Founded in 2007 as the junior school to Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, it is on an urban site near the university and city centre. It is housed in gracious Georgian town houses, adjacent to the senior school with which it shares a number of facilities. The school aims to focus on how boys learn within a small, family atmosphere. All boys transfer to the senior school at 11. Sport is well supported and the school is successful, particularly in swimming. There is a range of activities, from chess to cookery.
Pupils: Age range 7–11, 100 day boys. Entrance: Main entry ages 7, 9. Entrance is academically selective: own entry assessments and interview with Headmaster and Head of Year. 1 class (of up to 20) in Year 3, 2 classes in Years 5 and 6. No special skills or religious requirements.
No scholarships or bursaries.
Over 60% live within 10 miles.
Headmaster: Martin Morris, in post since 2008. Educated at Dauntsey's and Exeter University (biology with physics and sports' coaching). Previously Headmaster both of Kingham Hill School, Oxfordshire, and of Catteral Hall, North Yorkshire, House Master at Leighton Park and biology teacher and sports coach at Sedbergh. Teaching staff: 10 full-time. Average age 36.
Pupils take entrance test for own senior school and Key Stage 2 assessments. All pupils achieve Level 4 standard in Key Stage 2 and 55% achieve Level 5.
All pupils go on to Queen Elizabeth's Hospital senior school.
All National Curriculum subjects taught; teaching topic-based other than in core subjects. Specialist subject teachers introduced at age 9 (for science, PE, humanities, languages and music). PSHE in assemblies 3 times a week, specific lessons and eg special trips. Special provision: Specialist learning enhancement department supports those needing extra help and the most able pupils. Classroom assistant in each form. Languages: French taught from age 7, Italian from 8. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. All pupils have daily access to computers (10 in each classroom for 20 boys).
Up to 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams may be taken. 3 musical groups, choir, band, recorder group. All pupils involved in school drama productions (A Christmas Carol recently); annual Year 6 production. Pupils recently appeared in productions at Bristol Old Vic and in a musical at Bristol Hippodrome. Art facilities include kiln, darkroom, Apple Macs for design. Music, drama, dance and art all offered as extra-curricular activities.
Compulsory sports: rugby, football, cricket, athletics. Optional: tennis, indoor hockey, judo. Sport, PE, swimming coaching weekly. On-site sports hall and squash courts; shares other facilities with Bristol City FC. Teams in 3 major sports at U8, U9, U10 and U11 level; all involved in fixtures against other schools. U11 swimming squad Bristol schools champions and in national finals; relay team holds the freestyle record. Activities: All Year 6 take the QE Award (own junior version of Duke of Edinburgh). Some 12+ clubs and societies, eg cookery, modelling, indoor football, judo, chess, news quiz, ‘the big questions'.
Uniform: School uniform worn. Houses: Competitive houses. House captains and deputies, appointed termly by house teacher (all Year 6 spend a term in either role). Religion: Christian. Attendance at religious worship compulsory. Social: Debates, robotics days, clubs, musical concerts with local girls' school. Trips abroad include annual ski trip to Austria. Pupils allowed to bring own bike/scooter to school. Meals formal, family-style within a cafeteria; not compulsory but all take school meals. Most pupils travel to school by car. Some supervision available before and after school.
Any pupil failing to produce homework on time would receive a reminder of what is expected and given more time; if still not handed-in, given a work detention to complete it under supervision. School aims to work closely with the parents and to be as consistent as possible.
Run by Jeff Mason (Chairman) c/o the school.
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