Junior School Teaching and Learning
Our Junior School
Fyling Hall Junior School is a small school with a family atmosphere. The children work and play in a relaxed and supportive environment, where they can enjoy their learning. In these nurturing surroundings, children flourish and become confident learners. Being part of a whole school and utilising the specialist senior school teachers and facilities also enables our primary pupils to enjoy a seamless transition to our secondary school.
(Current Parent)
Life at Fyling Hall
Our school day runs between 8.30am and 4.20pm, though early years pupils may finish earlier if they wish. Lunch is served at 12:40pm and there are three play breaks within the school day. The school week includes lessons, forest school, swimming, sports, music and drama, art, time with younger or older ‘buddies’, assemblies, after-school clubs and regular excursions and trips. Read more.
Junior School Curriculum
We have the freedom to create an integrated and exciting curriculum based on the three main strands of English, Maths and Science. Our only limit is our imagination. We provide a board and balanced curriculum to allow each individual to develop emotionally, socially, physically and intellectually. Our small class sizes allow each child to develop at their own pace and for learning styles and approaches to be chosen to best suit individuals.
Junior School pupils have lessons in the following subjects:
English, Mathematics, Science, Art, Music, French, History, Design & Technology, R.E., Computing, Games, swimming, Drama, Geography and Forest School.
We have six lessons each day. On Thursday pupils travel by coach to the local pool for swimming (link to this) and on Friday afternoon’s pupils all have Forest School (link to this section).
Between formal Key Stage assessments, QCA optional tests and NFER Cognitive Abilities Tests are used in addition to standardised spelling and reading tests.
Key Stage 1 children take home a reading book each day whilst Key Stage 2 children are given more formal prep tasks each day. They are also expected to spend time on independent reading.
“Children make an excellent start in the EYFS; they enjoy coming to school and are active, enthusiastic learners.”
(ISI report)
EYFS
We believe in a holistic approach to learning which ensures parents and teachers work effectively together to support pupils’ learning.
“The days that make us happy make us wise” is the Fyling Hall school motto. We believe that children need to be happy, and that when they are happy they enjoy school and they enjoy learning.
Our aim is for the children:
- to be happy
- to communicate their feelings, ideas and experiences in verbal and non-verbal ways
- to explore, experiment, observe and discover
- to master basic physical skills and develop gross and fine motor skills
- to develop agility, physical co-ordination and confidence in movement.
- to begin to value, culture, religion and race
- to use their imaginations and use role play
- to develop confidence and independence
- to develop lively and enquiring minds
- to apply themselves to tasks and listen with understanding
- to begin to appreciate other points of view
- to develop an appreciation of the environment of the school and its community
- to want to learn
To achieve this, we aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum that will enable each child to develop emotionally, socially, physically and intellectually to his or her full potential. Each child is unique and valued as an individual, with different learning styles and experiences chosen to best support their learning. Each child can develop at his or her own pace. Small class sizes enable us to facilitate this.
“In the EYFS, staff know the children extremely well and are able to cater for their individual needs.” (ISI report)
Key Stages One and Two
In the Junior School we aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum that will enable each child to develop emotionally, socially, physically and intellectually to his or her full potential. Each child is unique and valued as an individual, with different learning styles and experiences chosen to best support their learning. Small class sizes allow each child to be challenged to learn at a pace which is demanding but appropriate to their individual needs. Our curriculum goes beyond the limitations of the National Curriculum, offering children access to additional content that is both challenging and engaging.
For computing, drama and sport we have free use of the senior school facilities. The state of the art IT suite and newly refurbished theatre are used as teaching spaces, as well as the science laboratories. Upper Key Stage two students also have the benefit of specialist subject teachers for art, science and IT. Being familiar with the teachers and surroundings ensures a seamless transition when it is time for our pupils to move to the senior school.
We use the National Curriculum, Key Stages 1 and 2, as the basis for the curriculum offered and the children are assessed at the end of each Key Stage using externally set but internally marked SAT materials.
“Fyling Hall Junior School is a place where our daughter goes to learn, to express, to be challenged and extended. She comes home alive with the possibilities of her day’s experience, delighted to find that she can do the things she thought she couldn’t and inspired to accept future challenges positively.” (Current Parent)
The effective and comfortable relationship between pupils and teachers and amongst pupils is a real strength. Teachers are dedicated, know their pupils well and are sensitive to the particular needs of individuals. The quality of teaching is a major factor in enabling pupils to reach their potential.’ (ISI Inspection)
Music and Drama
Music and drama are a central and delightful part of Junior School life. We put on our own productions in the theatre, with the nativity play always an annual highlight. We give regular concerts for parents, friends and the local community.
Our singers, young instrumentalists and verse-speakers also take part with pleasure and much success in the Eskdale Festival of the Arts. The whole school form a choir for this competition.
Individual tuition by expert peripatetic music teachers is available for a wide range of instruments.
French is introduced from Reception, with pupils learning to sing French songs, count and greet each other in an informal, fun atmosphere.
Sport
Both the junior and senior schools put a strong emphasis on sport. The younger years spend sixty minutes every week either outside or our specially designed sports hall, and the whole school goes swimming at Whitby Leisure Centre every Thursday morning. Upper key stage two do their games lessons alongside the some of the senior school pupils, in order to introduce them to playing competitive sports (such as rugby and hockey) as part of a team, and also to integrate them into the wider school community. The children also have the option of riding lessons with our dedicated riding instructor on the school ponies.
In the summer term, we have our own Junior School Sports Day and Swimming Gala. Parents are invited to both events, and are always well attended by cheering supporters! The house system that operates in the school encourages friendly competition between the children, as well as giving them a supportive team atmosphere in which to compete.
“Sport is fun because we get to play hockey and football, and we get to play in matches! That’s what I love about games!” (Current Year 3 Pupil)
“Fyling Hall Junior School is a place where our daughter goes to learn, to express, to be challenged and extended. She comes home alive with the possibilities of her day’s experience, delighted to find that she can do the things she thought she couldn’t and inspired to accept future challenges positively.” (Current Parent)
“Music is such an important part of life at Fyling Hall, and the really lovely thing is seeing the juniors perform alongside the seniors on stage.”
(Current Year 3 Parent)
Enhanced Learning
In the Junior School we feel it is important to take learning outside the classroom. Maximising our stunning location and using it as a learning resource as well as curriculum linked trips provide inspiration and are both key to our pupils’ school experience.
Forest School
We have a wonderful outdoor classroom in our own forest school, in the school’s private woodland, where the pupils experience a whole range of activities. The whole junior school visits the forest school every week. This has had a very positive effect on the children’s relationships and self-confidence. We aim to maximise the beautiful environment our school is located in. Every Friday the whole Junior School will put on their rain suits and go for an adventure at the Forest School. The activities are curriculum linked to Science, Geography, English and Art and this enchanting environment provides inspiration and excitement that enhances and reinforces learning. Not forgetting time to play and explore the environment!
Visit and Trips
We go on a variety of trips throughout the school to many different locations to enhance the children’s learning. Destinations have included:
- Eden Camp, Nunnington Hall, Helmsley and Pickering Castles
- Beach trips to Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay
- Scarborough Hospital
- Whitby Fire Station
- Scarborough Engineering Week
- Pannett Park Museum
- York Castle Museum
- River Esk
- Ryedale Folk Museum
- Viking Village
- Barley Hall in York
- Residential trips Bewerley Park
All pupils are invited to join in with the weekend activities programme which is coordinated by Mr Coates: m.coates@fylinghall.org
Swimming
Learning to swim is an essential skill and every Thursday the whole school goes to have swimming lessons at the local swimming pool. Our experienced school staff cater for all abilities and pupils progress from learning to develop in to strong swimmers. Rather than come to school on Thursdays pupils can arrange with the Head of the Junior School to go straight to Whitby swimming pool for 9:30.
Drama
On Tuesday afternoons all Key Stage 2 have drama lessons in our school theatre. During these lessons they prepare for the many productions and public speaking competitions they have throughout the school year. Key Stage 1 and EYFS pupils join in with these lessons to prepare for the school productions.