Lower School

Susan James, Head of Lower School
with Lower School Mentor, Will

Lower School at MGS comprises of Years 7 and 8. Each year group is separated into forms of around 23 pupils and every September we look forward to welcoming up to 200 new boys. They will come from as many as 100 junior schools of all types. It is not unusual to be the only boy to come from a particular school so our first job is to help these new boys to settle in.

We aim to provide our pupils with a large support network of both staff and pupils and your son's Form Tutor will be the most important person to him in this first part of his journey and then beyond. Form Tutors are assisted by Form Prefects who are assigned to particular forms and they help to organise and galvanise the boys into action when required.

Our Form Tutors enjoy getting to know their pupils and are a key part of the pastoral care we offer

For lessons our Year 7 boys are largely taught with their form. They will move around together and quickly find their way from one place to another. Each form has a time allocation for non-academic form activities with their Form Tutor. During this time they explore the idea of relationships, both with teachers and in terms of making friends.

We also hope to educate them in the importance of getting involved in life beyond the class room in terms of our co-curricular activities. In terms of study, we focus on personal organisation and managing homework and revision as well as the importance of learning from reports and examinations.

Year 7 at MGS should be about getting involved in the life of the School, making friends and establishing the foundations for good academic practice.

In Year 8 boys remain with their form group and their Form Tutor. This year sees the academic demands increase and an expectation of a growing sense of independence, self reliance and responsibility.

Support structures remain in place and the Form Tutor will continue to be your son's primary source of support and encouragement, along with our sixth form teams of Form Prefects and Peer Supporters.

Lower School is physically integrated with the rest of the School, with all the benefits that can bring. However, Lower School has a strong sense of community and feels like a school within a school. This feeling is reinforced by separate Lower School assemblies.

In September I will anticipate our new boys with a mixture of feelings – I know how excited and nervous they must be feeling. I know that when I stand in front of them on their first day there will be so much for them to take in and get used to. Once settled I believe they will achieve great things but possibly make a mistake or two on their journey. We know our boys are not perfect and we do not expect them to be. However, there is rarely a day that goes by at School where I do not witness something remarkable or find out about a great achievement that one of our Lower School pupils can take credit for.

Our boys are full of energy, drive, intelligence, good humour, ambition and irrepressible enthusiasm. As a school we endeavour to harness the extra ordinary ability of our boys, guide it in the right direction and give boys the confidence to unleash their passions both in and outside of the classroom.

As Head of Lower School, my role is to oversee the provision of care and support we offer to our Year 7 and 8 pupils. It is also my job to oversee their progress – both as groups of boys and as individuals. I am supported by Adam Smith, Deputy Head of Lower School and Head of Year 8.

We strive to make our young men self reliant and confident, as well as responsible. We delight in their academic prowess as well as their ability to be extremely enjoyable and capable company. Most importantly, we are proud of the diverse range of backgrounds and personalities that our boys bring to make Lower School such an exciting place.