The journey starts here.
As a brand new offering we are working hard to ensure that WGS will provide exactly the right level of education for its students. However we appreciate that you will already have many questions regarding the school, questions we have tried to answer in our FAQs below.
Please bear in mind however, that some of the points below will be subject to change as we continue to develop the many aspects of WGJS in order to create the perfect environment for young learners.
What will the WGJS curriculum be based on?
The WGJS curriculum will be based upon the National Curriculum.
Years 3 to 6 follow Key Stage 2 in which students must study: art and design, design and technology, English, geography, history, information and communication technology, mathematics, music, physical education and science. Religious education must also be provided at Key stages 1 and 2 and a modern foreign language also becomes statutory from September 2010.
WGJS will provide all of the above as part of its core timetable and as students progress through the school (Years 5 & 6), some of those subjects will be taught by WGS’s own specialists teachers . This will allow a deeper exploration of each subject and in so doing will stretch bright students.
Wolverhampton Grammar School also has a proud record in providing students with opportunities to develop their learning beyond mere teaching; WGS’s unique Big Six provision which has been working with 10 year olds very successfully for the past five years, uses at its core the principles of SPIRIT – Skills, Personality, Intelligence, Reflection, Interest, Tenacity to build learning programmes which are extremely child focused, building on a student’s own learning styles and abilities, yet stretching them in order to develop their learning at each stage of the process.
WGJS will build upon the principles of SPIRIT to offer students the opportunity to advance their learning in appropriate modules, each based upon on the learning styles of the individual student.
What will be the average class size?
We envisage class sizes will not be above 20 in Years 5 and 6, whilst at Years 3 and 4, classes would be limited to a maximum of 20. In some subjects such as music or PE there may be an element of ‘team teaching’ (incorporating two classes or year groups) where it is deemed appropriate.
How will it be staffed?
The school will have its own Head teacher and each Year Group will have a dedicated class teacher. The need for classroom assistants will depend upon the actual size and nature of each group. Additional periods and specialist teaching will be provided by WGS staff.
Lunch and break time supervisors will be provided according to the size of each year group.
What are the entry requirements?
There is no entry requirement for students joining WGJS at Years 3, 4 and 5. Students joining the school at Year 6 would be invited to take part in an assessment day as they are now (for details please go to the Wolverhampton Grammar School website www.wgs.org.uk/New-to-WGS/Big-Six/
Will every Junior school student be guaranteed a place in the Senior school?
Though we envisage that the majority of students will stay with us throughout their school career, there may be students who it is felt may not be working at the level required for entry into Year 7.
Parents will be kept informed at all stages and told of any particular concerns during Year 5. Students may continue through Year 6 and if concerns remain at the end of that year, the student could then sit the WGS Year 7 entrance test along with all other candidates. Thus the Entrance Test does provide an opportunity for such a student to convince us that they would cope with the academic diet of the Senior School.
How will the day be structured?
The specific details relating to the structure of the school day are still to be finalised, however as a general principle the Junior and Senior school day will be co-ordinated so that core times such as start, break, lunch and finish times are staggered for the benefit of students, parents and staff.
That is not to say that aspects of vertical learning between the Junior and Senior school will not be afforded when and where appropriate in order to offeryounger students the opportunity to benefit from the experience of students higher in the school and to see just what benefit a lifelong education at WGS foundation can bring.
A detailed timetable will be developed by the Head of WGJS in conjunction with his staff when in post, however a typical day may look something like this:
8.50am: Day starts (there will be a pre-school programme of activities starting at 8.00am for parents wishing to drop off their child before this time)
9.00am - 10.30am: Assembly/Form Time. Periods 1 / 2
10.30am - 10.45am: Break
10.45am - 12.05pm: Periods 3 / 4.
12.05pm - 1.05pm: Lunchtime
1.05pm - 2.10pm: Periods 5 /6.
2.10pm - 2.30pm: Break
2.30pm - 3.20pm: Periods 7 / 8.
3.20pm: School finishes
3.20pm - 4.00pm: Quiet break time or active clubs until 4pm.
4.00pm: Clubs in conjunction with the Senior School (sport / general knowledge / drama etc.)
What facilities will be available to my son / daughter?
Situated at the heart of WGS, WGJS is a safe, secure self contained ‘school within a school’.
Operating separately from the main campus, WGJS benefits from; its own entry and reception facilities, a separate building housing four form group classrooms, resource areas and spaces for individual learning, a library, sports hall and a dedicated playground incorporating both all weather and grass areas. Each classroom environment will be conducive to maximise students’ learning.
WGJS students will also benefit from the extensive facilities available through the senior school, utilising the various specialised environments such as the Hutton Theatre, Viner gallery, sports pitches, library and multi-media facilities, where appropriate to their timetable.
How much will it cost?
The fee levels for WGJS have not been finalised, however we envisage they will be below £3000. We would also hope to include the cost of meals, pre-school and after school activities in the school fees, but this is still to be finalised.
Where students require lunches and / or coach travel, these will be charged at an additional cost which will be set prior to the start of each academic year.