Classes 5-8 (11 to 14 years)

As pupils progress through the Main School, the structure continues of the class teacher teaching Main Lesson and specialist teachers teaching lessons in French, German, music, Eurythmy (creative movement), woodwork, handwork, religious studies, games and gym. Upper grades use textbooks to supplement their Main Lesson work.

Literacy and numeracy are practised constantly in the Main Lessons. Teachers cultivate and encourage creativity in writing as well as good grammar. The spoken language is fostered by the performance of a class play every year. Main Lesson themes progress through the school years in a logical way. Thus in history pupils will track civilisation through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and up to modern times. Geography will move from a local focus to national, European and then global. Other Main Lesson themes for the older pupils include botany, geology, physics and economics.

Individual subjects are taught in an inter-disciplinary way, which helps pupils to follow thematic threads and develop their understanding of the complex inter-relationships between phenomena. Languages and artistic and practical activities continue to be woven into the curriculum alongside academic subjects and are usually related to it, thereby enriching the learning.

Learning continues to be related to development. For example, as pupils stand at the gates of adolescence, their own realities are broadening out and personal conflicts have to be accommodated. The curriculum mirrors this challenging time with the study of the British Industrial and French Revolutions, thus building an awareness of the part conflict plays in development and the need to find balance.

At the end of Class 8, the pupils' journey with their class teacher is complete and they stand equipped with the learning tools required to meet the challenges of the Upper School.