Alleyn's Junior School A GSG School

Other features

All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmaster

Since 2015, Simon Severino MA PGCE. Born in Italy, he was educated at St Peter’s, a state school in Bournemouth. He read geography at Oxford, followed by a PGCE. He has taught in prep schools for more than 25 years, starting his career at Culford Prep in Suffolk. He later moved to Dulwich Prep London, where he rose to become deputy head, and then to St Andrew’s Prep, Eastbourne, as head.

He describes Alleyn’s Junior as ‘very high-achieving and academic’ but stresses that it ‘isn’t a sausage machine’. ‘Everyone is academically able but there’s a variety of different characters here,’ he says. ‘Some are very quiet and some are extrovert. We want them all to come out of the school as the best possible version of themselves.’

Even before he joined Alleyn’s he felt an affinity with the school and once he took up the headship he wanted to keep its ‘unique energy, spirit and sense of fun’. He was determined from the outset, however, that there would be no resting on laurels and he has enhanced every area of school life and learning. In particular, he has bolstered the co-curricular side, introduced iPads for 3-6 and has overseen the impressive redevelopment of the junior school site. Additions include a superb hall for dance, drama, music and assemblies, an expanded library, a suite of music practice rooms, new classrooms and a newly landscaped outside space. ‘It’s set us up for the next chapter and will enable us to be the best school we can be,’ he says.

He works very closely with the senior school and is part of the senior management team. Parents describe him as ‘down to earth’ and ‘a people’s person’. ‘He’s very approachable and calm,’ one told us, while another said: ‘He’s absolutely brilliant. He isn’t in it for himself. He’s there for the good of the kids.’ His wife Emma is a teacher and they have two children. In his spare time he enjoys being with his family – ‘it sounds cheesy, I know,’ he smiles – pottering round his garden and making the most of his Arsenal season ticket. ‘I go to all the home matches,’ he says.

Entrance

Vastly oversubscribed. Main entry point is 4+. School used to be one-form entry at this stage but from September 2022 there will be two forms (a total of 36 children), with around 250 applicants for reception places. ‘It’s very competitive but they have assured entry to the senior school,’ says the head. At 7+ there are eight to ten places (and 150 applicants) and at 9+ there are four places (and more than 50 applicants).

The school is looking for children’s academic potential. At 4+, teachers look at language development, practical reasoning and group participation. At 7+, children undertake assessments in English comprehension, creative writing, maths and non-verbal reasoning and at 9+ there are assessment papers in English, maths and spatial reasoning, as well as an interview.

Children come from a range of schools and nurseries. Around half live within a mile, often cycling or scooting to school (there are lots of bike and scooter racks). Seventy per cent live within two miles but others travel from places like Beckenham, Blackheath, Bromley, Clapham and Greenwich. Pupils can travel in via the Foundation Schools’ coach service from year 3.

Exit

At 11, most (over 95 per cent) head to the senior school, many with scholarships. Year 6 junior school pupils have guaranteed places – ‘we are geared up to be a through-school,’ says the junior school head – but they sit the same 11+ assessment as external candidates. Results are simply used for benchmarking, the opportunity to gain academic scholarships and ‘to keep them on their toes’. The head reckons that not having the pressure of waiting to hear if they’ve got a senior school place is hugely beneficial. ‘When I look at our year 6s they are the least stressy year 6s I have met in my prep school life,’ he says. A very small number leave each year for other top London day schools or because they’re relocating out of the city, with Westminster City Academy, St Paul's and Wilson’s Grammar having featured most recently.

Our view

Small class sizes – 16 to 18 from reception to year 2, 22 in years 3 and 4 and 24 in years 5 and 6. ‘Children of this age need to be known and recognised and here they can be,’ says the head. The school has developed seven learning dispositions to help children become successful learners – empathy and humility, responsibility, resilience, reflectiveness, thoroughness and focus, imagination, courage and self-belief. A host of languages are spoken within the school community and learning about languages and cultures is a strength of the school. Spanish taught, French from reception onwards and Mandarin in year 6; there’s also a day of languages every year, when children take part in language taster lessons.

The youngest children learn about science through play while older pupils experience the three strands of science – physics, chemistry and biology. When we popped our heads round the well-equipped science lab, year 4s were enthusiastically trying to make paper clips float on top of water. Smart new library space, with year 6 pupil librarians helping to re-shelve books, DVDs and CDs as well as offering reading suggestions to younger children. Favourite authors when we visited included Rick Riordan, Raina Telgemeier, Sam Sedgman and Philip Reeve. There is also a weekly DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) session, devoted to reading and celebrating books. Sensible amounts of homework, from nightly reading for reception children to 40 minutes of subject homework for year 6s. After-school care available till 6pm every day.

Parents wax lyrical about the school, which was opened in 1992 (former Church of England envoy Terry Waite cut the ribbon). The academic side is ‘very high-achieving’ but parents say the school is ‘very kind and nurturing’. Around 30 pupils have learning support, either one to one or in small groups and mostly for dyslexia, dyspraxia and processing difficulties. The head of learning support works with a learning support assistant and a speech and language therapist.

All classes have two or more music lessons a week. In years 2 and 3 every child takes part in the string scheme, where they get the chance to learn the violin or cello with specialist instrumental teachers. Year 5 pupils have the option to learn a brass or woodwind instrument for a year – a great stepping-stone into groups like the woodwind ensemble and jazz band. Everything is inclusive; for instance, the whole year 6 cohort is in the year 6 choir and there’s a variety of musical and ensemble clubs to join. Curriculum drama for pupils in years 3, 4 and 5, plus annual performances like comedy revue A Bit of a Laugh, Alleyn’s Junior Has Talent and the year 6 play. Wonderful art on display everywhere – we particularly admired some stunning Alice in Wonderland inspired paper lanterns and a vast portrait of Edward Alleyn fashioned from recycled bottle tops to celebrate the senior school’s 400th anniversary.

We were shown round by a group of year 6 pupils, who were enthusiastic, polite, full of beans and terrifically proud of their school. The children sported a host of badges on their lapels – ‘she’s the badge queen,’ said a boy admiringly of a peer with a particularly impressive selection. Our guides knew the site back to front, pointing out things we might not have spotted, such as three wooden owls called Wisdom, Wish and Wonder perching high above the adventure playground and an elderly wooden cat named Edward after the school’s founder, who sports a tiny, coloured ribbon round his neck according to which house has the most points. Children belong to one of four houses (Jaguars, Leopards, Panthers and Tigers) and there are two year 6 school captains and two vice captains. ‘We run errands and make suggestions,’ one told us.

Smart navy, red and grey uniform, with girls as well as boys allowed to wear shorts. Light and airy school hall, where assembly is held three times a week. The extracurricular offering is second to none – an astonishing 90 clubs, held at lunchtime, before school or after school and including rock choir, Chatterbox (the school magazine), Lego and mindfulness colouring and craft. There’s a Friday mini-lecture every half-term (recent speakers include the BBC’s Huw Edwards and Justin Webb and artist and stage designer Es Devlin) and a termly alumni assembly when inspiring former pupils, everyone from rugby players to pilots, come and talk to the children. ‘It opens up the world for them.’ says the head. ‘The children see these people and think “I could do that.”’ Weekly forest school for reception pupils, where they get the chance to climb trees, make dens and cook on a campfire. ‘We go every Thursday, come rain or shine,’ said a reception teacher. Year 1s have forest school once every half-term and year 2s every term.

Juniors make the most of the on-site sporting facilities shared with the senior school, including the swimming pool, sports hall, AstroTurf and acres of playing fields. Sports on offer include football, cricket, netball, hockey, swimming, water polo, , athletics, gymnastics, dance, fives and taekwondo. All children can play in teams from year 3.

Parents we spoke to were full of praise for the school’s approach on all fronts. ‘It’s a dream experience, especially when they’re little,’ one mother told us. ‘There’s a real sense of community and a mix of friendships across the year groups. The children are protected and looked after and they encourage the year 5s and 6s to look out for the younger ones.’

The last word

Buzzing with fun, energy and excitement, this friendly school offers a brilliant education for bright children who are eager to learn and keen to take advantage of the exhilarating co-curricular opportunities on offer.

Special Education Needs

See senior school questionnaire. 09-09

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