|
The school was set up in the belief that if the teachers are cared for, the pupils will benefit.
Too many children are written off too quickly these days and our aim is top provide parents with a choice which will, in turn, give their children choices in later life.
The school's successes speak for themselves. In just two short years since it was established, 98% of its eligible pupils qualified for places at Chester's King's School, the two young girls from the school who have already moved on to secondary education obtained places at the Queen's School and five more pupils successfully sat entry examinations for St Brigid's School, Denbigh.
It's not just subjects within the National Curriculum that are taught to a high standard at St Gregory's either. Music and drama is also given high priority and only a few weeks ago, two of the school's pupils were chosen from 30 hopefuls to play prominent part in the production, Waiting for Godot, at Theatr Clwyd. |
The ability to teach children in such small groups has other benefits too. Teachers have the time to get to know them personally and encourage them to widen their interests, boost their self-esteem, develop their ability to communicate with confidence and generally help arm them with 'life skills' that will stand them in good stead in everything they do. |
Return to the top of the page?
Continuity of Teaching
Too many teachers today are working long hours, (even when the holidays are taken into account), for little pay and with little or no respect afforded them. Morale is low and the continuity of teaching is disrupted by high turnovers in staff and successions of supply teachers. A vicious circle of poor teaching and poor learning is fast emerging in education.
We believe that continuity in teaching is the solution to the provision of a good education for today’s children. A strong core of dedicated, experienced and well-qualified teachers provides the backdrop to the brief.
Too many children today spend seven years in junior school to emerge at the age of eleven ill-equipped in the basic skills, labelled as suffering from learning difficulties or with very low self esteem.
At St. Gregory’s a quiet environment is provided with teachers who actually teach, analyse the progress of each child and provide constructive feedback as a result of this analysis.
Return to the top of the page?
Basic Skills
The work in the basic skills is intensive and the confidence of the children is built through a calm approach from the teachers and high expectations of the children. The children are not under ‘pressure’ to perform. They perform well because the calm, quiet environment is conducive to learning, and methods are explained and learnt in preparation for a period of practice and testing.
Return to the top of the page?
Prep. ( Preparation Time )
The Preparation time is from 3p.m. to 3.30 p.m. The children work un-aided but supervised by the teacher on duty. Thev work in silence and no help is given during this time. The work is set on work already covered that dav or previously. The children record their homework in their homework diaries and are encouraged to organise their work carefully.
The teacher then marks that day's prep and can see quite clearly if more attention needs to be given to any particular subject. He or she can assess whether the child has listened carefully in the day's lessons and correct any errors of misunderstanding as they arise.
Parental involvement in homework is not encouraged although parents can view the homework diaries and prep books at any time. Homework has a constructive application for both teachers and pupils. It is not a time-wasting exercise designed to cause problems at home during the evening. The added bonus being, of course, that the evening remains free for all the extra-curricular activities, which are extremely important or simply for relaxation.
Return to the top of the page?
Exercise
We provide an education in the basic skills and whilst acknowledging for example that sport is vitally important, we believe that instruction in advanced sporting techniques is not the brief of a junior school teacher. The children have plenty of exercise during the school day and the early finish at 3.30pm, when all the day's school work is complete, leaves ample time for specialist instruction after school hours. We have several very able sportsmen amongst our existing pupils and they, without exception, feel that they are getting the 'best of both worlds' at St. Gregory's.
Return to the top of the page?
The 3R´s
The comprehensive timetable ensures that all the subjects on the curriculum are covered but the emphasis is, of necessity, on the reading, writing and arithmetic.
Return to the top of the page?
Preparation for entrance examinations
Children can be prepared for the school of their parents' choice whether it be selective independent, independent grammar or state comprehensive.
No concept on the junior school curriculum is deemed too difficult. The children are not becoming less and less able. It is the teachers who, through lack of education, training or experience themselves, are becoming less and less able to master the teaching of concepts such as long division, fractions, apostrophes and creative writing techniques.
All the teachers at St. Gregory's have had experience other than teaching and this enhances their approach to the job. They know that they want to teach and are not merely teaching because that is all they are trained or experienced in.
Return to the top of the page?
Music, Art, Drama
Music, art and drama will become strong disciplines in the afternoon timetable. This is because these three subjects in particular are invaluable in the development of the basic skills.
Return to the top of the page?
ITC (Information Technology and Computing)
IT is a timetabled lesson and the children use this time to improve keyboard skills and other skills of presentation. IT is not used by any of the pupils in the basic skills lessons.
The existing pupils at St. Gregory's form a well-behaved, happy, sensible and hard-working group. We are extremely proud of their progress. St. Gregory's will take care of its teachers and, in turn, the teachers will take care of your children.
|
