George Watson's College Prospectus 2019
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PROSPECTUS<br />
PROSPECTUS
Our School<br />
We provide a world class education for children and young people from<br />
Preschool to Senior 6. We encourage our pupils to develop a love of real<br />
learning through an inspiring curriculum and an extensive and inclusive<br />
enrichment programme.<br />
We challenge and support our pupils to discover<br />
their own limitless potential. We nurture the<br />
knowledge, skills and confidence they will need<br />
to become engaged and successful citizens and<br />
make their own unique contribution to the world.<br />
We are proud of our heritage and passionate<br />
about our plans for the future.
Preschool<br />
We believe our children should be able to go on adventures every day.<br />
Our Preschool has been designed to create flexible, collaborative places<br />
for children to learn both in the classroom and outdoors.<br />
Each of our four Preschool classes is teacher-led and supported by a team of experienced Preschool<br />
practitioners. There will never be more than 30 children in each class with a minimum of four members<br />
of staff.<br />
The outdoor space is magical and provides children<br />
with the freedom to explore in a safe, inspiring<br />
environment. We also use the wider school with<br />
regular explorations to different parts of our<br />
campus. Our children will need fuel for these special<br />
adventures which is why we provide hot, healthy<br />
and delicious lunches for our Preschool children.<br />
We are committed to creating a clear pathway<br />
where children will have the best possible<br />
opportunity to move forward successfully into the<br />
Junior School. There are no entrance assessments<br />
for Preschool and as places are allocated on a first<br />
come, first served basis, early applications<br />
are advised.<br />
We are committed to creating a<br />
clear pathway where children will<br />
have the best possible opportunity<br />
to move forward successfully into<br />
the Junior School.
We know that children<br />
who are happy and<br />
motivated are the most<br />
successful learners.<br />
Junior School<br />
The journey of learning and discovery that starts in Preschool continues<br />
in our friendly, welcoming Junior School.<br />
The rich and varied Junior School curriculum ensures that children acquire a deep understanding of<br />
individual subjects including Maths, English, Foreign Languages, Science, History and the Creative<br />
Arts, whilst cross-curricular themes ensure that understanding is developed in interesting and<br />
rewarding contexts. By helping them to understand how they learn, we empower pupils to be happy,<br />
confident and successful in their learning.<br />
Our classrooms are all fully wi-fi enabled and iPads<br />
and other devices are introduced as natural, but<br />
not dominant, tools for their learning.<br />
In addition to the expertise of their class teacher,<br />
Junior School pupils benefit from an increasing<br />
number of specialist teachers as they progress from<br />
year to year. Where pupils need additional support<br />
with their learning, our highly experienced team will<br />
be on hand to develop a package to meet their needs.<br />
Specialist Teachers by Year<br />
Preschool<br />
Primary 1–2<br />
Primary 3–4<br />
Primary 5–7
In the early years of the Junior School (P1–P3),<br />
The health and wellbeing of our pupils is our top<br />
For everyday support, our new Wellbeing Centre<br />
to learn an extensive range of musical instruments<br />
individual year group classes are arranged in<br />
priority throughout our school. Our approach<br />
staffed by registered nurses is an important facility<br />
and benefit from many opportunities to perform<br />
clusters, giving younger pupils positive role<br />
is based on the principles of the United Nations<br />
available to all pupils, as is the Wellbeing Room<br />
either individually or in ensembles, choirs and<br />
models and enabling older pupils to develop<br />
Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and<br />
where pupils can relax if the pressures of school life<br />
orchestras. No less important are the opportunities<br />
a sense of responsibility for their younger<br />
has been recognised as amongst the more effective<br />
begin to feel a little overwhelming.<br />
to perform on the stage or the sports field. Whilst<br />
schoolmates. From P4 upwards, classes are<br />
and forward thinking of any school in the country<br />
we encourage excellence and celebrate success,<br />
organised in year groups, with P7 enjoying a<br />
by the award of the Gold Rights Respecting School<br />
Throughout pupils’ time at Watson’s their lives and<br />
our real commitment is to participation and to<br />
superb new suite of classrooms and a curriculum<br />
Award by UNICEF.<br />
learning are enriched by the many experiences<br />
making sure that all pupils have freedom to find<br />
tailored for successful progression into the<br />
beyond the classroom. Day trips and residential<br />
out what they love doing.<br />
Senior School.<br />
visits enable pupils to extend their learning and<br />
develop independence. Music lies at the very heart<br />
of the Junior School and pupils have the chance<br />
Every lesson is imaginatively<br />
planned by teachers who<br />
understand that each pupil<br />
is different.
We offer one of the<br />
broadest ranges of<br />
curricular choices<br />
anywhere.<br />
Senior School<br />
In our Senior School pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attributes<br />
they need to thrive as adults and to make their own individual<br />
contribution to the world.<br />
The Senior School curriculum builds on the learning experiences of the Junior School but is equally<br />
accessible to pupils joining Watson’s at other stages. Excellent specialist teaching is offered within<br />
a structure that enables pupils to explore links between subjects and understand the fundamental<br />
concepts which underpin their learning.<br />
We prepare pupils for Scottish National<br />
Qualifications and provide an exceptional range of<br />
courses in combinations that are designed to suit<br />
the needs of the individual pupil. We operate an<br />
open presentation policy so that pupils have the<br />
freedom to choose to take the examinations that<br />
are right for them.<br />
S3 S4 S5 S6<br />
31<br />
Nat 5s<br />
offered<br />
8 Subjects<br />
(inc English,<br />
Maths & Foreign<br />
Language)<br />
32<br />
Highers<br />
offered<br />
5 Highers<br />
(usually inc<br />
English<br />
& Maths)<br />
25<br />
Advanced<br />
Highers<br />
offered<br />
Mix of Highers<br />
& Advanced<br />
Highers<br />
available
●●<br />
●●<br />
●●<br />
In S3 and S4, most pupils study eight subjects<br />
for National 5s from the approximately 31 that<br />
are offered. Pupils usually take English, Maths<br />
and a foreign language within their choices.<br />
In S5, pupils usually study five Higher<br />
subjects including English and Maths from the<br />
approximately 32 different courses available.<br />
In S6, pupils study a range of Higher and<br />
Advanced Higher subjects depending on their<br />
future plans. Again, a wide range of courses<br />
(including 25 at Advanced Higher) in many<br />
combinations is available.<br />
In addition to certificated courses, pupils study<br />
a core curriculum and older pupils may choose<br />
enrichment courses to further broaden their<br />
academic experience.<br />
The health and wellbeing of pupils remains a key<br />
focus in the Senior School. Working closely with<br />
parents and pupils themselves, Form Tutors,<br />
skilled and experienced pupil support staff, a<br />
school counsellor, school nurses and our network<br />
of trained peer-to-peer supporters combine to<br />
ensure that every pupil can flourish.<br />
We have a long history of helping pupils to overcome<br />
barriers to their learning and there is access to the<br />
expert support for learning that as required.<br />
In S6 pupils choose their own Personal Tutor to<br />
guide their choices as they prepare for university,<br />
college or the world of work. The majority of our<br />
pupils progress to university but we never take it<br />
for granted that university is the right destination<br />
for any pupil and we are equally pleased to support<br />
those who wish to pursue a different path that is<br />
right for them.<br />
Senior School pupils benefit from the extraordinary<br />
range of enrichment opportunities including<br />
some of the most extensive programmes of extracurricular<br />
sport and music of any school in the<br />
UK, ambitious drama productions and highly<br />
successful clubs and societies. The programme<br />
of educational visits begins with an orientation<br />
trip in the early weeks of S1. From then on, the<br />
opportunities multiply both for group visits and<br />
individual experiences supported financially or<br />
practically by the school.<br />
We encourage our pupils to<br />
make their own curricular<br />
choices and have an open<br />
presentation exams policy.
The friendships that are made<br />
and the fun had participating<br />
in the many opportunities at<br />
Watson’s has a hugely positive<br />
impact on pupils’ confidence<br />
and overall development.<br />
Beyond the Classroom<br />
At Watson’s we believe that some of the most important learning takes<br />
place outside the classroom.<br />
Pupils have every opportunity to discover exciting things about the world and to develop as individuals<br />
through a huge range of extracurricular activities and a carefully designed programme of residential trips<br />
and other opportunities for learning off the school site. The friendships that are made and the fun had<br />
participating in these activities has a hugely positive impact on pupils’ confidence and overall development.<br />
In Preschool children start their discoveries by exploring first the campus and then further afield.<br />
Junior School Residential Trips<br />
SEPT NOV FEB/<br />
APR MAY<br />
MAR<br />
Primary 5<br />
Kingswood<br />
Primary 7<br />
London<br />
Primary 4<br />
York<br />
Primary 7<br />
Ski Trip<br />
Primary 6<br />
Meigle<br />
Our programme of residential trips begins in the Junior School with a class visit to York in P4. A camping<br />
experience follows in P5 with a focus on making new friends and team building. In P6 children visit Meigle<br />
to study life as a Jacobite and the programme culminates in P7 with a week long visit to London.<br />
<br />
Extra-curricular Activites Available Across the School<br />
67 Clubs<br />
24 Sports 35 Music Ensembles
Our unique S3 Projects programme<br />
sees small groups of pupils set off<br />
on a two week trip to destinations<br />
across Scotland engaging in a wide<br />
variety of activities.<br />
Trip Destinations<br />
Canada<br />
USA<br />
UK<br />
France<br />
Belgium<br />
Spain<br />
Germany<br />
Italy<br />
Switzerland<br />
Japan<br />
China<br />
Taiwan<br />
Malawi<br />
South Africa<br />
The Senior School offers enrichment opportunities<br />
which include a Global Education Fortnight for S1<br />
and S2 pupils, language trips in S2 and S3 Projects.<br />
A huge range of cultural and language exchanges<br />
also begins in S3, along with opportunities to<br />
tour with sports teams. Older pupils can apply<br />
for generous financial awards from the school to<br />
help fund their own adventurous plans and there<br />
are exciting opportunities for leavers in Australia,<br />
Malawi, South Africa, Taiwan and the United States.<br />
Our unique S3 Projects programme sees small<br />
groups pupils set off on a two week trip to<br />
destinations across Scotland engaging in a wide<br />
variety of activities. This 50-year-old tradition<br />
remains a key part of a Watson’s education.
Our Facilities<br />
Preschool<br />
Junior School<br />
All our educational and sporting facilities are located on our single, easily<br />
accessible campus where all our pupils learn, play and grow together.<br />
They enjoy the freedom of the beautiful green spaces that wrap around the campus whether that means<br />
exploring in a lesson, playing with friends or eating a snack on the grass.<br />
We believe our children should be able to go<br />
on adventures every day and our stunning<br />
Preschool classrooms are flexible, collaborative<br />
places to learn with outdoor spaces that promote<br />
exploration and discovery.<br />
Our Junior School provides a range of facilities<br />
to support the learning and development of each<br />
pupil. It is a safe, comfortable yet vibrant place with<br />
indoor and outdoor spaces that encourage both<br />
independence and constructive play. The library<br />
and informal learning spaces in the John Martin<br />
Building support pupils in acquiring good habits<br />
for study and collaboration with others.<br />
All our educational and sporting<br />
facilities are located on our<br />
single, easily accessible campus.
Senior School<br />
Sports Facilities<br />
The Arts, Design and Technology<br />
In the Senior School bright and spacious classrooms<br />
Our Centre for Sport boasts four sports halls,<br />
Creativity is a crucial component of our pupils’<br />
An attractive exhibition gallery lies at the centre<br />
are complemented by well equipped laboratories<br />
a fitness suite with cardio and resistance training<br />
education and purpose-built facilities support their<br />
of our Art School which also has dedicated areas<br />
and a variety of other specialist learning areas,<br />
equipment and a 23.5 metre swimming pool.<br />
enjoyment and achievement in music, art, design<br />
for pottery, sculpture, textiles, painting and<br />
well resourced libraries and informal spaces.<br />
Outside, the famous Myreside Grandstand pitch<br />
and technology.<br />
photography.<br />
sits at the centre of a range of other excellent<br />
Our Senior School Assembly Hall is one of<br />
grass pitches, astroturf pitches, tennis courts and<br />
The Music School with its distinctive roof is a<br />
Our Design, Technology and Engineering<br />
Edinburgh’s finest performance venues with a<br />
cricket nets. The Myreside Pavilion provides social<br />
wonderful venue for all kinds of music learning<br />
Department has excellent facilities where pupils<br />
heritage that includes hosting some of the world’s<br />
facilities for the school and wider community and<br />
and performance, whilst the Drama Department<br />
can develop skills using a wide range of specialist<br />
greatest musicians. However, it is mainly the place<br />
houses some excellent squash courts. The nearby<br />
provides specialist performance studios and is the<br />
equipment ranging from a chip forge to the latest<br />
where our community meets each week, where<br />
boathouse is the home of our Boat Club.<br />
focus for drama in the Senior School. The Junior<br />
in computer-aided fabrication technology. The<br />
we share ideas, music and drama and where we<br />
School benefits from performance spaces and<br />
emphasis here as elsewhere is to liberate the<br />
celebrate the many achievements of our pupils.<br />
dedicated music rooms at the very heart of the new<br />
creativity of the individual to identify innovative<br />
John Martin Building.<br />
design solutions.<br />
Our Centre for Sport boasts<br />
four sports halls, a fitness suite<br />
with cardio and resistance<br />
training equipment and a<br />
23.5 metre swimming pool.
Fees and Financial<br />
Assistance<br />
Fees for Session <strong>2019</strong>/20<br />
Preschool<br />
Primary 1, Primary 2<br />
Primary 3 to Primary 7<br />
Senior School<br />
£8,922 (£2,974 per term)<br />
£8,490 (£2,830 per term)<br />
£10,233 (£3,411 per term)<br />
£13,170 (£4,390 per term)<br />
Fees are reviewed in June each year. Please check our website for latest fee information.<br />
Financial Assistance<br />
We are proud that our community includes nearly<br />
200 pupils who benefit from a Foundation Place<br />
funded by the <strong>George</strong> Watson’s Family Foundation.<br />
The Foundation Places programme provides<br />
financial assistance up to 100% of the cost of<br />
fees for pupils from Primary 6 to Senior 6. The<br />
level of support available depends on household<br />
income. Support can also be provided for uniforms,<br />
electronic devices for study, books, curricular trips<br />
and lunches.<br />
We are keen to enable children from all<br />
backgrounds to benefit from Foundation Places,<br />
not least children from families where there is no<br />
tradition of attending an independent school. If<br />
you would like an informal chat about applying<br />
for a Foundation Place please call Jenny McGill,<br />
the Admissions Registrar on 0131 446 6005.<br />
Scholarships<br />
We offer a small number of scholarships to<br />
Senior 1 applicants who have performed<br />
particularly well in the Entrance Assessment.<br />
Applicants for entry to Senior School who are<br />
musically talented can apply for the Ferguson and<br />
Bruce Music Scholarships which provide annual<br />
music tuition fees for two instruments or for<br />
voice and an instrument. These scholarships are<br />
available irrespective of household income.
Making an Application<br />
Our main entry points are Preschool, Primary 1, Primary 6, Primary 7<br />
and Senior 1 but we are pleased to consider pupils for a limited number<br />
of places in other years. Once we have received an application we will<br />
invite applicants in for an assessment.<br />
The entrance assessment provides a valuable opportunity for both the school and parents to ensure that your<br />
child is placed in an environment which is suited to their own set of abilities and needs.<br />
The assessment is not an exam, it is an assessment of your child’s true capabilities based on their education<br />
to date. The assessments are age and stage appropriate and differ depending on the year group applying to.<br />
Each application is carefully considered on an individual basis.<br />
<br />
Visit our<br />
Open Morning<br />
on Saturday<br />
5 October<br />
<strong>2019</strong><br />
Submit your<br />
application by<br />
Friday<br />
15 November<br />
<strong>2019</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
Primary 2<br />
to<br />
Primary 7<br />
Entrance<br />
Assessments<br />
Primary 1<br />
and Senior<br />
School<br />
Entrance<br />
Assessments<br />
<br />
<br />
Junior School<br />
Offers made<br />
Senior School<br />
offers made<br />
<br />
<br />
OCTOBER NOVEMBER NOVEMBER JANUARY JANUARY FEBRUARY FEBRUARY<br />
<br />
Acceptance<br />
deadline
General Information<br />
Travel<br />
Wraparound Care<br />
Catering<br />
Visit Us<br />
We are a city school with great access to public<br />
bus and rail links. We also provide school buses<br />
from Peebles, Midlothian, East Lothian, West<br />
Lothian and Haymarket Station.<br />
We provide Breakfast Club and Afterschool Club<br />
(7.45am–6pm) from Preschool to Primary 7<br />
and also offer holiday clubs for these year groups.<br />
We provide a flexible package of care, allowing<br />
parents to opt for the care sessions that suit their<br />
individual needs. Sports and drama camps are also<br />
available during the holiday periods.<br />
Our catering provides our pupils with the fuel<br />
needed for a busy day at school. Pupils are offered<br />
a range of healthy food choices with a commitment<br />
that 90% is sourced from local suppliers. Payment is<br />
made through a cashless payment system providing<br />
parents with quick and easy tracking and top ups of<br />
their children’s lunches.<br />
We would encourage you to visit our school and<br />
take the opportunity to learn more about what we<br />
offer and how your child will benefit from joining<br />
Watson’s. Booking a tour is easy, visit our website<br />
and complete the book a tour form. A member<br />
of our Admissions Team will get back to you to<br />
confirm your visit.<br />
www.gwc.org.uk/joinus admissions@gwc.org.uk 0131 446 6005
www.gwc.org.uk/joinus<br />
<strong>George</strong> Watson’s <strong>College</strong>, Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5EG<br />
An Edinburgh Merchant Company School, Registered Charity SC009747