Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School

Prospectus

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Introduction

Welcome to Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School where we aim to provide a happy, caring school, well established within the community, where high standards are expected and a firm foundation is developed to support your child’s future learning.

I hope this prospectus gives you a feel of the School and what we are about.

Of course the best way to get to know us is to visit, so I look forward to showing you around. Please contact the School Administrator, Miss Cheryl Agg to arrange an appointment.

J Jones
Head Teacher

Bourton-on-the-Water is appropriately called the Venice of The Cotswolds and is situated in an idyllic spot in the Valley of the River Windrush. The Primary School stands close to the centre of the village, almost next to St Lawrence Church and virtually adjacent to The Cotswold School.

Vision Statement >top
Bourton on the Water Primary School is an enriching environment where:

• Pupils feel happy, safe and valued as they achieve their full potential and develop the skills for life.

• All staff feel valued and work together as a motivated and supportive team.

• Parents work in partnership with the school to develop the emotional and educational well being of their child.

• Involved Governors share their expertise to achieve excellence.

• Strong links are forged with the wider community.

Our aims are: >top

• To create a happy school environment in which each child will feel he/she has a place and purpose and will develop a willingness to learn.

• To help children understand that courtesy, good manners and consideration for others are very important values.

• To ensure that each child begins to acquire worthwhile attitudes, values and beliefs.

• To encourage appreciation of life through music, drama and creative arts.

• To help all children acquire knowledge, skills and practical abilities and the will to use these well.

• To ensure a command for spoken and written English and so the ability to communicate fluently with other people.

• To develop a knowledge and understanding of numeracy within the framework of the National Numeracy Strategy.

• To develop and apply the skills of Information technology.

• To awaken scientific curiosity, environmental interest and technical skills.

• To develop an awareness and appreciation of our local and national heritage through historical, geographical and religious studies.

• To provide for involvement in and enjoyment of a range of physical activities.

• To establish a purposeful environment within which school staff, Governors and parents can work together for the benefit of the children in the successful achievement of these aims.

• To engage Parents about their children’s learning through regular consultation and information evenings.

Governors' Curriculum Statement >top

The Governors hold the belief that the purpose of the School is to educate all its pupils to the maximum of their potential.  Thus, the School offers a curriculum, which is right for every child and sets high standards. Every decision, which affects the School, should bear directly or indirectly on this intention.

The Governors’ objectives are to ensure:

• The children’s entitlement to a curriculum, which is balanced, broadly based, relevant and differentiated.

• The promotion of the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils.

• That the children are prepared for opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life.

The Governors’ aims are to ensure that, as decreed by law:

• The National Curriculum, including assessment arrangements, is implemented in the School.

• Religious education and collective worship are provided for all pupils, except for those whose parents have chosen to withdraw them

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Good organisation in the School, good relationships between children and their teachers and the promotion of the ethos of the School are the further aims of the Governors in ensuring the rights of the children to a full curriculum.

Furthermore, the Governors underpin their objectives for the curriculum by:

• Encouraging the partnership between staff, children, parents and Governors.

• Appointing a Committee to take a special interest in the curriculum.

• Ensuring proper management of the budget so that appropriate equipment and materials may be obtained.

• Encouraging parental involvement with the learning process.

• Fostering the support and confidence of the parents by full information and openness.

• Promoting equal opportunity for all and eradication of prejudice based on gender, race, social circumstances or level of ability.

• Supporting community participation in the curriculum.

• Keeping the whole curriculum under review with the Head Teacher

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The Governors monitor the curriculum through:

• A termly meeting of the Curriculum committee.

• A monthly visit and focussed walk by a Governor.

• An annual curriculum review at the School Improvement Conference.

Statement on Best Value >top

The Governing Body and Staff of Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School are committed to achieving Best Value in all the relevant decisions made.  This statement will be included within the School Improvement Plan as an indication of its importance within the school’s policies and practice.

We intend that the “Best Value” principles should be applied to all matters within our school where resources management and allocation are considered.  These principles are:

• Compare
• Challenge
• Compete
• Consult

We will use these principles of Best Value as they apply to securing continuous improvement in this School.

Compare
By using the data available, the school will compare its performance against other schools in the county and nationally.

Challenge
We will regularly review the functions of the school, challenging how and why services are provided.
We will set realistic yet challenging year group targets and will use historical data to challenge current practice.

Compete
To ensure that the school secures efficient and effective services, the school will follow the audit guidelines when obtaining services over £1000, unless the Governing Board decides otherwise and minutes its reasons and decision.

Consult  >top
The views of appropriate stake-holders will be sought before major decisions are made. This will include consultation with our children whenever possible.
We will strive to ensure that the school is using its resources effectively to meet the needs of our children.

PLAY TIME ON THE TRIM TRAIL

The Curriculum

Since September 2006, the School has been developing a skills-based curriculum that allows the individual subjects described below to be linked, thus, enthusing children and supporting learning by making lessons and activities more interesting.

English / Literacy  >top

The development of good literacy skills, including reading, writing, speaking and listening, is imperative for all learning. We foster a positive attitude to literacy through a daily lesson or literacy hour. This lesson is structured and based around four phases. These are sharing some reading or writing, sentence work, independent work and a plenary. Guided Reading sessions allow pupils to learn and practice their skills within a small group with the teacher. Individual targets for reading and writing are also discussed at this time. These sessions take place outside the literacy hour. Children should read at home every night for 10 minutes and this is recorded as part of their homework. Pupils should read to or with their parents.

Maths 

A daily Maths session takes place in every class. Again pupils are encouraged to talk about their work as this allows teachers to ascertain understanding of concepts and allows pupils to solve problems. A Maths session follows a phased structure similar to Literacy. A mental arithmetic phase precedes a formal instruction session, which is then followed by some independent work and a plenary.

Science  >top

Science teaching is based on the units of work provided by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). The emphasis throughout the school is on developing scientific enquiry and a curiosity about the world in which we all live. It is important that children understand the process of experimentation.

ICT – Information Communications Technology 

More and more, ICT is impacting on our work and private life. It is vital that pupils have the opportunity to learn about and use modern technology so that they are prepared for life. A computer suite is used by classes across the school and this provides an environ where the specific ICT skills can be taught. Interactive whiteboards and data projectors with access to the internet are also available in all classes making ICT possible in all subjects. The school follows a scheme of work that ensures pupils receive clear and structured learning that builds on their previous experiences.  A suite of laptops allows for the ICT skils to be applied to classroom activities across the school.

Religious Education (RE)  >top

We follow the Gloucestershire syllabus for our RE learning. Children, through their lessons learn about the similarities and celebrate the differences of the different religions. Children also have the opportunity to reflect upon their feelings and beliefs during these sessions.  Weekly assemblies led by our local Baptist minister, Revd Richard Crippen, and The Storytellers from St Lawrence's Parish Church provide a Christian flavour to the daily act of worship.

Humanities – History and Geography 

Through these two subjects the pupils learn about their past and their place in the wider world. The school follows a skills-led curriculum around topics identified in the National Curriculum. Whenever possible, children undertake some fieldwork to help them find out about Bourton and British History, amongst other topics.

Design Technology  >top

Children have the opportunity to cook, sew use wood and card to design their own projects. Many of the skills of DT, such as planning, reviewing, measuring, tool use and safety are valuable in later life.

Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education – (PSHCE) 

This is taught as a specific subject to all pupils. The intention is for all pupils to develop a wider understanding of society, community and the place in it. Circle time discussion is used as a driver to discuss key moral issues and incidents that arise. Visits by the police, fire service, school nurse and many others help pupils prepare for their role in society. The school Health education programme includes sex education as an integral part of the curriculum development. Parents are notified of any specific instruction to be given to the older juniors as it arises - and will be invited to a meeting at the school to discuss this. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from these lessons.  Year 5 children study a unit on personal financial capability in preparation for adult life.  In addition, pupils in their final two years learn some basic first-aid in order to give them confidence when faced with such a situation.

Music  >top

The school employs a specialist music tutor to lead pupils in an appreciation of the creation and performance of music. The school again follows a skills-based curriculum for music. A number of performances take place throughout the school year. Pupils in key stage 2 have the opportunity to learn a number of instruments by use of a peripatetic teacher from Gloucestershire music service. 

If your child is sufficiently inspired, we currently offer the following; guitar, violin, saxophone, flute, clarinet, trumpet and cornet. Please enquire at the School Office for more details.  Instruments are available for hire from Gloucestershire Music - see the Parents' Information page for details of the conditions of hire and a Hire Order Form.  Music lessons are taken during school time and pupils are taught in groups of 4.  Please remind your child to bring in their instrument to school on the appropriate day. All the music teachers hope that parents will support and encourage regular practice at home, without this, little progress can be made...... 

Physical Education (PE) 

We believe that PE plays a vital part in keeping us all healthy and well. The school is part of the Cotswold Partnership of schools that aims to provide at least 2hrs of PE every week. On top of this pupils have the opportunity to be taught by specialist coaches, represent the school in competition, take part in a sports day and other intra school activities. A number of extra curricula clubs also takes place on a weekly basis, usually led by the teachers.  As a result, the School has consistently attracted the ActiveMark and Healthy Schools accreditations.

Art  >top

Art is highly valued at the school. An Annual art week provides a focus for the subject. Art allows pupils the opportunity to create, use their imagination as well as offering an opportunity to enjoy themselves.  Key Stage 2 pupils are, in addition, taught by a local artist.




Policies 

Each of the above areas is led and managed by a specific member of staff. Each subject has a policy that outlines key features of the learning process. Parents wanting to read these policies are encouraged to do so, they can be accessed here.

SEN (Special Educational Needs)  >top

From time to time children may need extra help and support if they are experiencing difficulties in a particular curriculum area or with behaviour.  We identify learning difficulties early on and a Higher Level Teaching Assistant, specialising in this area, develops a programme of study tailored to help each individual pupil. This may include working with a trained Teaching Assistant; parents are kept informed throughout. The children work in very small groups for set periods until the difficulty is overcome. The LEA Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs is used as a policy for the schools provision

Gifted and Talented Pupils 

The school is beginning to identify pupils with high attainment and with talents across the curriculum. It is the aim of the governing body to initiate programmes that further develop these pupils. Provision for these pupils includes regular enrichment sessions, the opportunity to work with similarly talented pupils from other schools and closer tracking of progress.

Intake Arrangements  >top

Admissions

Children new to the district or those seeking entry for the first time are always made welcome and invited to spend time in school prior to full time enrolment. Enrolment for children into the Foundation Stage (ages 4 & 5) is handled centrally; the School is very happy to advise on these arrangements and parents are always welcome to visit the school prior to their child's admission.  Once the local authority have allocated a place, the school makes arrangements for more formal meetings and induction activities.

Children joining from other schools are allocated a place by the school itself.  This is based on the availablity of spaces in the relevant year group and the residential location of the child.

Children under 5

Bourton Primary School will admit children whose 4th birthday falls on or before the last day of August prior to the start of the Autumn Term (on 1st September); this is the start of the school year in which they attain the age of 5. They then follow a one-year Foundation course before moving up to the Infant (KS1) classes for 2 more years.  Finally,they join the Junior (KS2) classes for 4 years.

Transport  >top

Approximately, 70 children are admitted from many of the local villages. A free bus service (subject to LEA regulations) provides transport to and from school where we are the designated establishment.

School Sessions
 

Please ensure that your child arrives on time - normally 10 minutes before the start of the day; children must not arrive at school before 8.45 am.  However, parents may make use of the Breakfast Club at our on-site Playgroup (see below).

The Breakfast Club is available from 8am until the start of school. Please contact Pam at Bourton OSC on 07950 048 066 for more details. After school care is also provided by Bourton OSC until 6pm.  A small charge is levied for these services.

School Uniform  >top

Details of the school uniform are outlined below.

Maroon school sweatshirts, cardigans, fleeces, reversible jackets and white Polo shirts with the Bourton Primary School logo are available from school. Parents are asked to provide plimsolls for their children, an art/craft apron and appropriate bags for this. All articles of clothing must be clearly marked with the child's name.

PE Kit  >top

Junior children require PE kit – shorts and a T-shirt. A Sports Kit in a Bag is available, this consist of a coloured shirt with school logo, 4 colours are available for each school house; Red – Kites, Green - Hawks, Yellow - Eagles and Blue – Falcon, a Black pair of shorts and burgundy kit bag with printed logo and a place for your child’s name. Order forms for both the Kit in a bag and uniform are available from the School Office.

One winter game played by junior boys is football and a change of warm outdoor clothing is required. It is NOT essential to purchase expensive football kit.

For reasons of safety, jewellery - e.g. necklaces, dangling earrings, bracelets, rings etc must not be worn. A watch may be worn, but children are responsible for their own possessions.

School Meals 

All children bring a packed lunch to school and eat in the comfort of their own classrooms. Free School Meal packed lunches are available to those for whom there is an entitlement. Two days each week, a cooked lunch is available for those who would like one; this is cooked on site and costs £2.50 per meal. The menu is published monthly and can be found here. 

In September 2009, the School won the Best School Food Award in the Cotswold Life Food and Drink Awards 2009.  The award recognised that the School has a policy in place that really values the importance of good food. The School had to demonstrate that it was a school whose standards in food and vending really celebrate the revolution going on with regards to school meals at the moment. The school also showed that it values food within the curriculum; perhaps offering cookery clubs, farm visits and taster days.  The award also recognised the involvement of the head teacher in partnership with parents, governors, teachers, local businesses and young people.

Please note that we are able to process your application and renewals for Free School Meals from school. The form is available from the School Office and we can advise you on which documents you will need to provide to make your claim. We hope that this will make the whole process much easier for parents and carers and will encourage more people to take up the meals and other benefits they are entitled to. Please be assured that all the information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence and will be used only to process the Free School Meal application. Please do not hesitate to contact us for advice.

Assemblies   >top

Parents who wish to withdraw their children from attendance at religious worship or classroom religious education are asked to discuss this with the Head Teacher. Arrangements are then made for children to be withdrawn. We welcome regular weekly visits to our assemblies from the St Lawrence’s Church Storytellers and our local Baptist Minister - Revd Richard Crippen.

Library  >top

Each class has a wide selection of fiction and reference books relating to topics covered. Children are taught the higher order reading skills so that the task of accessing information from reference material for research purposes is understood early on.

Children are encouraged to enjoy books. They take books home to read. We have a home/school reading policy. ICT provision has increased the use of the internet (filtered) for accessing information.

Educational Visits 

We believe that much can be gained from 'on site visits' and each class teacher periodically will arrange school visits, which usually form an integral part of the children's work. A voluntary contribution is required to meet the costs of transport, insurance and entrance. Should not enough contributions be forthcoming the visit may be cancelled.

Extra-Curricular Activities  >top

Many staff and pupils enjoy activities at the end of the school day. Teachers organise clubs, which include football, athletics, netball, hockey, rounders, drama, country dancing, knitting, sewing, golf, athletics and cross-country. We encourage parents with the right skills to support extra-curricular activities. Parents'/Guardians' written permission is required before children join in extra curricular activities after school or are taken on any visit away from the school premises (other than short local walks when the class will be supervised by the class teacher and other helpers).

Discipline

Children conform to high standards of behaviour. We expect them to be able to recognise good relationships amongst the adults around them and, from this example, to develop attitudes of tolerance, honesty and understanding. There are general rules for the safety and well-being of the school community and children are made aware of these. They are brought to the attention of the pupils by the Head Teacher, or the SMT as and when necessary. Opportunity is given to inform parents of school rules, when their child is admitted and thereafter from time to time at parent meetings and through weekly newsletters.

Problems of a trivial nature are dealt with by staff as the occasion arises but more serious disciplinary problems are brought to the attention of the Head Teacher and, where necessary, parents are contacted. Sanctions include loss of recreation time, loss of privileges, working in another classroom. A sanctions list is available to all Parents and can be found in the School's Behaviour Policy which can be found here.

Rewards  >top

The school operates a system of Golden Rules and Values of the Month, to support good conduct. The vast majority of pupils behave well in school and a number of awards and rewards are available to them. Pupils working hard maybe chosen as a ‘Star of the Week’ formally praised in our celebration assembly and receive a certificate. House points and stars are also available for pupils to collect.

Bullying

We take the issue of bullying very seriously at Bourton Primary School. Bullying is defined as when a child is deliberately being made unhappy over a sustained period of time. Such actions include name calling, threatening, teasing, taunting, being left out, made to feel different, physically hurt, subjected to extortion or when possessions are taken.

School Strategies to stop Bullying include:

• Use praise and a positive reward system in class and on the playground
• Remind children that it is unacceptable to (list from above)
• Keep records of bullying incidents in the staffroom
• Use of circle time sessions
• Proactive class and playground supervision

Should these strategies fail to make the expected difference, the Head Teacher will contact the parents of the children involved to discuss and implement further action.

Medicine in School  >top

It is generally accepted that children who are required to take medicine would normally be absent from school. There are occasions, however, when the child is able to return to school, if medicine is given at lunchtime. All medicines must be given to the Class Teacher for administration – NOT left in bags or cloakrooms.

Asthma. The school has an Asthma Policy and supports sympathetically those children affected. School must be kept informed if your child is affected.

Accident and Illness

In any school, accidents - usually of a minor nature - do occur from time to time and sometimes a child is unwell during the day. It is ESSENTIAL that the school has an up-to-date telephone number, where a parent can be contacted in any emergency situation. Prompt action is always taken and the parent informed as soon as possible.

Attendance

If a child is absent - for any reason - parents are asked to notify the school on the first morning of absence by telephone, if possible, or to give the child a note of explanation on his/her return. Each term, the attendance figures are collated and parents whose child attends for less that 80% will receive a letter from the Head Teacher. Unauthorised absence can result in a home visit by the Education Welfare Officer.  For more information on School Attendance please refer to our School Attendance Policy.

Governors  >top

All Governors are actively involved in the life of the school. The Governing Body meets regularly, usually twice termly, and consists of the Head Teacher, 2 LEA approved, 4 Parent, 2 Staff, 3 Community and 5 Associate Members (including 2 members of the staff Senior Management Team).

Governors have a 4-year term of office and parents are kept informed of re-elections as they occur.

Parents are invited to consult with Governors over any school matters, which concern or interest them. Parents, teachers and Governors work in partnership.

Pupils' School Council

The Pupils' School Council meets every 6 weeks with a class teacher to discuss any issues arising from school life.  Members of the School Council, who are elected from each year group, brief the Head Teacher and actions are agreed.

County Council Insurance Policy

Details of the Gloucestershire County Council Insurance Policy are available on request.

School/Community/Parents  >top

The School welcomes both formal and informal contacts. Parent consultation evenings are held in the Autumn and Spring terms, when your child's progress can be confidentially discussed.

Teachers are normally available to talk to parents on most days. A written report is sent to parents at the end of the school year. A mid year report also goes out prior to the Spring Consultation. Regular weekly newsletters are sent out to parents by the Head Teacher. All Newsletters are published on this website and can be found here.

A number of parents help teachers in the classrooms doing cooking, sewing, artwork etc.

We have a thriving School Association (FOBS - Friends of Bourton School) whose activities benefit all of the children. The Association has provided much valuable equipment for school as well as promoting social and fundraising events involving the whole community.

Primary/Secondary Transition  >top

Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School enjoys particularly close links with The Cotswold School to which virtually all our pupils transfer at age 11.

The two schools share the same site and children are introduced to the secondary school routine gradually. Visits to the secondary school by Year5/Year 6 pupils for Science & Technology Days, concerts and a transition day (Year 6) plus regular visits to this school by the Year 7 Form teacher ensure that transfer is smooth and co-ordinated. Occasionally, pupils gain scholarships or bursaries and transfer elsewhere.

We hope that this gives you some background to our school - also have a look at the Performance page here.

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