Just a few weeks into his role at Pitsford School, the new Head of Junior School is already looking to build on existing success and drive further expansion and progress.
Jonathan Hall, who has 15 years’ experience as a Headteacher, took up his new role in September with the aim of maintaining and improving the school’s already excellent academic standards, adding value to pupils’ performances, helping them achieve beyond what was previously hoped.
Around 70 pupils attend the Junior School, and while there is scope for growth and additional pupils are always welcome, Jonathan is keen that pupil numbers and staffing levels increase hand-in-hand, so that the incredible benefit of Pitsford’s small class sizes is not diluted. Each class has its own dedicated form teacher, and the children in the Junior School also benefit from specialist teaching from staff in Pitsford School’s Senior School in subjects such as French, ICT, sciences and PE. Alongside that, they gain access to the classes, sports facilities and laboratories of the Senior School as part of their daily learning experience.
“I’ve seen in my first few weeks here that this is a lovely school with fantastic facilities and the children are progressing well,” said Jonathan. “Obviously, like any headteacher in a new role, I have my own ideas and want to make changes, but there’s plenty of time to get to know the school, the children and the parents and build from there.
“These years in a child’s education are crucial, it’s like building a house, if you get the foundations right you have something strong to build on. Children at this age are like sponges and it’s during these years that they start to develop their characters and how they view the world and it is our job to help them understand the ethos of the school which will help them to grow into responsible young people before they move on to the next stage of their education.
“Academically, we value the impact of standardised testing and a robust curriculum so that standards are reached, skills embedded and ambitions ignited. At the same time, we are committed to widening the scope of extra-curricular opportunities so that our children get the chance to try a wide range of activities.”
Most children stay on site after lessons to take part in the wide range of after-school activities that are included in the school fees. These run from Prep Club, through to clubs which are situated in the school’s beautiful 30-acre site. The activity programme changes every term and is one of the most special things about Pitsford Junior School.
Pitsford Junior School’s longer school day benefits working parents, and good communication, particularly through online platforms like ClassDojo and through social media and regular Head’s letter, is something that has become increasingly important.
“We understand that parents work long hours and appreciate their children having opportunities after the normal school day,” said Jonathan. “Communication with parents is paramount and they enjoy seeing school activities on social media, but I’m also outside to greet everyone in the morning and that’s a chance for them to speak with me, or for me to catch up with them.
“I would say my approach is holistic: every child should reach their maximum level according to their abilities, regardless of what that might be – that’s the value added approach I am looking for – and children should always be encouraged to persevere and never give up on something because it is difficult. Resilience is a core value of Pitsford School.
“The Junior School prepares children for the next, important stage of their education. Children can go right through from nursery to the end of secondary at Pitsford School, and that’s what we’d like to see become the norm. My hope is that Pitsford is, for all our families, the one-stop solution for ambitious parents who want a personal, relational and bespoke education for their child.”
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