School Profile
What have been our successes this year?
What are we trying to improve?
How have our results changed over time?
How are we making sure we are meeting the learning needs of individual pupils?
How do we make sure our pupils are healthy, safe and well-supported?
What activities are available to pupils?
How are we working with parents and the community?
What have pupils told us about the school, and what have we done as a result?
What do our pupils do after leaving this school?
What have we done in response to Ofsted?
What have been our successes this year?
SATs results for Summer 2005 indicate that standards in English, particularly Writing and Speaking and Listening have improved and achievement in Reading maintained.An extension to the front of the school was completed in 2005 improving the learning and working environment for all members of the school community.
In 2004 the school successfully opened its own nursery class which has enabled us to improve transition into the school. Furthermore we have now introduced organizational and policy changes further developing the learning availiable at the Foundation Stage and broadening the curriculum for this age group. Foundation Stage profiles indicate that at the end of Reception year 25% of pupils are below average in writing but by the time they leave school this figure has been reduced down to just 6%. Back to top
What are we trying to improve?
Having improved the levels of attainment in Writing we are looking to maintain this improvement and further develop attainment in Reading, Maths and Science.Following planned training we are developing a school policy and specific programmes of work to support those who may be able, gifted or talented.
We are looking to further broaden the curriculm by auditing curriculum areas to ensure appropriate coverage and depth of the curriculum being offered. We are undertaking further training of subject co-ordinators and will be purchasing new resources and implementing new plans as requirements are identified through the audit process.
We are seeking recognition as a "Healthy School". This is seen as a means to ensure all the following good practice is coordinated; to broaden the curriculum still further, devloping the aim to promote a sense of security, develop spirituality, emotional stability, moral and cultural understanding to strengthen academic and personal progress. Back to top
How have our results changed over time?
Trends over the past five years show achievements in Reading, Writing and Maths to be above the National results and of those in Buckinghamshire (apart from L2+ Maths in 2003 and Writing in 2002) with Science close to the average. At L3 the trend in achievement has been generally higher than the National Picture and Buckinghamshire as a whole.SATs results for summer 2005 indicate that standards of achievement have been maintained or improved. A higher percentage of pupils achieved L2+ in Reading and Writing with a lower percentage in Mathematics, following the National and Buckinghamshire trend. Level 3 results show a slight drop in Reading and Mathmatics but a much improved achievment in Writing with 42.6% achieiving L3. Although targets set for Reading, Writing an Maths were not actually quite met at level 2+ this year, this can be explained by changes in the cohort of children after the targets were set, 34 boys and 20 girls and the extremely high challenge the school set itself. Back to top
How are we making sure we are meeting the learning needs of individual pupils?
Tracking of pupils from Baseline, FSP, through years 1 & 2, using reading assessments and RM snapshot and the termly monitoring of three/four pupils of differing abilities by the headteacher ensures children are on a continuous line of progression.A portfoilo is maintained on each child where examples of work, assessment sheets, PHSE records and other relevant information is regularly placed. If children fall below expected levels of achievement investigations are put in place and they are placed on an individual programme, included in ELS or PAT groups or if on School Action Plus receive support from a specifically employed visiting specialist teacher.
Pupils with SEN make very good progress and good partnerships are developed with parents who attend regularly to receive guidance on helping their children.
As well as class targets, children are given individual targets in maths and english work which are intended to be achievable in a short time.
A system has been intoduced for children to receive a certificate from the headteacher if they have made a great effort with a piece of work that has been sent to her for recognition. Back to top
How do we make sure our pupils are healthy, safe and well-supported?
We aim to promote a healthy lifestyle and we are working towards the Healthy Schools Award with many aspects already in place. We believe a healthy school is a happy school, so health and well-being are a whole school priority.Staff and pupils treat each other with respect and recognition of effort in all aspects including behaviour, citizenship and academic achievement are a regular feature of the school week.
Parents and pupils say the school is a safe place and children enjoy attending. Parents receive a Code of Conduct setting out expection of children and adult behave. Classroom and playground rules are developed with the children and unacceptable behaviour is dealt with quickly and consistently. Staff listen to pupils who are encouraged to share issues that they are worried about. Back to top
What activities are available to pupils?
The woods to the rear of the school provide opportunities for physical and quiet activites such as sketching, science and PHSE.Each term, a week is dedicated to one aspect of the curriculum. Autumn - Book Week, Spring - Art Week, Summer - Music Week. The children have many visitors who work with and perform to the children from a Brass or Steel Band concert and workshop to a theatre performance with class drama workshop as a follow up. In Art Week we focus on a particular artist, work in their style with visiting artists leading a whole shcool project with every child taking part.
Pupils can learn short tennis in an after School Club in the Spring and Summer Terms. French Club and Yoga Club are weekly events further broadening opportunities for learning. Parents pay for these clubs.
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How are we working with parents and the community?
The school enjoys a good reputation within the local community.We seek to gain parental opinion through an anonymous annual survey of Y2 parents, issue regular school newsletters, governor newsletters and hold informal discussions at other events. The school has an open door policy and if parents have conerns they are encouraged to share these with the school as soon as possible. Parent and community governors play an essential role in evaluating the school practices and seeking community and parental opinions. The school has an active friends committee who organise social events and raise funds throughout the year.
The school has links with two local churches as well as the local care home whose residents are invited to watch the children sing and dance on Back to top
What have pupils told us about the school, and what have we done as a result?
Pupils are frequently consulted in an infomal way about aspects of school life and regularly meet in focus groups taking the form of circle time to discuss any issues or ideas they may have.Pupils are enthusiastic and generally keen to work. Behaviour is good, creating a learning atmosphere. Children are encouraged to discuss any aspects of the curriculum that they have particularly enjoyed and what infomation they have learned. For instance, we know that they particularly enjoy the termly special activity weeks (Book, Music & Art Weeks).
Parents comments indicate that pupils enjoy coming to school, being provided with an interesting, broad curriculum. Behaviour and other issues are dealt with in a fair way. Pupils like the pleasant, calm, working atmosphere and feel valued. Back to top
What do our pupils do after leaving this school?
The school has strong links with Farnham Common Junior School to which the majority of pupils transfer at the end of Year 2 with information exchanged about families and achievement. Visits are made to meet teachers and see classrooms prior to transfer.Comments from the Junior School assure us that pupils leaving our school are polite, thoughtful, considerate, have good work attitude and have made good progress academically. They are ready to enjoy the new opportunities offered by the Junior School.
Regularly former pupils return to us for work experience demonstrating skills that they started to learn at this school. Back to top
What have we done in response to Ofsted?
Development of writing skills continues to improve with SATs results 2004 showing 87% L2+ in writing. Class teachers in Reception have given more time to developing skills in pupils using their phonic knowledge to develop writing skills. New phonic resources have been purchased and the increased speed at which pupils acquire phonic knowledge and fast tracking some pupils in Reception to cover more phonic teaching have all contributed to the improved achievements. Furthermore, our on-going Speech and Communication project has also proved beneficial in raising standards in writing and communication.Work has continued to develop more independent investigative work in Science and Maths. Use of stories developed for problem solving in Maths is another new development. Our new Science co-ordinator will be observing Science across the school and science and maths achievements continue to be above the national average Back to top