Pupils in our Reception classes are introduced to the sounds of the alphabet through our scheme, Read Write Inc. They work in small, differentiated, teacher-led groups initially practising phonic sounds, but very quickly moving onto handwriting and writing for a range of purposes, such as story writing, report writing and non-fiction writing which are based on the half termly topic using the Cornerstones scheme e.g dinosaurs, space, growing plants, habitats. In addition, they continue to develop their communication skills through role-play and language activities.

Pupils in Lower Prep have a daily Read Write Inc lesson. By the end of Form II, most children know all their phonic sounds and letters and are emerging as confident writers and spellers with a good grasp of basic grammar. The Read Write Inc scheme works methodically through the sounds, offering the children the chance to develop their skills independently and consistently. Children work in ability groups across the phase depending on their learning profile. This means that all children, regardless of chronological age, are working at their own personal ability level. An extended writing session is planned once a week which links directly to their Cornerstones topic. E.g. Pirates, Castles, Woodlands. This gives the children to opportunity to showcase their new phonic learning in a fun and engaging manner. Once children reach a suitable standard in reading, they are then moved onto the Accelerated Reader scheme which helps children to choose their next books based on their specific reading ability and provides consistent data to help enhance their progress and understanding.

Pupils in Middle Prep have a daily English lesson linked to both their class reader and their Cornerstones topic. Pupils in middle prep will read six books linked to their topics during the course of the year. E.g. Roald Dahl’s The Witches linked to the Heroes and Villians topic in Form III and The Thieves of Ostia linked to their Roman topic. This style of teaching enhances children’s interest and knowledge of books whilst developing their empathy for characters through historical events and developing their understanding of the world around them. Each half term, lessons include grammar, spelling, non-fiction, fiction and poetry.  Formal assessments in Reading, Grammar and Spelling take place in the Autumn and Summer terms. The Accelerated Reader scheme is used to monitor children’s reading and help them to choose books at their level from the library. Children take a quiz after each book they read and this counts towards their target. Children who reach their termly reading target receive a certificate and have their name added to the year group Accelerated Reader target display in the school corridor.

Pupils in Upper Prep have six English lessons a week linked to both their class reader and their Cornerstones topic. Pupils in upper prep will read three books linked to their topics during the course of the year. E.g. Berlie Doherty’s Streetchild linked to the Victorian topic in Form V and Michael Morpurgo’s Warhorse linked to the World War I topic in Form VI. This style of teaching enhances children’s interest and knowledge of books whilst developing their empathy for characters through historical events and developing their understanding of the world around them. Each half term, lessons include grammar, spelling, non-fiction, fiction and poetry. Formal assessments in Reading, Grammar and Spelling take place in the Autumn and Summer terms. Form VI sit the national SATs in May. The Accelerated Reader scheme is used to monitor children’s reading and help them to choose books at their level from the library. Children take a quiz after each book they read and this counts towards their target. Children who reach their termly reading target receive a certificate and have their name added to the year group Accelerated Reader target display in the school corridor.

These year groups have two PE lessons per week and one swimming lesson in the onsite swimming pool. The focus is on developing children’s foundational and fundamental movement skills through a wide variety of sports and tailored activities.

• Autumn Term: Gymnastics, Football and Netball activities to develop large ball skills
• Spring Term: Dance, Fitness and Health, Tag Rugby and striking and object manipulation developed through hockey-based activities
• Summer Term: Athletics, Tennis and Cricket, to develop striking skills

These year groups have three PE lessons per week and one swimming lesson. Forms IV to VI swim in a 25 metre pool. A sports-based curriculum develops technique, team playing abilities and knowledge of rules and tactics as well as fundamental skills.

• Autumn Term: Gymnastics, Football and Netball
• Spring Term: Dance, Fitness and Health, Tag Rugby and Hockey
• Summer Term: Athletics, Tennis and Cricket

Pupils take part in many tournaments throughout their time at St. George’s, particularly from Form III upwards where the children have many opportunities to compete as individuals or as part of mixed or single sex teams. All pupils take part in House Competitions and have the opportunity to represent the school.

Sports Competitions include island-based and international football, rugby, hockey, cricket and netball tournaments and athletics competitions. Our school teams take part in an annual football, netball and hockey tour to Guernsey and the UK.

We run an extensive list of internal and externally-run sports clubs before and after school for pupils of all ages and abilities.

Our Reception pupils continue to build on the basic skills introduced in Nursery, ensuring that they start more structured learning in Key Stage 1 with a solid foundation, and, more importantly, love and enthusiasm for Music.  They will take primary roles in the Early Year Nativity, building confidence in their performance skills.

Pupils in Forms I and II continue their inspiring musical start with lessons that involve:

• Singing, dancing and musical games
• Developing an internal sense of pulse and rhythm
• Playing classroom percussion
• Group music making
• Nativity preparation and performance!
• Explore how music can create stories, characters and emotions
• Lear about dynamics, tonality, basic notation, rhythm, timbres, graphic score and sound effects
• Singing and writing their own lyrics
• Introduction to World Music.

Pupils in Forms III and IV enjoy music lessons that involve:

• Developing their listening skills
• Working in groups to create their own soundscape
• Developing their singing skills
• Being introduced to the Rock n’ Roll genre, learning how to play pieces with body percussion
• Watching a musical and undertaking activities related to what they’ve seen
• World Music, with a focus on Indonesia
• Creating a puppet show to music
• Participating in a classroom playalong project
• Studying Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’
• Going on a soundwalk in the grounds, drawing graphic scores and exploring musical timbre using instruments and voices
• Studying Impressionism to tie in with their learning in Art lessons
• Exploring works by Debussy
• Preparing to perform in Christmas celebrations
• Learning about Pop and Jazz
• Study works by Handel
• Continue to explore World Music with a focus on music from Africa
• Study Symphony No. 5 by Beethoven
• Take part in a classroom Playalong Project.

Pupils in Forms V and VI enjoy music lessons that involve:

• Exploring Holst’s ‘The Planets Suite
• Continue rhythmic ostinato work in small groups
• Develop singing skills by learning harvest-themed songs
• Learning about the Blues genre
• Studying Verdi’s ‘Dies Irae’
• Preparing for Christmas celebrations and performances
• Exploring Vivaldi’s ‘Winter’
• Watching a musical and exploring how to apply the skills demonstrated to the St. George’s School Production
• Continuing to explore World Music with a focus on South America
• Participating in a classroom Playalong Project
• Studying ‘Carmina Burana’ by Carl Orf
• Studying ‘Connect It’ by Anna Meredith and preparing a class performance
• Studying Folk Music with a focus on UK, Poland and the Middle East
• Exploring  Pop Music from the 1970s onwards
• Undertaking a transition project to help prepare pupils for ongoing music learning in secondary school
• Song writing for their Leavers’ Assembly.

From Reception to Form II, pupils focus on learning and using a range of art techniques and mediums including painting, drawing, printing, clay and sculpture. Their art is always linked to the work they’re doing in topic lessons, which helps to bring what they’re studying to life. Pupils also look at the works of at least one famous or admired artist per term to inspire their own artwork.

As an example, during and ‘Enchanted Woodland’ topic, the children will look at the ‘Circles’ artwork by Kandinsky which inspire their final pieces of woodland artwork. 

From Form III upwards, pupils use our dedicated Art Room and DT space. They continue topic-based learning mixed with the studying the principles of art. Form III explore tints, shades and colour mixing. They also study prehistoric art and weaving with paper and cloth.

Form IV start to draw and paint still life studies. They also begin to explore the work of famous artists such as Hockney and Breughel. They replicate the famous Willow Pattern, do drawings in charcoal, and continue with textiles in their DT lessons.

Form V look at drawings in architecture through the work of Hundertwasser, and art from WWI. They learn to adapt recipes in the DT kitchen.

In Form VI, pupils continue to be inspired by the work of famous artists of the classic and modern era. They look at graffiti and the work of Banksy, creating their own Tags. They study Picasso’s Guernica and Cezanne’s still life work. In DT, they enjoy a project based on popular TV format, ‘Come Dine with Me’.

Forms III-VI also take part in our annual ‘Festival of Arts’ displaying their pieces alongside the musical and dramatic performances of the evening. We also enter various ad hoc and seasonal activities and competitions.

From Form II, pupils are taught digital skills from a specialist teacher, but they begin using the ICT room from Form I, logging in and accessing educational software. Pupils also use technology regularly in the classroom to complement their learning, including programmes accessed on School iPads and floor robots that introduce coding. ICT and Computer Science skills are taught together with focussed Online Safety lessons each half term. 

In Middle Prep, technology is used in most subjects when it enhances the lesson, with iPads and PCs in regular use. ICT skills are taught throughout the curriculum with timetabled lessons in the ICT suite for humanities and English. Pupils have a Computer Science lesson each week that covers coding skills, online safety and computing systems and networks. Coding includes block coding using a number of different platforms. We also use Google Classroom for remote and in-school learning.

In Upper Prep, technology continues to be used in most subjects when it enhances the lesson with specialist teachers booking the ICT suite on a regular basis. Each class has a set of iPads used throughout the day. ICT skills are taught throughout the curriculum with timetabled lessons in the ICT room for humanities and English. Lessons cover many digital skills including research, publishing, building websites and using apps and websites safely and productively. A weekly Computer Science lesson covers coding, online safety and computing system networks. Pupils are introduced to text-based coding in Upper Prep as well as extending their use of block coding. Google Classroom continues to be used for remote and in-school learning.

French is taught from the Spring term of Little Dragons Orange all the way through to Form VI. For our younger pupils, language lessons involve lots of songs, rhymes and games. As the children get older, they learn to develop their learning into sentences and eventually to be able to read short passages in French. Role plays, games and fun are essential parts of the learning throughout the school. From Form III, pupils start to learn Spanish as well.

Initial language learning focuses on the basis, for example, colours, numbers, days of the week, family members, animals and simple sentences about themselves. As the children get older, they are taught specific topics to help them get by in France or Spain, for example, food, hobbies, weather, countries, nationalities, music, directions and ailments. Our children leave St George’s confident in languages and more than ready to take on the challenges of secondary language learning.

Our pupils leave St George’s confident in languages and more than ready to take on the challenges of secondary language learning.

For pupils in Form VI, we are delighted to offer the opportunity to learn Mandarin. Lessons follow the highly regarded Dragons Connect platform, where children are taught new vocabulary and how to write Mandarin characters, along with a focus on various aspects of Chinese culture.

Pupils use their iPads to complete online exercises that consolidate their learning which gives them instant feedback, followed by a series of fun, educational games that reiterate previous learning and earn ‘Fu points’. The children become extremely competitive and really enjoy their lessons.

Every pupil has the option to take the Independent Schools Examination Board Level 1 (spring) and 2 (summer) examinations in Mandarin.