Junior School FAQs

Approx. 1,300 aged from 3-18. Approx 450 in the Junior School.

We aim for 50/50 but this can fluctuate.

Two classes in Nursery and three classes from Reception to Year 6.

Usually 20 but can go up to 22.

From 2023 our uniform (including Sports Kit) is available from online retailer Stevensons.

Our wraparound care runs from 7.30am to 6.00pm.  There is a breakfast club which runs from 7.30am to 8.10am and an after school care facility, which runs from 3.00pm to 6.00pm. Both carry an additional cost. Both can be booked in advance to guarantee places.

EYFS and KS1 enjoy singing assemblies, sharing assemblies and assemblies which focus on our school values.  There are Key Stage 2 school assemblies in the hall on Mondays and Fridays. On Tuesday, there is circle time or House Assemblies. On Wednesdays, there is hymn practice. On Thursdays, children stay in their forms and have Form Time.

Yes, a very strong system. We do our best to put siblings in the same house and children are awarded house points in all lessons for their work, behaviour, manners and initiative. Values Certificates are awarded to children who have clearly demonstrated one of the 7 values. There are regular House meetings for children in KS1 and KS2.

Yes, for children from Year 3 only. Routes include Beckenham, Chelsfield and Canary Wharf. Further details are available on our website and from the Bursary.

Further details are available here.

Currently £15,330 for Nursery and Reception (including lunch), £16,005 for Years 1 and 2 (including lunch) and £16,920 for Years 3 to 6 (excluding lunch).

Policies can be found on the Colfe’s website.

All children joining EYFS are assessed within a play-based setting.  Offers are made to children showing a readiness and eagerness to engage with the activities on offer, who have the focusing and language skills appropriate for their age and display positive dispositions to learning.  We also look for imaginative and creative children who demonstrate a degree of independence.

From Year 1 upwards, we are looking for independent learners with solid literacy and numeracy skills and good comprehension.  If places are available, children are invited into school to sit age-appropriate assessments in English and maths. We do not take children into Year 6.

Nursery and Reception assessments are held in early October and mid-November respectively each year and offers made in November and December.  For entry into the EYFS, the children will be assessed in line with the above criteria.  The assessment is carried out in an informal play-based environment by qualified Early Years Staff.

For KS1 candidates (Years 1 and 2) there will be a spelling assessment, standardised papers for English and Mathematics and a short piece of creative writing. The KS2 (Years 3 to 6) assessments also include standardised papers in Reading and Mathematics.

Entry into Key Stage 1&2 is dependent on vacancies arising and an individual assessment with our Deputy Head or Head.

Children in Nursery and Reception follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum which is divided into 7 areas of learning: Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Communication and Language; Literacy; Mathematics; Understanding the World; Physical Development; Expressive Arts and Design. In KS1 children begin to study discrete subject areas building on the skills, knowledge and experience gained during the Foundation Stage. As pupils move into year 1, they continue learning through a continuous provision model, with several opportunities for small-group, tailored teaching. As the children develop in maturity, we begin to introduce a whole-class teaching model to prepare them for Y2 and beyond.

All year groups have swimming (Nursery from Spring Term), PE and music lessons with specialist teachers.

In KS2 most classes are taught both Mathematics and English by their form tutor. Unlike most state schools, the children are then taught by subject specialist teachers in areas such as Science, Music, Art and PE & Games. There are purpose-built rooms for Art, Music, Science and Computing and use is made of the excellent on-site facilities (including a heated indoor swimming pool) for Games and PE lessons. In addition, specialist language teachers teach French (Years 3, 4 and 5) and Spanish (Year 6).

One music lesson a week for children in Nursery and Reception and two a week for children in Years 1-6.  In addition to the usual curriculum of instrumental and vocal exploration, including listening, improvising, composing and performing, we offer a term of instrumental focus. In Year 3, pupils will have a term exploring brass instruments. In Year 4, they have the chance to trial a string instrument for one term. In Y5, they explore woodwind instruments all of which offer the choice of proceeding to paid lessons after that term. Year 6 will be looking at music technology.

We have several peripatetic teachers who provide music lessons in a range of instruments including piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, brass, drums flute and clarinet. There is a school orchestra, a range of choirs including a chamber choir, a ukulele ensemble and a string ensemble.

Pupils in KS2 learn French in Years 3, 4 and 5, and Spanish in Year 6.  We have introduced French into Key Stage 1 and pupils will begin learning French through songs and games.

Nursery: The children select and take home a selection of library books on a weekly basis. ‘Phonic’ activities, a ‘Core poem’ and a ‘Maths Challenge’ are sent home on a weekly basis (via Tapestry)

Reception: Phonics and Mathematics homework is sent home weekly (via Tapestry).  Once readiness for reading has been demonstrated, children will commence regular reading books.

KS1

Year 1: Spelling test words mid-week; Friday/weekend homework which is usually Maths/Literacy based (via Tapestry). reading scheme books are sent home four times a week and library books are changed regularly.

Year 2: Spelling test words mid-week.

Friday/weekend homework which is usually Mathematics/Literacy/topic based (via Teams).  Multiplication tables to rehearse for a weekly challenge test.  Reading scheme books are sent home four times a week and library books are changed regularly.

KS2

English and Mathematics will be set on two days a week each (via Teams)

Year 3: 30 minutes each evening and 30 minutes at the weekend.

Year 4: 45 minutes every evening in the week and 30 minutes at the weekend.

Years 5 and 6: 45 minutes in the week and 40 minutes at the weekend.

Generally, there will be Maths or English work in the week and subjects such as History, Science or Geography at the weekend.

Over fifty per week. Mostly run by staff, but outside providers are brought in for specialist clubs such as judo, karate and dance, for which there is a cost. Most clubs run between 3.00 and 3.45/4.00pm Some clubs take place at lunchtime.

Children in EYFS and KS1 perform to parents at the end of each term.

Currently, there is a Year 3 and 4 production in the senior hall at the end of the Autumn Term. The Year 6 production is at the end of the Easter Term and the Year 5 production at the end of the Summer Term. There are also music concerts at least once every term.