James Allen's Junior School A GSG School

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All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

What The Good Schools Guide says

Head of junior school

Since 2022, Victoria Goodson MA, previously head of Sydenham High Prep School. Prior to this, deputy head (lower school) at Newton Prep for 12 years, head of Rowan Brae, Surrey and head of junior school at Tower House School, London. Degree from Durham, plus master’s in education leadership and management.

An advocate of all-girls’ schooling (having attended a girls’ school herself), she is cheery and friendly, with parents and staff alike speaking highly of her and the difference she’s making. ‘There’s a great warmth to her,’ said one. Staff told us she is ‘very pupil-centred and all about what’s best for the girls’. In between snatched chats with parents and pupils, and even receiving the odd hug from the girls, she told us she enjoys welcoming pupils at the school gates four mornings each week – ‘three at the prep and one at the pre-prep’. In what little spare time she has, she enjoys baking, reading and playing tennis.

Since 2017, head of pre-prep is Elizabeth Channon BA, OCR Cert in SpLD, who has over 20 years teaching experience. She has a wealth of experience in leadership for EYS and KS1.

Entrance

Around 100-120 girls are assessed at 4+ for 36 sought-after places. Group assessments plus report from the child’s nursery, if applicable. ‘We’re looking for a readiness to engage, curiosity and inquisitiveness,’ the head told us, ‘We want to see the whole child and see them have fun and play.’ Fear not if your child is not massively confident – the school says it loves seeing even the most introverted children flourish as they progress through the school. No feeder nurseries, although some candidates come from a few regular local ones each year. Around 50-50 split from state and private nurseries. At 7+, over 100 girls apply for 12 places, with tests in maths, English and reasoning, plus a teamwork activity to see how they interact socially. Successful applicants return for a further assessment in reading and maths with the head of junior school before final offers are made. Any rare occasional places available further up the school are snapped up. No sibling policy.

Exit

The vast majority segue into the senior school after year 6, bar one or two who move away or head to an equally big-name school. School insists girls are not ‘managed out’ as can be the case in some academic schools. ‘We are very much one school and it’s our expectation that the girls will stay until 18.’ As such, girls already in the pre-prep are no longer required to take the 7+ exam; however, existing year 6 girls do take the 11+ exam to be considered for scholarship awards alongside external JAGS candidates. ‘There’s no pressure at all,’ one parent told us, ‘it’s all very easy breezy.’

Our view

Located in the quaint enclave of Dulwich, juniors mainly arrive by foot, pedal or scooter and literally skip into school.

The pre-prep is housed in an Edwardian property just a few minutes’ walk from the main school site and, handily, very close to North Dulwich station. With a vast, beautifully manicured garden, it’s idyllic for the youngest JAGS girls. Featuring a combination of real grass and Astro, an elaborate climbing frame, reading den, sensory garden and even a fairy garden (voted in by the school council), this is the stuff of little girls’ dreams. In addition, weekly forest school sessions take place at the ‘copse’ on the senior school site where girls learn about birds and build squirrel dens or have minibeast hunts.

Reception girls have a dedicated outdoor learning space (as well as the run of the whole playground with older children at breaktimes) for teacher and child-led activities which include a water area with drainpipes, construction area and sand or mud play. It’s apparent even with the youngest girls that they are bright sparks who love a challenge. ‘I didn’t know we were going to have a challenge,’ piped one reception girl, clearly delighted that a harder number task was coming her way.

Parents say the girls are not put under pressure. ‘There’s no sense it’s overbearing,’ said one, who added that the message with the youngest girls is very clearly to let them play and avoid any homework battles. Core to this is the values scheme recently introduced – ‘bee brilliant’ – encouraging girls to be kind, brave, inclusive, respectful, resilient and most importantly, themselves. Plush toy bees can be found dotted around school as a fun reminder. Commended girls are invited to a ‘bee brilliant’ celebration tea hosted by the head. School also awards a kindness cup each half term.

The curriculum is broad, and topics are brought to life via trips and tie-ups across departments: year 1’s letter writing was enhanced with a visit to the Postal Museum, while year 2 had a trip on the London Eye to bring their class reader, Claude in the City, to life then created their own London landmark models. As an all-through school, both pupils and staff have the freedom to explore beyond the curriculum without getting too bogged down by the all-consuming (and often narrow) preparations for secondary school entrance tests in the older year groups.

French is taught from the outset by a native teacher who does not use any English. ‘It’s properly embedded,’ parents told us. We observed an interactive French games session in the hall. ‘Tournez, dansez, un-deux-trois sautez!’ the girls repeated while performing the actions. No French reading or writing in the pre-prep, just lots of immersive activities including assemblies, French week and a highlight in year 2 – a day trip to Lille on the Eurostar.

It was clear from both the lunchtime library rush and the girl engrossed in a book on her lunch tray, that these girls love to read. Computing (as a subject and as an aid to learning) is also prized – after considerable consultation with parents, school recently rolled out individual tablet devices for all pupils in year 3-6, and the ICT facilities are impressive throughout.

Although the school is selective, girls may still need help from time to time and a learning enrichment team is on hand offering extra support in maths and English. Dyslexia and issues around processing and working memory can be accommodated, and either in-class support or work in groups outside the classroom or one-to-one is offered as appropriate.

At the last count, 22 different languages were spoken in the pre-prep, by 50 per cent of the pupils, and it’s certainly celebrated through international days. The learning enrichment team support girls with reading in their respective languages, even linking up children who speak the same languages.

A few pre-prep parents voiced that they feel somewhat cut-off from the junior school owing to different sites. However, plans are in the early stages of development for a potential move up to the main site, so watch this space. From year 3, girls are based at the junior building situated alongside the senior school. Here, the girls have the luxury of literally seeing where they will be headed at the end of their primary years from the playground – a huge perk of being a JAGS girl. They also get to avail themselves of the joint facilities a lot more – including lunch in the senior school canteen, music lessons in the vast music department and being closer to, and more involved in, activities on the 22 acre site.

‘Facilities are mind-boggling,’ said one parent, and we couldn’t disagree. The ozone-filtered 25 metre swimming pool, where lessons are held from reception, would impress even a professional swimmer, ‘We’re very good at swimming here,’ girls told us matter-of-factly. Endless hockey, netball and football pitches, plus tennis courts, stretch to the edge of the site, together with indoor facilities that include an impressive nine-metre-high climbing wall. Sports department organises fun fixtures from year 3, getting more competitive as girls move through school. In the older year groups, everyone in the squad system has the opportunity to play in fixtures for the major sports of hockey, netball, football and cricket. They also listen to the girls, recently adding in the option of badminton and basketball to the carousel of sports. School frequently hosts interschool events with local state and independent schools – be it netball, swim galas or fun sports teambuilding events.

JAGS has a unique, music-rich history - Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst were former musical directors, no less. Nearly all girls play an instrument and visiting music teachers (VMTs) come from top level conservatoires. A strings programme spans all four string instruments, and piano and flute are available in small groups for pre-prep. There’s an endangered instrument workshop for less fashionable brass and woodwind instruments. Sport and music departments work closely so girls can do both disciplines without clashes. Ensembles abound, as do music clubs, from classical to lunchtime pop band club, which was thrashing out Taylor Swift hits on our visit.

Drama is taught by a specialist teacher from year two. Productions such as Annie and Matilda are performed by the year 2 and year 6 girls and around three-quarters of girls take external speech and drama exams. Both sites have impressive and very busy libraries with a long illustrious list of visiting authors (frequently hosted in conjunction with the local bookshop and other schools).

Two exceptionally well-equipped art and DT rooms in the juniors, with walls adorned by impressive pieces including lifelike animal masks and vibrant vinyl clocks. We observed year 6 girls diligently constructing intricate electric train pulley systems for a rail engineer project in DT. ‘Redo, try again but better the next time,’ the teacher was overheard saying in an encouraging tone, reiterating school’s approach to developing growth mindset in its pupils.

Hearty curries and colourful veggie dishes, plus a nutritious daily chef special, are prepared by the friendly in-house team that pupils (and staff alike), wolf down at speed so as not to miss a minute of lunchtime clubs. Girls can also bring packed lunches from home. Year 3 girls were visibly excited about having graduated to the senior school canteen and took delight in diving into the healthy salad bar and enticing desserts (chocolate brownie a firm favourite).

Eighty clubs at last count, ranging from skateboarding and cheerleading through to bouldering. These are busy girls who like to be occupied: ‘I’m sad today because cross-stitch club is cancelled,’ lamented one girl. A busy charity fundraising calendar and community outreach programme means most weeks appear to have some kind of crazy hair or fun run activity, many of which are pupil initiated.

Huge drive on pastoral support. Thought catchers and anonymous worry boxes in most classrooms, and the girls are also encouraged to all talk together in the classroom setting about any issues worrying them. A school counsellor (also on learning support team) is on hand. Wellbeing afternoons get classes undertaking tasks together including baking, crafting or have visits from petting zoos, for example. Additionally, school runs an ‘inspiring female speaker’ series which has seen the likes of soprano Kate Royal visit, as well as parents imparting information about their careers, eg corporate finance. School’s own SENDCo was a former gold medal winning Commonwealth Games long jumper and talks to the girls about developing growth mindset.

Families live fairly locally and reflect the diversity of the wider SE London area. School works to ensure all families feel involved in school life and has developed an inclusion calendar for parents to feed in cultural and religious days of personal significance. A bus service in conjunction with other local schools is available but only from year 3. School runs a breakfast club before morning and afternoon care which are helpful offerings for busy working parents. ‘My daughter gets upset if I pick her up too early,’ a parent commented.

Money matters

Where clubs are run by an external provider, an additional fee is incurred. Bursaries only available at 11+ from year 7.

The last word

Great for sparky, intellectually curious girls who like to give everything a go. Involved, enthusiastic and caring staff ensure every day is varied, fun and enriching at this top performing, all-through school.

Special Education Needs

JAPS was praised in its last (2002) ISI Inspection Report for the 'excellence' of its provision for special needs. JAPS is extremely well resourced in terms of Learning Support and Enrichment teaching. In the Pre-Prep (4-7 year-old boys and girls), there is a SENCO for 3 days pw plus a further learning support teacher for 2.5 days pw In the Middle School (7-11 year-old girls) there is a qualified SENCO for 3 days pw plus 2 further Learning Support Teachers. There are 3 specialist rooms in the school as a whole dedicated to Special Needs/Learning Support.

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