Welcome to Reigate St Mary’s (RSM)
I am looking forward to welcoming your family to our Fun Morning on Saturday 2 October from 10am.
During the morning, there will be engaging and creative activities for the children to enjoy in our Nursery and Reception classrooms and outdoor spaces, and plenty of opportunities for parents to talk to our Nursery and Reception team. The Headmaster, Marcus Culverwell, Head of Lower School, Sam Selkirk and other members of the school’s senior leadership team will also be available for a chat over coffee in the playground.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the videos, photographs and interactive map below and am very happy to answer any questions you may have either by email or in person on Saturday 2nd.
Jenny Myddleton
Admissions Officer
Welcome from Head of Lower School
Lower School at Reigate St Mary’s encompasses Nursery (Green Shoots from 2 1/2 years and Kindergarten – the preschool year), Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.
As Head of Lower School, I love to see the children grow and develop and an important part of my role at RSM is to get to know each one of them really well as they progress through the year groups. I like to build genuine partnerships with parents too and most mornings and afternoons you will find me at the school gate or in the playground, as a familiar face to greet families from Nursery to Year 2. I am always available in person or on the phone to talk through worries or concerns and I host termly coffee mornings for each year group, so parents have a regular forum to discuss different aspects of life at the school.
I work with a fantastic team of warm and caring teachers and teaching assistants. We focus on making sure each child feels happy and secure because ultimately, we know that happy children learn. Nursery days are filled with exciting adventures designed to harness the children’s natural curiosity and make them enthusiastic learners, eager to come to school. We make sure the transition to Reception is seamless for all the children, whether they are moving up from our Nursery or joining us from other settings. Our wonderful classrooms and dedicated playgrounds, as well as a whole 15 acres of trim trails and nature areas, provide endless hours of fun and enjoyment as well as excellent learning opportunities.
Grounds and Play Areas
Our 15-acre site is a short walk from Reigate town centre and railway station.
The children love to explore the many playgrounds, dens and nature areas and there is a firm emphasis on learning outside.
“Many a time I have observed children do something outside that they had yet to achieve inside. That sense of space for many young children is key.”
Sam Selkirk
Sport
The children play a variety of sports including rugby, hockey, football, netball, cricket and athletics. In the Upper School there are two full afternoons a week dedicated to games and there are regular fixtures and tournaments throughout the school year.
Our 15-acre site provides ample space for sport with four football and rugby pitches, two multi-purpose courts, an artificial cricket strip and a 200-metre grass running track. We also have a fantastic, fully equipped sports hall to further develop skills in both PE and games. Reigate Grammar School’s impressive sports ground at Hartswood is a short distance away and children in Year 5 and 6 also make use of the excellent facilities there.
Swimming lessons begin in Reception and continue throughout the school to Year 6. Dedicated, specialist games teachers work hard to find a sport that each child enjoys and our after-school electives programme gives the children the chance to develop their skills even further.
Green Shoots
Children join Green Shoots in either September or January of the academic year in which they turn 3 (depending on when their birthday falls in the year). Our Green Shoots team has been in place for many years and the staff know how important it is for children to feel safe and loved. Lots of time is spent getting to know each child individually and forming the strong bonds that are so vital for their wellbeing. It is important that families feel a sense of belonging too and staff are always available to talk and to provide reassurance whenever necessary.
There is a focus on developing the children’s independence and having lots of fun. Green Shoots go outside at every opportunity and have their own dedicated play area as well as making full use of the school’s wonderful grounds. They particularly enjoy the regular Forest School sessions.
Kindergarten
Children move into Kindergarten in September of the academic year in which they turn 4.
Exciting topics bring learning to life for the Kindergarten children and there continues to be an emphasis on learning through play. Creative activities are great fun and encourage the children’s gross and fine motor skills as well as building the essential foundations for reading and writing. Technology in the classroom supports and enhances learning and the children love to use Easipeak microphones and recordable whiteboards as well as coding Codapillars and mark making on lightboxes.
Kindergarten is very much a part of the whole school. There is a joined-up curriculum and the children are involved in sports days, assemblies and performances. They become familiar with routines, staff and buildings so the transition to Reception is seamless as they already belong to the school community.
Reception
Children join Reception in September of the academic year in which they turn 5.
Reception follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum which cultivates thinking skills by developing the characteristics of effective learning. The children are encouraged to be Have a Go Hippos, Choosing Chimps and Busy Bees
We never forget that children learn 10% of what they read, 15% of what they hear, but 80% of what they experience, and the teachers carefully design purposeful activities with this in mind.
Years 1 & 2
Key Stage 1
To ensure a smooth transition, Year 1 teachers spend time with the Reception classes, so the children are familiar with them by the time they move up in September.
There is a gradual shift from child initiated to adult led activities in Year 1. Exciting lessons develop strong reading and writing skills and the children continue to be encouraged to learn effectively using the familiar characteristics of Have a Go Hippo, Choosing Chimp and Busy Bee.
Throughout Key Stage 1 the children grow in confidence. By the time they complete Year 2, they have the skills to question and challenge, take risks, persevere and learn from mistakes – essential foundations for successful future learning.
We know that happy children learn, so looking after their emotional wellbeing remains a priority. We also recognise the importance of fresh air and the children have plenty of time during the day to play outside in the grounds with their friends.
Drama
Drama at RSM explores all aspects of the subject, from improvisation to stage craft, performance poetry to mime/movement, and characterisation to devised pieces. The children continue to benefit from an exciting curriculum as they move into Upper School and the school production is the highlight of the RSM Drama year.
In Lower School, drama is delivered alongside the English curriculum. The children explore literature and language through role play and have many opportunities to perform throughout the school year in regular assemblies, informal recitals and seasonal shows.
Perhaps the highlight of the RSM Drama year is the Upper School production. Years 5 & 6 pupils perform an exciting upbeat musical and commit to extremely disciplined rehearsals for many weeks beforehand. The standard is always extremely high, and everyone thoroughly enjoys collaborating to bring together a full-scale show. Confidence blossoms and it is always wonderful to see children, who may be initially reticent, performing on stage with poise and self-assurance.
STEM
Computing
Children need to be ready for fast moving, flexible workplaces of the future and it is therefore essential that strong computing, coding and robotic skills are taught right from the very beginning of their time at school.
At RSM we have a well-equipped PC suite where children from Kindergarten upwards learn the fundamentals of communicating, creating and managing information as well as the safe use of the internet and 3D design. Coding and robotics form a fundamental part of the curriculum and the children can really engage with this in our dedicated Mac suite. The school regularly enters teams in the global robotics challenge, First Lego League, and have been national finalist many times.
However, technology is not just confined to the computing suites. It is used in every area of learning throughout the school and classrooms are exciting and inspiring places where the children use a variety of software and hardware, such as iPads, recordable whiteboards and digital cameras, to expand their learning.
Science
Science starts in Kindergarten with textures, magnifying glasses and lots of fun. As the children move up the school, they are encouraged to be inquisitive and hands on investigation is a fundamental part of every science lesson. By the time they reach Year 6, the children can confidently dissect a heart, not only to study the physiology of the organ, but also to develop the hands-on skills to investigate a complex structure and the research skills to analyse how it beats.
Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM)
STEM is a curriculum which draws together science, technology, engineering and maths into practical lessons that teach children to be creative problem solvers. STEM lessons begin in Early Years with activities that help the children to think outside the box. By Year 5 and 6 the children are having timetabled weekly STEM classes and the skills and attitude to learning they acquire carry over into other lessons with a particularly positive impact on problem solving in maths.
Music
From Green Shoots to Year 6, music is taught by our specialist teacher, Mrs Whitehead using the Kodaly philosophy. This develops the children’s musical skills using the voice as the principle instrument. Lessons are always practical and fun.
The children initially play lots of musical games involving short songs and carefully chosen instruments which teach them pulse, rhythm, pitch and structure. When ready, they begin to use non-standard forms of notation (specifically designed to support standard notation but more accessible to younger children).
Once the children have mastered skills such as reading, writing, singing and part-singing using this, they seamlessly transition to a more topic-based approach to music in Upper School which is linked to their learning in other subjects.
Individual music lessons are available in a wide range of instruments and there are plenty of opportunities for the children to perform at assemblies, informal concerts and musical evenings.
Choristers
Reigate St Mary’s is one of only 46 schools in Great Britain who are members of The Choir Schools’ Association. Life as a chorister is busy but fulfilling and rewarding. It provides a unique musical education and experience and is probably the best musical training any child can receive. By the time they leave the choir, the choristers are proficient sight readers and confident performers with a knowledge of a vast repertoire of beautiful music. Choristers learn to perform at a professional level at a young age, quickly developing confidence, self-discipline, focus and time management skills which will stay with them for life. They form a strong team bond and make lasting friendships, often enduring for many years after they have left the choir.
The choir sings regularly at concerts and special events. They performed at the opening of the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and have sung evensong in many of the UK’s beautiful cathedrals, including Winchester, Wells, Hereford and St Paul’s. The choristers also sing at The Worshipful Company Cutlers’ Boar’s Feast every December in the City of London.
Children can audition to be choristers from the age of eight.
Below is a recording of ‘Look to the Day’ performed by the Choristers at St Mary’s Church prior to lockdown.
Spanish
The children absolutely love their Spanish lessons with Miss Maria. Her classes are full of songs, rhymes and fun activities and the children participate enthusiastically. As a native Spanish speaker, Miss Maria is a passionate Spanish teacher and helps the children to develop a love of languages throughout their time at RSM. (French is available as an after-school club).
Extracurricular at RSM
With over fifty clubs on offer, there are extracurricular clubs to suit everyone. Children are encouraged to enjoy a rich variety of these activities which take place during lunchtimes and after school. Music, dance, drama, team and individual sport, art, chess, martial arts and robotics are just a few examples of the clubs provided. They help the children to develop a range of interests and, above all, to have fun with their friends.
