Inside the classroom

King Henry VIII Junior School provides children with a broad range of learning opportunities.

Inside the classroom

Our classrooms are vibrant, stimulating spaces where children are inspired to learn, explore and achieve. An engaging curriculum, individual attention and a warm, supportive atmosphere ensure that every pupil can flourish.

At King Henry VIII Junior School, every child is valued as an individual. We listen to their ideas, encourage them to express their thoughts and help them grow in confidence. Our teaching approach is designed to unlock each child’s unique talents and prepare them for the challenges ahead.

With small class sizes – around twenty pupils per class – we foster close-knit communities where friendships grow, learning is personal and every child is known and supported.

Our teaching

We offer a seamless transition from the Pre-Prep in Year 2. Many subjects continue to be delivered by class teachers, ensuring continuity and familiarity, while the number of specialist subject lessons increases. This helps children become more independent and experience a variety of teachers and teaching styles.

Each junior class is led by a dedicated Class Teacher, providing stability, trust and continuity. As pupils progress, they benefit from specialist teaching in subjects such as:

Art and Design Technology
Music and Drama
Sport and Swimming
French and Spanish
Computing and Religious Education

From Year 5 onwards, children are taught by a greater number of subject specialists and begin to engage in wider learning and collaborative activities with the Senior School. This combination of consistent pastoral care and specialist input gives pupils the best of both worlds – strong foundations and exciting opportunities.

Our curriculum

The curriculum is built around three main elements: Academic, The Arts and Sport.

At its heart lie the core academic subjects of English and Mathematics, supported by a broad range of other subjects including: Science, Languages (French and Spanish), History and Geography, Religious Education, Art and Design, Music and Drama, Computing, PSHEE and Physical Education.

This wide-ranging curriculum ensures that pupils develop intellectually, creatively and physically, while building confidence and curiosity across all areas of learning.

English, Drama and Art

English lessons develop strong literacy skills while encouraging pupils to share ideas and express themselves clearly. Drama builds imagination, self-assurance and teamwork, while Art and Design Technology inspire creativity and problem-solving.

Mathematics is taught in a way that promotes deep understanding and active engagement. Pupils are encouraged to be bold, explore different methods and work collaboratively to solve problems.

“Pupils demonstrate excellent attitudes to learning and achieve highly across the curriculum.” — Independent Schools Inspectorate, May 2023

Science, Maths and Computing

Science lessons focus on hands-on investigations, sparking curiosity and encouraging children to ask big questions. Our Maths curriculum builds the skills needed for real-world problem solving, while Computing develops technological fluency using the school’s excellent digital resources.

Music

Music is an important part of life at King Henry VIII Junior School. Every pupil enjoys weekly music lessons taught by specialist teachers, often in the Senior School’s outstanding facilities.

Children are encouraged to sing, play instruments and perform – both individually and as part of an ensemble. Opportunities include:

Assemblies and concerts
Musical productions (e.g. Guys and Dolls, SING, Oliver)
Trips to live performances
Annual Carol Service at Coventry Cathedral

Pupils can also learn an instrument with visiting peripatetic teachers and many choose to take part in choirs, ensembles and workshops with professional musicians.

Homework and Spellings

Homework is set each school day to reinforce learning and build good study habits. Suggested timings are:

Year Group	Monday–Thursday	Friday
Years 3 and 4	30 minutes	40 minutes
Years 5 and 6	40 minutes	60 minutes

Homework may include reading, researching, revising, learning spellings or multiplication tables, or completing set exercises. While some tasks may involve parental support, pupils are encouraged to take increasing responsibility for their work as they move through the school.

All pupils in Years 3–6 use a Homework Diary to record assignments. This diary also serves as a communication link between home and school. Parents are asked to check and sign the diary weekly and may use it to write notes to teachers. In Year 3, diaries are checked daily; in Years 4–6, they are checked weekly.