believe that our academic success is based on six key ingredients:
• A relentless focus on wellbeing: without the self-esteem, confidence and sense of belonging that are essential to wellbeing, it is impossible for your child to achieve his or her full potential. With them, the chances of success are optimised. That’s why wellbeing is the absolute bedrock of everything we do.
• Truly holistic and individual support: your child is known in the round by all staff thanks to a termly ‘form focus’ meeting, where every child is considered and discussed by everyone involved. The result is a joined-up picture of your child and an understanding that enables personalised support both in and out of the classroom. No child is invisible or slips under the radar here.
• A growth mindset: one that celebrates hard work and effort, and intrinsic not extrinsic reward. In focusing on the journey, and in embracing mistakes and failure as part of improving, your child will build the resilience and risk-taking propensity required to succeed.
“We strive to ensure that every child has the ability to confidently demonstrate their thinking skills in all areas of their learning.”
• A rich, broad and stimulating curriculum: one that covers STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), computing, languages, science, philosophy, PHSE, the humanities (history, geography and religious studies), art, drama, music and sport galore, as well as the core subjects of maths and English.
• Committed staff: those recruited for their desire to see children flourish and overcome hurdles. When coupled with staff ratios that facilitate individual attention and the time to have those conversations that matter, then real growth happens.
• An emphasis on lifelong learning: right from Reception your child will be part of our Philosophy for Children programme, which develops critical and abstract thinking. In discussing whether Red Riding Hood should have deviated from the path, for example, your child learns to question, evaluate, decide and articulate. In listening to others, and building on their ideas, academic standards are lifted for everyone and your child develops important soft skills such as communication and teamwork.
HOW YOUR CHILD WILL BE ASSESSED
There is no single test to determine potential, therefore what we also look for is continuous excellent progress right up until your child leaves Reigate St Mary’s. Our full, rich curriculum nurtures the enjoyment of all subjects. It includes the creative arts and combined humanities with cross-curricular links, which helps build strengths in all areas.
LOWER SCHOOL – RECEPTION TO YEAR 2
Lower School assessments do not take the form of tests. Instead, teachers seek daily feedback from the children, opening a dialogue that ensures each child has a solid understanding of key concepts before progressing on his or her educational journey. Regular Parents’ Evenings and end-of-year reports keep you informed every step of the way. During Year 2, the first formal test is gently introduced.
UPPER SCHOOL
In Year 3, children are introduced to reasoning tests from a recognised external educational supplier. These tests are designed to determine whether or not your child is performing to his or her potential. We do not prepare for these assessments, although the children do become very familiar with their format over the years. It is the results of these tests, along with the teachers’ assessments of your child, that enable us to form judgements of academic potential based on your child’s progress, resilience and attitude.
Formal tests are carried out twice a year in Years 3 to 6 in comprehension, SPAG, writing and maths. The children enjoy the challenge, relishing the opportunity to demonstrate what they know. As teachers, we focus on individual development – celebrating children who are reflective and not afraid to take risks, as these are important life skills.
ENTRY AT YEAR 3
We are delighted to welcome children into our Upper School when spaces become available. A taster day is arranged and your child can enjoy time with their peers, as well as undergoing some tests to indicate their current academic achievement and potential. Based on this, we can provide parents with accurate feedback on their child’s current potential, prior to them joining the school.
We know that this is only a ‘snapshot’ of their attainment and is followed with verbal feedback to parents. It is not an entrance test and we are not a selective school.
THE ROUTE TO REIGATE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
YEAR 5 PUPILS
Many of our Year 5 pupils receive an early offer to our senior school, Reigate Grammar School without the need to sit an entrance exam. Reigate Grammar School is highly academically selective, therefore ongoing assessments and, of course, teacher assessments from Year 3 to Year 5 are used to gauge which pupils would benefit from its fast-paced learning environment. Pupils who receive early offers will also have demonstrated a willingness and an ability to positively contribute to the life of the school.
We know our pupils well, and the early admissions process to Reigate Grammar School is based on a proven track record of academic ability over the course of a pupil’s time at Reigate St Mary’s. The indicators we use specifically include those for the core subjects, which are reported to parents in the termly feedback via reports and at Parents’ Evenings. Most emphasis is placed on the indicators from the Summer Term, once the whole curriculum has been covered.
THE ROUTE TO OTHER SENIOR SCHOOLS
If Reigate Grammar School is not the right school for any of our pupils, we work closely with parents to agree which school is the best fit for each child, where their specific areas of interest are going to be nurtured. We prepare the children accordingly, in addition to the ongoing backdrop of frequent assessments.
We have excellent relationships with many senior schools in the local area. Combined with a rigorous programme of support, this ensures that we can help children to gain places at the schools of their choice.
WEEKLY SUPPORT SESSIONS
Support sessions are run by our experienced 11+ tutor, and include small group tutorials. The 11+ teacher and Assistant Heads meet with parents and advise on school options, which is in addition to guidance from our senior leadership team. Core teachers of English and maths send home support packs for extra preparation in the Summer holidays and for the Autumn half term break of Year 6.
In the past few years, children have moved onto a number of local independent and state schools, including Epsom College, Lingfield College, Dunottar and St Bede’s, many with scholarships for academics, music, sport and art.
Any SEND requirements are also discussed with future senior schools, and our excellent SEND staff support families all the way through the process.
KEY DATES AND TESTING SUMMARY
YEAR GROUP
Year 3
Year 4
EVENT/DISCUSSION
Year 5
Parents’ Evenings in the Autumn and Summer terms.
Full annual written report in the Spring term.
Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning tests in the Autumn term.
Tests in English comprehension, SPAG, writing and maths in the Spring and Summer terms.
Year 3 senior school information evening.
Parents’ Evenings in the Autumn and Summer terms.
Full annual written report in the Spring term.
CAT Reasoning tests in the Autumn term.
Tests in English comprehension, SPAG, writing and maths in the Spring and Summer terms.
Meeting or letter from the Headmaster or Deputy Head to discuss future schools. In the Summer term, a meeting with parents on the Reigate Grammar School route, if achievable.
Parents’ Evening in the Autumn term with English, maths and form teachers.
Full annual written report in the Spring term.
Parents’ Evening in the Summer term.
CAT Reasoning tests in the Autumn term.
Tests in English comprehension, SPAG, writing and maths in the Spring and Summer terms.
Further discussions on senior school suitability following the half term break of the Spring term and Summer term.
Year 5
(cont...)
Early Offer Process to Reigate Grammar School
In the Spring term, parents confirm that they wish to apply for an early offer to Reigate Grammar School. Scholarships including sport, drama, art and music may be applied for by a parent if their child has been recommended for one by Reigate St Mary’s subject leads. Academic scholarships are not applied for. However, we will discuss potential academic scholars with Reigate Grammar School.
Reigate Grammar School send out offer letters at the beginning of the Summer term and parents must accept and commit to taking up the place by the half term break of the Summer term.
Applying to Other Senior Schools
From February of the Spring term, 11+ weekly classes begin with the 11+ teacher.
The 11+ weekly classes continue with access to online resources given during the Summer term and holiday. In the Summer holidays, maths resources are also given.
Parents’ Evening in the Autumn term with English, maths and form teachers.
In September, the children go on a residential trip to encourage team building, confidence and problem solving.
CAT Reasoning tests and a report given to parents in the Autumn term for those on the 11+ programme.
Tests in English comprehension, SPAG, writing and maths in the Spring and Summer terms.
Year 6
The 11+ programme continues until the end of the Autumn term, with specific support given for senior school entrance exams. Additional resource ideas are also provided by the 11+ teacher. Parents are given a Top Tips for Exams pack at the end of the Autumn term to help their child get ready for January exams, which is when most senior schools undertake these. Ongoing maths and English support is given.
Ongoing conversations and individual meetings with parents as necessary, particularly in relation to scholarship potential.
In the Autumn term, letters are sent to parents of pupils not going on to Reigate Grammar School requesting confirmation of all independent or state senior schools they are applying to.
Year 6 pupils have interview practice with a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
