Who owns St George’s?
St George’s Preparatory School Limited, a Jersey company owned by The Jersey Educational Trust, operates the business and manages the estate and woodlands at La Hague. The Trust was established in 1980 as a registered charity to foster education in Jersey and the charitable status extends to the company. Trustees have a place on the board and all directorships are honorary with all profits being ploughed back into education.
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What ages are taught at St George’s?
Children can join the Nursery at the start of the academic year in which their fourth birthday falls. Some parents prefer to postpone entry until Reception. Children applying to join the Nursery must be able to use the toilet. Once in the School, we assume children will stay with us until they move on to their chosen secondary school.
The process of educating boys and girls throughout their primary education, laying down good foundations to help them excel at senior school and beyond, is a careful orchestration of many things that builds layer upon layer over the years. However, we welcome new pupils at any time of their school careers and staff works towards integrating new pupils into the academic and social life of the School as quickly as possible.
Most children transfer to local senior schools at aged eleven. We know that the move to senior school is an important milestone in children’s lives. Our pupils are thoroughly prepared, not only for the various entrance exams, but most significantly for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of them. We work closely with parents to ensure that the right decisions are taken regarding the choice of senior school.
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How is the school day arranged?
The school day starts at 8.45am for all classes except Nursery who start at 9.00am. Children should be in their classrooms some 5/10 minutes before their day starts but they should not arrive before 8.30am as there is no supervision before that time. The length of lessons varies according to age but is a maximum of 55 minutes. Young children will have activities in short bursts. There is a 20 minute break mid-morning and an hour for lunch. The younger classes have a further 15 minutes playtime in the middle of the afternoon.
In Nursery the morning session finishes at 12.15pm. Children can stay for lunch and leave at 1.15pm or remain for the afternoon until 3.30pm. All Nursery children are expected to attend each morning but other sessions are by arrangement and can be full-time or a few later sessions each week building up to a full day by the end of the year.
The school day for Reception and Forms I & II finishes at 3.30pm with Form III and above finishing at 4.00pm. There is a late room until 4.00pm where younger siblings can be supervised while older children finish lessons. Rehearsals, team practice and school clubs are arranged for 4.00pm most days and these finish between 5.00 - 5.15pm.
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What are the class sizes?
Classes are deliberately kept small although the actual size will depend on the number of children in a year. We aim for most classes to have 15 children. Classes over 15 usually have the support of a teaching assistant or, for older pupils, the class is dvided into sets for many lessons.
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What are the educational aims of the School?
We aim to provide children with the tools that allow them to achieve the very highest academic standard, providing a sound platform for their continuing education and a lifetime of learning for enjoyment. We believe each child can excel in his or her own way and we aim to encourage and develop interests and skills in a variety of activities. We encourage children to set their sights high, to embrace challenges and to have the confidence to "have a go".
In the early years our overall aim is to provide a stimulating environment in which the children are prepared for school life. Each child is encouraged to develop social and language skills, self-confidence and an early love of learning.
Reading, writing, number and communication skills are introduced in the Infant Department; this is where the core skills have their bedrock. Our aim is to promote a love of books and the realisation that reading is "fun" and a gateway to an exciting world. Creative and imaginative writing is fostered through class discussions and topic work. Good school habits are introduced and emphasis is placed on correct letter formation and neat presentation throughout.
It is at this stage that children are encouraged to develop an understanding of all aspects of basic number skills through practical and written work. An understanding of the world is promoted through nature, science and technology. The children’s creative skills are developed through a variety of lessons in art, drama, dance and music.
The Junior Department is where we hope our children "fly". Our overall aim is to provide a stimulating and varied education based the requirements of the Jersey Curriculum but extended to support inquisitive and able minds. Every opportunity is taken to expand their knowledge and vocabulary while ensuring they have the skills to reason and interpret the world around them and the confidence to use that knowledge.
A full syllabus of physical and creative activities gives our children a broad range of interests to enjoy at senior school and beyond. Important life skills such as self-organisation and self-discipline are promoted along with the ability to communicate, to work as a member of a team and to make the most of modern technological initiatives.
As the children progress through the School they are taught by more and more specialist teachers until their final years, when all subjects are taught by subject teachers. This process starts in the Nursery with French, swimming, P.E. and music, and goes a long way to smoothing the transition to secondary school.
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How will St George’s stretch my able child?
We pride ourselves on our ability to engage and inspire able children. Our classes are deliberately small to provide the very best conditions for learning. These classes are often grouped into smaller ability sets to optimise this experience. Subjects are taught by experienced teachers, many of whom are subject specialists, who are able to respond to each child’s personal needs.
Importantly, as an independent school, we are not restricted in what we teach – if a pupil in Form II has the mathematical ability of a pupil in Form IV, then we will teach at a level commensurate with his or her needs. We are also free to "cherry pick" the best of modern educational initiatives to complement our proven traditional practice.
On-going teacher assessment and regular formal assessment, helps us to monitor a child’s progress and to draw up appropriate targets that challenge the individual. We offer extension lessons at different stages to stimulate alert minds and to reinforce good work habits.
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What happens if my child needs additional support?
Our teachers are very experienced in working with and guiding individuals who need a little more time and support in their work. Small classes and even smaller teaching sets create an intimate setting in which children feel comfortable and in which individuals are noticed.
Children who are identified as needing extra support will be invited to join the Learning Support Department where they will receive individual lessons. The Learning Support staff is highly experienced and has the enhanced teaching diploma of the British Dyslexic Association.
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What other activities are available?
We provide a variety of sports and creative classes with visits and trips organised throughout the school year. There is also the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, join the choir, the orchestra or one of the other musical groups. There are a number of teams representing the School in different sports and a variety of after-school clubs available to pupils in Form II and above. These are extremely diverse and can range from flower arranging to kayaking.
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To which schools do St George’s pupils transfer?
We have an excellent record of transfer with the overwhelming majority of children gaining entry to their first choice senior schools – be they Jersey day schools or boarding schools in the UK. Indeed, our pupils are much in demand as they are known to be hard-working, well-balanced, confident individuals who are prepared to ’have-a-go’ while showing sensitive awareness in their actions. In the words of Charlotte Marten, former Principal of Jersey College for Girls – ’Your girls are exactly the kind of student that we are seeking to recruit: lively, engaging and with a broad range of interests...’
We regularly prepare children for Jersey College for Girls, Victoria College, Beaulieu Convent School and De La Salle College. In addition, we have sent children to major public schools in the UK that include St Bede’s, Canford, Kings College in Taunton, Epson College, Winchester, St Edmunds in Canterbury and Queen Ethelburga’s College.
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Do Nursery children have to wear a uniform and can I buy it locally?
All children wear uniform during school hours, including travelling to and from school, and on all visits and official school occasions. Items of uniform are kept to a minimum in Nursery with ties and blazers being optional.
The school uniform is burgundy and grey - these colours being darker and more serviceable than the red and white of the traditional flag of St George. We very much hope that our children will wear the school uniform with a sense of pride and we encourage children to take care of their personal appearance.
All items of uniform are available from Lyndale Sports in Trinity. As part of the induction pack, parents are given full details of uniform and equipment needed as well as details on where to buy them. The Georgian Association runs a shop for various items of new clothing and equipment as well as second-hand uniform.
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Do we have to provide a packed lunch?
No. We are the only primary school in Jersey which provides a mid-day meal for the whole school. Lunch-time is very much part of the school day. We like to encourage good table-manners and sensible eating habits so lunch is arranged in two sittings with tables arranged like large family groups. The first sitting is for the younger children accompanied by their teachers. The second sitting for Form III and above builds on the experience requiring the use of table napkins and a degree of social interaction.
The School follows guidelines which ensure a varied and well-balanced diet that will appeal to most children and a vegetarian option is available to those who require it. The two-course meal is cooked on the premises by the school’s own catering staff who provide salad and fresh fruit as alternatives to the day’s vegetables and dessert. Daily menus are displayed weekly.
Children, apart from those in the Nursery for whom snacks are provided, should bring a light healthy snack to School for consumption at morning break. Form II and above may purchase a snack from the school’s tuck shop. Water is available throughout the day and milk provided at break time.
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Are there any other fees not listed on the fee sheet?
There are few extra charges as it is the School’s policy to make the fees as comprehensive as possible. The standard termly fees include refreshments and lunches for those remaining at School all day, all classroom books and supplies and activities taught within the school time-table. Certain costs, such as learning support and some instrumental lessons, will be individual to the pupil and charges are made accordingly.
After-school clubs may also have a small charge so the cost will depend on which clubs are attended during a week. Rehearsals and squad practice sessions are compulsory for those selected and do not incur a charge.
The only other costs are school uniform, some personal items of equipment and any out-of-school trips and activities arranged from time to time.
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How often are the fees increased and do you have a payment scheme?
The fees for a school year are usually set during the previous Easter holiday but, like any business, the School reserves the right to alter any fee or charge as necessary.
The standard fees are invoiced termly in advance and any extras or additional charges are added to the invoice in arrears. Payment of the invoice is due before the first day of term. Many parents do take advantage of our payment plan. Instead of paying the standard fees each term, the whole year’s fees can be paid by monthly standing order spreading the cost over ten months. Any extra charges are invoiced as usual and are due before the first day of term. No extra charge is made for the payment plan.
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Is there a parent/teacher association?
The Georgian Association is an integral part of school life. Its aims are to work alongside the School providing ever-improving facilities and to build on the elements of friendliness and consideration for others that are part of the School’s atmosphere.
Membership is informal and open to anyone connected to St George’s - parents, former pupils, staff at the School or just a friend. Participation is not compulsory, there is no subscription, just a commitment to support the Association which can be anything from organising an event to simply attending and enjoying it. The Association is run by an elected committee of members and includes staff representation. There is also a network of class representatives who serve to organise class events, pass on information or provide friendly support to new parents.
The Association is very active, arranging many events throughout the year which add greatly to the quality of life within the School. Parties and outings for the children, social events to provide the opportunity to meet other families and friends of the school as well as the large fund-raisers Bonfire Night, the Annual Fair and Summer Ball.