Q. How big are the class sizes?
A. Nursery has a maximum of 25 children. In Reception we have a three form entry of up to 18 children. These three classes move up into Year 1 and then Year 2. At Year 3 we add an extra class as we have a large number of applicants at age 7. Similarly we aim to fill the classes at 18.
Q. Does the school assess the children prior to entry?
A. Children entering Nursery or Reception are not assessed but places are offered from the waiting list once it has been created the year before they are due to join. Children applying for Years 1 and 2 come in for a morning to be observed. Formal assessments start at year 3.
Q. What is the staff to pupil ratio in the Junior School?
A. In Reception, Year 1 and 2, each class has its own teacher and a teaching assistant. Year 3 has a teaching assistant that works across the year. Year 4 and above are supported where necessary on an individual basis.
Q. Which languages will my child learn?
A. Children learn some fun, spoken Spanish in the Junior School and this continues more formally in the Senior School. French teaching begins in Year 3.
Q. Where do children generally come from?
A. Although many of our pupils are from Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Peter, pupils travel from a wide geographical area, especially Beaconsfield, Chalfont St Giles, Denham, Seer Green, Jordans and Farnham Common. We also have children at the school from High Wycombe, Northwood, Aylesbury, Chorleywood, Iver and Langley.
Q. Which schools do children go on to?
A. One of Gayhurst’s strengths is that it caters for families who wish to follow either the independent or the state grammar school systems. There is a list of ‘next schools’ on the website. Slightly more than half the children tend to go to Bucks grammar schools. The remainder go to a variety of schools including Eton, Piper’s Corner, Rugby, Claires Court, Wellington, Merchant Taylors, Berkhamsted, Royal Masonic, Shiplake and many others. For more details, please click here to see the link to Future Schools.
Q. Does the school stream or set the children and if so at what stage?
A. Differentiation within a class begins subtly very early on. However formal setting on ability in English and Mathematics begins in Year 4.
Q. What sort of extra-curricular activities are there?
A. A huge variety from gymnastics, skiing and archery to chess, Lego and cooking.
Q. How did Gayhurst do in the last inspection?
A. We did very well in the last ISI inspection report in November 2015. You can download a full copy of this report on the website, please click here. The inspectors found that Gayhurst offers a “broad curriculum, effective pastoral support and a full programme of extra-curricular games and activities (to provide) a rich and fulfilling experience”.
Q. How many girls are there at Gayhurst?
A. We deliberately chose a very gradual approach to the integration of girls into Gayhurst. We started in 2008 with just two girls in Nursery and Reception and now we the split is 30/70 across the school. Some year groups the ratio is smaller. Each year the intake of girls increases substantially and the girls at Gayhurst have made a significant contribution to the school.