The Middle School comprises three year groups, 9, 10 and 11, each with a year head. On entry into Middle School, girls are rearranged into four new tutor groups in which they stay for the three years. We are delighted to welcome a number of new entrants at this stage who are integrated into the newly formed groups. Please see Entry to Year 9 for more information.
This is a time of significant development in your daughter’s education. A sound understanding of the personal ups and downs in a girl’s life, support, encouragement and strong communication are all of fundamental importance during these three formative years and we are proud of our tutoring system that enables us to take an all round approach to a girl’s progress. In the Middle School each tutor group has a tutor and an assistant tutor who, where possible, remain the same for the three years so that they can deliver high quality and consistent pastoral care. Once every half term the tutors meet with each girl individually to discuss and record their overall progress.
There is a wealth of extra curricular activity available in Middle School and a key role of the tutor is to help girls to maintain an appropriate balance between GCSE work and the valuable experiences outside the classroom. To help girls record and value their extra curricular activities they keep a formal Record of Achievement folder which is finally presented to them along with their GCSE certificates. They make most impressive reading and are a great celebration of each girl’s progress and success.
In the October of Year 9 the whole year group and the pastoral staff stay for four days in the delightful Chateau du Broutel in Picardy. Apart from practising French skills, enjoying team-building activities lead by the Chateau staff, and visiting the hugely significant First World War battlefields and memorials, it is a valuable time for both girls and staff to get to know one another well.
The tutor team, Heads of Year and I are always pleased to discuss your daughter’s progress and any issues with parents and pupils.
Christine Townsend Head of Middle School