Life in the Lower School

The Lower School covers Years 7, 8 and 9. It coincides with Key Stage Three of the National Curriculum. In these first three years of the school boys study a broad and balanced range of academic subjects: English, Mathematics, French, German, Science, History, Geography, Religious Education, Music, Latin, Information Technology, Design and Technology, Drama, Art and Design.

The school is proud of its sporting life, and activities in Physical Education include athletics, swimming and cricket in the summer, football, rugby, cross-country running and gymnastics in the winter. Other sports available to those with special interests include badminton, squash, tennis, weight-training, basketball, cycling, canoeing, sailing, golf and archery. The sporting life of the school is designed to give every pupil a chance to develop his potential, to learn something of the importance of personal fitness and the satisfaction of teamwork, and to give him the chance to represent his house, his school, or even his county or country.

All boys follow the National Curriculum towards at least ten GCSE examinations, but not all of them work at the same pace. There is setting in Mathematics from Year 8 onwards to group together students who can work at more or less the same speed. Special attention is given to those who have specific difficulties in keeping up with the curriculum and to those who have gifts which have to be developed for their full potential to be realised. The Heads of the Key Stages (Head of Admissions/Year 7 and Head of Years 8 & 9) will identify those who can benefit from such personal assistance. The Heads of Key Stages are also responsible for delivering Personal, Social and Health Education for their part of the school.