SHERBORNE PRIMARY SCHOOL www.sherbornepri.dorset.sch.uk Work, Learn & Respect Together SHERBORNE PRIMARY SCHOOL SHERBORNE PRIMARY SCHOOL In April 2012, the school celebrated its centenary as the original school was established in 1912, in buildings facing Simons Road to accommodate the northward expansion of the town. It was subsequently enlarged during the Second World War when the infant school in Tinney’s Lane was bombed. The school lost its senior children in the late 1950s when secondary education was reorganised. The current school was completed in July 1998 and was officially open by HRH the Prince of Wales in April 1999. It is comprised of eleven classrooms with a nominal capacity of 330 pupils together with a hall, music room, a special needs department, a library and other excellent spaces for a range of exciting activities. Summer 2011 saw the completion of an exciting project by the Governors – the extension of the western wing of the school to provide an additional, multipurpose room. Other recent additions include a purpose-built outdoor classroom that was constructed using, as far as possible, sustainable and locally-sourced materials. This stunning facility was opened by Mr M J Sandy, retiring Head, in July 2008. Recently the Reception/KS1 outside learning space has been developed to maximise the opportunities for pupils’ physical development and enhanced imaginative play. The outdoor space is well utilised with room for a soccer pitch, training areas, netball courts and space for cricket, hockey, athletics and many other outdoor sports. The school uses local facilities for swimming and other sports as and when required. The school governors appointed a new Headteacher in September 2015, Mr Ian Bartle, an ex-pupil of the school! who’s family have lived and worked within Sherborne & the surrounding area for many generations. Our school motto: Work, Learn & Respect Together Headteacher: Mr Ian Bartle BA Ed (Hons) NPQH, Sherborne Primary School, Harbour Way, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 4AJ. Telephone: 01935 812619. Fax: 01935 817943 Email: [email protected] Website: www.sherbornepri.dorset.sch.uk Sherborne Primary School is administered by the Children’s Services Directorate, County Hall, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XJ. Telephone: 01305 221000 2 www.sherbornepri.dorset.sch.uk WELCOME On behalf of the Staff and Governors, I am very pleased to present the School Prospectus. The School’s principal purpose is to provide the best possible foundation for the children, and their life in today’s and tomorrow’s exciting and rapidly changing world. We hope that you as parents will take up this challenge in partnership with us, and share with the School your child’s journey through his or her primary education. The School continues to develop in many areas. On the academic front, the School’s latest excellent academic results reflect the consolidation of the efforts of the staff to continually improve the learning opportunities for each and every child. The staff continue to provide a very impressive selection of sporting and other after school clubs and activities – all intended to encourage the children to explore new opportunities and support a healthy lifestyle. Finally, I wish to thank the governors for their hard work and support for school life, the wellbeing of the School and its future development within the Sherborne community. The governors are all volunteers who are dedicated to providing their experience, energy, commitment and time, to ensuring that the Headteacher and staff have the facilities they need, and that the complete school operation is as efficient as possible delivering the environment and education that our children deserve, in their preparation for life in the world of the 21st century. Mr Tim Bartley, Chairman of the School Governors. www.sherbornepri.dorset.sch.uk 3 SHERBORNE PRIMARY SCHOOL OUR MISSION STATEMENT The Governors, together with the teaching and support staff of Sherborne Primary School, are committed to educate each pupil to his or her full potential within a happy, secure school environment. High standards of achievement and behaviour are sought from a broad and balanced curriculum taught in an atmosphere which fosters a caring attitude of tolerance and respect between children and their peers, adults and the community. Admission Policy Parents should register their children with the school office as early as possible within the guidelines of Dorset County Council. The children start at the beginning of the school year in which they are five. Foundation Stage children are admitted for the full school day. Good liaison exists between the school and the local pre-schools/ nurseries. Staff visit the pre-schools/nurseries, and the preschool leaders also visit school. Children and parents due to start school are offered an extensive package for introduction. Parents' are invited to a meeting at the beginning of the last term prior to starting school at which information on the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) is shared. Children visit school throughout the last half term prior to starting school with pre-school key workers. Additionally there is an induction morning at school during the summer term prior to starting, and Foundation Stage teachers conduct a home visit for every family before the child starts school in September. The school admission limit is 48 children per academic year group and – providing the year group is not oversubscribed – places can be offered to children living outside the catchment area. Parents living inside and outside the area should apply directly to the school as early as they can if they wish to seek a place for their child. To apply for a place at Sherborne Primary please visit www. dorsetforyou.com/schooladmissions 4 www.sherbornepri.dorset.sch.uk School Curriculum We believe that developing a love of our language in our At Sherborne Primary School we pride ourselves on offering children is vital in achieving success at school and later in life. a broad and balanced curriculum with the emphasis on Children who read for pleasure gain a richer vocabulary, cross-curricular learning tasks where possible. We aim to more knowledge, and critical thinking skills and become self- cater for a range of individual learning styles to encourage directed learners. We aim for our children to be independent children to achieve their best in all areas. The school follows writers; discriminating, reflective readers; and confident the National Curriculum incorporating all subjects in a speakers – thereby becoming efficient learners across the creative way through topics. curriculum. Parents / Carers receive information of the topics & Amongst the opportunities we offer are two very popular curriculum covered each term within our ‘Topic Jigsaws’, children’s book clubs; a Young Writer’s Club; Drama Club; these also includes possible links for further investigations home learning support; and a reading group for parents. outside of school to extend learning. Computing Design and Technology Computing is taught through cross-curricular, class-based This area of the curriculum encourages children to activities and through sessions in the ‘Learning Lounge’. investigate, generate ideas and develop designs, using a Disciplines include control and monitoring, databases, wide variety of materials and components with increasingly multimedia presentations, internet research as well as word sophisticated tools and processes. Design & Technology processing skills. Children are taught to use the internet involves identifying and solving practical problems, providing safely and to consider when and where technology can be opportunities to learn and develop a variety of new skills. used to aid their learning. Projects are often linked to topic work allowing pupils to undertake relevant tasks which become increasingly History and Geography challenging as they progress through the school, extending Humanities-based topics often provide the theme for a their skills, knowledge and understanding. term’s work, especially at Key Stage 2. This produces valuable opportunities for a range of fieldwork and cross- English curriculum studies. The exploration and enjoyment of the English language is Children experience a variety of teaching and learning styles our priority and we value all its aspects – speaking, listening, through which they develop research, interpretative, reading and writing. analytical and fieldwork skills. www.sherbornepri.dorset.sch.uk 5 SHERBORNE PRIMARY SCHOOL Mathematics together and will often present work in music at class Mathematics is taught daily to all pupils incorporating assemblies. There are various extra-curricular activities offered mental methods, a main teaching focus and plenaries and individual instrumental lessons are available covering a delivered throughout the lesson. Maths has a high priority range of instruments. within the school and teachers aim to provide lessons with a real life context alongside problem solving activities to Personal Social Health & ensure that all lessons are fun and enjoyable for the pupils. One of our main aims is to develop the children’s ability to Citizenship Education (PSHCE) calculate using written methods and this is outlined in our Health education is part of PSHCE, which encompasses calculation policy which runs throughout the school and citizenship, race and environmental issues. All staff follow the ensures progression from Foundation to Year Six. Dorset Rainbow scheme for PSHE which is part of SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning). Health education is carried out mainly by class teachers and forms part of the Modern Foreign Languages pastoral care of the school. In line with Government policy, French is taught in Key Stage Issues such as, drug awareness and stranger danger are 2 from year 3. Spanish is taught through school clubs, to given appropriate emphasis at various stages, and a School years 5 and 6. The school believes that the learning of a Health Team now offers a confidential drop in service for foreign language provides a valuable educational, social and parents, which provides opportunities to discuss issues and cultural experience for our pupils.