Pupils may join us in Key Stage 3 at any time of the year and in any year group. Most pupils however, join us at the start of Year 7 and continue through to GCSE and 6^th Form study.

Pupils come into Senior School from our own Junior School but an equal amount of pupils will join us from other schools. An Assessment day is held in January. However, this is not a Pass or Fail type of testing but rather diagnostic in order that we are able to plan for each individual and stream effectively.

Prospective pupils are invited into school for a taster day and there is an Induction Day for Year 7 pupils in the Summer Term. At the end of Key Stage 3 we hold a Transition Day which marks the end of this Key Stage and introduces pupils and parents alike to GCSE/BTEC study and expectations. The day is usually a fun one with activities arranged off site followed by an evening presentation.

The curriculum is wide in Key stage 3 and we do not undertake SATs testing. In some subjects, pupils have the opportunity to begin GCSE courses early. Progress is monitored by staff through our own tracking system and parents are informed of their child’s progress every half term. Pupils are given plenty of advice in making their option choices and a designated evening is also held for parents.

There are numerous activities for pupils in Key Stage 3 to get involved in. Sports activities run at lunchtime and after school and we have a thriving Youth Theatre and Music Department. LabRats is our Science Club and touch typing lessons are available to pupils who wish to work on laptops. We want our Key Stage 3 pupils to be actively engaged in the wider aspects of school life and so they are encouraged to take on positions of responsibility as Form Reps, Ambassadors and as part of the Hospitality and Technical Teams.

Pupils moving into Key Stage 3 are often excited as they make this important transition into Senior School. Our aim is to enable them to settle quickly and to enjoy their work and the many opportunities open to them. Great care is taken to ensure that they receive the excellent pastoral support for which the school is well known.