Joining in Year 7 at St Edmund's 2025

JOINING IN

YEAR 7

THE ST EDMUND’S ADVANTAGE Years 7 and 8 are critical transition years.

Some schools do not pay enough attention to this vital period in a child’s education. That does not happen at St Edmund’s. Our approach recognises the importance of Key Stage 3 both as a point of vulnerability and as a moment of opportunity. “Vulnerability” because these years represent the start of “secondary” education in the National Curriculum and also the beginnings of adolescence.

“Opportunity” because if schools get their provision right in these year groups, they can not only establish strong academic habits for future years, but also, through nurturing pastoral care, rich cocurricular involvement and personal development programmes, build confidence and personal values that can last a lifetime.

At St Edmund’s, Years 7 and 8 form the upper section of our Junior School.

Our approach is a holistic one. Pupils study a full secondary curriculum with most of their academic lessons provided by subject specialist secondary school teachers in the wonderful shared classrooms and exciting facilities of our whole school site. However, their pastoral care is conducted within the caring, supportive ethos of the Junior School, allowing them to develop their self-esteem and sense of identity in a calm, gentle environment. As leaders of the pupil community, our Year 7 and 8 pupils also develop inter-personal and leadership skills as Prefects and House Captains. This means that the educational experience for our pupils is engaging, nurturing and fun as they begin to focus on entry to the Senior School in Year 9.

Edward O’Connor Head of St Edmund’s School, Canterbury

WHY ST EDMUND’S JUNIOR SCHOOL?

Our fundamental starting point is simple; do pupils feel safe and happy?

This child-centred approach with pastoral care at its heart runs in our very DNA and has done ever since our founding in 1749 as a school for orphans. Within our nurturing environment, we learn what makes each individual pupil ‘tick’ and we are then able to adapt our provision to both support and stretch every pupil to achieve as highly as they possibly can; both academically and personally. We recognise that success is as individual as a fingerprint and so, from our data tracking of academic assessments to our wide variety of co-curricular clubs, the focus is always on the individual. At St Edmund’s, all excellence is recognised and celebrated; be it music, sport, drama, academia or co-curricular and, coupled with our broad curriculum, all pupils are able to find their superpower! With pupils feeling at home in the Junior School whilst having regular access to the fantastic facilities and expert teaching of the Senior School, it is really is the best of both worlds.

For our Year 7 pupils - both those continuing their journey with us and those joining St. Edmund’s for the first time - the transition begins well before the first day of term. In the Summer term prior to starting, all pupils and parents are warmly welcomed to School for Moving Up Day. Parents will have an informative talk delivered by Mr Comfort and some informal time to chat with key members of staff, whilst pupils will spend time with their peers and new teachers. Before school begins in September, pupils new to the school are invited in for an induction afternoon to reacquaint themselves with one another and staff, be given timetables and ensure all are ready for their first full day. During the first of school, there is an extended Form time where pupils are able to ask questions and settle in and, by this time, feel at home. Within the first couple of weeks, we then whisk pupils away on their residential trip to form close-knit friendships which we hope will last a lifetime.

Alex Ward Acting Head of Junior School

MEET THE PEOPLE

MRS ALEX WARD

MISS JOANNE BROWN

ACTING DEPUTY HEAD

ASSISTANT HEAD (TEACHING AND LEARNING)

MRS ALISON SWATMAN

MRS YVONNE KING

ASSISTANT HEAD CO-CURRICULAR

JUNIOR SCHOOL SECRETARY

MISS MARY MORLEY HEAD OF SCHOOL HOUSE

CONTACTS Mrs Ward - Pastoral, Wellbeing or Safeguarding - alw@stedmunds.org.uk Miss Brown - Teaching and learning - jlb@stedmunds.org.uk Mrs Swatman - Trips, clubs and events - ajs@stedmunds.org.uk Mrs King - Absence and day-to-day enquiries - yk@stedmunds.org.uk Miss Morley - Boarding - mlm@stedmunds.org.uk

ST EDMUND’S IN NUMBERS PUPILS

DAY VS BOARDING

500 400 300

JUNIOR SCHOOL SENIOR SCHOOL

406

200

60 211 346

PRE-PREP

100 0

PUPIL TO TEACHER/LSA RATIO

111 Day Pupils

Boarding

NATIONALITIES

Lower School (years 3-5)

7:1

Upper School (years 6-8)

Average class size = 17 AWARDS

EXCELLENT IN ALL AREAS

RESULTS 2025

SCHOLARSHIPS

90

GCSE Pass Rate 9 - 4

98

A-Level Pass Rate %

ACADEMIC

11+ | 13+ | 16+

ART

11+ | 13+ | 16+

SPORT

11+ | 13+ | 16+

DRAMA

11+ | 13+ | 16+

MUSIC

11+ | 13+ | 16+

CHORAL EXHIBITION 13+ | 16+

0 YEARS OF HISTORY

20

40

60

80 100

ORGAN SCHOLARSHIP

UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS 2025

16+

FAMOUS ALUMNI Orlando Bloom, Actor Dan Caplan, Musician Lawrence Durrell, Novelist Maggie Cheung, Actress Sanjeev Gupta, Industrialist Robin Jackman, Cricketer Freddy Kempf, Pianist Percy Mackenzie, Cricketer Stuart Townsend, Athlete Bernard Howlett, Soldier Adar Poonawalla, CEO SII Adrian Snell, Musician

JOINING THE ST EDMUND’S FAMILY

Boys and girls can join St Edmund’s Junior School from Year 3 (age 7) to Year 8 (age 12). While most pupils start in September, we welcome new joiners year-round, subject to availability. Year 7 entry is particularly competitive, so early registration is advised.

Step 1 – Visit Us Meet the Head of Junior School, Mr Ross Comfort, and tour the school.

Contact Admissions: admissions@stedmunds.org.uk | 01227 475601

📧

📞

Step 2 – Register Register anytime before or after a visit by completing the online registration form and paying the £180 (incl. VAT) non-refundable fee. Pupils must be registered before assessment.

Step 3 – Assessment Diagnostic assessments ensure pupils will thrive at St Edmund’s.

This includes: Year 3: Informal assessment during taster day.

Years 4-8: Taster day plus online adaptive baseline assessments.

We accommodate pupils with Additional Educational Needs (AEN) where possible. If applicable, formal diagnostics reports may be required, and a meeting may be arranged with our Junior School SENDCo. Step 4 – Reference & Reports Parents to provide school reports. If required, and with parental consent, we may request a reference from the pupil’s current school.

Step 5 – Offer of a Place If successful, an offer letter, Parent Contract, and joining instructions will be sent. Parents confirm by accepting the place in writing.

AT THE START

For our Year 7 pupils—both those continuing their journey with us and those joining St. Edmund’s for the first time—the transition begins well before the first day of term.

We are delighted to welcome them to our annual Year 7 BBQ and Meet & Greet, a special event designed to ensure a smooth and enjoyable start to their time in the Senior School. This relaxed and friendly gathering provides pupils with the opportunity to meet their future classmates, connect with key members of staff, and explore their new learning environment in an informal and welcoming setting. Parents are also warmly invited to attend, allowing them to engage with the school community and fellow families, fostering a sense of belonging from the outset. Beyond simply an introduction, this event helps pupils feel more comfortable and confident as they embark on this exciting new chapter.

By the time the first day of term arrives, they will have already started forming friendships, getting to know their teachers, and feeling at home at St. Edmund’s. pn

THE SCHOOL DAY Timetable

School starts at 8.30am. Please use the Giles Lane car park. Pupils can arrive no earlier than 8.00am when supervised duty begins but must be at school by 8.30am for registration. All children are supervised from 8.00am.

07.30 - 08.00

Breakfast Club begins

08.00 - 08.30

Pupil drop off

08.30 - 08.35

Registration

08.35 - 09.00

Head’s Line (Mon), Chapel (Tues & Thurs), Lower School/ Upper School Line, House Meetings or Form Time (Weds), Form Time (Fri)

09.00 - 09.55

Lesson 1

10.00 - 10.55

Lesson 2

10.55 - 11.20

Break

11.25 - 12.20

Lesson 3

12.25 - 13.20

Lunch

13.25 - 14.20

Lesson 4

14.25 - 15.20

Lesson 5

15.25 - 16.20

Lesson 6

16.30

Late Stay begins

Wraparound Care Breakfast club runs 7.30am-8.00am and is available to all pupils. Booking in advance is essential and pupils will have the option of a cooked or continental breakfast in our Dining Hall.

After School, Lower School (Years 3-5) children may stay in their classrooms with their Form Teachers in a formal prep session from 3.30pm to 4.00pm.

Those not collected at 4.00pm will transfer to our Late Stay service.

Upper School (Years 6-8) children should leave the school site promptly at the end of the school day unless involved in a formal school activity or Late Stay. There are two options for our Late Stay provision. The session running until 5.30pm includes a tea of sandwiches, a drink and biscuits. The session running until 6.00pm includes a cooked dinner in our Dining Hall.

PASTORAL CARE

Our teachers are subject experts and consistently deliver high-quality lessons to all. We recruit a variety of staff members from across the 2-18 school to implement our bespoke curriculum. Our passion is to nurture a love of learning in all and to help our remarkable and passionate children reach their goals and achieve what they never thought possible.

Alex Ward, Deputy Head

Your child’s wellbeing is a top priority at St Edmund’s School and we take a whole school approach to our delivery of exceptional pastoral care, creating the ethos of happiness and confidence that culminates in better engagement and the improved academic achievement of learners – all encompassed within the warm family atmosphere of the school.

Central to good pastoral care is the strong rapport between staff and pupils, made possible by small class sizes and shared experiences gained through a lively programme of clubs, activities, trips and tours.

Every pupil belongs to a Form, which is a pastoral unit and is the responsibility of a teacher or tutor who has oversight of academic progress, social development and the general wellbeing of the pupils. They are usually parents’ first point of contact, and their email addresses can be found in the Parent Handbook. Parents have the opportunity to meet them during the first half term.

Naturally we want to protect and support our pupils, helping them to develop into healthy, fulfilled and resilient people, ensuring they feel safe, growing an instinct within them to care for themselves, and by nurturing their own pastoral skills, we encourage them to care for others, to act thoughtfully and compassionately. In addition, we have two Pastoral Assistants who are always available for pupils overseen by Mrs Ward who also works closely with the SEND department and our in-house School councillor. Our various safe spaces in school such as the Learning Enhancement block, the well-being corridor, our sensory room or the Medical Centre offer areas of solace for pupils when required.

“The school staff are always so lovely to both of our children and always go over and above what is expected of them, and it is without a doubt, the reason why they absolutely love their school.”

St Edmund’s parent

THE HOUSE SYSTEM The competitive house system is at the heart of Junior School life.

Pupils are assigned to one of four Houses—Becket, Roper, Marlowe, or Chaucer—named after notable local figures, fostering an interest in local history.

Houses build teamwork and friendships across year groups, with older pupils mentoring younger ones, and each house supports a chosen charity.

m ar lo w e

ch au ce r

Be ck et

ro pe r

Throughout the year, pupils compete in a wide range of inter-house events, from sports, chess, and debating to singing, drama, baking, and even a FIFA league.

SCHOOL VALUES WE VALUE

each other social responsibility

excellence

individuality intellectual curiosity & creativity

ACADEMIC LIFE Our mission in the Junior School is to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, creative thinkers and world leaders; to foster in all a love of learning that runs deep.

Our curriculum is broad and flexible and allows every child to express themselves and face new and enlivening experiences: the nuance and beauty of modern art, the rousing crescendos of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, the chance to play team sports on a twice-weekly basis or the journey of self-discovery through their favourite books. Pupils learn to solve problems, develop new perspectives and, through creativity, to influence how others think, feel or live their lives.

HOMEWORK

Pupils are expected to become more independent in their learning, and this is reflected in the setting of prep (or homework) each day. This will take many forms, including tasks, challenges and written work that is designed to reinforce what has been learnt in the classroom. A Year 7 pupil will receive 2 pieces of homework per evening, and is expected to spend half an hour on each though they normally have a number of days within which to complete the work. The habits and skills that students learn in Year 7 are those that will stay with them throughout their secondary school and future life.

SUBJECTS From Year 7 our pupils are offered a wide range of subjects

Art Ceramics Computer Science Design & Technology Diploma (An independent research project)

Drama English Food Preparation And Nutrition Geography History Mathematics Modern Foreign Languages And Latin Music Outdoor Education Physical Education & Games Product Design PSHEE Religious Studies Science

CO-CURRICULAR JOURNEY Led by the Assistant Head Co-Curricular, the co-curricular programme at St. Edmund’s offers a rich and diverse range of opportunities that complement and enhance academic life whilst promoting a pupil’s personal development. We believe that children should not only receive a high-quality education within the classroom but should also have the chance to develop the interpersonal and life skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.

CLUBS There is a weekly programme of lunchtime and after-school clubs managed by the Co-Curricular Co-ordinator and this changes each term. Details of clubs and activities are posted around the school and sent to parents, as well as being advertised to pupils at the start of each term via our EVOLVE app.

We expect every pupil to take part in at least one weekly co-curricular club or activity, though we hope that some will enjoy being involved in considerably more.

Example of the Junior School Clubs calendar for the Lent term

SPORTS Sport at St Edmund’s is for everyone. We want pupils to know how to make the most of their individual talents, building on their strengths and natural abilities. We encourage them to form positive habits and to experience social and competitive engagement, which will lead them to continue with sport and physical activity in their future lives. For pupils who excel in Sport, our boys and girls teams are highly competitive seeing regular success in both league and cup competitions.

FOOTBALL

TENNIS

HOCKEY HOCKEY

NETBALL

CRICKET

BASKETBALL

SWIMMING

BADMINTON

FITNESS

YEAR 7 DATES FOR ENTRY IN 2026

20 SEPTEMBER, 2025 10 & 14 NOVEMBER 2025

Whole School Open Morning Year 7 Taster Days

12 DECEMBER, 2025

Deadline for Scholarship applications

WEEK BEGINNING 26 JANUARY, 2026

Scholarship Assessment week

MARCH 2026 JUNE 2026

Open Morning Summer Open Morning

SCHOLARSHIPS Scholarships are awarded on merit to the highest achievers in competitive examinations and assessments. Candidates who win awards have outstanding ability and the school undertakes to nurture, recognise and celebrate that talent. Our school is an ambitious, purposeful environment where pupils embrace the opportunities offered to them and specialise in areas where they have particular strengths and aptitudes.

Whilst there is certainly kudos in being recognised as a scholar, there is also considerable commitment if awarded. We expect our scholars to contribute to the community by setting high standards and being identifiable as role models for those qualities we believe are integral to success: organisation, commitment, resilience and persistence are just as important as ability.

11+ SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

ACADEMIC

SPORT

DRAMA

ART

MUSIC

SCHOLARSHIPS KEY DATES CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS Friday 12 December 2025 Academic 11+ | Drama 11+ | Music 11+ | Sport 11+ | Art 11+ ASSESSMENT Week commencing Mon 26 January 2026 Academic 11+ | Drama 11+ | Music 11 + | Sport 11+ | Art 11+

BURSARIES & OTHER FEE REMISSIONS Originally founded to provide a free education for the fatherless sons of the clergy of the Church of England and the Church in Wales, St Edmund’s now accepts applications from sons and daughters of the clergy, to whom a 25% discount is offered.

Bursaries are granted on a means-tested basis to existing St Edmund’s families who experience hardship, and there is a limited means-tested bursary provision for families who are new to St Edmund’s.

Children of former pupils may be entitled to a tuition fee concession up to a maximum of 10% . If other remissions (eg scholarship award, bursary), equate to 10% or more then no further discount will be awarded.

Members of the Armed Forces receive a remission resulting in 10% of the boarding fee being payable by the family (in addition to the MOD CEA).

Sibling discounts are also available for third and subsequent children of the same family in the school at the same time.

Applications should be made to the Bursar in writing or by email on bursar@stedmunds.org.uk

REMAINING CONNECTED Termly Academic Reports

Moving up day in the Summer Term

Year 7 parent teachers evening are held twice a year.

Fortnightly newsletter

Year 7 induction day in September

Mr Ross Comfort has an open door policy and is happy to hear from you.

Your child’s form tutor is always a phone call away.

Social Media - we have a dedicated Instagram account @stedsjuniorschool which features news and updates through out the week.

We also host informal parent events for specific year groups, including: Wine Tastings

Coffee Mornings

Quiz Nights

Parent Talks

KEY INFORMATION UNIFORM St Edmund’s School operates an online uniform service with www.schoolblazer.com. This service provides all items of uniform together with name tag application.

MEDICAL CENTRE The St Edmund’s Medical Centre provides care with skilled nurses and a school doctor holding bi-weekly surgeries, ensuring prompt treatment for all pupils.

CATERING To help pupils thrive, they need nutritious meals and a positive attitude toward food. Our caterers, Holroyd Howe, provide fresh, locally sourced, and sustainable meals, including breakfast, lunch, supper, and snacks. We accommodate special diets and work with the Medical Centre to support pupils with specific needs.

MINI BUSES St Edmund’s runs an in-house transport service with MIDAS-accredited, first-aidtrained drivers. Spaces are limited, so early booking is advised. Visit our website for routes or email transport@stedmunds.org.uk to reserve a place.