St Dunstan's College Junior School Prospectus 2019-2020

JUNIOR SCHOOL PROSPECTUS 2019/2020

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WELCOME I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

WELCOME FROM THE HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL The Junior School at St Dunstan’s College is a happy, kind and safe place.

Pupils from Nursery to Year 6 are encouraged and challenged to achieve their academic potential whilst taking advantage of the broad co-curricular programme we have in place to find activities that they can enjoy and in which they can hopefully excel.

Whilst we want our pupils to develop a lifelong love of learning, we also want them to become confident and considerate individuals who are aware of the community around them and who want to contribute to society.

We work closely with parents and regularly welcome them into school to watch their children play in matches or perform in assemblies, concerts and dramatic performances.

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Whilst this prospectus provides a glimpse of life in our school, I would really encourage you to visit us and see the school in action. We pride ourselves on hosting open mornings that operate around a normal school day. Tours are led by pupils who will give you their own spontaneous insight and happily share their own St Dunstan’s journey.

Our pupils are proud of their school and relish the opportunity to share it with visitors. We hold four open mornings per year and a number of bespoke visits for local 7+ schools.

We are always happy to arrange individual tours if none of these dates is suitable.

I look forward to welcoming you to the Junior School soon.

Mr Paul Cozens Head of Junior School

S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I WELCOME

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A JUNIOR SCHOOL JOURNEY I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

A JUNIOR SCHOOL JOURNEY Since joining St Dunstan’s College in Nursery, I have enjoyed all the activities we have done in lessons and beyond.

I have particularly enjoyed maths because it involves solving problems and I love that part of the subject. Outside of the classroom, I have been a keen participant in all our sporting activities.

We take part in a lot of tournaments and fixtures, which help us to develop our skills and give us an opportunity to test them against other schools.

I have also enjoyed our drama productions. In Year 4, I had a lead part in our show ‘Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies’ which was a great experience.

I was so nervous before the main show, in front of all our families in a packed Great Hall. However, I conquered my fears, learned how to control my nerves and loved every minute of the performance. Now, I can’t wait until

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we put on our Year 6 production at the Catford Broadway Theatre during the St Dunstan’s Festival.

I also love going on all the fun trips that are planned for us; from visiting famous landmarks, to week-long residentials away. Our France trip was particularly fun because we did lots of engaging activities and I improved my French speaking and listening skills as the instructors only spoke French!

As part of the Pupil Council when I was in Year 5, I visited a school in Dubai with the other members of the team – a great experience which I will never forget!

I will always remember the Junior School for being a place where I had a lot of fun with my friends, learned lots of new things and became a more independent person. I feel that I have become a better learner through the learning scores that we receive each term and this is helped by the teachers who make every single lesson enjoyable; there is never a dull moment in the day.

Year 6 Pupil

S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I A JUNIOR SCHOOL JOURNEY

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THE CURRICULUM I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

THE CURRICULUM PRE-PREP Our children have a wide variety of exciting experiences during their time in Pre-Prep.

We believe that we have a very important job to nurture curiosity and independence from the earliest ages.

Academic and pastoral needs are of equal importance: a kind word to your friend is valued and celebrated as much as effort made during classroom tasks and activities.

Early Years Foundation Stage Children are directors of their own learning. Their interests are tailored around the Early Years Curriculum which fosters great motivation for learning. Every aspect of a child’s development will be observed and nurtured. Children will make mistakes and adults will guide them through this experience, building their resilience which will prove invaluable for the future.

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Years 1 and 2 As the children grow and develop, so to do the challenges they face, both pastorally and academically.

They begin their journey into the world of the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and are able to see the real links between the humanities and science through exciting and thought-provoking topics. They also begin their Skills for Life lessons.

These give the children the space to question and explore the world beyond their set subjects, looking at issues such as relationships and staying emotionally and physically safe.

S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I THE CURRICULUM

THE CURRICULUM PREP The Prep consists of Years 3 to 6 and with increased independence come further opportunities to take part in many areas of Junior School life.

Pupils benefit from a greater variety of subjects and specialist teachers. They can also take full advantage of the vast co‑curricular programme (Forder), where each pupil participates in a minimum of two timetabled activities per week – but usually many more!

Pupils are encouraged to take more responsibility for their academic progress through their learning scores, and they are encouraged to take on leadership roles within the school community. Roles include sport and house captaincy, the Pupil Council and the College Charity Committee.

There is always an air of excitement in the Prep and never a dull moment: from an array of specialist workshops and educational visits, to pupils taking part in many sporting fixtures and performing at the Catford Broadway Theatre.

No two days are ever the same and the learning journey for each pupil is independent and enhanced through our holistic approach to education.

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ENGLISH I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

ENGLISH We aim to generate a love of the written and spoken word in our pupils by exposing them to a range of celebrated children’s authors and poets, such as Michael Morpurgo, Elizabeth Laird, Philip Pullman, Anthony Browne and Ted Hughes.

Using these high quality texts as a stimulus, pupils learn how to write for purpose in a variety of styles and genres as they progress through the Junior School. Children in Pre-Prep are taught phonics through the highly acclaimed Read Write Inc. scheme and they learn how to write using cursive, joined script. Each year, pupils are given opportunities to extend their learning through regular author and illustrator talks, workshops and theatre visits.

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S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I ENGLISH

I like English. I get to write things and describe things. Today we were describing a lion. I did some similes for it – ‘the courageous, brave, king lion’s fur is as gold as shining sand’.

Year 1 Pupil

To me, English is a creative whirlpool of stories, grammar, imagination and colour. There is always something different to explore in English and that’s why I love it so much!

Year 6 Pupil

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MATHS I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

I love the weekly challenge of the Year 5 Estimation Station.

All the different activities we do help me to consider different strategies and approaches to problem solving.

Year 5 Pupil

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S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I MATHS

MATHS In the Junior School, we want to develop our pupils into problem solvers through our mathematics curriculum.

In the first instance, there is a strong emphasis on developing the children’s core number calculation skills, and this is reinforced through the use of online learning tools such as Mathletics. For us, it is vital that our pupils can apply this core knowledge and understanding to any problem.

Therefore, there is significant focus on teaching specific problem solving strategies in order to assist pupils in developing their mathematical reasoning. As children progress through the Junior School, concepts are revisited and built upon to ensure continual progression and allow opportunities for children to explore topics in greater depth.

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THE IPC I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

THE INTERNATIONAL PRIMARY CURRICULUM In the Junior School, History, Geography and Science (and Art in Pre-Prep) are taught using the International Primary Curriculum (the IPC).

Through exciting, cross-curricular thematic units, such as Temples, Tombs and Treasures, Active Planet or Space Explorers, Junior School pupils begin to recognise the independence and interdependence of the different subjects, which, in turn, enables them to make purposeful links and connections throughout their learning. Embedded within each unit is the development of internationalmindedness which allows children to develop their understanding of different cultural and global perspectives on similar issues.

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S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I THE IPC

In IPC, we learn about really fun things like ancient Greeks and do exciting activities.

My favourite was designing a Greek pot with a story on and making it out of clay.

Year 1 Pupil

I really enjoy IPC because every lesson and topic is different and always interesting. I really like the fact that sometimes the lesson is in the classroom, sometimes in the playground or even on the field!

Year 5 Pupil

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MUSIC I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

MUSIC Our pupils have weekly music lessons from Nursery through to Year 6, delivered by a specialist teacher.

We aim to broaden our pupils’ horizons through our music curriculum and they study different genres, musicians and composers through listening, singing, playing instruments and composing.

They also explore music from around the world, including Brazilian samba, African drumming, steel pans and traditional British folk music. As well as our large variety of percussion instruments, Year 3 pupils all have the opportunity to learn violin for a term.

Our ‘Young Maestros’ scheme allows all pupils in Year 4 to learn a brass or woodwind instrument of their choice for a number of weeks.

Music lessons are fun.

We get to experiment without feeling embarrassed and learn interesting things about composers.

Year 6 Pupil

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S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I ART

ART Junior School pupils are exposed to art from the moment they arrive in the nursery.

During their time in Pre-Prep, they are taught art through topic-related projects. Then, from Year 3, art becomes a discrete subject which is taught by a specialist teacher in a well-equipped art room. Creativity is at the heart of the art curriculum and the pupils learn how to present their ideas using a range of media, including 3D sculpture, textiles, paint, pastels, charcoal and collage. Pupils explore the work of many artists as varied as Hockney, Hundertwasser and Hokusai.

I like that you can create things to put on the wall for everyone to see.

Year 2 Pupil

I always look forward to our art lessons because we always learn new, exciting tricks and I’m always inspired to be creative and imaginative.

Year 6 Pupil

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DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY Learning through experimentation is a key element of Design & Technology (DT) in the Junior School.

Similarly to art, pupils are taught DT through topic-related projects in the Pre-Prep. In the Prep, DT becomes a discrete subject taught by a specialist teacher, in place of art, for one term every year. Pupils are encouraged to be innovative and produce authentic and exciting products. Through designbrief projects, they develop a variety of skills, from needlework and sewing to basic woodwork involving saws, drills and glue guns.

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S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

You can design anything you can imagine and then try to make it!

Year 1 Pupil

I look forward to DT always because I really enjoy designing and making my own creations.

Year 6 Pupil

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DRAMA I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

DRAMA Drama at St Dunstan’s is an exciting subject that enables our pupils to be creative, explorative and to develop their understanding of human behaviour and empathy.

It is taught as a discrete subject from Year 3 and we aim to challenge the children’s perceptions of their world and themselves, as well as promoting the core skills of communication and cooperation. Topics are often linked to English and IPC lessons and diverse themes run throughout, ranging from

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using masks, improvisation and dance to Greek mythology and Shakespeare.

Theatre trips, interactive workshops, visiting storytellers and full-scale performances in the Great Hall or at the Catford Broadway Theatre are all an integral part of our drama curriculum.

Drama is an excellent subject because it helps you to conquer your fear of stage fright and it is really fun!

Year 6 Pupil

S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I ICT & COMPUTING

ICT & COMPUTING As our Junior School pupils are now ‘Digital Natives’, the ICT & Computing curriculum has never been more important.

At St Dunstan’s ICT is taught as a discrete lesson in our dedicated Junior ICT suite from Year 1. During their time at the school, pupils learn how to code, making their own apps and video games in the process.

They are also taught the fundamental skills required to effectively use word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software, with a focus on preparing effective outcomes that are both suitable for purpose and professional in style. Teaching pupils how to be responsible and safe online is embedded throughout the curriculum and supplemented by specialist speaker visits.

I really enjoy coding because I like the problem-solving aspect.

Making video games is such good fun!

Year 6 Pupil

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MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES Junior School pupils experience three different languages at St Dunstan’s: French, German and Spanish.

Our philosophy is that there is a language out there for everyone and that limiting children to one language in their primary years limits their choices moving forward. Therefore, pupils in the EYFS and Year 1 discover Spanish through games, stories and singing. In Years 2 and 3 pupils study French. Then, German is added to the mix in Years 4, 5 and 6. In these latter years, pupils receive a term of each language, enabling them to make an informed choice when they transition to Senior School.

MFL is a great way to interact with different languages while having fun!

Learning three different languages is awesome!

Year 6 Pupil

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I like learning languages because when you go to another country you know what to say.

Year 2 Pupil

S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY & ETHICS

RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY & ETHICS The Religion, Philosophy and Ethics (RPE) curriculum endeavours to expand Junior School pupils’ knowledge and understanding of religions and world views, as well as develop their own and others’ ideas about ethical questions, including opinions about right and wrong, justice and fairness.

Through learning about celebrations, sacred spaces, traditions, worship and meditation, children are able to develop an understanding of similarities and differences within and between religions and worldviews. Philosophy topics such as ‘What is a chair?’ or ‘What makes a good person?’ develop reasoning and deeper thinking skills.

Philosophy is something that turns your brain upside down and inside out! It’s weird and wonderful and makes you see things from a completely different perspective. It makes you feel like you can see things that you couldn’t see before.

Year 5 Pupil

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PE & GAMES I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

PE & GAMES PE & Games present exciting opportunities for us to engage all pupils in physical activity.

As soon as they join the school in Nursery, pupils have two PE lessons per week taught by specialist teachers.

Weekly swimming lessons in our 30 metre pool take place from Reception to Year 6 all year round. Our core sports at St Dunstan’s are rugby, netball, football, hockey, cricket and swimming, however, there are plenty of opportunities for pupils to develop in other sports, such as tennis, basketball, rounders and athletics. Pupils take part in matches against other schools from Year 3 up and develop match awareness through a non-result-based culture.

We recognise that the value of PE & Games lies not just in developing children physically – we incorporate personal, social, cognitive and creative objectives into our teaching so that they achieve their potential not only in sport, but also when they go back into the classroom.

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S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I PE & GAMES

The teachers inspire me to get better and motivate me. I always feel like I have more to practise in every sport.

Year 6 Pupil

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SKILLS FOR LIFE I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

SKILLS FOR LIFE Pupil wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do in the Junior School. Our Skills for Life curriculum enables pupils to develop their spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical understanding.

Pupils learn about community, their role within society and the opportunities and responsibilities they have as citizens and individuals within a broader life context. We encourage pupils to consider the positive impact of adopting a growth mindset: embracing and not fearing challenges, developing resilience and learning strategies to have awareness of, and be able to regulate, their emotions. Whilst these lessons

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are integral to our Skills for Life curriculum, they also form the core of our whole-school aims and values. We aim to help pupils develop attributes and characteristics that will enable them to thrive as individuals and members of society and to contribute positively to the communities in which they belong. We also include ethical and philosophical debate, as well as an introduction to Mindfulness.

It’s good for helping us to speak openly and honestly about our beliefs, emotions and feelings.

Year 4 Pupil

S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I INCLUSION & ENRICHMENT

INCLUSION & ENRICHMENT Inclusion & Enrichment (I & E) encompasses those pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), English as an Additional Language (EAL) or Gifted, More Able & Talented (GMAT).

The I & E team works across the Junior School, providing support to the identified pupils who need it. We aim to work closely with families to ensure that plans put in place support the child with appropriate strategies and measurable targets. Pupils may receive additional support from a Learning Support Assistant in class, or be invited to intervention groups to help them meet their targets.

Our high achieving pupils are consistently challenged both inside and outside of the classroom and benefit from high quality differentiated teaching, enrichment groups and the opportunity to compete against their peers in competitions at a local and national level.

Since I’ve been in Learning Support I have become more confident and independent with many things. I look forward to lessons as I want to build up my confidence.

Year 6 Pupil

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THE FORDER PROGRAMME I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

THE FORDER PROGRAMME In the Junior School, we truly value and recognise the importance of an exciting and extensive co‑curricular programme.

Pupils benefit from an allencompassing co-curricular offering, which enables them to develop their skills, broaden their understanding of the wider world and discover new passions and talents. It allows all pupils to immerse themselves in creative, physical and often challenging activities, alongside various opportunities to develop leadership skills and work on team‑building.

In addition to a wide range of sport, music, art and drama activities, we offer an extensive range of clubs, which change on a termly basis. These include activities such as debating, philosophy, current affairs, calligraphy, yoga, code breakers, LAMDA and chess.

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All pupils are expected to engage fully with all areas of the programme to ensure they establish a breadth in their co-curricular programme from the outset of their time at St Dunstan’s.

Activities take place before school, at lunchtime, during form time and after school. In Prep, two additional timetabled lesson times are devoted to our co-curricular programme.

Activity options are available to pupils from Reception to Year 6 and with over sixty clubs available to pupils each week, there is so much to look forward to! The breadth and range of options available aim to cater for the needs, tastes and interests of all our pupils.

I like the Forder Programme because you can choose your activities at least twice a week. It is really special that we use lesson time to learn a completely new hobby.

Year 5 Pupil

S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I THE FORDER PROGRAMME

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RESIDENTIAL TRIPS I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

I enjoy residential trips because they help you face your fears – I was afraid of heights until I went on the high ropes on the Year 5 residential.

Year 6 Pupil

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S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I RESIDENTIAL TRIPS

RESIDENTIAL TRIPS From Year 2 to Year 6, pupils are offered a range of opportunities to experience the benefits of learning in an out-of-school context with high‑quality, overnight residential trips.

We believe that these experiences enrich the taught curriculum, foster deeper and often new relationships with peers, develop resilience and team-work skills and increase their independence and sense of belonging.

The memories made on these trips are invaluable and pupils speak about their trips with fondness and delight.

In Year 2 pupils camp on the school grounds overnight and take part in team-building activities, enjoy a summer barbeque together and enjoy time spent around a campfire.

In Year 3 pupils spend two nights and three days on their residential, following a ‘From Field to Plate’ theme.

They learn all about the importance of farming, take part in the daily farming

routines and the processes needed in order for us to be able to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Activities also include pupils preparing their own food to further embed their understanding of the final stage of the farming process.

This visit is part of the Modern Foreign Languages curriculum and the focus of the trip is a completely immersive French speaking experience. All lessons and activities are led by teachers who are bilingual native French language speakers and the increased confidence pupils have when speaking French upon their return is quite remarkable.

Year 4 and 5 pupils embark on four nights away, completing team-building activities in PGL, Osmington Bay (Year 4) and Manor Adventure, Shropshire (Year 5). From canoeing, to raft building, abseiling to high ropes, all pupils confront a challenge and face their fears in a fun, safe environment on their action-packed adventure week away.

When pupils are in Year 6, they travel further afield for five nights to Maison Claire Fontaine, in Burgundy, France.

You can go on a residential trip with your friends and you get to learn in a different way, away from your classroom and your school. You learn what your life will be like if you don’t have parents organising your things all the time!

Year 5 Pupil

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

COMMUNITY OUTREACH In the Junior School, we aim to instil a sense of commitment and responsibility within our local community. Meaningful opportunities offered to pupils allow them to understand the role they play not only within their home and school community, but also locally and within the wider world.

Children on Christmas Jumper Day. In addition to this, our co-curricular programme includes pupils venturing into the local community to learn more about our environment and fellow citizens within it. We endeavour to host events within the local community and invite the public to various performances, presentations and workshops within our summer St Dunstan’s Festival. We also make the most of our local environment by hosting our Years 4 and 6 productions at the Catford Broadway Theatre and the Junior School Harvest Festival and Carol Service at St Laurence Church, Catford.

From small acts of kindness to larger scale charity projects, we host many events and run programmes to deepen pupils’ understanding of the role they play in supporting others and the community in which they live. We hope that in doing so, they are developing their sense of empathy, gratitude and compassion towards others.

Junior School representatives take part in a whole-school Charity Committee, deciding each term who should be supported by the College in our various charitable events, for example supporting the ‘Hello Yellow’ Young Minds campaign on World Mental Health Day or Save the

I really enjoyed packing the Christmas hampers for those in need in Lewisham. It was great to know that we were doing something charitable and made me feel really good about myself.

It made me realise how lucky I am to have family around me at Christmas time.

Year 6 Pupil

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When we made Christmas cards for the elderly people in our local community, we shared joy with them and it was nice to know it made them feel happier at Christmas time.

Year 4 Pupil

S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I PASTORAL CARE

PASTORAL CARE At St Dunstan’s College, the pupils are at the heart of what we do and we understand that it is only when pupils are happy, settled and feel safe in school that they are able to thrive and achieve their true potential.

Pastoral care is the responsibility of all members of staff, who take time to develop trusting, positive relationships with pupils, understanding that pupils are individuals with their own qualities, skills and characteristics. We pride ourselves on the strength of our community and adopt an ‘open door’ policy with all parents and pupils. Every form has a Form Teacher, who will teach the majority of lessons to their class, plan Form Time sessions every morning and afternoon, as well as at the end of the school day.

The College motto – albam exorna – translates to ‘Adorn the White’. This phrase is connected to the white shield that serves as three quarters of the school’s crest. The white is the blank canvas onto which will be adorned the as yet unwritten story of each St Dunstan’s pupil; each individual journey through school and life beyond.

This is reflective of our appreciation

that each pupil has their own unique qualities and attributes. We believe that the principles underpinning the narrative of our motto are reflected in the values we foster in our young people and embed in our school community and culture today.

We strive for a school of individuals who have the Courage to be who they are, the Creativity to develop new ideas and shape their own futures, the Confidence to try, succeed and respond positively to failures, the Compassion to understand and appreciate others and the wider world, and the Curiosity always to want to discover more.

Wrap-Around Care Before School Care starts at 0745 and After School Care runs until 1800.

Pupils attending wrap-around care will be supervised by a qualified member of our teaching support staff.

When you join St Dunstan’s, you feel like everyone is a friend to you and they help you when you are in need.

We celebrate each other’s difference and value everyone in the school community.

Year 4 Pupil

I think that the teachers welcome pupils into lessons with a joyful attitude and make sure that we are happy in school.

Year 6 Pupil

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PUPIL VOICE I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

PUPIL VOICE & RESPONSIBILITY Pupils are provided with a range of opportunities to contribute towards the strategic vision of the College and there is an emphasis on ‘pupil voice’ throughout their school experience.

Each year in the Junior School, the College endeavours to increase the roles and responsibilities available to pupils, as their awareness of whole-College matters develops alongside their ability and confidence to articulate their views. The Junior School actively seeks opinions, ideas and suggestions from pupils; their decision-making contributes directly to school improvement and target setting. The pupils are at the heart of our school community and it is therefore essential that their voice is heard by enabling them to partake in roles and duties where they feel their

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contribution is valued, welcomed and has a wider whole-College purpose.

Our Pupil Council representatives meet on a weekly basis, comprising one pupil per class from Year 2 to Year 6.

Playground Pals are selected in Year 6 and they are also responsible for training our Year 2 Playground Pals.

When pupils are in Year 6, additional responsibilities include: Sports Captains (selected by the Junior School sports staff), House Captains (voted for by pupils in their House) and a Head Boy and Head Girl (chosen by the Head of the Junior School).

Being in the Pupil Council is really fun and the position is really important. It also makes you feel happy because you have that responsibility and we like making a difference to our school community.

Year 4 Pupil

S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I SUSTAINABILITY

SUSTAINABILITY Pupils in the Junior School explore the benefits and importance of sustainability through the taught curriculum, co-curricular programme and general day-to-day action taken within the College.

They are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and understand the significance of them both in regard to the school community, but also the wider world.

Our sustainability education includes: • Taking part in the Travel for London Sustainable Travel: Active, Responsible, Safe initiative • Running Cycle Confident Levels 1 and 2 training • Holding ‘Walk to School Week’ • Inviting our Head Boy and Head Girl to the Lewisham Council Air Quality presentations • Running ‘Recycling Rocks’ club • Learning about environmental topics as part of the International Primary Curriculum • Pre-Prep Scooter Training • Holding a ‘Car Free Day’ and ‘Car Sharing Day’ • Learning about road safety • London Underground route planning • Whole-school step count Sustainability is integral to every aspect of our lives and parents are heavily involved in reiterating the message that we must all be aware of our environment and that strategies should be implemented to look after the planet as much as possible for our own wellbeing and future.

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PUPIL VOICE I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

FESTIVALS & CELEBRATIONS In the Junior School, pupils are provided with many opportunities to join together as a community to celebrate a key date, event or particular festival.

Often these events involve parents joining us and we embrace any opportunity to bring our whole school community together, including events taking place both in and outside of school. In addition to this, we have a main ‘Theme of the Week’ as a wholeschool, where we place an emphasis on a particular topic during a time of celebration, for example the theme of Light during Diwali, World Mental Health Week and Anti-Bullying Week.

We focus on that topic in assembly time, during Form Time and at various points in the week.

Examples of key Festivals and Celebrations in the Junior School: • Harvest Festival • Remembrance Service • Carol Service • Anti-Bullying Week • World Mental Health Day • E-Safety Day • World Book Day • Commemoration Day • Science Week

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S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I SUSTAINABILITY

I think it is good that we have different celebrations because I find it fun and you get to practise singing songs. You are learning a lot when you find out more about different celebrations.

Year 4 Pupil

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THE ST DUNSTAN’S FESTIVAL I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

THE ST DUNSTAN’S FESTIVAL The St Dunstan’s Festival is now firmly established and forms a real highlight at the end of the academic year enabling pupils to engage in a huge variety of activities and performances involving not only the College but also the wider community.

The aims of our Festival are firmly rooted in educational value – to educate our students in the best attitudes to the co-curricular opportunities available to them, especially by offering them artistic opportunities of the highest order, and to involve and engage them with the broader community, by promoting access to events of cultural significance.

The events covered are diverse and continue to grow each year. They include interactive art experiences; physical challenges such as the Tag Rugby tournament and the SDC Assault Course; competitions such as SDC Bake Off and Science Against the Clock; a range of theatre from devised works and Collaborative Community Drama, to full-scale productions such as The Lion King and Hairspray; a Fashion Show and a Magic Masterclass.

In the Junior School many workshops are run throughout the day and after school, a number of which are for parents to attend with their child

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and work together. Each year we run a House Fun Day which culminates with a whole-school flash mob dance at our Jubilee Ground. The Year 6 Production and the Junior School Concert are high‑profile events during the Festival, both presented in the main auditorium of the Catford Broadway Theatre.

The Festival concludes with a spectacular final concert at Catford Broadway Theatre, involving the whole College, a truly uplifting occasion and a fitting end of year celebration of the creative talent and hard work evident throughout our community.

S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I THE ST DUNSTAN’S FESTIVAL

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ADMISSIONS I S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S

ADMISSIONS Nursery and Reception Entry

Key Contact Information

We accept registrations for our Nursery (3+) from birth, and early registration is advised. Children are considered for entry to the Nursery provided they have reached the age of 3 by the start of the Michaelmas Term. The first 50 applicants are invited to assessment in the preceding Michaelmas Term. We will hold a waiting list of 30 applicants thereafter.

Junior School Admissions Coordinator: Miss Deborah Jackson 020 8516 7225 jsadmissions@sdmail.org.uk

The deadline for submission of registrations for Reception (4+) entry in September is during the previous October.

Our 4+ assessments take place on Wednesday mornings during September and October and our 3+ assessments will be held on Wednesday mornings during November.

Year 3 Entry (7+) The deadline for registration is usually in December of the year before entry.

All pupils who apply are invited to attend an assessment day at the College in early January.

Other Points of Entry Occasional places do become available from time to time in Nursery through to Year 6. Assessments are arranged as appropriate and will involve your child spending part or all of a school day with us. They will experience a mixture of time in class and formal academic assessments. We will also contact your child’s current school to ask for a reference and recent school report.

If you have any further questions concerning your child joining the Junior School, please email the Junior School Admissions Coordinator (jsadmissions@sdmail.org.uk) or telephone 020 8516 7225.

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Head of Admissions: Miss Anika Kothari 020 8516 7309 admissions@sdmail.org.uk

S T D U N S TA N ’ S J U N I O R S C H O O L P RO S P E C T U S I ADMISSIONS

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