Blanchelande College The Junior school

Welcome to Blanchelande Juniors

Our curriculum, based on the English National Curriculum, is structured and rigorous and needs to be, as what pupils learn from ages 7-11 is the foundation of their senior school years and future success. Therefore, our pupils enjoy a liberal arts curriculum that enables the acquisition of core knowledge and subject-mastery.

Pupils study the following subjects:

English
Mathematics
Science
Religious Education
French
History
Geography
Computing and ICT
Art and Design
Classics (Latin)
Music
Physical Education
PSHE/RSE

As pupils move up through the Junior department they benefit from a combination of class teachers and subject specialists. As the number of subjects taught by specialist teachers increases as children move up through the Junior department, the class teacher remains very much at the centre of each pupil’s school day and the point of contact for parents.

During their time in the Junior department, pupils build up their digital literacy. In Years 3 and 4 children work on the J2e platform. From Year 5 each child enjoys full use of their own school Microsoft Office 365 account, with MS Teams as the main school platform. This is accessible both at school and from home.

I am delighted to welcome you to Blanchelande’s Junior department, where we aim to provide pupils with a stimulating, ambitious and joyful learning environment. We apply the Hero’s Journey mindset to continually encourage the children to venture beyond their comfort zone. Mark Allison (Head of Juniors

Mark Allison (Head of Juniors)

At Blanchelande we are passionate about empowering pupils to learn for themselves, and we recognise that this depends on skills and attitudes that need to be taught and practiced in and beyond the classroom. We use the internationally recognised FOSIL framework, created by our Head of Inquiry-Based Learning, Darryl Toerien, which aims to develop the skills and attitudes required for independent inquiry systematically and progressively from Reception through to Year 13.

Alongside embedding inquiry throughout the taught curriculum, we are also developing a Signature Work inquiry in every phase of the school, through which pupils can explore a relevant topic over an extended period, sometimes across multiple subject areas, to create a meaningful product. For example, in Year 6 pupils undertake a structured and guided year-long inquiry across Art & Design, English, ICT, Library and Maths leading to a Bronze CREST Award. You can explore FOSIL and inquiry further on the Library page of our website .

Through the Blanchelande Junior Diploma, pupils are incentivised to set and achieve their goals. Pupils win merits, badges, stickers – and even a unique ‘Dragon Slayer Mug’ for high achievement. Junior pupils attend a weekly primary assembly with Infants (which often includes form presentations to which parents are invited), a Head of Junior’s assembly (Years 3-6), and a Principal’s assembly, which is attended by pupils aged 7-18!

Our classes are smaller which means we are able to focus on finding each child’s individual strengths. Our team of committed Learning Support Assistants work with teachers and parents to meet the needs of each child, providing additional support, or challenge, where beneficial. Additional one to one Learning Support provision is also available.

Above: Mr Allison (Head of Juniors) and Mr O’Brien (Principal) with our Primary Head Girl and Head Boy.

Pupils benefit from some shared facilities with the senior school. Upper Juniors have Science lessons in science laboratories, music lessons take place in our Arts Centre, and Games lessons make use of onsite tennis and netball courts and extensive playing fields.

Enrichment opportunities within our Junior department include:

Drama productions
Assemblies
Concerts and recitals
Outdoor learning (including the Blanchelande Eco Hut)
Educational visits
Activity Week (including camping on Herm in Years 3-4 and residential trips in Years 5 and 6 off-island to destinations such as Jersey and Hooke Court, Dorset)

Our extensive high-quality physical education curriculum is delivered by qualified, PE specialists and makes the most of our excellent onsite sports facilities. Lessons inspire children to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physical activities. PE lessons ensure children become physically confident while supporting their health and fitness.

During lunchtimes and after school, Blanchelande Juniors enjoy many opportunities for co-curricular enrichment. Just a few of these include:

Coding
Cricket
Tag Rugby
Netball
Chess
French songs and poems
Story writing
Drama
Stamp collecting
Library
Choir
Orchestra
Drawing

Sporting endeavour is strongly fostered within the Junior department. Pupils compete in house matches as well as regular inter-school competitions and tournaments. Some children are selected to represent the College based on attitude, ability and attendance at training. Junior teams successfully compete in annual netball, football, tag-rugby, hockey, cricket, cross-country and athletics events. In current and recent years, our Juniors have been Trinity Shield winners in football, netball and tag-rugby, island champions in netball and girls’ cricket and unbeaten in the island boys’ cricket tournament.

Other sporting opportunities include tennis and sea swimming. Our annual sports day carousel includes a wide range of track and field events. Juniors have many opportunities for leadership and responsibility, including the School Council, Primary Head Girl and Head Boy, House Captains, not to mention the many classroom, library or playground monitor positions, and the opportunity to represent the school in the annual Du Putron Challenge team.