Discipline and Behaviour

We expect all of our pupils to behave as well at school as you would expect them to behave at home.  Above all they are encouraged to show care, consideration and respect for all members of the School and to be polite and courteous at all times.  Should the need arise, the School does follow a discipline policy that involves the explanation of inappropriate actions, the deduction of house points, the withdrawal of privileges or, in the rarest of cases, a meeting with parents.

Eating at School

The School has its own catering and dining facilities.  Lunches are served in the School Hall by Chartwells, who cater for other local Independent Schools and are known as dietary experts in healthy eating.  A nutritionally sound lunch is prepared by our Catering Manager and his team and there is always a vegetarian alternative.  The charge is included in the fees. To view our menus please see our Lunch Menus page.

Charities and Fundraising

As part of our social, moral and cultural guidance we encourage our children to think about fund-raising for worthy causes.  Year 6 pupils organise their own mini-fete for a charity of their choice, while the whole School participates in events such as Harvest Festival, Readathon, Comic Relief and Sponsored Runs in order to raise funds for charities such as Cancer Research, Chigwell Riding Trust or Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Organisation of the School

Early Years

The Lower Kindergarten children enter from the age of 2½, usually in the term in which they are three and attend school either for the mornings only, or for afternoons only.  The children attending in the morning have the option to stay all day.  Most four-year-olds are taught in the Upper Kindergarten, also known as the Garden Room.  All children attend in the mornings and have the option of staying all day.  In both Kindergartens pre-reading, -writing and number activities are covered and the children are helped to discover and investigate through art, craft and environmental activities. They are taught by specialist teachers for music and P.E. Children of five years move into Reception classes, which we call Transition.  Lower Kindergarten, Garden Room and Transition are collectively known as the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).  In Transition children continue to follow the EYFS curriculum based on the Early Learning Goals.  Specialist lessons in French and ICT are introduced in addition to Music and P.E.

Our Early Years children are given a learning environment in which they are stimulated and challenged.  We ensure that opportunities are available for each child to develop his/her full potential.

Infants (Key Stage 1 - ages 6-7 years)

Years One and Two are also included in the Infants, and study the Key Stage 1 National Curriculum.  Specialist lessons in Science are introduced in addition to French, ICT, Music and P.E.

Juniors (Key Stage 2 - ages 8-11)

From Years Three to Six our pupils are in the Juniors (Key Stage 2) and are taught by their class teacher for much of the time. Certain subjects, such as French, Music, ICT, Science and Sport, are taken by our specialist teachers.  Our pupils are part of a friendly, caring community, meeting twice a week in Assembly to reinforce the friendly atmosphere.  Our final year students take on extra responsibilities and are appointed as prefects. We prepare pupils thoroughly for 11+ examinations read more here

School Hours 

• Lower Kindergarten pupils attend school from 9am to 12noon, 9am to 3pm or 1pm to 3pm
• Garden Room attend from 9am to 12 noon or 9am to 3pm
• Reception Classes, Year 1 and Year 2 attend from 8.45am to 3.00/3.15pm 
• Years 3-6 attend from 8.45am to 3.30pm

As with other Independent schools, our school year is divided into three terms with three weeks of holiday at Christmas and Easter and seven weeks over the summer break; and with a two week half term holiday in the Autumn Term and in the Spring and Summer Terms week-long half-term holidays.  You will find a list of our term dates here. 

Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club opens at 7.45am so that parents who need to bring their children to school early can leave their children in a friendly and happy environment. Children are provided with a breakfast consisting of cereal, toast, yoghurt, fruit and fruit juice and then have time to play before the staff take them to their classrooms by 8.45am. More details here

Teatime Club

Oaklands operates a Teatime Club after School.  Pupils are supervised by members of staff from 3.05pm to 6pm in the Garden Room to enable parents to pick them up a little later.  During Teatime Club pupils will be given snacks, our staff also organise activities including games and arts and crafts.More details here