Junior School - Introduction
Situated in 83 acres of Cheshire countryside, in the same grounds as the prestigious Senior School, Cheadle Hulme Junior School is housed largely in self contained, purpose built accommodation, creating the friendly and intimate atmosphere that makes it so popular with our parents.
Built in 1970, the main Junior School building houses ten classrooms, a hall, infant dining area, infant activity room and separate Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 libraries. There is also a new IT suite that was opened in September 2002.
The School’s facilities include an on site swimming pool, astro turf and tennis courts, and the Junior School also has its own designated Art and Design, Music and Science rooms.
Following the tremendous success of the infant department, which opened in 1998, the School expanded further in September 2002 to accommodate an extra class at Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. The classes are based in bright and airy new purpose built classrooms with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the secure infant play area.
The Junior School is made up of fourteen classes of children between the ages of four and eleven. There are two parallel classes in each year that run from Reception onwards. There are around 18 children in each Reception class and 20 children in other Infant Classes. By the final year of Junior School there are usually 26 children in each class.
The Junior School, like the Senior School, is co-educational with many brothers and sisters learning together at the School. Almost all children from the Junior School gain places at the Senior School, though transfer is not automatic.
In preparation for this, the older children spend some of their time in specially converted rooms housed in the larger main school building. These rooms are solely for the use of the Junior School but accustom the older children gradually to life in the much bigger Senior School.
Junior School curriculum
Throughout the Junior School the form teacher teaches his or her form for most of the week, although there are specialist subject teachers for PE, Swimming, Music and French.
The Junior School offers its pupils a broad curriculum. Everyone takes English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Religious Education, Art, Music, Technology, PE, Swimming and Games. Pupils throughout the Junior School also study a Modern Foreign Language which this year is Spanish. In all areas the syllabuses are influenced by the National Curriculum and children are internally assessed using a variety of tests including Teacher assessed SATs at the end of KS1 and KS2.
All the children in the infants are taught by a class teacher with the support of a nursery nurse.
Juniors' admissions information for September 2008
Admissions and Examination Dates:
Infant School:
Age |
Closing date for applications |
Individual assessments |
4+ |
Friday 11th January 2008 |
From 14th January 2008 |
5+ & 6+ |
Friday 11th January 2008 |
From 14th January 2008 |
Age |
Closing date for applications |
Entrance examination |
7+ |
Friday 18th January 2008 |
Monday 21st January 2008 at 9.30am |
8+ & 9+ |
Friday 18th January 2008 |
Monday 21st January 2008 at 9.30am |
Entry (all ages):
The completed application form (available to download as a pdf), accompanied by a cheque or postal order for £35, made payable to Cheadle Hulme School, should be returned to the Registrar as soon as possible and no later than the dates listed above.
All completed application forms and registration fees will be acknowledged and further details of the arrangements for the examination day will be forwarded prior to the examination.
To request a prospectus and an admissions pack, giving more detailed information about the style and content of assessment and entrance examinations, please complete the online form or telephone the Registrar on 0161 488 3345.
Syllabuses
4+
For entry into the Infant Department, we shall be looking for evidence that a child is likely to be happy in and responsive to what the School can offer. Assessment will be through observation of their participation in a variety of activities.
5+, 6+
The children will be invited in small groups to spend a day in School when they will work with a teacher in a classroom. Lunch will be provided. We spend some time assessing reading, spelling and writing skills in English, and the areas of numbers, handling data, shape and measures will all be included in the assessment. The School recognises that most children are working within the National Numeracy and Literacy guidelines.
7+, 8+, 9+
No copies of previous examination papers are available, but an indication of the scope of the examination is as follows:
Candidates should be able to read fluently and with understanding, to answer questions orally and in writing, and to write for half-an-hour or so on a given choice of topics. They should have taken an interest in reading both for pleasure and for obtaining information.
Some of the questions set may require 'reasoning' rather than straight forward English or Mathematics. Some of the questions will be of multiple choice type, requiring the candidate to simply underline a 'correct' answer from a choice of several.
Applicants should be Able to work quietly and to remain in one place for about half-an-hour at a time.
In mathematics we expect the children to have a broad knowledge of mathematical concepts and skills. The areas of numbers, handling data, shape and measures will all be included in the assessment. The School recognises that most children are working within the National Numeracy and Literacy guidelines.
The children may be asked to do simple calculations, written and oral, whether set as mechanical examples or in problem form. At 7+ and 8+ the children will have the questions read to them as well as have them written down in front of them. This will ensure that they pace themselves correctly and spend an appropriate length of time attempting each question.
It is hoped that the Entrance Examination will be a positive experience for all the children. The papers have been designed to give children confidence before providing them with more challenging material for children of a given age.
We hope to make our decisions about entry on potential rather than simple attainment. In National Curriculum terminology we hope that entrants will be at, or close to, Level 3 by the time they join Year 3. By the end of Year 6 we expect the children to achieve a high level 4 or, more frequently, level 5.
Examination results
The results of the Junior School Entrance Examinations will be posted to parents as soon as possible after the entrance examinations. Cheadle Hulme School, Stockport Grammar School, Withington Girls' School and Manchester High School for Girls have agreed to these common arrangements for sending out examination results.
Offers of places to the Infant Department will be made as soon as possible after the children have been seen. Children who are admitted to the Infant Department will transfer automatically to Year 3. Transfer from the Junior School to the Senior School is not automatic.
Registration
The School is now able to accept applications from birth onwards. Early registration is recommended and you will receive regular information from us.
Visits
Open Events for those applying to enter the Junior School will be held on:
Open Morning
Saturday 3rd November 2007 9.30am to 12.30pm
Open Morning & Familiarisation session Saturday 12th January 2008 Infants 9.00am to 10.30am. Junior 10.30am to 12 noon.
An activity morning for registered and prospective candidates.
Open Days whilst school is in session, an opportunity to look around during a normal school day.
- Thursday 11th October 2007: 1.45pm to 3.00pm
- Thursday 13th March 2008: 1.45pm to 3.00pm
- Tuesday 1st May 2008: 1.45pm to 3.00pm
Other visits to the Junior School
If you are unable to attend one of the above events and would like to visit the Junior School during a school day, please telephone the Junior School Administrator, Mrs Collins, on 0161 488 3334 and she will make arrangements for you to be shown around by Mrs Pennie Aspinwall, Head of Junior School, or Miss Katherine Wright, Deputy Head of Junior School.
Senior School Curriculum
Cheadle Hulme School operates a 5-day weekly cycle of 40 lessons. Each 8-period day is divided into three sessions – lessons 1,2, and 3 before break (recess), lessons 4 and 5 between recess and lunchtime, and lessons 6, 7, and 8 in the afternoon. School begins at 8.40 a.m. with morning registration and ends at 3.45 p.m.
Year 7
All lessons are taught in class groups, with the exception of PE and Games. In PE, boys and girls are taught separately (this includes swimming), and Games is taught to the whole year group simultaneously. Classes are not streamed and there is no setting.
All year 7 pupils study the following subjects:-
Art and Design Classical Studies Design Technology English French Geography History Information Technology Mathematics Music Personal and Social Education Physical Education and Games Religious Studies Science
Year 8
All lessons are taught in class-groups, with the exception of PE and Games, Mathematics (which is set by ability) and the four practical subjects of Art and Design, Design Technology, Home Economics and Music. These four subjects are taught within a 'carousel' arrangement, in which each pupil is taught for one half of the year within half classes in each subject.
All year 8 pupils study the following subjects:-
Art and Design Drama English French Geography German History Home Economics Information Technology Latin Mathematics Music PSE (Personal and Social Education) (from Sept 05) Physical Education and Games Religious Studies Science
Year 9
Most lessons are taught in class groups, with the exception of PE and Games, Mathematics (which is set by ability), French (also set by ability), together with the optional subjects.
The compulsory subjects are:-
Biology Chemistry English Geography History Mathematics PSE (Personal and Social Education) (from Sept 05) Physical Education and Games Physics Religious Studies
In addition, two optional subjects are chosen from the following:-
Art and Design Design Technology Drama French (from Sept 05 it is not compulsory although taking one modern foreign language is compulsory) German Home Economics Latin Music Spanish
NB: It is also possible for a pupil to study Ancient Greek in addition to the above, by special arrangement. This course can follow through in Years 10 and 11 to GCSE
Years 10 and 11
All lessons are taught in groups governed by “options” with the exception of PE and Games. Mathematics, English, French and Co-ordinated Science have setting arrangements.
All year 10 and 11 pupils take nine subjects to GCSE. Compulsory subjects are:-
English Language English Literature Mathematics A Modern Foreign Language (one of French, German or Spanish) Either all three separate Sciences or Dual Award Science
Compulsory non-examinable subjects are:-
Personal and Social Education Physical Education and Games
Dependent upon the choice of Sciences, either two or three option subjects are chosen from:-
Art and Design Design Technology Drama Geography History Home Economics Latin A second Modern Foreign Language (one of French, German or Spanish) Music Religious Studies
Senior Admissions for September 2008
Qualifying Age:
11+
Entry to the Senior School at 11+ is by examination, and application is restricted to those children born after 31st August 1996 and before 1st September 1997. Where a child is younger than this, but well suited academically and in maturity to transfer early for Secondary Education, consideration may be given. Such an application for an under age child should be accompanied by a letter from the Head teacher of the present school attended, in support of the application.
13+
A small number of places will be available in September 2008 for children to join year 9 of the Senior School. Entry to the Senior School at 13+ is by examination, and application is usually restricted to those children born after 31st August 1994 and before 1st September 1995.
Admissions and Examination Dates:
Age |
Closing date for applications |
Entrance examination |
11+ |
Monday 10th December 2007 |
Monday 21st January 2008 |
13+ |
Wednesday 12th December 2007 |
Thursday 17th January 2008 |
Examination Entry Fee:
The completed application form (available to download as a pdf), accompanied by a cheque or postal order for £35, made payable to Cheadle Hulme School, should be returned as soon as possible and no later than the dates detailed above, to the Registrar. Further details of the examination day are posted out on receipt of a completed application form.
Syllabus for the entrance examination:
Copies of previous papers are not available for purchase although specimen questions are sent out to those applying for 11+. An indication of the scope of the examination is given below. There are three papers
- Mathematics
Questions will be based on the manipulation of whole numbers and fractions according to the rules of addition, multiplication, subtraction and division. They will be set in straight manipulative guises such as space, time length, weight, capacity and money. Any tables of units needed for questions will be given at the beginning of the Mathematics papers. Some questions will require the use of decimals. Questions may be set involving the interpretation (but not the drawing) of graphs.
- English
Candidates are required to write a composition in continuous prose in thirty minutes. They must choose one of three or four questions, which will test their ability to write, to narrate, describe, explain or inform. Fluency of expression, freshness of imaginative ideas, sentence and paragraph structure and technical accuracy will be assessed.
- Verbal Reasoning Paper
This paper is not specific in content, but designed to test understanding, awareness and aptitude.
13+ Copies of previous papers are not available for purchase. Papers are set in English and Mathematics. They are designed to test potential, but will be based on the work required from year 8 pupils in a selective, independent school.
Interviews:
11+ The School will interview a significant proportion of candidates for places at 11+. The interviews will take place during February and March 2007. Full details of times of interviews will be posted to candidates after the Entrance Examination. It should be noted that some candidates may be offered places without interview.
13+ All applicants will be interviewed and references will be sought from their current schools. Parents will also be offered the opportunity of a discussion with a senior member of staff, if they so wish.
Examination Results:
11+ On 29th February 2008 the School will write to the parents of all applicants. The letter will say one of the following:
- That the applicant is offered a fee paying place
- That the applicant is offered a place with financial assistance
- That the applicant has been placed on a reserve list from which further offers may be made
- That a place will not be offered
Parents are given the opportunity to visit the School again after places have been offered. A non-refundable deposit is payable upon acceptance.
13+ The results of the 13+ examination will be posted as soon as possible after the examination date. Replies to offers of places are requested by Friday 15th February 2008.
More Information:
More detailed information is available in the admissions booklet available from the Registrar. You can request a prospectus and admissions booklet using the online form or by telephoning the Registrar on 0161 488 3345.
Visits Open Events for those applying to enter the Senior School will be held on:
- Saturday 29th September 2007: 9.30am to 12.30pm
- Saturday 3rd November 2007: 9.30am to 12.30pm
The Headmaster will address parents at 10.30am and 11.30 am on the Saturdays.
Other visits to the Senior School
Parents often value the opportunity to look around the School when it is in session. A number of guided tours of the Senior School are being held on the following dates: Please contact the Registrar, Mrs Gray, on 0161 488 3345, if you would like to attend.
- Tuesday 13th November 2007: 9.15am to 10.30am
- Wednesday 14th November 2007: 9.15am to 10.30am
- Tuesday 20th November 2007: 9.15am to 10.30am
- Wednesday 21st November 2007: 9.15am to 10.30am
If you are unable to attend a tour but would like to visit the School during a school day, please telephone the Registrar, Mrs Gray, on 0161 488 3345 and she will make an appointment for you to be shown around by a Sixth Former. Please be aware that it will not be possible to arrange visits in the period between the entrance examinations and the publication of results.
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