Prospectus
Welcome to our school
"Flying high... Playing..... Working..... Learning together..... To achieve our best"
The statement reflects the positive attitude not only of teaching and support staff, voluntary helpers and pupils but also indicates the strong feelings of ‘belonging’ and loyalty encouraged in the pupils and enhanced by the commitment of the wider community to the school. St. Bartholomew’s is a Church of England Voluntary Controlled school for children aged from three years. Although we are a primary school, we operate within the Middle school system with children generally transferring to the Middle School in Leek at the end of year 4.
There has been a school master in Longnor since 1597, when he was paid in corn by the inhabitants of the township. Schooling has continued in the township ever since with the present building dating since 1872. The school is located in the heart of the picturesque Moorlands village of Longnor, on the Derbyshire/ Staffordshire border. We encourage the children to take an active interest in the area, recognising that the experiences of their parents or guardians, grandparents or other relatives is a valuable part of their heritage.
Pastoral Care
One benefit of belonging to a small school are the strong feelings of loyalty, tolerance, and sensitivity that are developed towards one another, and which creates an ‘extended family’ atmosphere in the school. We encourage this and work hard to develop good team work, both amongst the pupils and the adult population supporting the school, with a recognition of the strengths which each individual can contribute to the life of the school. From our mission statement we draw the following values which are fundamental to our life in school:
Standing up for what we believe in
Valuing one another
Knowing we will always be forgiven
Supporting our church and our community
We encourage children to develop lively and enquiring minds, to question and discuss rationally, and apply their knowledge to new situations. We encourage children to be active and responsible contributors, capable of coping with challenging and changing situations. We strive to make the most of our rich Moorland environment and cultural heritage to enhance the curriculum, benefiting from visits in the locality and further afield.
Curriculum
The school offers a broad and balanced curriculum, ensuring the child’s entitlement to all areas of the National curriculum. Wherever possible, we try to give a themed approach to each term’s work to develop a unity and progression through the age groups. The school uses schemes of work from QCA with a distinct subject basis. Literacy, numeracy and science are given greatest emphasis, with ICT apparent in many areas. Science, ICT, Music, art and RE are taught by specialists, particularly in key stage 2. St Bartholomew’s is a Church school and Christianity is taught throughout the school in a variety of ways, with other religions introduced where appropriate. Daily assemblies are broadly Christian and concentrate on attitudes and values. Parents have the right to withdraw children from religious education and/or religion based assemblies.
Sex education is not singled out for individual attention , but is addressed when the subject arises in a sensitive manner in order to form a balanced view of the subject.
Children at St Bartholomew’s benefit from low teacher-pupil ratios within the school. We are also part of the Peak cluster of schools, which comprises of five other local small schools, working together to enhance the learning of our children, through joint enrichment, sporting and curricular activities for children and training for staff and governors.
Children from Flash and Longnor schools meet regularly at Longnor, to share PE facilities and staff, and Flash, Longnor and Hollinsclough schools will often meet together for theatre performances etc. Currently all children from reception to year 4 have a weekly swimming lesson based at Waterhouses Primary school. Children from year 2 upwards have the opportunity to learn violin. In addition to the National curriculum, children from year 2 upwards take part in a cycling awareness programme, and year 4 children have the opportunity to experience a four day residential course at Coven Outdoor Education centre, which is organised with Flash and Manifold schools. Children have the opportunity to take part in activities such as orienteering, climbing, and team building.
The School Day
The day begins at 9.05 am for all pupils, with lunch at 12 o’clock and finishes at 3.15 pm. Nursery children may leave at 12 or stay for lunch and be collected at 1pm. There are 3 classes : foundation, key stage 1 and key stage 2, and children are grouped according to age and ability. Mornings are mostly devoted to literacy and numeracy, and the afternoons to the other subjects.
Homework
We believe that children should work hard in school so that they can follow pursuits and interests with their family at home. Children are encouraged to spend between 20 to 40 minutes per day at homework activities. At key stage 1 children are encouraged to practice daily reading and spelling at home, with occasional maths activities, whereas key stage 2 should read, practice spellings, multiplication tables, and number bonds as well as occasional research or written tasks. Literacy and numeracy workbooks are provided for children who want to do more. Children take home a weekly sheet with their homework tasks to involve parents in their learning.
Early Years
We offer places in our designated nursery for pupils from three years four months. Children in nursery and reception make up our foundation stage and access the highly practical activities designed for young learners which our nursery staff provide.
The curriculum offered to children is based on the six desirable outcomes for early years, and include cooking, making, letter formation, role play, physical activity, number and early reading skills. Children enter full time reception in our school in the September of the year in which they are five, in discussion with parents. Children attending other primary schools are dependent on the admission policy of those schools. Where places in nursery are limited, preference is given to those children living in the school catchment area.
Special Needs
Children with special educational needs of any kind are identified and welcomed in our school. Programmes are developed to meet these needs with support from the Special Educational Needs Support team, and any other relevant professional body. The school endeavours to work in partnership with parents throughout their time at St Bartholomew’s.
Resources
The school is accommodated in a one storey building. The original part of the building, dating back to1872, comprises the school hall, offices and library area. The hall is equipped with up to date gymnastic equipment and is used for PE, drama, dance, music, assemblies, musical productions and as a dining room. The hall is also used two afternoons per week by Playgroup, and by various community groups out of school hours.
Three separate classrooms provide bright and spacious accommodation for key stages 1, 2 and foundation stage children. Parents and governors have converted the lobby area into a bright, inviting library and community area. Book corners are supplemented by regular exchanges from the County Library Service.
The school is set in extensive grounds, including a playing field marked with football pitch and/or athletics track, an all weather play area marked for netball, tennis, games, grassed play areas and a fenced conservation area and pond.
Information Technology
The school recognises the importance of information technology within the curriculum and has sited computers in both main classroom areas. There is a suite of 3 internet ready computers in the key stage 2 classroom, and two mobile internet ready computers in the key stage 1 class which can be moved around as required. The school has dedicated ICT teaching for two hours per week with ICT an integral part of each child’s learning in many subject areas. The school is also building up a bank of CD roms which enhance the child’s learning.
At present the school runs a variety of after school clubs on a termly basis, including computers, art and crafts, and football training sessions. With such a small staff, availability of clubs depends largely on the interests and availability of volunteers and staff commitments. Offers of help to run these and other after school clubs of interest to the pupils are always welcomed by staff and governors.
The school is very proud of its wide range of enrichment activities and visits. We firmly believe that children learn best through seeing and doing and activities are planned to enhance this. Speakers, artists, musicians, etc. work with children in school and children visit many varied venues depending on their studies. Most visits are whole school visits, although some key stage visits are arranged. All activities are subsidised by the school, with parents asked to make voluntary contributions for some.
Community Links
St Bartholomew’s has strong links and active links with the community. School facilities are used regularly by community groups such as: Playgroup and Mums and toddler groups; Rainbows, Brownies and Guides; badminton and keep fit; Parish Council and NFU meetings; Longnor Players; Church activities and private parties.
There are strong links between school and church, with school taking part in services such as Mother’s Day and Harvest, attending the 2 minute silence on November 11th, and the Vicar taking an active part in school life. In a small community these links between school and the local population are important and actively encouraged by the school. The annual Victorian market, organised by school and supported by many other local groups has proved to be successful.
Strong links exist between St Bartholomew’s and Leek High school, with students from Leek being offered work experience placements, along with student from Leek College. The junior children also have regular visits to the High School. School also has well-developed links with the Honeycomb centre locally, and local craftsman and artists.
Pre-school links
The school is host to the pre school playgroup and mothers and toddlers groups, which meet in the school hall on a regular basis. The playgroup is staffed by qualified leaders and accepts children from 2 years onwards. There is a fee for this activity. Mums and toddlers group is an informal group, who meet regularly to chat and play. Parents are expected to remain with their children for this session.
School Dress
Children wear a maroon sweatshirt emblazoned with the school emblem which gives a unified appearance and corporate identity , especially important during visits away from the school. We believe that, in addition to a corporate identity, a dress code helps to create an egalitarian attitude of parents towards one another. It may be worn with grey / navy / black skirt or trousers , or blue checked dress or plain shorts in summer. Children are expected to bring a PE kit of shorts, tee-shirt, trainers or pumps, and leggings and sweatshirt in winter, as well as one piece swimming costume for girls, swimming trunks (not shorts) for boys and both sexes to wear a swimming cap.
Discipline
We believe in discipline and have a positive discipline policy. The staff and classroom assistants promote a clear understanding of the behaviour expected and children work towards rewards rather than sanctions. All children are therefore encouraged by the recognition of good work and behaviour, by high standards of personal appearance, thoughtfulness and politeness, and by the improvement in any of these academic and personal skills. In this environment children are encouraged to care for and respect each other and personal belongings. If a child persistently misbehaves, the parents or guardians will be invited to discuss the problem with the teacher so that a solution may be found. In accordance with the Education Act of 1986, corporal punishment will not be administered.
St. Bartholomew’s : Code of conduct
Be considerate - help each other and be polite to everyone
Always show good manners
Listen to and obey teachers, dinnerladies, and classroom assistants at all times
Stand quietly by the door after the bell has been rung
Play only on playground areas
Always ask permission to leave the playground
Always move around the school in a quiet and orderly manner
Walk on the left of the corridor
Never push past anyone
Look after your own and other people’s property
Be SAFE
SENSIBLE
POLITE
And THINK OF OTHERS
Complaints Procedure
We hope that parents feel able to discuss any concerns they have informally on a day to day basis, directly with the member of staff concerned. If the matter is not resolved, the head teacher and governors are willing to make an appointment to discuss the matter further. If a satisfactory outcome is not achieved, a copy of the school complaints procedure is available from the head teacher on request.
Visiting and admission arrangements
Parents whose children attend school, or those who are considering sending their children to St Bartholomew’s are welcome to visit during the school day. Unfortunately the heavy teaching commitment of teachers means that it is difficult to accommodate visitors who arrive without prior appointment, but we will do our best to oblige without compromising the safety or education of our pupils. The school has an admission number of 8 for full time education, which is in excess of the numbers in our catchment area, so we are therefore able to admit all those who apply. Nursery admissions depend on the age of the child and the numbers in the nursery. Priority will be given to children attending the school at reception age.
Parents consultation evenings are arranged termly, although most parent/teacher communication is on an informal day to day basis. Children have two reports annually, one interim during the spring term and a full report at the end of the academic year. Governors present their report annually to parents. A copy is available on request.
Our school creed
This is our school
Let peace live here
Let the rooms be full of happiness
Let love be all around:
Love of all people,
And love of life and living.
Let us remember
That as many hands build a house
So many hearts build a school
Staffing
To follow...
Standard Assessment Tests in English and Maths (SAT’s)
All children fulfil the statutory obligation to undergo SAT’s assessments at the end of key stage 1 (year 2). The very small number of children involved make it impossible to publish results whilst maintaining anonymity of individual performances. Similarly, the small number makes any interpretation of data unreliable as percentages of levels achieved fluctuate year on year.
Attendance
This section is laid out in accordance to statutory order. Staff and governors believe that good attendance is very important. We are supported by our parents, as reflected by our record of no unauthorised absences. Unauthorised absence means absence not sanctioned by staff. Updated figures will appear here shortly.