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Junior School

Inspiring Enquiring Minds

Where great journeys begin We believe that our School is a very special place. Our idyllic setting in the Yorkshire Dales gives life at Giggleswick a real sense of adventure and discovery, where children have the space and freedom to grow as individuals and develop a lifelong love of learning.

A child’s education should be a holistic one, and one that prepares them for the future. Education in this broadest sense is about a balanced curriculum and provision that includes developing academic skills and knowledge, but enabling children to become reflective, creative, caring, confident and wellrounded young people. Our children embody our values of participation, respect and ambition, and do so with such enthusiasm.

They are welcoming, keen to play an active role in our school community and beyond, and make the most of the opportunities that come their way. As staff we encourage and facilitate this joy in learning, provide excellent standards of pastoral care where every child is valued and supported, and we feel privileged to be in positions that enable pupils to succeed and personally develop in so many ways. Giggleswick School really is a special place, and a perfect environment for children to grow and flourish.

“How can they bear to tear themselves away from this happy place in the Yorkshire Dales?” Tatler Schools Guide

Where great journeys begin

Curious Skilled Aware Passionate Creative Pro-active Resilient Assured

The Giggleswick Learner

Our Learner Profile defines the character that we encourage in our Junior School pupils. In line with our values of Respect, Participation and Ambition, it supports our aim of providing a supportive and stimulating education that instils confidence in all of our pupils.

Personal and social development has always been a distinctive aspect of a Giggleswick education. Learning does not stop at the classroom door, with pupils able to participate in a wide range of co-curricular activities. The Giggleswick Diploma has been developed to capture and credit our pupils progress across the whole Academic, Creative, Active, Service and Enrichment curriculum.

Curious

actively enquiring

Skilled

preparing for the next stage

Aware

caring and responsible

Passionate

enthusiastic and motivated

Creative

imaginative and original

Pro-active

becoming an independent learner

Resilient

learning from mistakes

Assured

confident and friendly

The Giggleswick Learner

A spirit of adventure and discovery Children are naturally curious, questioning and creative with a real enthusiasm for learning. Our aim is to nurture these young enquiring minds, firing their imaginations both in the classroom and outside.

Curious The school day is filled with stimulating activities and enthusiasm is found in every classroom. The School’s beautiful countryside setting inspires a sense of freedom and spirit of adventure where children can learn by experience and get closer to nature with hands-on practical lessons in our forest school, garden and nature areas.

Classes are small, attention is individual and children enjoy the benefits of specialist teachers and dedicated facilities for music, science, languages, drama and art. We also share the excellent facilities of the senior school, which includes an indoor swimming pool, a 250 seat theatre, design and technology workshops and School Chapel.

Regular trips and visits We often venture out to visit museums, exhibitions and local places of interest to support the children’s learning. Recent visits have included Magna Science Museum, a Buddhist Temple, Ilkley Literature Festival, The Lakes, Sizergh Castle and Quarry Bank Mill.

Curious – actively enquiring

Not just a school, but a community The well-being of pupils is a priority and Giggleswick is renowned for its happy, caring and supportive community where children feel safe and secure and parents are actively involved. Our boarding ethos and the House system creates a unique family atmosphere and the School’s Christian values promote a caring and respectful environment. All pupils, enjoy the close-knit community with friendship and sharing across all years. This openness and positivity provides the perfect foundation for nurturing happy, confident young learners.

We encourage parents to get involved in all aspects of the School and there is a busy programme of sports fixtures, productions and events to enjoy with plenty of social events supported by an active Parents Association. Communication with home is also important and parents can keep in touch through our weekly newsletter and a live news stream via social media.

Daily bus service To help busy, working parents and families travelling from across the region, we provide daily bus services on 8 routes covering a 45 minute radius of the School. Areas include Kirkby Lonsdale, Grassington, Skipton, Ilkley, Colne, Clitheroe and the Lune Valley.

Aware

Aware – caring and responsible

Building confidence and character At Giggleswick we place particular emphasis on the personal and social development of each child, building confidence, character and a strong sense of responsibility to give them the best start in life. We want every child to feel confident in the classroom and at ease in the company of others. Our happy and caring environment encourages them to express their thoughts and feelings knowing that they will be valued. We also help them to learn respect, rewarding good manners, kindness and a caring attitude to those around them.

school decision-making through our School Council, Pupil Leadership Team, Digital Leaders programme and our Eco Committee. We also encourage pupils to help each other through buddy schemes and other positions of responsibility. The wellbeing of our community is important, with our pupils accessing a wellbeing curriculum that includes Philosophy for Children, Mindfulness and Yoga.

Taking responsibility is equally important. That’s why we give children a role in

Assured “I love the fact that my children are not simply names on a list. Every teacher knows all the children and that makes them feel welcome and safe. Giggleswick pushes my children beyond their comfort zone, and we love all the activities and clubs on offer, it exposes them to adventures they might not get elsewhere. My children have made such progress at Giggleswick thanks to Mr Mundell and his fantastic staff, I can’t wait to see what they achieve next!” Parent of two Junior School pupils

Assured – confident and friendly

Creative Freedom to think, create and grow Initiative and self-expression informs every aspect of life at the School and we encourage every child to be imaginative and original. We adopt a ‘cross-curriculum’ approach from Key Stage 1 right through to Year 6, allowing pupils to gain greater depth of understanding.

The Junior School provides a supportive environment where children feel confident in developing their own ideas and beliefs and they are inspired to become independent learners. We allow time for self-reflection to help them learn positively through their own experience. There are also timetabled sessions for critical thinking and philosophy for children.

Everyone participates in drama, music, art, design and sport to encourage selfexpression and help build their confidence and determination. In music, pupils create their own compositions and in art we work with different materials, including ceramics, to give children the opportunity to not just appreciate art but also consider how it makes them feel.

As pupils enter Key Stage 2, they benefit from the expertise of our cross-campus teachers who teach at our Senior School. From Year 3 all pupils learn an instrument as part of their weekly music lesson.

Creative – imaginative and original

Happy children make successful learners Our pupils are enthusiastic, full of life and eager to learn. Everyone is encouraged to take part, support each other and throw energy into everything they do.

Passionate At Giggleswick we take learning beyond the classroom door using play, participation and teamwork as an important part of their early education. Our extended day allows us to offer a broad curriculum which includes music, drama, arts and crafts, specialist sports coaching and outdoor pursuits. We focus on each child’s interests, creating an environment that’s full of fun and energy, helping them develop a real love of learning.

Children also benefit from an extensive co-curriculum programme. Music, ballet, speech and drama lessons as well as academic enrichment inlcuding NVR/ VR, and various challenges that all help to nurture the wide range of talents of our pupils. There are 25 activities every week, including a KS2 CAS programme of Outdoor Pursuits, Performance, Environmentand Sport each week. Everyone enjoys being part of a school sports team from Year 3 onwards with regular fixtures.

Clubs & Activities Giggleswick prides itself on the breadth of its co-curricular programme, with a wealth of opportunities available, offering pupils amongst other things the chance to develop or enhance their communication, presentation, teamwork and leadership skills.

Passionate – enthusiastic and motivated

Making their mark on the world We think it’s important that our pupils grow up aware of the needs of others, learning respect, responsibility and an understanding of the wider world. We encourage all children to develop a sense of responsibility and an inclusive attitude towards each other. They learn to think about others with regular fundraising and charity projects. They also learn a respect for nature, caring for our pet chickens and rabbit, planting flowers and vegetables and watching them grow.

Playing an active role in the community is important to us. We get involved in local events like the Big Sing, Water Aid and organise our own Fairtrade event each year. We also partner with many local schools, sharing lessons, literacy workshops, performances and our facilities including the Sports Hall, Chapel and Richard Whiteley Theatre.

Pro-active

Visiting authors, illustrators and athletes We regularly invite visitors to the School to provide talks and workshops that inspire our pupils and inform their outlook of the world. Visitors have included Curtis Jobling (creator of Bob the Builder), Tom Palmer (Author), Ross Davenport (Olympic swimmer) and Stephen Waterhouse (Illustrator).

Pro -active – becoming an independent learner

A little determination goes a long way At Giggleswick our pupils discover just how much they can achieve if they are determined to succeed. We encourage children to be positive, adventurous and help them to achieve beyond their expectations.

Achievement gives children an enormous sense of pride and self-worth. Whether it’s a residential trip, a tough sporting fixture or a music exam, our staff are always on hand to listen, help and support. They encourage each child to aim high, move out of their safe zone and achieve more than they think they can.

We think practice and perseverance is hugely important and is built into our daily timetable. In our extended day, children also find plenty of opportunities to train and compete in sport and develop the confidence to perform at music concerts, arts festivals and in drama productions.

Resilient Achievers’ Assemblies We celebrate the achievements of pupils together in Assembly every week, whether their successes came in or out of school, on the sports field, in the art room or on the stage.

Resilient – learning from mistakes

Preparing them for the next stage We are proud of our academic record but even more important to us is the reputation we maintain for developing confident, independent learners, ready for the challenges of senior school. Most of our pupils move on to join Giggleswick’s Senior School and each year around a third of them win academic, all-rounder, sport or music scholarships. We also prepare children for entry to any senior school of choice.

But success is not just about grades and entrance exams. Our broad curriculum and co-curricular activities embrace all talents and all levels of ability, focusing on personal development to nurture children who have the social, moral and digital skills required to achieve in the next stage of their learning.

Skilled Pupil Progress Reports Twice a term we issue Pupil Progress Reports (PPR’s) to keep parents well informed on their child’s progress and achievements, against our core values and national agerelated expectations.

Skilled – preparing for the next stage

Giggleswick School – next steps

Next steps Contact us Phone +44 (0)1729 893 100

Email admissions@giggleswick.org.uk

Website giggleswick.org.uk/junior

Visit us Tours and visits

Taster days

We welcome family visits all year round, organised at a time to suit you. Meet with our Headmaster, teachers and pupils, and take a tour of the School.

The best way to experience Giggleswick is to join us for a day and combine it with an overnight stay if you are interested in full or flexi boarding.

Open Mornings

Events

Open Mornings are held throughout the year. Please check the website for dates and details of our next event.

Families are also welcome to attend our school events including plays, concerts and sports fixtures. It’s a chance to get a real feel for the School and meet other parents and pupils.

Stay and Play We organise regular free sessions for parents and carers of children under five to join us for some fun activities, meet other parents and chat over a cup of coffee. Check our website for our latest dates and details.

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Giggleswick School, Settle, North Yorkshire, BD24 0DE tel: +44 (0) 1729 893 000 email: admissions@giggleswick.org.uk

www.giggleswick.org.uk Giggleswick is a registered charity no 1109826 The contents of this publication are correct at the time of printing. However changes may be made in due course for educational or other reasons.