Upper School Transition (Y3-Y4)

At Horris Hill School, the Upper School Transition programme is designed to ease the progression of children from the Lower School into the Upper School, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable process as they grow in confidence and independence, progressing onto the next stage of their independent school journey.

While children in Upper School Transition still have lunch with their peers from the Lower School at 12.20pm, their break times are spent with the Upper School at 11.00am, helping them to gradually integrate into the Upper School community. Their academic lessons take place in the main school building, specifically in the Upper School Transition corridor, which includes a dedicated Common Room for Years 3 and 4. This allows the children to enjoy a sense of belonging, while being gently introduced to the routines and expectations of Upper School life.

A Horris Hill School pupil sits at a classroom table

Each class benefits from having its own dedicated class teacher, offering consistency and support. In addition, pupils are taught by subject specialists for Music, PE, French, and Art, helping to inspire a deeper passion for learning. Science lessons take place in the school’s fully equipped laboratory.

A key milestone at Horris Hill is that Year 3 is the first year in which children can begin boarding. This offers a unique opportunity for younger pupils to experience the independence, structure, and camaraderie of boarding life in a warm, family-style environment.

In the afternoons, the children participate in Games alongside the Upper School, developing their teamwork skills, physical confidence, and enjoyment of sport. On Saturday mornings, our Saturday School enrichment sessions offer a vibrant array of activities focused on life skills, public speaking, entrepreneurship, and even gardening in the school's Kitchen Garden.

The end of the school day offers various options for parents:

Option 1 – Children can be collected at 4.30pm, after Games, to go straight home
Option 2 – Children stay for activities and can be collected at 5.20pm
Option 3 – Children can have Supper at school and be collected at 6.00pm
Option 4 – Some children in Upper School Transition are boarders, and therefore join up with their boarding house after supper

As a forward-thinking prep school, Horris Hill School is committed to fostering a lifelong love of learning in every child. The Upper School Transition is a key part of that mission, ensuring our pupils are well-prepared, confident, and excited for the next stage of their educational journey.

Find Out More

If you’d like to learn more about any aspect of Upper School Transition life, or arrange a visit to Horris Hill School, our Admissions Team would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact us today to book a personal tour, or visit an open event, and discover what makes our school unique.