Introduction

The Junior House was founded to provide a specialist musical education to boys aged 7-10. Pupils are selected on the basis of their musical aptitude and general ability, and are required to take part in musical and choral activities arranged outside normal school hours including weekends and holidays, and to learn at least one musical instrument.

Junior House was founded with the blessing of Cardinal Basil Hume. Its founding intention was to prepare pupils musically such that they could enrich the music associated with the liturgical life of their parishes, as they grow. Through a specialist education in the treasures of the Catholic heritage we hope that Junior House pupils will 'give something back' to their parishes well beyond their time at the Oratory. Needless to say, Cardinal Hume's vision remains at the centre of the Junior House's raison d'etre, so expect Music, Italian, Latin and RE to feature prominently on the curriculum.

Despite being our youngest members of the School, Junior House boys are full members of the School, and, despite being a sort of ‘school within a school’ have full, supervised use of all of the School’s facilities such as Science laboratories, Computing rooms, Technology workshops, Library, and, of course, the Swimming Pool. They also follow a curriculum more akin to secondary school than to a primary school, with discrete subjects taught by specialists - great preparation for the next step!

We admit Catholic boys aged 7 to 11 to the Junior House on the presumption that they will remain full members of the School right up to and including the Fifth Form, at least. As such, we ask families to discern very carefully as to whether they feel this long term commitment is the right decision for you as a family, at this particular stage. This includes the presumption of sustained commitment to the specialist music course 'course package' as pupils transition into the senior school, including the demanding precision and performance schedules that this implies.

Intellectual Life

The intellectual life of Junior House is made up of discrete subjects taught be specialist teachers, sometimes in specialist classrooms, located in the senior school. At the base of the curriculum is RE, where pupils learn about their Catholic faith, how to grow into it, and how to express this through music. Expect wider reflection on the life of faith and the Catholic habit of being and seeing to infuse all parts of the curriculum! Music, Italian and Latin are also features, given the more traditional emphasis of the style of worship which makes up the Oratorian charism. In addition to this, pupils study English and Mathematics, and have the advantage of specialist facilities in the senior school for Science (labs), and Art and DT (studios and workshops, respectively). History, Geography and PE also feature on the curriculum, as does IT. Of course, all Junior House pupils have full access to the swimming pool, and we focus on ensuring that all pupils are able to swim by the time they transition into the senior school.

Pastoral Support

Whilst it may appear somewhat daunting to admit primary school aged boys to a senior school, do rest assured that the pupils are strongly supported through the various pastoral and academic structures and staff. The emphasis in the Junior House is very much on providing a nurturing environment in which young boys can flourish. On joining, pupils become members of a form group and are under the oversight of their Housemaster, making a discrete House within the pastoral structure. Teacher:pupil class ratios are significantly lower than in the majority of other state-funded primary schools, enhancing the quality of personalised and tailored support. Moreover, the boys have their own designated Chaplain and their own designated building, located near the Music rooms and Arts Centre, their own playground space and they follow a timetable that avoids pressure points with the Senior School. Throughout their time in Junior House, all boys remain members of the same form and same House, ensuring stability of friendship group and continuity. Junior House pupils are on the flight path to entry into the Senior School.

Spiritual Life

The spiritual life is at the bedrock of the Junior House. This involves making time to receive the love that God wishes to give through the appointed times of prayer, and in growing in understanding of the faith, not least through the scriptures and participation in reverent worship. The contribution of Junior House pupils to the liturgical life of the School is second to none, and it is through the beauty of music that the touch paper of faith remains alight for them.

RE is delivered both through discrete subjects, and through a whole school Friday morning RE slot. In addition, there are plenty of opportunities for catechetical and sacramental preparation, with the Junior House being blessed in having its own dedicated Chaplain, Fr Edward from the Brompton Oratory.

During morning form period prayers are led by a VI form pupil. All J1 pupils are prepared for their First Confession and their First Communion. Both are celebrated in the School Chapel in June. Pupils attend a weekly Mass during which J4 pupils read and serve. All pupils attend Benediction once a term. At the end of the year, pupils enjoy a pilgrimage.

The Lent and Advent collections enable pupils to focus on people who are less fortunate. Every Advent pupils in the Junior House take part in the ‘Love in a Box’ campaign. In Lent they raise money for The Catholic Children’s Society.

Junior House RE Newsletter second issue for Trinity Term is available here.