Excellence Is Our Standard” WELCOME to LITCHAM SCHOOL Welcome to Litcham School, a Well-Respected and Successful All-Through School for Children Aged 4-16
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LITCHAM SCHOOL “Excellence is our standard” WELCOME TO LITCHAM SCHOOL Welcome to Litcham School, a well-respected and successful all-through school for children aged 4-16. This is a very special place at the heart of the community. We are a small school where every child is treated as an individual. We work with parents to ensure that children are nurtured, given opportunities to develop their talents and challenged to fulfil their potential. We want every pupil to achieve the highest possible academic outcomes. This is our number one priority and we know that this will only happen by providing the highest standards of teaching every day. We also provide a wide range of opportunities and value pupils’ achievements across a variety of areas. Whether you are looking for a primary or a secondary place, we believe that we can meet your child’s needs. We hope that this prospectus gives you a flavour of our values and the opportunities available for your child. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to arrange a visit or learn more about the school. “Staff are very professional, my children are in safe and caring hands” – Parent quote Ofsted 2015 PRIMARY PHASE Our primary phase offers a vibrant and caring environment, focused on ensuring that children have the best possible start to their education. We are committed to working in partnership with parents and carers and welcome your involvement with the school. There are frequent informal opportunities for you to come into school and to work alongside your child, including Reading, Maths and Science Cafés. Termly consultation meetings provide a more formal opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with his/her teacher. Our accommodation includes six classrooms, a hall, a well-resourced library and a mini mobile. We also have use of the adjacent Children’s Centre teaching kitchen and specialist teaching space at our secondary phase site. Outside, children have access to a rich environment in which to exercise, learn and relax. Features include a large playing field, trim trail, willow tunnel, tyre park, raised beds and a pond. We have a separate reception class with a planned admission number of 15. The class is therefore small enough to enable us to focus on the individual child, but large enough to give children plenty of opportunities to make friends and develop social skills. Children are taught by their class teacher for the majority of time, but they will also be taught by specialist teachers for subjects including music, art and physical education. We make the most of our outdoor space and teach our youngest children using the Forest School approach on a weekly basis. Being part of an all-through school means that the move from primary to our secondary phase is very straightforward. All pupils in Year 6 automatically have a place in Year 7, the first year of the secondary phase, and all children enjoy a wide range of opportunities at our secondary site throughout Years 1 to 6. “Teachers provide effective learning opportunities and engage well with pupils.” Ofsted 2015 SECONDARY PHASE The move from primary to secondary education is a major step for any young person. There are many more opportunities, new subjects and friends to be made. There are also the challenges of moving to a larger school and leaving behind the familiar primary environment. We recognise and carefully plan for this, working very closely with all of our feeder primary schools, to ensure that the move into secondary education is an exciting and positive experience for all who join us. Science and mathematics days in Year 5,and starting Year 7 in the final few weeks of Year 6, ensures that Litcham School’s secondary site and staff are completely familiar to new students. Many will have also attended other special events and days organised on our secondary site. We have all the key features and facilities you would expect in a very good secondary school. All subjects are taught by specialist teachers and located in dedicated rooms. A broad and balanced curriculum emphasises the crucial importance of literacy and numeracy, but also ensures that students acquire knowledge and skills in the sciences, foreign languages, humanities, ICT, expressive arts and design and technology. An excellent library and ICT facilities support their study. In physical education we aim to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Students are introduced to a wide range of sports and many opportunities exist to practice their skills at a competitive level. Facilities include extensive playing fields and a superb dance studio. The expressive arts – music, art and drama – are very strong and offer students many and varied opportunities to perform. Visiting teachers provide specialist tuition in a wide range of musical instruments. “The school’s work to promote pupils’ personal development and welfare is outstanding.” Ofsted 2015 BEYOND THE CLASSROOM In our primary phase, children experience a range of educational visits and activities outside the classroom, designed to build their confidence and develop their skills and knowledge of the outside world. These include swimming lessons, instrumental tuition, the opportunity to play in the school orchestra and a range of lunchtime and after-school clubs, including sport, gardening and Lego. Children in Years 5 and 6 are encouraged to take part in residential visits to a variety of activity centres. School Council, Year 6 sports and our digital leaders programme all provide opportunities for children to develop a sense of responsibility and their leadership qualities. A programme of visitors to lessons and assemblies, and links to local community organisations, also extend our children’s horizons. There are good links with Litcham Childcare which operates in the adjacent Children’s Centre, offering a breakfast, after-school and holiday club. In the secondary years, educational visits have a wide range of purposes including team-building, developing decision-making skills and helping students to acquire the knowledge to interpret and succeed in a complex and fast-changing world. The Impact day programme brings an extensive range of visitors into school, helping students address issues such as health and sex education, personal finance and human rights. During visits to Norwich and London, students learn about the wider communities of which they are part. Similarly, horizons are extended further by the opportunity to travel to France, Germany and Spain, focusing on a range of subjects such as languages, history and art. The Duke of Edinburgh award programme is very popular at the school and every year, large numbers of students are involved in expeditions. “The school offers a wide range of enrichment activities which help pupils to be good citizens” Oftsed 2015 STUDENT SUPPORT In our primary phase, the class teacher is rightly the key person in our children’s school life. At the secondary phase, the form tutor remains an important person, but their work is complemented by a Head of Year who monitors progress and achievement. Specialist support staff work alongside our teachers to provide students with the information, advice and guidance they need to plan their future lives and to support them through adolescence. Children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) benefit from the extra support and expertise of our specialist team of SEND staff at all stages. They help pupils to access the curriculum, support them through the transition to secondary education and prepare them for life beyond school. LIFE AFTER LITCHAM All young people remain in education or training until the age of 18. Our students are fortunate to have access to many high quality providers of post16 education, including Reepham College, Sixth Form within Dereham, the College of West Anglia, Easton College and City College, Norwich. We have excellent relationships with all these providers and follow former students’ progress with keen interest. Visits to colleges and universities are part of a comprehensive initiative to encourage students to aim higher and in particular, to support young people and their families who don’t have personal experience of higher education. Our programme of information, advice and guidance (IAG) prepares students for their life after Litcham, whatever route they take. “Creating a culture where pupils LITCHAM can succeed.” Ofsted 2015 SCHOOL LITCHAM SCHOOL A148 Fakenham West Rudham Harpley Colkirk A1065 Great Massingham Whissonsett Weasenham B1145 Tittleshall Brisley Mileham B1145 Lexham Litcham Beetley Beeston Gressenhall Castle Acre Dunham Fransham Dereham Necton Swaffham Litcham School, Church Street, Litcham, Kings Lynn, PE32 2NS Primary site tel: 01328 701346 Secondary site tel: 01328 701265 Fax: 01328 701850 Email: [email protected] Web: www.litcham.norfolk.sch.uk Design: Lore Creative 0844 879 7332 www.lorecreative.co.uk.