KILLYLEA PRIMARY SCHOOL Together Everyone Achieves More PROSPECTUS 2015 Welcome Dear Parents & Guardians, Thank you for your interest in Killylea Primary School. We hope you enjoy reading our school prospectus and gain a flavour of what we are all about. Our school is focused at the heart of our local community, serving its needs and seeking to develop greater partnership with parents and community groups. Our small class sizes mean we can give more individual attention to your child to ensure they achieve the very best they can in a safe, secure and supportive environment. We support busy working parents by providing a Breakfast Club from 8am, Stay Late Club for P1/2 and our Chatterbox Club for P1-P7 from 3-4pm. Our excellent and spacious grounds provides a range of activity areas that support pupils’ physical development and social skills. We provide an exciting range of extra-curricular activities to enrich pupils’ learning experiences. If this seems like the kind of school you would like your child to be a part of or you would like to find out more, you are very welcome to contact us to arrange a visit or come along to our open morning. Up-to-date information is available on our website www.killyleaps.com Yours faithfully, Mrs P Lowry Principal General Information Address: Killylea Primary School 150 Killylea Road Killylea Co Armagh BT60 4LN Telephone: 02837 568621 Email: info@killyleaps Website: www.killyleaps.com School Profile Principal: Mrs P Lowry, BSc[Hons], PGCE, MEd, PQHNI Chairperson: Rev B Atkins Killylea Primary School is a small rural school set in the heart of the village of Killylea, five miles west of Enrolment Number: 92 Armagh. Pupils come from within the village and the surrounding area. Admissions Number: 13 Our school premises were built in 1938 and comprise four spacious classrooms, each with an interactive Actual enrolment in September 2015: 60 pupils aged 4-11 years, boys/girls. whiteboard and a large mobile classroom used for music, art and special needs. Our hall is used for Expected enrolment in September 2016: 60 pupils aged 4-11 years, boys/girls assemblies, P.E., school events and also for dining. Year Applications Admissions Outside, pupils have use of a playground, an outdoor covered area, sensory garden, wildlife area, activity 2015-16 12 12 zone with climbing frame, picnic area and a large grass area with football pitch. Our present teaching compliment is a teaching Principal, two full time teachers, two job-share teachers and a principal release 2014-15 10 9 teacher. We have three classroom assistants and a part-time secretary, Buildings Supervisor and Kitchen 2013-14 8 8 Unit Supervisor. School Management Type: Controlled Primary School We see our school as a community school and have an active PTA and Parent and Toddler Group. We also promote links with our local playgroup, Tiny Tots, local churches and community groups. We aim to provide a welcoming, safe, secure and stimulating environment which supports pupils’ learning and celebrates and nurtures their academic and non-academic achievements. We provide a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum to develop the whole child for life-long learning supported by an ethos in which fairness, tolerance, compassion and forgiveness permeates all relationships and aspects of school life. Through a TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) approach we recognise the importance of developing strong links with all members of our local and wider school community to provide opportunities to support and enrich the learning experiences of our pupils. 4 5 Waiting List Policy: When all places have been allocated a waiting list of unsuccessful applications will be kept on record. This list will be kept for one school year only. The waiting list will consist of those applicants whose application was received by the closing date and who were unsuccessful Admission at the time of allocation, in order identified at the time and on the basis of the above criteria. The application procedure for primary education allows parents to express a preference for the primary Duty To Verify: Late applications will be placed at the bottom The Board of Governors reserves the right school they wish their child to attend. You should contact the principal for an application form. of the waiting list in the date/time order as to require such supplementary evidence they were received. The primary application form and primary booklets are also available online, from: as it may determine to support or verify www.eani.org.uk/admissions information on any application form. If the Applications and birth certificate should be returned to the school by 12 noon on Wednesday 13th requested evidence is not provided to the January 2016. Board of Governors by the deadline given, this will result in the withdrawal of an offer of a place. Similarly, if information is supplied Criteria which appears to be false or misleading in any material way, the offer of a place will be The Board of Governors will apply the following criteria to identify which children should be admitted withdrawn. either at initial admission to education or on transfer from another school. In selecting children for admission, children resident in Northern Ireland at the time of their proposed admission to the school, will be selected for admission to the school before any child not so resident. 1. Children of compulsory school age. 2. Children who will have brothers or sisters in attendance during 2016/17 school year. Arrangements For Admission: All parents of prospective Primary 1 pupils will be invited 3. Children whose brothers or sisters previously attended the school. into school to meet their child’s teacher, view the school premises and be provided with additional information. 4. Sons or daughters of permanent employees at the school. An “Open Morning” is usually held in December. Details Admission are available from the school office or school website. 5. Children for whom the school is the Controlled Primary School nearest to their home. To P2-P7: Entrants who have attended another school will be 6. Preference will be given to children with exceptional circumstances [medical, social or other The criteria for problems] that necessitate admission to Killylea Primary School rather than any other Primary admission to invited with their parents to attend an informal interview School. The circumstances should be personal to the child and must be supported by P1 will be used. with the principal, view the school and meet with independent and appropriate documentation, providing evidence of the circumstances prospective teachers. being described as being exceptional. 7. The remaining places will be allocated on the basis of the proximity of the child’s home to the school, priority being given to those living nearest to the school. Distance will be measured “as the crow flies” using NI Ordnance Survey Map, from the postcode on the application form to the school gates. *Criterion 7 will also be used to discriminate within any oversubscribed criterion [except criterion 1] 6 7 Board of Governors Chairperson: Rev B Atkins, Working In Partnership St Mark’s Rectory, 154 Killylea Road, Armagh BT60 4LN It is the aim of Killylea Primary School to work in partnership with parents in the education of their children. We endeavour to keep parents and guardians as fully Vice Chairperson: Mrs Jane Kennedy informed about their child’s progress as possible through: 27, Abbey Road, Tynan, Co. Armagh BT60 4QX • Regular newsletters • School website www.killyleaps.com Secretary: Mrs P Lowry • Facebook page - Killylea Primary • Parent Teachers Meetings (October and February) Transferor Representatives: Rev B Atkins [2014-18] • Pupil Report (June) Mrs J Kennedy [2014-18] • Praise texts Mrs H Bloomer [2014-18] • Informal communication EA Representatives: Mr C Rollston [2014-18] Parents are also welcome to make an appointment at any time, with the class teacher Mrs L Steenson [2014-18] or principal, if they have any concerns about their child’s progress. All appointments should be made through the school secretary in the first instance, or if not available, Parent Representatives: Mrs J Rollston [2014-18] Main Responsibilities: the principal. Mr B Anderson [2015-18] All parents of prospective Year 1 pupils will be invited to our Open Morning Teacher Representative: Mrs P Miskelly [2014-18] The role of the Board of (December) to view the school during a normal teaching day. Their child will have an opportunity to join in activities with the current Year 1 pupils and meet their teacher. Principal [Non-voting]: Mrs P Lowry [2015-18] Governors is to manage our school with a view to Pupils who have previously attended another school will be invited with their parents/ guardians to meet the principal/ teachers and view the school. providing the best possible Throughout the year, parents/guardians will have opportunities to take part in education and educational assemblies, curricular meetings, concerts, sports days and other activities throughout opportunities for all our the academic year. pupils. This involves setting the strategic direction for our school, overseeing the provision of Special Educational Needs and the 8 control of the budget. 9 3. THE ARTS It is the policy of the Board of Governors of Killylea Primary School that all the Children are provided opportunities to engage in Music, Art and Drama. Private pupils will receive their full entitlement under the Northern Ireland Curriculum. piano tuition is available to pupils during school hours. Pupils from P3 learn to play No pupil will be discriminated against on grounds of gender, religion or disability. the recorder and read music. Children are encouraged in the dramatic arts as part of the normal curriculum and through participation in Assemblies, Christmas Carol Killylea Primary School will offer a curriculum that is balanced and broadly based Services and School Productions and afterschool drama clubs.