At St. Helen’s College we are extremely proud of our reputation for achieving academic excellence and outstanding all-round pupil development.
From Nursery right through to Year 6 each child receives a bespoke education and is fully supported to discover a lifelong love of learning to fulfil their potential.
We are passionate about education and strive to always be at the forefront of educational developments. Staffed by highly experienced teachers and leaders we continually review our teaching and learning methods using a combination of traditional strategies and more innovative approaches based on new research.
At St. Helen’s College we encourage children to continuously reflect on their learning to improve. Class work, both oral and written, is completed to a high standard and homework is set at appropriate levels throughout the school. At all levels, reading forms the first and most crucial part of the homework routine.
Specialist Teaching
Specialist-led learning at every stage
Much of the teaching throughout the school is led by specialists, right from the earliest years in Nursery. Our specialist teachers have an absolute love for their subject and a passion to share it and to inspire others. Children from 2+ (Ducklings) up to 11+ (Year 6) are taught Spanish by a native Spanish speaker, music by qualified professional musicians, drama and sports by expert teachers, and science and technology by dedicated specialists.
We are very well-staffed, with a high ratio of staff to children. In addition to our teachers, we employ a large team of highly experienced teaching and learning assistants (TALAs) who support the children throughout the school.
Assessment, Feedback and Reporting
Working together to support progress
Children are assessed frequently and given feedback continually to improve their work and take the next steps in their learning. Teachers also use our unique ‘learning logs’ to communicate between home and school in the core subjects.
Teacher observation, teaching team discussions, records of work and a variety of tests are combined to profile each child’s progress as he or she moves through the school.
From Year 1, the children’s achievements in maths, English and science are formally assessed each term. Written reports are sent home to parents twice each year, Parents’ Evenings are held formally twice a year, and our annual Exhibition Day gives parents the opportunity to look in detail at their children’s work and classroom displays.
The school’s open door policy means that teachers are available to speak to parents whenever the need should arise. Communication between home and school is crucial to ensure consistency of approach and parents are aware of where pupils are in their learning so that they may support this appropriately at home.
Challenge For All
Supporting talent and scholarship success
We believe that all children, whatever their level of knowledge and skills, should be stretched and challenged in every lesson.
A significant number of pupils have exceptional knowledge, skills and aptitudes and it is crucial that all children are extended appropriately. Pupils’ strengths are recognised and teachers have high expectations, setting high levels of challenge whether in the classroom, art studio or laboratory, or on the games field.
Many children win scholarships to the senior school of their choice and our carefully considered scholarship programme ensures that children’s potential is identified early and that applicants are very well supported throughout the scholarship process.
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