All relevant books and materials are provided by the school but children are expected to bring a pencil case to lessons, which should contain: blue ink cartridge or handwriting pen (but not biro) for those children who are ready to use a pen, a spare pen, pencil, sharpener, rubber, ruler. Older children are also issued with a Homework Diary which should be kept in a blazer pocket and brought to all lessons.
Curriculum
Our curriculum offers a broad and balanced education to all children across the full range of age and ability. English, Maths and Science form the core, with Art, Drama, French, Humanities, ICT, Music, RE, PE, Swimming (Reception to Year 4) and Games making up the rest of the timetable. The National Curriculum is fully embraced within the HCJS curriculum but our curriculum goes further than that outlined by the National Curriculum both in terms of content and level. Brief subject outlines are available as downloads on the school website.
Homework
Children up to Year 3 do not receive homework but they will take home reading books, learn spellings and tables and occasionally finish English and Maths work. During Year 3, they will gradually be introduced to more formal tasks in preparation for Year 4. Children in Years 4-6 usually have homework set for one subject per night that should take about half an hour. All children should write details of their homework in homework diaries and we request that all parents sign the diary once homework has been completed.
Homework is set to help the children develop good habits for their later education. It is usually based on work covered during the day and should not cause great difficulty. It is recognised that the children work hard during the day and that many are involved with activities in their own communities. There will be days when formal homework is not set and the time should then be used for reading or catching up on any missed work.
Monitoring
We seek to monitor your child’s progress carefully. The school has a general Marking Policy and individual departments will also have additional requirements. The general principle is that marking is intended to provide constructive feedback to help an individual see what they have done well and how to improve in future assignments. Not every piece of work will carry a numerical mark as we encourage children to focus on the comments rather than just the ‘score’.
Parents' Evenings
Individual consultations are held during the year for each year group but the Headmaster and teachers are always willing to meet informally to discuss a child’s progress or address a difficulty.
Reports and Grades
Our pattern of reporting aims to achieve a balance of written reports and meetings, avoiding ever placing them too close together. For Years 3-6, teachers will seek to establish targets for the children and subsequent reports can then comment on progress made. We will follow full reports with an opportunity to discuss if required.
Progress grades are given for Attainment and Attitude and these provide a 'snapshot' of each pupil at any given time. You should expect variation over the year and it is often not the individual grades which are important but the pattern over 2 or 3 sets of grades.
The Pre-Prep classes and the Nursery have a written report during the course of the year.
| Year Group | Autumn (half term) | Autumn | Spring | Summer |
| Nursery | Consultation | Consultation | Report and optional consultation | |
| 1 | Consultation offered to new parents | Consultation | Consultation | Progress report and optional consultation (Whitsun). Consultation and discussion of EYFSP (end of term) |
| 2 | Consultation offered to new parents | Consultation | Progress report and optional consultation | Consultation |
| 3 | Target report | Parents' consultation. Progress grades | Progress grades | Full report. Parents' consultations |
| 4 | Target report | Progress grades | Full report | Parents' evening. Progress grades |
| 5 | Target report | Full report | Parents' evening. Progress grades | Full report |
| 6 | Target report | Parents' evening. Progress grades | Full report (half-term) | Short report |
Special Needs
The school has a Head of Learning Development who liaises with staff and parents to identify and set up appropriate support for children who require extra help with life at school. It may be felt necessary to arrange a formal assessment to assist the school in formulating the most appropriate Action Plan. Where necessary, children are taken out of timetabled lessons on occasion for one to one support but the aim is to return children to the classroom as quickly as possible. There is also a Gifted and Talented Co-coordinator.
Staff
A list of teachers with their responsibilities is given in the school calendar and on the school website.
Testing
Performance is assessed continually throughout the time spent at HCJS. All the Junior children currently take tests in Maths, English, and Non Verbal Reasoning. These are diagnostic tests and the resulting information is used to assist with individual learning programmes. In Reception, and Year 2, children also take part in PIPS (Performance Indicators in Primary Schools), which is an information system that tracks a number of aspects of schooling as children move through the Primary sector.
A summary of results is made available to parents of children in Y3-6 each year in full reports but your child’s subject teacher will also be able to give an indication of progress and you are welcome to make an appointment to see the Headmaster, who will be happy to provide a more detailed picture.