School Structure

Senior School

In the Senior School (10-13 years), pupils are taught entirely by subject specialist teachers, with great emphasis placed on developing the skills, knowledge and attitudes of mind which will serve them well in the future.

At this stage, the focus for all the children is on continuing the thorough preparation for the entrance examinations to all the independent senior schools, either at 11 or 13 years of age. All children are prepared for the former, with the emphasis strongly on mathematics, creative writing and reading comprehension.

This preparation is supported through the work done in the other subjects, where the grounding in the disciplines of each will enable a pupil to make a strong impact when he or she moves on to the senior school of their choice.

This breadth of ability is strongly in the children's favour as they begin the next stage of their academic career. Not surprisingly, the school has an impressive record in these assessments.

For the children who choose to stay on to 13, the grounding already provided enables them to cope easily with the demands of the Common Entrance or Public School Scholarship course, the thoroughness of which allows pupils to choose entry into either the day schools (through the 13+ assessment) or boarding schools.

In Years 7 and 8 the syllabuses reflect those being studied in the first two years of grammar school but, as each subject is, again, exam based, the children's capabilities are frequently extended further.

Homework remains an important element of learning and assessment, so pupils throughout the Senior School are expected to complete set homeworks each night. These are of 40 minutes duration in Years 5 and 6 and then become a full hour in the top two forms. Homework is set in all key subjects.

As in the younger parts of the school, participation in a wide range of sporting, cultural and social activities is strongly encouraged, but high levels of teaching and coaching allow the older pupils to take their standards to a very impressive level, whether individually or collectively, and the school enjoys an outstanding reputation in many fields.

For the older children responsibility, in the form, for example, of prefectures, House leadership or sports captaincies, adds to their personal and social development and we seek to give every pupil the chance to experience it. Added to these are the trips and expeditions that encourage and develop independence, maturity and reliability.

If you would like to find out more about The Ryleys Senior School, or to arrange to come and see us, call our school secretary on 01625 583 241 or click here to arrange a visit.