The Junior School encompasses Years 3 – 6 (ages 7- 11) We follow the English National Curriculum modified for our international context. Junior School aims to provide each child with the very best education and support within an environment that is welcoming and safe.

As children move through the Junior School, the structure of the timetable changes with increasing amounts of subject specialist teaching. Our holistic approach promotes a child’s well-rounded development and effective self-leadership. We provide a balance of academic challenge and support, which enables every child to realise their potential.

We want all our children to be confident communicators, and our environment is rich in language in English, Thai and, also, Mandarin.

As well as focusing on deeper learning and the mastery of academic content, in the Junior School we also develop critical thinking skills and an academic character that inspires self-motivated learners and long-term success.

We prepare each child for the next stage of their educational adventure.

Core Curriculum

Our Junior School curriculum is designed to encourage our students to develop deep understanding and gives them the time they need to reflect and consolidate their thinking. We support our students’ natural curiosity and strive to stimulate their creativity.

The curriculum is reviewed and adapted based on current educational thinking and the changing needs of our students. It allows students, teachers and parents to work together using a wide range of resources to create a challenging, distinctive, and exciting experience.

Junior School students engage in topic-based learning, a cross-curricular approach that integrates different subject matter under an umbrella topic or area of interest. Students have dedicated English and Mathematics lessons and specialist teachers for Mandarin, Physical Education, Art, Design Technology, and Music. Where possible, the learning in these subjects is also linked to the current topic.

The curriculum affords students greater autonomy, allowing them to take greater responsibility for their learning. Regular assessments track student progress to ensure all children achieve to the best of their abilities.

Our Junior School students also benefit from a strong Co-curricular Activity (CCA) programme encompassing arts, music, sport, service, and academic pursuits, as well as formal and informal opportunities for service learning to build their leadership skills. In this way, they develop a strong sense of identity, an understanding of their place in the world, and the desire and confidence to make an impact on the community.

Our children thrive in these special years and move into Year 7 ready for the new adventures that lie ahead.

Technology

Technology begins to play a larger part in student life in Junior School.

SE21 begins as early as Year 1 and Year 2, where students learn the steps of the Design Thinking Process (Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test) and apply them to solve real-world problems. Students are introduced to Computational Thinking, diving into algorithms, patterns, abstraction and decomposition using games, iPad apps and robots. As students get older, they begin to combine knowledge and skills in design, engineering and coding to create solutions to self-selected problems by collaborating with each other.

The SE21 curriculum is supported by state-of-the-art facilities across all school levels. In DUCKS, students explore creativity in a dedicated SE21 Room. The Junior School offers state-of-the-art learning spaces such as Design Tech labs and Arts studios. These spaces are designed to encourage experimentation, design-thinking, and problem-based learning.