Welcome to Senior School (age 11+): Year 7

Our Senior School spans Year 7 to Year 11, providing a dynamic and supportive environment for pupils as they progress through these formative years. From the start of Year 7, pupils follow a senior school curriculum, and while they officially enter the Senior School in Year 9, the foundations for this transition are laid early. Years 7 and 8, often referred to as the Lower School, benefit from a dedicated pastoral team focused on guiding pupils through the challenges of early adolescence.

This stage is both exciting and increasingly serious as pupils’ emotional and academic development accelerates toward maturity. It encompasses the acquisition of skills needed to succeed in public examinations, prepare for university life, and make informed career choices. Our aim is to ensure every pupil is equipped to meet these objectives to the best of their ability. Alongside academic preparation, we offer a wide range of opportunities beyond the classroom and robust pastoral support to help pupils navigate the complexities of teenage life.

The House System

The focal point of pupils’ lives in the Senior School are the four houses – Caswalls’, Lambourne, Penn’s and Swallow’s. Pupils meet in their house groups each day and will get to know peers of all ages. There are a whole host of co-curricular competitions and activities through the house system and all are encouraged to participate. Each house has a housemaster or housemistress at its head who has a team of supporting tutors.

Every pupil has a house tutor who oversees all aspects of their education, welfare and progress and is the immediate point of contact for parents. The shared stability and common standards promoted by both home and the School help smooth the passage from childhood through adolescence to adulthood. We believe that by working together parents and teachers provide pupils with the most effective support and direction.

Busy but balanced

Typically, Chigwell pupils are very busy. They learn to balance their co-curricular commitments and they work hard to achieve the best results they can in their various subjects. Through this rich combination, the young men and women develop as people, learning to overcome difficulties and challenges together, but most importantly of all, we hope, enjoying their time at school.

Mr Damian King
Head