King Edward's Bath

Deep in the heart of the English countryside, the children of St Winifred's and St Albert's schools find themselves caught up in a curious mystery when they go on a camping trip to the beautiful and peaceful Dumsey Meadow.

With sleuth-like commitment the children attempt to find answers to some puzzling questions - Why do the cows and sheep appear to be laughing? Why is the farmer always singing? Why did the apple harvest fail for the first time in 500 years and who is the scary old woman with the horrible cackle?

Here are some photo highlights:

High quality education and care from Early Years to Year 6

Staff, pupils and parents were delighted to receive the news that King Edward’s School has been judged as ‘outstanding’ in a recent inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

The Junior and Pre-Prep Independent Schools Inspection report highlights the very high quality of education and care provided by both Schools from Early Years through to Year 6.

Martin Boden, Headmaster of King Edward’s School said “It is a pleasure to report that all aspects of the educational provision in the Junior and Pre-Prep Schools were judged to be in the top two categories, with particular praise given to pupils’ personal development, the quality of pastoral care, the schools’ links with parents and the community and the many examples of excellence in teaching and learning.

The inspectors’ conclusions highlight the strengths of the curriculum and of the extra-curricular programme, whilst also praising the thorough preparation received by children at all ages in readiness for the next stage of their education. Pupils emerge as confident and independent learners supported by a framework of excellent pastoral care and a strong sense of community. As Headmaster of King Edward’s School, I am, of course, delighted that the report draws attention to the many successful and developing links between the three sections of the School, as well as highlighting the strengths of the leadership of Jayne Gilbert, Head of King Edward’s Pre-Prep and Greg Taylor, Headmaster of King Edward’s Junior School.

King Edward’s School is one of the country’s finest independent co-educational day schools providing an ‘outstanding’ education for children aged from three to eighteen.

Click to download the attached file(s):

King_Edward_s_Junior_and_Pre-Prep_Independent_Schools__Inspection_Report_2.pdf

The Curriculum

King Edward's Junior School is a selective school catering for approximately the top 25% of the ability range.

We have high expectations of the children and ourselves in all aspects of school life, but with the needs and capabilities of the individual in mind. We recognize that we all learn in different ways and that children benefit from a variety of approaches as regards teaching style, classroom organization, activity and interaction. It is our belief that we learn most effectively when we are engaged with and inspired by our learning opportunities.

We see it as our task to inspire children towards a lifelong love of learning and to that end we recognize that we, as much as the children, are learners.

We are also aware that for children to become well-rounded, happy, caring and active participants in society in later life, they must be able to think, communicate, cooperate, take responsibility, and make decisions. We organize our lessons in such a way that children will be able to develop these key skills.

It is central to the whole being of the school that it is an inclusive environment. All pupils have entitlement to all aspects of the curriculum, appropriate to their needs, and it is our intention that the curriculum will be broad, balanced, differentiated and rigorous, relevant to pupil needs and catering for their personal, moral, cultural, social and spiritual development.

The curriculum is broad and structured within a 40 period a week timetable. Morning lessons last 35 minutes and afternoon lessons, 30 minutes. More than half of those lessons in Years 5 and 6 are double periods. Subjects taught are as follows:

English, Maths, Science, Art, DT, French, Geography, History, Information Technology, Learning Skills, Music, Physical Education, PSD, Religious Education.

All pupils cover the same basic syllabus but there is differentiation to ensure the needs and abilities of the individual are catered for. Differentiation may take the form of each of or a combination of: outcome, task, grouping, resource or support. In Years 5 and 6 children are set for English and Maths.

Years 3 and 4 are largely taught by class teachers with some subjects (Physical Education, Music, Information Technology and French) in which the children are taught by specialists.

Years 5 and 6 follow the secondary model where the children have the same form teacher for two years for pastoral care and administrative purposes. As regards the curriculum, the children move around the school and have a variety of specialist teachers and classroom bases. This includes specialist teachers from the Senior School.

Art

At King Edward's Junior School art is one of the most popular and exciting subjects. Pupils are introduced to a range of different mediums and encouraged to experiment and develop their own individual artworks.

The curriculum is enriched by visits from artists who show pupils different techniques for creating art and inspire them to develop their own style. Children also visit art galleries and sculpture parks to increase their appreciation of art.

In addition there are weekend workshops, arts clubs and an art competition each term; previous competitions have included both sketching and photography.

Children's artwork is on display throughout the School including in a children's art gallery situated in the Dining Hall.

Amazing art inspired by artist Peter Lanyon

Some wonderful art was created by Year 4 following a trip to Victoria Art Gallery in Bath to see the exhibition of paintings by Peter Lanyon.

Lanyon was an important artist working in St Ives in the 1950s. He was particularly interested in applying ideas of modernism to representing landscape. Children enjoyed a talk about the artwork followed by a workshop with Liz Benington from the Victoria Art Gallery.

The visit provided great inspiration as you can see from theselection displayed below.

Music

In King Edward’s Junior School we believe music provides children with a rich source of cultural, emotional and personal pleasure, stimulating creativity and discovery as well as developing an aesthetic awareness.

There are numerous opportunities for pupils to make music together with live performances and concerts every term. In addition pupils may learn an additional instrument of their choice with specialist peripatetic tutors who visit the School each week.

Mary Edward's Director of Music comments:

“I have a belief and passion that music has a unique contribution to make to the education of all the pupils at the Junior School and that the creativity and team work that lies at the heart of music-making can help raise attainment and motivate young people. Music is also important for the social and cultural values it represents and promotes, and for the communities it can help to build and to unite. In the Junior School we want to ‘build pathways' for progression in music so that all young people, whatever their background or abilities, have access to a rich and diverse range of musical experiences, within and outside school. We want to create opportunities for young people to pursue their interest wherever it takes them and to develop their talents to the full.”

How music is taught

Music is taught as a discreet and specialist subject, with a particular emphasis on experiential learning through the medium of sound, with a particular emphasis on performing.

In year 3 all children learn about music through playing a string instrument for 50% of curriculum time, supported in the classroom by an upper string specialist and a lower string specialist
In year 4 all children learn about music through playing recorder
In year 5 all children learn about music through playing as part of a whole class band incorporating orchestral/band instrument with tuned and untuned percussion
In Year 6 all children learn about music through playing as part of a whole class Steel pan ensemble led by a specialist steel pan teacher

We spend 70 minutes a week on music, each class receiving 2 x 35 minute periods per week.

Resources

There is an extensive collection of tuned and untuned percussion instruments These are stored and categorised on open shelves in the music room. There are also 20 fully set up new ½ and ¾ violin outfits, ½ size cellos and mini double basses for the whole class string project. There is also a full set of Steel Pans

A team of visiting instrumental staff provide individual instruction on a range of orchestral instruments, as well as vocal tuition. The lessons are taught in the suite of purpose built practice rooms in the junior school.

Drama and Dance

Children at King Edward’s Junior School benefit from the opportunity to be involved in the creative arts, both drama and dance. Pupils develop self-confidence, the ability to present information orally, to perform in front of an audience and to have a deeper appreciation of their own and the emotions of others through exploration of dramatic texts and themes.

The curriculum is enriched by trips to see theatrical productions and to be involved in dramatic performance either as part of drama or dance club, taking part in the annual performance festival Speak Out or to perform in the school play or school assemblies. In addition children have the opportunity to take part in the annual Mid Somerset Festival.

Previous Drama Productions

Skool and Crossbones

Shake, Ripple and Roll