At Giggleswick we feel that the traditional values of reading and writing is of key importance. Daily reading sessions and access/use of our well-resourced library help to foster a love of books and reading. Children benefit from small guided reading and spelling groups allowing us to deliver appropriately challenging material to ensure that they make outstanding progress. We have placed particular significance on learning to spell and as a result have allocated daily sessions into our timetable. These involve teaching specific strategies to encourage children to think their way through spelling rather than memorise weekly spelling lists.
Giggleswick’s broad curriculum takes full advantage of the range of expertise of our staff and the structure of the school day. Children continually have opportunities to excel in music, drama, languages, sport, information and design technology, as well as Home Economics in Year 6; making the most of the superb facilities our wider (Early Years – Y13) campus has on offer. From Year 3 all children participate in regular school sport fixtures, plays, musicals, orchestras, trips, visits, and tours. We also operate an extended day so that activities and hobbies can even be pursued during the evening (from 6pm-7pm) including: Cooking, Swimming, Judo, Squash, Dance, Running and even Meccanno!
In Years 3-6 we build upon our earlier work based upon respect and behaviour expectations. We endeavour to produce children who are confident, intelligent, articulate and respectful. Self-confidence and initiative is also developed through set tasks including inter-class debates, personal projects and presentations. Our pastoral system is based upon sound values of reward and praise, but with appropriate sanctions where necessary.
Importance is placed on the role of the house (Ingleborough, Pen-y-Ghent and Whernside) in which all children are assigned and represent in various academic, musical and sporting activities. Children collect Golds for excellent pieces of work and Citizenship Golds for helpful acts around school. These are collectively shared and praised in weekly Achievement Assemblies which encapsulate our ethos of the school as a caring, compassionate community. Through houses the school supports a range of charities each year, including those at a local level; children are encouraged to take ownership of fundraising activities to make the experience more meaningful and fulfilling.
As children progress through the school there are opportunities for them to take on roles of extra responsibility; these include Form representative to the School Council or Environment Committee, Sports/Choir Captain, House Captain and even Head of School.
During these years, long-standing friendships are built and it is with a sense of pride that we hand them over to the senior school in Year 7, knowing that they are ready for the excitement and challenges that lie ahead.
