Bromley High Junior School A GSG School

What The Good Schools Guide says

Head of junior school

Since September 2012, Claire Dickerson, previously a teacher here for 10 years. Educated at Holy Trinity Convent, followed by a degree in primary education at Anglia Ruskin. There was never any doubt she would teach, always drawn to ‘the love of learning’ instilled by her own ‘joyous’ experience of school. Parents and pupils say she’s ‘amazing because she knows a name immediately’ - they ‘don’t know how she does it!’ She says the key is ‘being genuinely interested’, making it her job to ‘notice something about individuals every day’ (pupils often receive handwritten cards from her). Has overseen the successful addition of a new wing, and works closely with the senior school to ensure a greater focus on a one-school ethos. Pupils are fond of her: ‘She’s just really kind and makes you feel good about yourself.’

When it comes to encouraging pupils to challenge themselves, she doesn’t just talk the talk – as a keen trekker she’s taken on the Inca trail and Kilimanjaro, learning that ‘the mind is so much stronger than you believe, even when the body has given up… helped by those you surround yourself with’. She is also an avid theatregoer, from Frozen to Dear England, the latter proving a revelation as she’s not what you’d call a die-hard footie fan: ‘The psychology behind building a team and changing mindsets was fascinating,’ she explains. Lives locally and has two adult children.

Entrance

Academically selective. Two form entry at 4+ (48 places), with approximately two candidates per place. Rarely places in other years (waiting list of up to 15). Assessment at 4+ is an age-appropriate group assessment (variety of tasks/games), while parents meet junior leadership team for an informal chat. A few places at 7+ when candidates sit writing, reading and maths papers.

Exit

There is an expectation that girls will transition to the senior school (automatic entry) but about a quarter leave, predominantly for local grammars (no 11+ preparation, many rely on private tutoring). Some who pass the 11+ choose to stay. The new ‘middle school lead’ helps with the transition to senior school.

Our view

‘Wow, I didn’t know this was here,’ is the usual response from prospective parents. Easy to see why, with the school’s unassuming, and largely hidden, exterior. Inside, learning spaces are bright and inspiring – we were welcomed by a life-sized turtle made of bamboo and tissue while classrooms for younger pupils are spacious and well-zoned, with moveable walls and an emphasis on wellbeing, eg the ‘All feelings are welcome’ board which invites children to check-in with their daily feelings. ‘Not just basic feelings,’ pointed out a pupil, ‘those deeper ones too’. Outside, a covered play area includes a pirate ship that’s well-used for swashbuckling adventures in rain or shine. One or two other outside areas are a bit uninspiring but next on the make-over list, we were assured.

For years 3-6, known as Hawthorns, lessons start to include more risk taking – and self-organisation too – with pupils quietly responding to teacher feedback, or finishing off work, when we visited. In the new science lab (with its very own gatekeeper - Sunny, the bearded dragon), years 6s were focused on mould investigations – each group with a different hypothesis, variables well sussed. New library too, where Big Dave, an enormous bear living under the treehouse-themed mezzanine, is as cherished as the books themselves. We loved the inventive World Book Day sock puppets and had great fun identifying some eg Hagrid, Marshmallow Pie and Gangsta Granny. Super displays in the corridors, eg with invitations to ‘pull me’, ‘lift me’, ‘open the flap’ etc. Themes include resilience, ‘no to plastic’ and recent PGL trip.

Academically, expectations are high – pupils recalled the head popping in to teach year 5 geography. ‘She showed us how to answer a GCSE question and we could actually do it!’ Pupils told us they are encouraged to collaborate and that they understand the importance of being taught in different ways ‘because people learn differently – some visual, some practical.’ Excellent standard of handwriting throughout, with coveted pen licence by year 5. Well-trodden linguistic path includes French from reception, Spanish in year 3 and German in year 4 (both for one year), all taught by specialists. Latin too, from year 5 – ‘really good fun’, say pupils. Year 6 French residential a highlight.

Chromebooks used from year 5 in class, plus there’s a digital hub where key computing skills are introduced early and built upon in weekly lessons. Pupils reckon it ‘feels so easy’ because ‘the teacher explains new things step-by-step’. Coding includes use of B-Bots to Microbits and Spheros. Year 6 appreciate lessons in organising folders and files - ‘preparing us for senior school and jobs’, explained one.

Central to the new wing is the learning support room, a calm space where one-to-one and small group activities take place, although most of the 13 per cent on the SEN register (mainly for dyslexia, autism, ADHD and SEMH) are supported within the classroom by teaching assistants, under supervision of the full-time SENDCo. External speech and language specialist visits regularly. Pupils we met were enthusiastic about raising awareness - there was a real buzz around a recent award they’d won for their neurodiversity champions’ programme, while a recent pupil-led assembly on effects of neurodiversity made a huge impact. The Lightbox, a new supervised open space for pupils to have quiet time, is a big hit. No EHCPs when we visited.

Pupils consider themselves ‘very lucky’ to share the Astro, all-weather courts, 25m indoor pool, gymnasium, and athletics track with the senior school. Parents too ‘blown away’ by the facilities, which they felt was a key selling-point for them. From reception, pupils enjoy weekly swimming with a specialist instructor, while a partnership with Munchkin Sports has raised the bar for netball and football provision to year 2. By year 3, three lessons a week in netball, hockey, football, gymnastics, tennis and cricket. Plenty of opportunities to play competitively, and staff are always on the look-out for potential senior scholars.

Drama not on curriculum, but there are annual performances by reception and years 2, 4 and 6 - recently Ruth the Reindeer nativity, Mermaids v Pirates and a musical adaptation of Shakespeare. The new performance studio is a great space for rehearsals, as well as for art exhibitions too (including whizzy new projector).

Music is celebrated. In year 3, all pupils have the opportunity to receive instrumental group tuition for five weeks per year, with more than half the pupils having individual lessons on top. Music theory also on offer. Some junior orchestra musicians are invited to join the senior orchestra, and there’s a middle school music tour in either the UK or Europe. Every year group has its own choir – and again, the junior school choir tour is popular. Pupils raved about the recent ‘140 Minutes of Music’, showcasing musical talents (and stamina!) of both pupils and staff.

‘Whatever we’re doing that term, we do in art,’ pupils told us, rattling off recent cross-curricular projects - they particularly enjoyed the ‘dramatic’ WWI project. Some lessons for older students take place in senior school, which also has DT studios where pupils enjoyed making Christmas boxes while ‘snazzy keyrings’ are made in-house with the 3D printer. Food tech popular, again often with a cross-curricular slant, eg pupils recently made honey cake, Greek salad, and feta pastry when studying the Ancient Greeks.

Clubs plentiful and varied – everything from music to sports. Chess draws a huge crowd, as we saw for ourselves - not a second wasted as they scrambled to get the sets out and answered quick-fire quiz questions: ‘What goes left, right and up and down?’ ‘A rook!’ In creative textiles club, pupils apparently ran a string of French knitting the length of the library! Circus skills, good life gardening, musical spotlight, rebel girls, debating and cars in motion among more niche offerings. Local trips to eg Hever castle, while themed days like Evacuee Day bring the world in. Residentials in years 5 and 6 – PGL and a French chateau respectively.

Onsite forest school is used in rotated six week blocks up to year 4, where pupils told us the biggest takeaway is teamwork: ‘If you can’t tie a knot, a friend will help you. We look after each other.’

All year 6s have a position of responsibility – head girl, heads of houses etc - voted in with a half termly tenure. Pupils approve: ‘It gives more people a chance and it’s nice to have different types of leaders.’ Even the house mascot is voted for. A community activity takes place each term, eg litter picking in the playground, embraced with gusto. Pupil voice taken seriously – recent wins include sensory garden and more mixing with other year groups (whole school can now play together). Next on their agenda is more cooking clubs.

‘If you stumble, it’s part of the dance,’ said a pupil, quoting their teacher – all seem to take this on board, with an approach of giving things a go and trying to learn from mistakes. ‘Bubble time’ – where pupils write worries on a post-it, sticking them on the teacher’s table - ensures teachers are aware of any concerns without lesson interruption. Parents are confident that friendship issues are dealt with swiftly and with compassion - and teachers ‘scoop pupils up’ before crisis point, we heard. ‘The school knows them so well that they’re able to work through problems sensitively,’ felt one. There’s a wellbeing Cavapoochon, Ralfie, a Listening Ear programme and an award of Gordon the Growth Mindset Orchid.

Pupils eat in the senior dining room – most skip over there, although some find it daunting. Changing dinner times and managing pupil traffic have helped but we can empathise with a tiny, or neurodiverse, pupil having concerns about navigating the journey over to the ‘big school’. Food gets thumbs up, including the salad bar (although we found this pretty standard), and they like that there is an allergy section.

Pupils are bubbly and brimming with enthusiasm. They’re kind too, and take nothing for granted – respectful of their environment (some aspiring for careers in sustainability) and with keen awareness of others, eg sharing with us that their latest charity efforts provided Toni Boxes for the local Marjorie McClure School.

Parents - many professional and/or self-employed but from a variety of backgrounds - are hugely supportive of the school, several telling us they ‘hands down made the right choice’. Wrap-around care a ‘godsend’ for the majority of working families: breakfast club from 7.30am (free from 8am) and until 6pm (free until 4pm).

Money matters

Bursaries and scholarships only available in senior school. Some potential scholars identified and invited to taster days and opportunities to work with the senior school.

The last word

Outward looking and hard-working, pupils praise each others work, gush about teachers and rave about their charity efforts. Not a school for ‘closed-minded’ girls, pupils point out, where impressive facilities, a nurturing environment and ambition draws out the best in bright all-rounders.

Special Education Needs

Please see Senior School SEN description. 10-09