Our School Environment
Infants
Children join the Infant Department at the age of four as they enter the Reception class. At this stage children become increasingly independent and active participants in their education.
Classes are small and children benefit from excellent teaching which focuses on helping them to become readers and writers, confident in early numeracy and with well-developed social skills.
Three separate classes operate in the Infants; Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 and teaching staff are supported by experienced teaching assistants. Children also enjoy specialist teaching in French, Music and PE.
Juniors
The Junior Department at Ashbridge Independent School begins in Year 3 when children are aged seven and follows through Years 4, 5 and 6.
This is a time of real growth and development, where children build on their skills and experiences in all areas of the curriculum. In the Lower Juniors, Year 3 and 4 children continue to study subjects through themes which link learning across curriculum areas and as children move into the Upper Juniors classes; Year 5 and 6, subject teaching is progressively introduced.
Children take on additional responsibilities within the Junior Department as they become leaders of teams or houses, and prefects.
The focus is on teaching and learning with extensive opportunities for independent study in classrooms designed specifically for this age group.
Sport at Ashbridge School
Here at Ashbridge we have first-class sport facilities with the benefit of a floodlit all-weather sports pitch which gives us the ability to host football, netball, hockey and tennis coaching and fixtures throughout the year.
Sport at Ashbridge is about more than physical exercise. Of course, keeping fit and learning to compete are crucially important but the school places equal emphasis on promoting the ethos of teamwork. By learning to cooperate productively with each other, children gain crucial skills that go far beyond the playing field.
Working with peers is essential to all other aspects of learning and something that we hope stays with individuals all their lives. A more immediate benefit is that children stay healthy, fit, and able to concentrate more effectively on their academic activities.
The school offers a wide spectrum of sports, including netball, football, cricket, rugby, hockey, swimming, and tennis. All children have extended PE and games lessons each week, plus additional sports sessions that focus specifically on team skills.”
Outdoors and Forest Sessions
Our extensive grounds and beautiful environment enable us to operate Forest Sessions and Horticulture lessons as part of our curriculum. Forest Sessions provide children with the opportunity to learn outside and are led by class teachers overseen by Head of Juniors, Arthur Wood.
Children also have a Horticulture lesson each week with our Horticulture Manager, Bob Nicholson. These sessions give children the opportunity to develop skills in gardening including learning about different plants, methods of pollination and using tools. Children work towards a Level 1 Award in Horticulture during their time in school as well as gaining a greater appreciation of the natural world.
The philosophy of Forest Schools is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through positive outdoor experiences. By delivering this initiative, we aim to develop self-awareness and regulation, motivation, empathy, good social communication skills, independence and a positive mental attitude, along with self-esteem and confidence.
Currently each child enjoys a quality Forest Session each week, where they spend time within one of our wooded areas. These sessions encompass a wide range of experiences including enjoying the environment, music, trails and treasure hunts, creativity and arts, building dens and shelters, using real tools, fire lighting and cooking (upper juniors only), healthy eating, games and physical activity.
Through these activities children learn how to handle risks, co-operate with others and use their initiative to solve problems, safely use full sized tools and appreciate the beauty of the natural environment.