The Junior School Curriculum: Inspiring Minds
The Junior School at St Margaret’s Hampstead is a dynamic and pivotal stage in your daughter's educational journey, designed to build on her foundational skills and prepare her for the independence of Senior School.
Our curriculum is thoughtfully crafted to excite, inspire and empower every pupil through engaging half-termly themes and big “I wonder…” questions. This approach ensures that learning is active and enjoyable, helping girls make connections across different subject areas and develop a clear sense of what it means to be an expert in each discipline.
A broad & ambitious curriculum
Our syllabus ensures excellent coverage of the national curriculum for Years 3 to 6, while also providing our dedicated teachers the freedom to go above and beyond. Learning is always challenging, engaging and enjoyable, with teachers maximising opportunities for discussion, talk time and the use of our on-site facilities and outdoor spaces.
Mathematics
Children have a daily Maths lesson from Reception to Year 6, with a strong focus on developing arithmetic, reasoning and problem-solving skills. We use the latest educational resources to build a robust understanding of mathematical concepts and encourage our pupils to reason, make links and problem-solve. The emphasis is on building strong mental maths skills and a clear understanding of when to use certain operations in real-world problems.
English
In English, we use an engaging, active learning approach, giving girls extensive opportunities to develop their vocabulary, language and reading comprehension. Our approach ensures that every pupil is challenged with appropriately pitched, individualised learning to ensure they are confident readers and writers.
Science
Our Science curriculum aims to develop an enthusiasm and enjoyment of scientific learning. In weekly Science lessons, girls follow the aims of the national curriculum, building their scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Curiosity is celebrated, and girls are encouraged to ask and research their own questions, developing essential investigative and analytical skills.
Humanities
The teaching of History and Geography enriches our pupils' understanding of the world by providing an economic, political, cultural and social context. We use exciting topics, fieldwork in our local area and educational visits to make learning active and creative, helping girls to develop a well-rounded knowledge of the past and an understanding of the diverse places, people and environments around them.
Expert teaching & unique resources
In the Junior School, girls benefit from a core team of specialist teachers who are passionate about their subjects, including PE, Music, Art and Computing. These experts use our unique facilities to bring learning to life. Our girls make excellent use of our facilities, providing hands-on opportunities to develop creativity and problem-solving skills.
A nurturing environment: the power of personalised attention
Our curriculum is supported by our small class sizes, which ensure that our dedicated staff can engage with each girl on a personal level. With an average class size of around 15 students, we are able to provide a valuable level of personal attention that ensures no pupil is missed and every girl receives the support she needs to thrive. This nurturing environment is what empowers our girls to build confidence and excel to the best of their abilities.
Beyond the classroom: enriching our curriculum
Learning at St Margaret’s Hampstead extends far beyond the syllabus. We believe that immersive experiences are vital to a rich education. Our curriculum is enhanced by a range of learning opportunities, with workshops and educational visits to museums and galleries, allowing our girls to learn in different ways and deepen their understanding of the world around them.
Discover the Junior School experience at St Margaret’s Hampstead
We invite you to visit St Margaret's Hampstead and see firsthand how our Junior School empowers girls to learn, grow and thrive. Take the next step in your daughter's educational journey.