Senior School

Years 6, 7 and 8 comprise the Senior School at Stroud. Children continue to have a form tutor to look after their pastoral needs but are taught entirely by subject specialist staff. They are housed in the unique and friendly setting of the main Highwood House building where the majority of their lessons are taught.

The children in Senior School wear blazers and ties and are encouraged to take on an increasing responsibility for their learning. They are expected to arrive at lessons with the correct equipment and manage their own homework diaries. The experience of moving from classroom to classroom not only enables the rooms themselves to display their subject characteristics but provides the children with vital experience in preparation for their secondary education.

Children are set by ability for most subjects, enabling lessons to go at an appropriate pace, and support to be targeted efficiently where it is needed. Exam preparation takes place without it dominating the vital teaching of skills and knowledge. In Year 6 a significant number of children sit the entrance exams to King Edward VI Southampton, local grammar schools and other independent schools.

Classes are smaller in Years 7 and 8 where children are taught the full range of subjects in the lower years of a secondary school, but within the more nurturing environment of Stroud. In Year 8 the children can sit entrance exams to King Edward VI, Winchester College and the Common Entrance to a range of senior independent schools.

Opportunities for sport, drama, music, art and a range of extra-curricular activities abound in the Senior School. Children are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities while still balancing the demands of their homework. The hour's prep can either be done at home or in the supervised setting of the ICT room where the children have use of the school computer network.

Residential trips remain in the mind of many Stroud children. Year 6 visit France each summer while Years 7 and 8 go to Barcelona every other year. Within the UK, Year 7 have an annual trip to Stratford, while Year 8 hike on Dartmoor and round off the year with a long weekend of outdoor pursuits in Shropshire.