During the Prep Phase, children continue to grow in independence and confidence as they embrace a broader and more stimulating range of learning opportunities. With specialist subject teaching at the heart of this stage, pupils are stretched, supported and encouraged to apply the resilience they have steadily built throughout their earlier years. This is also a time when preparation for senior school becomes increasingly significant, and our oldest pupils naturally step into the role of leaders, modelling maturity, kindness and ambition for younger children across the school. Enriched academic and co‑curricular experiences, combined with exceptional access to Oundle School’s facilities, allow every child to explore their interests more deeply and develop the skills, character and confidence they need for the exciting challenges ahead.
Joining LJS at the Prep Stage is the beginning of an exciting new chapter, one we make smooth, personal and full of reassurance for every family. From the moment you accept a place, you become part of our community. Your child’s dedicated Tutor reaches out early, beginning those important conversations that help us understand your child’s personality, interests and needs. With just ten children per Tutor, we can offer genuine individual attention from day one.
To help your child settle quickly and happily, we pair them with a carefully chosen buddy who helps them settle socially, feel confident around the school, and understand everyday routines such as lunchtimes, breaktimes and moving between classrooms.
Families are given immediate access to My School Portal, our one‑stop guide to LJS life. Here you can explore uniform information, clubs, bulletins and timetables, helping you feel at home long before term begins.
We also connect you with the Friends of Laxton Junior School, a vibrant, welcoming parent community, so you can build friendships, ask questions and feel supported as you join our LJS family.
At every step, our focus is simple: ensuring both you and your child feel known, welcomed and excited for the journey ahead.
As the Preparatory phase of Oundle School, we are in a position to offer greater depth in Year 4, 5 and 6 as well as a smooth transition into the Year 7 curriculum due to the support of the senior school. The Subject-Specialist Teaching delivery introduced at Pre-Prep stage will continue through to Year 6 as children start to be introduced to more subject specialist teachers from Oundle School and start to use more of their extensive facilities. Children will continue being taught in Form Groups of up to twenty, except for Maths where they will learn in three sets per Year Group with about 12-13 children in each class.
Subjects deepen and vary further at this stage too, empowering the children to explore and discover their personal interests. Latin is introduced in Year 6 and taught by Oundle School staff, and opportunities to develop an understanding of science, technology and engineering, in both year groups, are greatly enhanced by taking learning to Oundle’s Sci-Tec and the Patrick Engineering Centre.
Visiting authors, scientists and mathematicians, amongst others, inspire our children in new directions and ensure that the academic curriculum provides an enriching experience. Through the teaching and learning that occurs in Year 4, 5 and 6, every child is fully prepared for their senior school of choice.
It is important that our Year 5 and 6 children develop an ownership of their learning, recognising their strengths and talents, and identifying where they will need to work hard and seek support to address their areas for development. Our expectations of our oldest children are extremely high and, in Year 4, 5 and 6, we ask that they approach their learning with curiosity, confidence and commitment. The children will be guided and mentored through this phase by a dedicated Tutor, in Tutor Groups of up to ten children.
In Year 6, we promote and encourage leadership through positions of responsibility and regular opportunities to support younger children.
Whether it is being Head of School, House or Sports Captain, leading the School Council, Wellbeing Ambassadors or being a break time monitor, the expectation of our children is that they lead by example and work hard to encourage those that look up to them to approach school life in the same way as they do.
The Prep phase experience is full of vibrant opportunity to engage with learning and adventure across the UK and beyond. Trips to art galleries, theatres, museums, rivers and beaches ensure that learning is not confined to the classroom. Outdoor adventure is embraced on hiking and climbing trips to the Peak District, canoeing on the River Nene, skiing in the Alps and on the one-week Year 5 residential trip to Wales. Year 6, meanwhile, spend a week away from school, developing their French, on the north coast of France.
We have a Mastery approach to teaching and learning at LJS, which means we believe that every single child is capable of success and that nothing should inhibit their ability to achieve it. Our environment is supportive and encouraging, and we pride ourselves on maintaining a flexible curriculum to ensure that at any given time, every single child is being challenged appropriately, inspiringly and above all, successfully.
"Our team of Subject-Specialist Teachers brings expertise and passion to every lesson, fostering true quality and engagement"Mrs Sumitha Hill, Assistant Head Academic
