G i r l s I n c l u d i n g T h e C o - E d u c at i on a l I n fa n t S c h o ol Prospectus Pupils are loyal to and proud of their school. Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI, 2014) Bury Grammar School Girls & Co-Educational Infant School Welcome At Bury Grammar School Girls, which includes our Co-Educational Infant School, it is our mission to unlock the potential of every young person in our care. We are a school with a rich history and a forward-looking, modern approach to providing an all-round education. Young people thrive where learning is challenging and where they are supported in a family atmosphere with strong pastoral care. We see every day that the combination of happy pupils alongside outstanding teaching is a winning one. While high academic achievement will always be central to our aims, so too is the development of our pupils’ many talents through a rich extra curricular programme including sport, music, drama and outside adventure. Excellent pupil-teacher relationships, positions of responsibility and leadership opportunities, and a focus on emotional intelligence and resilience, provide a balanced approach to pastoral care which gives our pupils the confidence to be themselves. We want the young adults who leave us to be independent learners and excellent communicators, happy in their achievements and relationships, confident in their abilities, and ready to make a vital contribution and real difference to their world. Mrs Jo Anderson Headmistress Founded in 1884, Bury Grammar School Girls joined with the Boys School in 1906. With one governing body we are able to offer all the known benefits of single sex education from the age of 7 with many joint activities. Children joining us at any age become part of a long history of academic excellence. They enjoy the combination of tradition and forward thinking which makes our educational experience unique. 1 2 Visit our website at www.burygrammar.com Even the youngest children display a love of learning and a thirst for knowledge and are keen to explore and experiment. (ISI, 2014) SCAN ME Bury Grammar School Girls & Co-Educational Infant School Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Young children love to learn. Our purpose built classrooms and cheerful outdoor play areas are designed to help the children develop their understanding and sense of discovery. Our staff know how children learn and they make excellent use of resources to provide a plethora of activities ensuring that the children’s innate curiosity is fully stimulated. Our youngest children join our Fledglings Nursery in the term they turn three. Fledglings learn through play. Research shows that children best begin their learning this way. Cygnets Pre school is for children aged 3 to 4. They love to attend school. They play a dynamic role in their learning, offer their ideas and respond with great enthusiasm to the thoughtful and challenging activities provided by their teachers. They are eager for discovery and knowledge. This all leads naturally to acquiring the skills for reading and writing, for mathematical and scientific understanding as they begin to identify sounds, to read simple words and make logical connections. The play-based approach to learning is exemplary. Children join our Reception classes when they are 4 years old. From individual starting (ISI, 2014) points, their progress continues to be rapid. Writing and problem solving become increasingly confident. We seek to share with parents the pleasure of each child’s learning journey at all stages. We recognise that the partnership that exists between school and parents is at the heart of every child’s progress and success. Teaching considers exceptionally well the children’s interests and needs. (ISI, 2014) 3 4 Visit our website at www.burygrammar.com Bury Grammar School Girls & Co-Educational Infant School Years 1 & 2 Our Infant School is especially designed for our young children. For each class there is plenty of room and because group sizes are small we can ensure that every individual child has space to learn. Our teachers are specialists and ensure that all children progress rapidly. Physical challenge and creative development are also vital for young children and we have specialist teachers for sport and music matched by purpose built resources such as the Infant sports hall, music room and the superb central octagonal hall for special concerts and assemblies shared throughout the year with parents and families. Educational visits organised throughout the year excite the children’s natural spirit of enquiry and love of adventure. By the end of Year 2 the children are ready to move on to the Boys’ and Girls’ Junior Schools taking with them a secure academic foundation and enthusiasm for learning of all kinds. Visit our website at www.burygrammar.com Love to learn SCAN ME 5 6 When choosing primary schools we were very apprehensive and unsure where to send Hannah, however I can 100% say with confidence that BGSG was the best and right choice. (Parent) SCAN ME Bury Grammar School Girls & Co-Educational Infant School Junior School The majority of girls who join Year 3 have come from our Infant School however those joining us from other schools settle very quickly. The Junior School has its own building within the school grounds with eight airy, modern classrooms. It is well equipped and full of colourful displays of girls’ work. Throughout the school, the curriculum provides extensive coverage of mathematical, scientific, creative, aesthetic and practical spheres of study and is supported by the very wide range of extra curricular activities that are a strength of the school. We take the girls on frequent educational visits; residential trips begin for girls in Year 5 and further develop independence and confidence. All girls take part in sport and musical activities, regularly participate in competitions and matches and have enjoyed success in local, regional and national events. Throughout the school the pupils’ social development is excellent. At all ages their relationships with each other and with staff are excellent characterised by courtesy and mutual respect. (ISI, 2014) 7 8 Visit our website at www.burygrammar.com Bury Grammar School Girls & Co-Educational Infant School Senior School academic When girls join our Senior School at 11 years they will experience a broad and varied curriculum with plenty of academic challenge. They will study the three separate sciences working in laboratories equipped to A level standard and they will have the opportunity to experience three Modern Foreign Languages before making their choices later on. In our school the study of Latin and Classical Civilisation sits comfortably with Computer Science and in a busy week there will be plenty of opportunity too for creative and physical development. Art and Design, Music and Drama and Sport are all supported with excellent facilities and highly skilled teaching. Throughout the school, pupils’ achievement in their academic work is excellent and in their activities outstanding. (ISI, 2014) Our curriculum is innovative and from 2014 will include at the end of Key Stage 3 the award of the BGSG Diploma recognising overall academic achievement along with service to the community, participation in extra curricular activities, outdoor challenge and an independent project. At the end of Year 9, pupils make their GCSE choices from a wide range of subjects. The compulsory core ensures that the demanding academic criteria of high performing universities are met. Visit our website at www.burygrammar.com The contribution of teaching is excellent. (ISI, 2014) SCAN ME 9 10 Throughout the years I feel as though I have grown into an independent, strong and ambitious individual which I think is down to the high level of teaching, unwavering support and constant guidance provided by the staff. (Grace, Upper Sixth Student, on leaving school for university) SCAN ME Bury Grammar School Girls & Co-Educational Infant School Sixth Form The recently opened Sixth Form Centre provides superb facilities for the students of both schools. Independent study is crucial at this stage and the two learning zones allow this to take place either individually or in groups. Although our students work very hard in order to achieve their highly competitive university places, the atmosphere in the all-day cafeteria is relaxed. Students usually select AS and A level subjects from a broad list which includes all the ‘facilitating subjects’ favoured by the Russell Group universities along with other popular academic subjects such as Psychology and Economics. They also study either Critical Thinking or General Studies at AS level and towards the end of their lower sixth year may choose to complete the Extended Project Qualification and AQA Bacc. The A level course is supplemented by an activities programme, community Small group sizes are a strong feature of our Sixth service, comprehensive careers and Form and all students may expect to receive university entrance guidance and a tutoring individual support from staff where they need it. system which focuses upon the needs of the individual student. Most subjects offer extension opportunities such as regional and national competitions, Olympiads and external speakers, many of whom are drawn from local universities. Results at A level are consistently high adding considerable value to earlier GCSE profiles. Sixth form students have many opportunities for leadership. They run the student councils, organise clubs and sports activities for younger pupils, may take morning assembly and co-ordinate charitable fundraising events throughout the whole school. By such means they build very impressive CVs, become excellent communicators and leave us at 18 highly qualified and justifiably confident in their own powers. 11 12 Visit our website at www.burygrammar.com Bury Grammar School Girls & Co-Educational Infant School Junior & Senior School creative Throughout the Junior and Senior Schools we have a rich, creative life.