Junior Department
Junior Department - Reception to Year 6
The Cobham Free School junior department (Reception to Year 6) opened in September 2012 following a successful bid in wave 2 of the government's Free School Programme. Opening in a small Gospel Hall, with just three infant classes, it has now grown to capacity, with full cohorts up to Year 6. The school moved to the Old Police Station site on Portsmouth Road, Cobham in November 2013; the building was re-designed and refurbished to provide excellent educational facilities.
The department is led by Mrs Rolfe, Head of Junior who is supported by Mrs Grenander, Deputy Head. The staff teaching team are experienced and highly qualified practitioners and pupils from Reception upwards have specialist lessons in Music, French and PE.
Since opening the school has achieved success in national assessments. This includes achieving 100% in the phonics check twice and being in the top 10% nationally for progress in 2016 for Reading and Mathematics. In 2019 100% of KS2 pupils reached the expected level in both Reading and SPAG. 83% of these pupils reached the expected level in Reading, Writing and Mathematics against the National Average of 65%.
The junior department has proved very popular with parents and is oversubscribed for every year group. In September 2017 the school maintained their Good rating in it's second Ofsted inspection and we were delighted with the very positive report from the inspectors.
Message from Mrs Rolfe - Head of Junior
It is a privilege to work with such a dynamic and enthusiastic team of teachers, support staff and children in my role leading the Early Years, Key Stage 1 and 2 phases of the school. No two days are ever the same, with pupils enjoying the wide range of rich opportunities and experiences on offer.
I am looking forward to watching our pupils progress and flourish as they move through the school. We are already seeing the impact of our approach on the excellent results we are achieving across the phases and in the outstanding behaviour of our pupils. The children arrive at school each day happy, positive, and eager to start their lessons - we are delighted to be inspiring such a love of learning.
Message from Mrs Grenander - Deputy Head of Junior
My passion has always been to inspire a love of learning and at Cobham Free School, in my role as Teaching and Learning Lead, I strive to ensure that we deliver a curriculum that is engaging, diverse and creative. Teachers at CFS empower their pupils and ignite within them a desire to learn and succeed.
At CFS, we fully embed the approach of Cultural Capital to ensure our children are exposed to a mixture of traditional and modern cultures from around the world, encompassing our Geography, History, RE and Art curriculum.
We strive to go beyond the classroom and motivate our children to be active, not only physically but mentally, developing into well rounded individuals leaving CFS Junior Department with a thirst for knowledge, a respect for all and a desire to achieve the best they can.
Department Organisation
Age 4+ Reception: Early Years Foundation Stage (Lower School)
Age 5+ Year 1: Key Stage 1 (Lower School)
Age 6+ Year 2: Key Stage 1 (Lower School)
Age 7+ Year 3 : Key Stage 2 (Upper School)
Age 8+ Year 4: Key Stage 2 (Upper School)
Age 9+ Year 5: Key Stage 2 (Upper School)
Age 10+ Year 6: Key Stage 2 (Upper School)
Junior Day
The formal school day runs from 8.40am to 3.30 pm in the Lower School (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2) and from 8.40am to 3.45pm in Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6). The school doors open at 8.30am for those not attending Earlybirds and children make their way to their classrooms having been greeted at the door by a senior member of staff. Pupils shake hands with their teacher at the end of the school day, before being released to parents.