Curriculum

Our academic and social standards are outstanding and by the time the children complete Year 6 they are well-prepared for secondary education. Most of our children move from the Junior to the Senior School, where a detailed process of liaison, transition and orientation ensures that the best possible advantage is gained from the fact that the children are known to us as they move from our primary to our secondary department.

He had extraordinary teachers and has made life-long friends and wonderful life experiences at the Junior School

- Parent

The teaching and organisation of each core subject is supported by a subject leader, who will ensure standards are maintained, new methods and activities are incorporated into schemes of work and that the appropriate resources and facilities are available to the children.

Support for children experiencing difficulty with their learning would initially be offered by the class teacher, liaising closely with the parents. If the issue is more serious, the Learning Support Department, which supports children with learning difficulties, and/or English as an Additional Language Department can be utilised. In some instances, the School may call on the services of external experts such as educational psychologists, speech therapists or other appropriate professionals.

Subjects

The following subjects are taught formally across the school in line with the English National Curriculum and the school follows the guidelines of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth regarding the teaching of Greek:

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Greek
  • Science
  • Computing
  • History
  • Geography
  • Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE)
  • PE
  • Music
  • Art

In addition, assembly is held fortnightly for every year group with a thematic focus.

My daughters love their school and teachers

- Parent

Greek

The Junior School, as a pioneering and modern school, aims to provide a multifaceted education. The Department of Greek therefore adapts and upgrades the quality of its education so that it is creative, systematic and modern, detached from any teacher-centred and knowledge-based method. Moving in this direction, we also make sure that the material provided to students is progressive, contributing to the expansion of students' critical thinking. Hence, the children of the Greek Cypriot community are strengthened to form their national and cultural identity autonomously, with vigour and confidence, while learning to respect the diversity of the other communities of the Republic of Cyprus.

Our school’s policy is to encourage foreign language children to learn Greek as a second language, ensuring their adequate language skills and the prospect of becoming bilingual in the long term. In Greek lessons, therefore, students are divided into two levels depending on their level of knowledge and use of the Greek language:

• mainstream
• GFL classes (Greek as a Foreign Language).

The Department of Greek, respecting diversity and defending the unique temperament of each child individually, sets as its starting point the dynamic integration of each student in a special, friendly, democratic, human and above all creative environment. In this, students are encouraged to cultivate spiritual composition and develop self-efficacy.

As we believe that learning is always enhanced and efficient when it is accessible, understandable and enjoyable, we use the promotion of creativity as our guide. Thus, group and experiential activities as well as modern educational methods, which allow the safe use of technology, are just a few "tricks" that ensure our uninterrupted interest of children and of course the development of children's imagination.

Music

I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy, but the most important is music, for in the patterns of the arts are the keys to all learning.

Plato

Since the establishment of The Junior School, music has played an important and unique part in the School’s identity. Every child in our school is involved in musical activities through lessons and after-school activities. The Junior School Music curriculum follows the National Curriculum for England guidelines and is taught by two music specialists in weekly classes. Additionally, there are many extracurricular opportunities and access to tuition for several instruments. Students grow to love music through performing, listening and creating at every level.

To complement the National Curriculum, the Junior School Music Department uses materials from the well-established music education methods of Dalcroze, Orff and Kodaly. The purpose-built music rooms are well-equipped with instruments and new technology. In addition to hand percussion and a number of Orff xylophones and glockenspiels, we also have a set of school cellos, violins, ukuleles, djembes, boomwhackers, two drum kits and four acoustic pianos.
The digital projectors and interactive whiteboards allow us to take advantage of the many resources available for music learning on the internet, and we often make use of the plethora of music apps available on the school iPads.

Our aim is to provide a strong foundation of musical knowledge and experience and to foster a love of music that will last a lifetime. This strong base is built upon at the Senior School, where the wide range of opportunities for tuition and performance continues and broadens further.

PE (Physical Education)

Physical Education is a highly valued and popular subject at the Junior School. Pupils look forward immensely to their lessons and enjoy any opportunity to develop and practise their skills. The P.E. department benefits from a wide range of sports equipment and the extensive facilities of the Junior School: tennis courts, running track, astro turf, basketball courts and indoor hall.

P.E. is a foundation subject in the English National Curriculum. Through a varied physical education programme, pupils learn to develop movement and co-ordination skills, games tactics and an awareness is raised of the benefits to health and fitness. In addition to the lessons, many pupils participate in inter-house sporting competitions and inter-school competitions.

Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage develop their gross motor skills. During Physical Education children negotiate space and obstacles safely, with consideration for themselves and others. They also run, jump, dance, hop, skip and climb whilst they demonstrate strength, balance and co-ordination.

Pupils in Key Stages 1 and 2 receive two lessons of Physical Education each week taught by a specialist teacher. In Key Stage 1, pupils will experience a variety of activities which will develop a wide range of skills. The main emphasis will be on the physical development of basic motor skills. Pupils will develop such skills as throwing, catching, kicking, running, jumping, dodging and skipping. They will be given the opportunity to use these skills in simple competitive net, striking, fielding and invasion games.

The curriculum covers:

  • Ball handling and games skills
  • Tennis
  • Circle games
  • Co-ordination skills
  • Athletics
  • Mini games
  • Dance and movement

Pupils in Key Stage 2 will experience a variety of activities which will develop more complex skills. Pupils will develop co-operation, teamwork and fair play through involvement in a wide range of small-sided, adapted and mini games. Pupils will explore and understand common skills and principles including attacking and defending in invasion, net, striking and fielding games.

Over the school year pupils will be taught the following:

Years 3 and 4

  • Teamwork skills
  • Rounders
  • Cricket
  • Dodgeball
  • Volleyball
  • Netball
  • Athletics
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Fitness
  • Dance
  • Cross country

Years 5 and 6

  • Handball
  • Hockey
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Fitness
  • Cricket
  • Rounders
  • Dodgeball
  • Tennis
  • Athletics
  • Tag Rugby
  • Volleyball
  • Cross country

Afternoon Activities

We offer a multi-activity Afternoon Activities programme which runs from October onwards and provides all our students with exciting opportunities that enrich the curriculum offered in the morning.

Our activities include Art Clubs, Sports, ICT and Music Clubs as well as Homework Club. In addition to the clubs provided by our staff there are also activities provided by external providers e.g. Design and Technology, Language Clubs, Dance Clubs, Acting with LAMDA, Tennis and Club Jubilee to name but a few.