Crosfields School Home Page
Crosfields goes co-educational
Crosfields School had particular cause for celebrating the new school year today with the arrival of the first girls in its history.
Busy preparations over the summer holidays had ensured that all necessary facilities for girls were in place and the curriculum expanded to include ballet and dance, available to both boys and girls.
The Pre-Prep department's introduction of girls will be followed by full co-education for the rest of the school from September 2008.
The first opportunity to see the girls and boys at work and play will be at the school's Open Morning on Tuesday 2nd October, 9:30am-11:30am. Guided tours will be available and Headmaster Jonathan Wansey will give a talk outlining what Crosfields has to offer.
Jonathan Wansey commented:
'This is an historic day. I am delighted to be able to welcome both new girls and boys to the school for the first time. I am sure they will all settle in quickly to life at Crosfields and everyone is looking forward to a very successful and happy year.' | |
Our Principles
At Crosfields School we aim to achieve a high standard of learning within a happy, caring and stimulating environment. The early years represent a crucial stage in a child's education. We aim to develop the particular aptitudes of each child and help each fulfil their potential. We have high levels of expectation, and ensure that appropriate challenges across a wide curriculum base are set. We regularly appraise curriculum content and teaching methods to ensure a continued high quality of education.
We strive to encourage self confidence, independence, power of expression, an enthusiasm for learning and an appreciation of what can be achieved through hard work and self discipline. Above all it is important that pupils enjoy their time at Crosfields, develop a sense of responsibility and show consideration towards others.
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Academic Curriculum
The three R's are naturally at the centre of the curriculum for the youngest children with history, geography and science being taught through theme-based topics. French is gradually introduced in an informal way from year 1. All teaching is based on the National Curriculum and the physical, social and aesthetic aspects of a childs development find their rightful place on the timetable through art, music and drama. Also included in the timetable are design technology, PE, swimming, games and information and communication technology. Classrooms have at least one computer connected to the school network and there are two well equipped ICT suites.
At the age of nine a system of setting is introduced for mathematics and a year later a fast track set is created for children who show a particular flair in English and French. Parallel sets are created for the rest of the year group. This flexibility enables children to be challenged without being overstretched.
The school accepts children with a wide range of ability. The maximum class size is twenty and teaching organisation caters for this spread of ability. Specialist help is available for those with specific learning difficulties and there are many opportunities for children to extend them selves.
At the age of thirteen pupils are prepared for entry to Senior Independent (Public) School either through the Common Entrance Examination or by gaining a scholarship award for academic, musical, artistic, dramatic or sporting excellence. These are often combined in all-round awards. |
Academic Curriculum| Reception| Pre-Prep| The Junior School| Years 5 to 8
Sport at Crosfields
The PE & Games Department at Crosfields offers a varied, balanced and differentiated curriculum that gives all pupils the opportunity to experience a diverse range of activities. It is our aim that through pupil's exposure to the Crosfields PE curriculum, interest and enthusiasm will be generated, and skills/techniques will be learned. These attributes will form a foundation for building upon in the future and encourage all pupils' to engage in an active, healthy lifestyle as adults.'
Sport plays a big part in the school lives of all children at Crosfields. From year 3 upwards, children are taught PE, Games and Swimming by specialist staff. In the junior school (year 3&4), every child attends one 35 minute PE lesson, one 35 minute Swimming lesson and two 70 minute Games lessons. In year 5 to year 8 this increases to one 35 minute PE lesson, one 35 minute Swimming lesson and three 80 minute Games lessons.
The major games taught at Crosfields for boys are Football - Autumn Term, Rugby - Spring Term and Cricket - Summer Term. For girls the major games are netball, hockey and tennis. Many teams are run in each of these activities and all children from year 3 to year 8 are presented with the opportunity to play fixtures against local schools. |
Sport| Cricket| Football| Other sports| Rugby| Swimming| Team Selection| Match Reports
Prospectus
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Prospectus| Format: Acrobat/PDF File (863 Kb)
After Crosfields
What are the options after Crosfields?
Crosfields accommodates children leaving at the age of 11 and 13. Those boys choosing to move into senior schools at 11, generally go in the direction of Reading Blue Coat School or Reading School. Reading School also has an intake at the age of 13 and a number of boys from Crosfields transfer at that time. Whether to leave at 11 or 13 is a choice parents have to make and the Headmaster and staff will offer plenty of help and advice at the appropriate time.
Those children who remain at Crosfields for Years 7 & 8 benefit greatly from the experience of having reached the top of their school and enjoy all the many opportunities which are on offer. First and foremost, those crucial final two years enable each child to grow in confidence and maturity in a caring prep school environment before transferring onto a senior school environment.
Schools which feature most regularly with our 13 plus leavers are listed below. Clicking one of the links below will take you to the schools website.
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