Lower School Education at St George’s School

• Lower School girls benefit from a dedicated area of the campus with learning and play spaces designed specifically for them.
• They form close relationships with pastoral and teaching staff who know them well while also gaining access to staff and facilities across the entire school.
• The combination of a nurturing environment with aspirational experiences and inspiring mentors is key to their growth.

• Our curriculum is tailored to each student's needs with smaller class sizes and dedicated Lower School pastoral support ensuring each girl is known and thrives.
• The school is ambitious for each student, focusing on their individual strengths and needs.
• The staff and community create an environment characterised by strong relationships, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to personal growth where every student can shine.

• Starting from P7, the girls begin a full secondary curriculum alongside specialist subject teaching making the curriculum highly progressive.
• This is possible because of our individualised approach, understanding of each student's personality, and differentiated teaching methods which help them to excel.
• This approach helps build strong academic foundations and develops close relationships with teachers. Rather than pushing every student at the same pace.
• St George's focuses on what each individual girl needs to develop. This personal approach helps identify and meet each student's needs setting them up for success.

The flexibility in learning opportunities at St George's is made possible by our size setting us apart from other schools.

• We offer a broad range of choices in the curriculum and co-curricular activities. In Lower School, there is a strong emphasis on trying new clubs, activities, and subjects, with opportunities to experience each of the three sciences and three or four languages.
• Catch-up classes are available for students joining us from other schools who may feel that their proficiency in any particular subject requires support.
• The girls can choose between the 40 Lower School co-curricular activities and over 150 co-curricular activities on offer across the whole school. Although they can't do them all, they have the freedom to participate in as many as they wish. For example, they can be involved in a drama production, play in the orchestra, serve as a House captain, and play both Hockey and Netball.
• Our strong relationships with the girls, built through regular mentorship sessions and personalised support, enable us to encourage and steer them toward opportunities that help them grow in skills and confidence.
• All girls who attend Lower School clubs can compete regularly (Saturday mornings and after school) in hockey, tennis, athletics, cricket, lacrosse, netball, badminton and cross-country running.

St George’s offers extensive pastoral support to help students navigate times of change, including shifting friendships, the onset of adolescence, and the various developmental stages that girls experience. This support covers five key areas:

• Individual relationships: Our size allows staff to get to know each student personally, developing positive relationships where students feel comfortable seeking help. The pastoral team includes form tutors who see the girls daily, as well as dedicated welfare and admin staff, creating numerous friendly faces to support the girls. This open-door policy means that no issue is too big or too small.
• Strong relationships with families: The school also maintains strong relationships with families, reaching out proactively if concerns arise and encouraging open communication. This collaborative approach helps to resolve concerns while they are still small and manageable.
• Flexible pastoral messaging: Pastoral messages are delivered in a variety of ways, including one-on-one and small group sessions, assemblies, and Personal and Social Education (PSE) classes that cover topics like mental health, leadership, and cultural diversity.
• We partner with and actively promote 'Tooled Up' an evidence-based online research wellbeing resource to parents to help them feel confident about discussing sensitive subjects at home. This supports our PSE programme.
• Workshops and conferences: The school organises workshops and conference days to ensure that its messaging is current and effective. Recent examples include a “connected culture” workshop around Internet Safety Day and a parent talk by a child protection expert to help families address the challenges that the digital world brings.
• Sixth Form mentoring: The involvement of Sixth Form students is an essential part of the pastoral approach, whether through the Big Sister club, leading assemblies, or simply being a supportive presence for younger students. Their experiences help guide the younger girls through these formative years.

Student Voice: amplifying the voice of every girl remains part of the school's DNA today as a loyal school community with a unique spirit of pride.

St George’s believes strongly in 'if you can see it, you can be it.' All leadership positions in the student community are held by girls. In Lower School, they speak on the Student Council, serve as House Captains, lead charitable initiatives, and manage enterprise projects—all while being mentored by older students to develop these skills.

There is substantial evidence suggesting that girls in a girls-only setting become more assertive and willing to articulate their views. The experience of meeting St George’s alumnae reinforces this: they are sharp, perceptive, and exceptionally capable women, often leading and innovating in their chosen fields.

• At St George’s, girls are always put FIRST in every plan and action—never second, as may sadly happen elsewhere. Strength of character and conviction are vital qualities for girls to develop and St George's works to cultivate these.
• Attending St George’s means being valued as an individual and genuinely well-known. The school is a community, not an institution, and that’s why the outcomes for students are exceptional by the time they leave at 18.

Personal development in Lower School is supported through a variety of activities and opportunities that allow students to grow in confidence and explore their potential.

• Enrichment activities, such as a week exploring the Cairngorm National Park as an example of our outdoor education residential camp, to visits to Dynamic Earth and Arthur's Seat, are designed to develop new skills and spark curiosity.
• Girls are also encouraged to get involved in leadership opportunities, such as organising themed events like Children in Need and Halloween wellbeing activities, allowing them to express their ideas and practice leadership skills.
• Role models play a significant role in supporting personal development; the girls interact with inspiring figures during activities like Judy Murray Tennis sessions, author visits from Elle McNicoll, our Patron of Reading, or listening to influential speakers like Preet Chandi as she crossed the Arctic. The emphasis is on trying as much as possible, giving girls the chance to discover their true interests and passions in a supportive environment.
• Girls act as role models for pupils in Junior School and get involved in community service and volunteering. They also learn about social responsibility and through outdoor education develop resilience, problem-solving and teamwork skills.

Click on the stories below to read student accounts of PSE sessions including, for example, 'understanding the realities of online information' and 'Careers, communication and leadership with a Dragons’ Den-style event' to test decision-making, culminating in collaborative and creative presentations.

Understanding the Realities of Online Information - How we help to equip Lower School students about online safety and responsible use of technology.

Dragons' Den Innovative Products and Business Ideas - Entrepreneurship, collaborative learning and creative thinking