Every summer the Bradford Grammar Junior School buddies get to work, scribbling words of welcome onto their postcards before they’re posted off to their eager recipients.
When nervous new pupils arrive at school, they find their buddies waiting to support them. The seamless introduction proves invaluable to many, particularly those who have joined from other schools.
A few weeks into the new term, and parents say their children feel settled at the Junior School, which is affectionately known as Clock House.
“Being paired up with a buddy was a great way for Jacob to feel settled,” writes one parent. “Having the option to join a club straight away gave him instant friends.”
Another added: “It’s like Anna has been at Clock House for two years not two weeks!”
As the new starters begin their exciting journeys, the school is getting ready to welcome younger pupils into Reception and Year 1 next September. Work has already begun on the £2m investment to create a new light-filled and spacious building to house its Early Years pupils. Pupils will also be looking forward to the outdoor element of the Junior School’s expansion, which includes creating a construction area, woodland exploration area, discovery trails and an outdoor performance space.
The Junior and Senior Schools, on Keighley Road, Bradford, are sited within metres of one another and Clock House pupils are able to access all the Senior School’s outstanding facilities, from its 25m swimming pool and indoor sports barn, featuring tennis and netball courts, to the Hockney Theatre (named after Old Bradfordian artist David Hockney) and superior art rooms. Tradition meets innovation, whether pupils are enjoying an event in the grand Price Hall – often likened to ‘Hogwarts’ by some of the school’s imaginative younger pupils – or a lesson in the state-of-the-art science labs.
Added to the facilities, BGS has specialist staff who can nurture and inspire the smallest of people, encouraging them to try new sports and arts activities, and support those who have elite ambitions. Many seeds of success are sown in Clock House, where independence is gently encouraged, and resilience and confidence are built from a young age with children being consistently challenged to unlock their potential.
Richard Ribeiro, Headmaster of the Junior School, says: “Everyone has their own unique qualities. I love finding out about the children’s passions and hobbies outside of the Clock House gates and what makes them tick. One of our pupils is a go karting champion, another loves Japanese manga comics. With such a nurturing, friendly setting we have the staff and resources to encourage the individual, so every child feels seen and heard. When they join Clock House, they become part of the BGS family.”
As Anna’s parent can testify, any new starters will certainly receive a warm welcome.
“We’re so glad Anna is a part of the BGS family. It has been a seamless transition. She has regained her love of school,” she adds.
The first Reception and Year 1 pupils will be welcomed in September 2024. To find out more, contact the admissions team at admissions.jnr@bradfordgrammar.com or call 01274 553713/553702. To register for a future open event, visit bradfordgrammar.com/signup.
“With such a nurturing, friendly setting we have the staff and resources to encourage the individual, so every child feels seen and heard.”
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