The UCS Junior Branch is a very nurturing but also highly academic environment. Our pupils are naturally curious and keen to learn and their inquisitiveness is actively encouraged along with their own special interests.

We follow a broad curriculum with specialist teachers in key subjects. Boys study Maths, English, Science, French and Spanish, History, Geography, Art, Drama, DT, Music, PSHE, Wellbeing, PE and Games.

We challenge
and engage

By virtue of our teaching methods and breadth of curriculum, we seek to inspire every pupil to find his own lifelong intellectual path. Teaching is routinely differentiated in all subjects – albeit with no sets or streams – and there is a rich provision of pre-school extension clubs in Maths, English and Science for boys with a particular gift, talent or interest in a subject. These are open to all, with a style and content that is designed to challenge and engage.

A 21st-century curriculum

Junior Branch pupils tend to excel in critical thinking and the higher order reasoning skills that lend themselves, most notably, to numeracy.

French and Spanish are taught as part of the mainstream curriculum while additional clubs are provided for German and Mandarin.

We also excel in national competitions being recent winners of both the National Maths Quiz Competition and the General Knowledge Quiz Competition in this age category as well as Science Quiz Competition runners-up.

Excellent resources

We are fortunate to be well equipped with bright sunny classrooms, a large Science laboratory, a newly refurbished Library stocked with an array of age-appropriate books, a theatre, an Art and Technology block, a large Music room, additional practice suites, a Drama studio and a medical suite. The school also houses an air-conditioned ICT laboratory and Mac computers are located throughout.

Individual learning

Each child is recognised as unique with unique learning needs. Pupil progress is carefully tracked by teachers and curriculum leaders and is regularly reviewed. There is no setting or streaming but individual needs are met by differentiation and via our extensive co-curricular clubs programme.

The three form units remain together in Years 3 and 4 but are regrouped by Years 5 and 6. The Form Teacher will change every year. When boys transfer to the Senior School, they are regrouped again into four form units. Pupils are encouraged to develop a responsible attitude towards homework.

Specialist members of staff are available to provide support for boys with mild special educational needs and to give advice and training in study skills.

Core values

At UCS Junior Branch, we seek to promote positive values among our pupils. These values are: Aspiration, Respect and Discovery.

The values relate not only to pupils’ learning but also to the personal characteristics that we hope will be instilled in the boys in their time at the JB.

Relationships are at the heart of the three values: the relationship with the self, the relationship with others and our relationship with the world.

Aspiration primarily relates to the self. It is our desire to make the most of the abilities and opportunities that we have as individuals.

Respect demonstrates our ability to respect and empathise with others – the UCS community and the wider world, its people and its environment. However, self-respect is another important dynamic; we should accord at least the same respect to ourselves as we accord to others.

Discovery addresses our hope that all pupils seek to embrace the wonder and beauty of the world that we live in, seek to form strong and lasting relationships with others and have the courage to embark on a journey of self-discovery.

Throughout the year, staff will guide pupils to demonstrate these values in their time in and out of the school and show the boys practical ways in which they can strengthen their use of the values, both in lessons and school-based activities and beyond.