Kettleshulme St James CE (VA) Primary School ‘Life in all its fullness’ Prospectus 2020/21 Why you should choose our school One of the most important decisions you will make is the choice of school for the education of your children. We think you should join us at Kettleshulme St James for five simple reasons.

Our teachers are inspirational

Our children’s learning is personalised & fun

Our flexible schooling option

Our Christian distinctiveness is shared through the values of acceptance, love & forgiveness

Our ethic of excellence encourages success

1 Acceptance, Love, Forgiveness The headteacher’s clear vision for the future has enabled leaders successfully to address areas for improvement...Staff and governors are committed to providing the very best education for pupils. Ofsted .

Welcome to our school. Each do because they tell us they do. child arrives here as an individual We actively encourage aspects and the school’s heart and soul such as wonder, curiosity, goes into developing that adventure, bravery and individuality, together with a resilience. We ask our children to sense of social and moral take responsibility and take responsibility and a love of decisions that make a difference. learning. Our collaborative approach By providing new opportunities means that, through networks of and challenges throughout their schools, our children are able to time in the school, we aim to work with their peers in other teach our children how to learn settings giving them the and to think about the experience of working in larger possibilities in their intellectual, groups while maintaining our physical and social surroundings. own small cohorts. Team working, problem-solving, self-expression, confidence in As a Church of school front of an audience – these and our Christian distinctiveness is other skills needed by the next demonstrated through the values generation are embedded in the of acceptance, love and day’s lessons and activities. forgiveness, through the teachings of Jesus. A collective The school works because of the act of worship is held every day, commitment from the team of although parents do have a right people who run it. We have a of withdrawal on religious clear, shared vision – grounds. personalisation through inclusion: learning without labels I trust that this prospectus will to experience life in all its serve to provide you with a sense fullness. All children are valued of what it means to be a member for who they are and what they of our school. bring. We are a school with a Paul Quirk sense of fun. Children enjoy coming here – and we know they Headteacher

2 Lampada Trado - pass on the torch

Teachers have created a calm and nurturing environment which supports pupils’ learning effectively. Ofsted .

The teachers in our school are a learning, requiring the learner to dedicated team passionate about become analytical and generate education. Why? Because solutions. education opens doors into worlds of endless possibilities. Our teachers are skilled at assessing children’s progress Our teachers transform lives. during and at the end of a lesson. They capture and fire the Their feedback has a significant imagination; they inspire; they impact on children’s learning and take facts and ideas and turn has a profound effect on them into adventures. Our children’s achievement. Our teachers awaken imagination, feedback is ‘just in time, just for challenge thinking and are me’ information for each child, demanding of their charges; they delivered when and where it can do not settle for the mediocre. have the most impact. A timely conversation with a child during All teachers at Kettleshulme the lesson often has a greater practice an ethic of excellence. impact than written comments in They are interested in deep the book later when a child learning rather than surface cannot act immediately on the learning—and that takes time. feedback that is given. Teachers here show children what success and excellence look Every opportunity is taken to like and the children’s integrate and provide social, engagement and interest comes moral, spiritual and cultural from that success. interest or relevance. Learning is contextual with the local Our teachers believe that environment often used to intelligence is not fixed but provide a stimulus for pieces of malleable and our growth work. We also offer a flexible mindset supports our philosophy schooling approach to support and enhances our practice. those parents who wish to home Metacognition, or the knowledge educate. of learning how to learn is vital, in developing the children’s approach to independent

3 A World within a World

The school’s work to promote pupils’ personal development and welfare is outstanding. Their conduct around school and behaviour in lessons is exemplary. Ofsted .

Our school, founded in the mid contemplate the natural world. 19th Century, is constructed of A later addition to the garden has local stone and is an intrinsic part been a bespoke gate, created of the picturesque conservation through a project involving the village of Kettleshulme which local blacksmith and our older nestles in the High Peak. The children. building has been sympathetically updated and The ability to read is central to extended to support the learning learning and we enjoy a large, needs of 21st century children. well-stocked reference and fiction library which is Exciting spaces where the only supplemented by a library area in limit on play is a child’s each classroom. Our children Aerial picture of the school imagination are important also have safe access to wireless elements of our extensive technology to support them in grounds. From a natural stage the digital age in which they live. for exciting theatrical productions to a superb multi- Food for the body and food for sports space, there is something the mind - we prepare meals on- for every taste. site, of superb quality, for the majority of our children, Supporting us within our natural encouraging them to eat environment are the National healthily. Park Rangers who have helped build a willow den which provides Our breakfast club supports further opportunities for play, as those parents needing to make well as constructing bird boxes, an early start, while a range of bat boxes and various habitats lunchtime and after-school clubs for small animals. provide opportunities to socialise and learn in a more informal, A mature garden area, designed relaxed atmosphere. by the children, can be used as an outdoor classroom, a area for collective acts of worship or a space to sit quietly and

4 Pastoral

Pupils are extremely well prepared to become thoughtful, caring citizens. They feel valued and say that their ideas and opinions are listened to. Ofsted .

The needs of young people are make the right choices with paramount and as the landscape regard to how they behave. of the life before them becomes ever more taxing in terms of the We have a uniform policy in demands placed on them, so it which we believe strongly - becomes ever more incumbent uniform is important for three on school to safeguard their reasons. First, it identifies welfare and seek to enhance children with the school and their capacity to lead a happy promotes belonging. Second, it ‘well-balanced’ life. unifies children and enables them to feel a part of a team – part of We aim to help our pupils the school community. Finally, develop a sense of responsibility school uniform is a great leveler – towards each other and the children do not have to worry wider community, enabling them about wearing the latest to leave as confident, thoughtful expensive fashion or competing young people. with other children in terms of appearance. Albert Schweitzer, French Philosopher & Physician, said “I Our children are warm and don’t know what your destiny accepting of diversity and each will be, but one thing I do know: other’s right to be different. We the only ones among you who promote and develop good will be really happy are those manners and believe in who have sought and found how developing old-fashioned to serve.” Our children learn to courtesy - it is never out of date! serve because we encourage social responsibility and develop Having a voice is important and the importance of giving we have a thriving ’Pupil Voice’ something back to the which actively works to improve community. the school through the pupils’ focus on solutions. Our clear and transparent whole school behaviour policy supports children and encourages them to

5 An Ethic of Excellence

Leaders have designed a curriculum that reflects the interests of pupils and ignites their enthusiasm for learning. Ofsted .

Our children work in three mixed curriculum, based upon themes age classes. Reception, Year 1 or topics, supported by first- and 2 form Class 1. Class 2 is for hand learning opportunities. In lower juniors - Years 3 & 4, while line with our school philosophy Class three provides a base for we endeavour to provide a full the upper juniors - Years 5 & 6. programme of educational visits This year, due to smaller and we extend the curriculum numbers, Class 2 and Class 3 will through links with other schools. merge for afternoons. Residential trips are opportunities The National Curriculum for for the children to learn in England forms the basis of our different ways, in different curriculum. Children entering environments. All children in KS school in Reception access the 1&2 can take part in residential Early Years Curriculum. educational visits. The youngest Following reception the children children participate in the ‘Big will access the full National Sleepover’ - sleeping overnight in Curriculum at Key Stage 1 and 2. the school. Year 3 & 4 children spend one night away from home Our curriculum is a vehicle for at a residential centre chosen to improvement, a place to be support their topic and Year 5 & 6 confronted by that which is children spend two nights away demanding, not immediately each year at the Conway Centre, understood. We seek to pose Anglesey, learning important life significant questions, to tackle skills through outdoor and demanding tasks. In building our adventurous activities curriculum we enable children to engage with scientists, authors, Continuity is important in a artists and craftspeople, working child’s education so we expect in a range of materials. 100% attendance; any absence is a problem. We find that this In Key Stage 1 the children follow approach supports our a two year cycle, while in Key commitment to ensuring the best Stage 2 the children follow a four possible outcomes for all year cycle. We operate a creative children.

6 Cultivating the future

The school’s own information shows that, in English and Mathematics, an increasing proportion of pupils are working at a higher standard. Ofsted .

Our children are growing up in standards in reading, writing and demanding times. An important mathematics at the end of KS1 part of our philosophy is to have been above those seen encourage children to become nationally. independent thinkers and lifelong learners. We teach In 2019, at the end of KS2, children to be adaptable and to standards in mathematics are manage change effectively. been above those seen nationally and we are in line with national However, our teachers standards across other subjects. understand that the essence of We do not have data for 2020 their job is to deliver results and due to the cancellation of to demand that children work national tests as a result of hard to achieve. Quite rightly measures to prevent Covid-19. academic performance is at the We are confident the children forefront of our priorities. would have done well. Our assessment procedures are Strong links with high schools in robust, rigorous and regular , and using a mix of formative and Stockport support us in summative assessment. We challenging the most able inform parents about children’s children and help us to prepare progress and achievement all children for the new through regular meetings and expectations and requirements reports. of secondary education. Inclusion ensures all the children We also offer a flexible schooling attending the school thrive. We approach, at the head teacher’s monitor individuals and groups discretion, to support those closely to ensure their progress parents who home educate. matches predictive data. Good teaching across the school enables our children to make good progress from their starting points. Over the last five years,

7 The Last Word

The school’s Christian values give strong support to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain. Ofsted .

We write to close our prospectus. place to be. As we get older we It began with the head’s thoughts take more and more and we would like to mark its end responsibility for ourselves and by saying what we think. others. You will recognise that we have Oh and the Head….no one could been asked to be positive and ask for better. Dedicated, promote our school. Why constantly questioning and wouldn’t we? We love our school always getting the best out of - it’s brilliant. We are able to people. Caring, humorous, but learn in wonderful surroundings with a clear line not to be in a safe environment with our crossed. Seeking perfection friends. It is a friendly school through a belief in perseverance because we work hard to make it and resilience. A great believer in that way. equity and equality. Always around. Confident about the We love the variety of activities, school’s future. Sometimes stern, the clubs, the trips and the sometimes strict - but always residential visits. We have a with our best interests at the great playground and can learn centre of all he does. through play. Here we are encouraged to be independent and our opinions are listened to. We have teachers that are firm, but kind. Our learning is challenging and fun - we are expected and encouraged to try. Sometimes we get it wrong, but it doesn’t matter because we have opportunities to think and get it right. We have clear and simple rules which make the school a calm

8 Kettleshulme St James CE (VA) Primary School Road Kettleshulme Cheshire SK23 7QU

Tel: 01663 732502 E-mail: [email protected] www.kettleshulmestjames.cheshire.sch.uk

Headteacher: Paul Quirk B.Ed.(Hons) M.Ed. NPQH.

Chair of Governors: Sophie Harvey

© Photographs on page 2 and the strip. All other photographs © Paul Quirk KSJ. Front cover: © Paul Quirk KSJ.