Seniors

Children join the Senior School in Years 7 and 8 (11-13 years of age) and they follow the curriculum leading to Common Entrance/Scholarship: the exams children take in order to move to their secondary schools. Our record of getting children to their school of choice is 100%.  In the last couple of years 50% of our year 8 cohort have gained a scholarship or award to their senior school. 

Students in Years 7 and 8 are allocated a personal tutor whom they will meet twice a day for registration. The tutors are responsible for the children's academic and pastoral care and will look after a group of no more than 10 students. 

Children are placed into ability sets for different subjects and are taught by specialist teachers. Alongside a busy academic schedule are wonderful opportunities for the performing arts, in all things creative, in sport but, perhaps most importantly, in leadership as the children take on responsibilities as monitors and prefects, house captains and heads of school.

As the Head of the Senior school, Mrs Julia Sutherland, puts it,

“Great Walstead prides itself on being one large family. The Senior students take their role, as head of that family, very seriously, and do their best through work and play to set an example to the younger members of the community. Their academic successes are outstanding, their music and drama leaves me in awe and their achievements on the sports field are no less impressive. But more than that, all of our students have developed talents that cannot be measured – a sense of fair play, being part of a community, looking out for one another and striving to do their best in whatever situation they find themselves.”

Mrs Julia Sutherland
Head of the Senior School