Junior

It is within the Junior School that our pupils encounter a hybrid timetable that combines lessons in English, Mathematics, RME, PSE and ICT delivered in their own classroom by their primary class teacher, with lessons taught in the wider school by senior subject specialists – Art Music, PE, Modern Languages, Laboratory Science, Engineering and Design Technology, Home Economics and Computing. Having been taught Social Subjects through topic work in the Prep School, our older pupils are eager to study History, Geography and Science in greater depth; these “swap” subjects which are taught by subject specialists within the Junior School staff. In addition, Junior 1 pupils follow a Life Skills course which tackles subjects of contemporary relevance including Personal Finance, Careers and the World of Work and Sustainability.

Time away from the textbooks is important too, of course and the various trips, activities, using the school’s variety of on-campus facilities and visiting speakers help keep those young minds fresh, stimulated and eager to achieve. Junior 1 pupils can look forward to a two-night trip away (most recently to Ford Castle, Northumberland), whilst Junior 2 pupils set off for five days at Benmore in Argyll.

Continuous assessment takes place throughout the year, and involves observation, reflection and testing. This allows teachers to chart the progress of each individual child and share their learnings with parents through two yearly Parents’ Consultations, written reports in June, and informally through Dollar’s commitment to an ‘open doors’ policy.

The core school values of ‘Work Hard, Be Kind and Get Involved’ are very evident in our Junior School.

Greater independence and growing personal responsibility are hallmarks of the Junior School years as young people learn to navigate a more complex timetable and a growing number of pupil/teacher relationships. All of this is achieved under the watchful guidance of their primary class teacher who is there to ensure that deadlines are being met and more importantly, that children are happy and thriving both socially and academically. You might be familiar with the concept that ‘a happy child learns faster than an unhappy one’. It’s this duality of wellbeing and intellectual encouragement that we will always seek to foster in our classrooms and life in general here at Dollar. Find out more about Health and Wellbeing at Dollar here.

A key way for our pupils to ‘get involved’ is by participating in some of the many co-curricular clubs on offer – from sporting pursuits including gymnastics, hockey, badminton, fencing, tennis, cricket, athletics, swimming, running and football to music, including Junior Choir, Orchestra, Junior Jazz and ukulele, to enterprise, drama, art, craft, bridge and mindfulness, to name just a selection.

Junior 2 is a unique year at Dollar Academy.  It is the time to consolidate learning to ensure that pupils are ready and able to access and thrive on the curriculum provided in the Senior school, and it is also the time to bring together and celebrate the achievements – both academic and in terms of personal growth – that have gone before.  Some pupils will be elected House Captains or Pupil Council leaders; others will assume buddying roles with the younger pupils in the Prep School; yet more will champion charitable enterprises.  All will undertake an individual science investigation and enjoy a week of self-discovery at the Junior residential trip to Argyll, with the Junior 2 musical rounding off their primary school careers.

Junior 2 children are ready and eager for the move to the Senior school – they know their way around the campus and they know many of the Senior school staff and pupils. Great care is still taken to ensure this transition is seamless.  Specific measures include team teaching opportunities with Senior staff, regular communication with our dedicated Head of Year for Form I, a full transition day in the Senior school, PSE talks from Senior specialists, bespoke Support for Learning transition meetings and a more informal visit for all pupils to the Support for Learning department and detailed information handover meetings.