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Dear Parents & Carers
This morning we welcomed prospective parents to our first Open Morning for Reception entry in 2026. The event offered a valuable opportunity to reflect on the fantastic provision we offer our pupils.
Our vision, Girls Enjoying Success, guides all that we do. It reminds us that success looks different for every girl. We focus on each pupil as an individual, fostering ambition, self-discovery and personal achievement. Our aim is for every girl to realise her full potential and become the very best version of herself. Our curriculum and co-curricular programmes are carefully designed to challenge, inspire and support. We want our pupils to develop the confidence and skills they need to thrive now and in the future.
What makes the Junior School special is our commitment to academic excellence combined with a deep appreciation of intellectual curiosity and achievement. We take a holistic approach to education, nurturing every aspect of a girl’s development so she flourishes both personally and academically. Our broad and balanced curriculum offers rich learning experiences that extend well beyond the classroom, encouraging exploration and creativity. In our supportive yet purposeful environment, girls are inspired to take risks, build resilience and grow into confident and capable young women.
At the Junior School we are dedicated to providing a curriculum that inspires and challenges the girls, creating a lifelong love of learning. Our teaching reaches beyond core academic subjects to promote curiosity, creativity and independent thinking.
It is for this reason that we introduced Philosophy to all girls from Reception through to Year 6. These sessions offer rich opportunities to explore ideas, express opinions, listen to others and think deeply. You might wonder what a Philosophy lesson looks like for a Reception child, or why we begin philosophical thinking so early. I’d like to take a moment to share our rationale and the benefits we see every day.
Philosophy encourages the girls to think critically and creatively, question thoughtfully and speak with confidence. It nurtures empathy, improves communication and listening, and promotes a culture of respect and tolerance. We often notice a boost in self-esteem as a result of regular sessions.
At its heart, Philosophy helps children make sense of the world and their place within it. They consider questions such as Is it ever OK to lie? and practise giving reasons for their views, listening carefully and considering other perspectives. Most importantly, they learn that some questions don’t have a single correct answer, but that exploring ideas together can lead to deeper understanding.
A typical session begins with a warm-up activity to spark thinking and prepare for discussion. The girls are then introduced to a stimulus: a picture, story, poem, piece of music or artefact which inspires them to generate their own questions. They then engage in respectful dialogue, with their teacher facilitating the conversation while allowing the girls to lead the direction of the enquiry. Sessions often conclude with a moment of reflection, where each girl considers what she has learned or how her thinking has changed.
Philosophy also plays a key role in deepening the girls’ understanding of our eight Channing Characters; each one representing a core value we seek to nurture. In every session, we see the curiosity of Curiosity Fox as the girls pose questions and explore ideas. They show the bravery of Bravery Mole when taking intellectual risks, and the empathy of Empathy Rabbit as they listen and consider different viewpoints. Discussions are grounded in the respect of Respectfulness Hedgehog, ensuring every voice is heard. The perseverance of Perseverance Squirrel and the resilience of Resilience Robin shine through when tackling complex concepts. They develop the independence of Independence Owl as they learn to think for themselves, and the responsibility of Responsibility Badger as they engage thoughtfully and respectfully with one another.
We aim to create a culture where independent thinking is embedded in everyday learning. We encourage you, as parents and carers, to ask not just what your daughter did at school today, but what she heard, what she talked about and what she thought.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Miss Robertson (Philosophy Lead) for continuing to develop our Philosophy curriculum and supporting colleagues with ideas and planning for these valuable sessions.
With warm wishes
Miss Dina Hamalis
Head of the Junior School
