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School Prospectus

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL

Goldthorn Park Primary School is an Infant and Junior School with a Nursery class. Pupils range from 3-11 years of age and the number on roll is currently 400. It is about 3 miles from Wolverhampton town centre.

The school serves the residential area of Goldthorn Park but a number of pupils also come from the Parkfields and Blakenhall areas.

ADMISSION TO SCHOOL

Parents who wish to see the school prior to seeking admission for their child are invited to make an appointment for this purpose. In any event it is school policy to invite parents of new five year old children to come into school for a preliminary visit before admission, in order to meet the staff and see the school.

On the day of actual admission, at the start of the new term, parents are given a private interview with the Headteacher. Details of dates and times of the above are given during the term preceding admission.

CHARGING AND REMISSIONS POLICY

DINNERS

Children who want to stay at school for a cooked meal at midday are charged £6.00 per week. This should be sent in an envelope each Monday with the name and class number of the child. Parents who may be eligible for free meals for their child should apply to the Education Department at the Civic Centre.

The children may also bring a packed lunch, or go home for dinner.

SUMMARY OF CURRICULUM AIMS

This school lays essential emphasis on the acquisition of linguistic, mathematical and scientific skills, in line with the requirements of the core subjects of the National Curriculum, alongside the foundation subjects (Technology, History, Geography, Music, Art, Physical Education) and Religious Education. At the same time we concern ourselves with educating the ‘whole’ child. Within a structured learning environment we work to cultivate the aesthetic, creative, physical, spiritual, moral and social areas of experience for the benefit of all our pupils. Throughout the spheres of learning and experience, we emphasise the school’s commitment to Equal Opportunities and Multi-Cultural Education.

All curriculum documents are available for inspection.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

The school bases its teaching of RE on the Wolverhampton Agreed Syllabus which, together with the school Ethos Programme, aims to develop the spiritual and moral needs of its pupils. The lessons provide a balanced, coherent and comprehensive programme of work while ensuring that the integrity of individual pupils or religions is in no way compromised. Parents have the right to withdraw pupils from collective worship and this is presently exercised by a small group of Jehovah’s Witnesses who make alternative arrangements within the school.

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

The school aims to identify all children who have a degree of learning difficulty and to make appropriate provision for them, with an individual action plan when necessary, to ensure that they have access to the full National Curriculum. They should not be disadvantaged because of their special needs. Differentiated work will be provided by the class teacher when appropriate and some children will be withdrawn to receive support from SEN support teachers.

EMAG

There is also EMAG support for children for whom English is an additional language. This is provided under the Ethnic Minorities Achievement Grant.

MUSIC

Children who show musical aptitude have the opportunity to learn to play the recorder, and tuned percussion instruments.

ETHOS

We pride ourselves upon a happy and co-operative ethos within the school. We follow an ethos programme which helps the children to differentiate between right and wrong. This, in addition to our Behaviour Policy, encourages the pupils to treat other people politely and with respect and consideration for others. We also try to engender a good working attitude so that the children can be encouraged by praise and reward to do their best at all times.

SPORT

We aim to provide a range of sporting activities for all children. We are in the process of reviewing all PE and Games activities. Each class has one hour’s games tuition per week. In Years 5 and 6 there is the opportunity to play the following sports in competition with other schools: football, netball, cricket, athletics, cross country running, rounders.

We also have a range of sports coaching opportunities planned.

ORGANISATION

The school is organised so that children are taught as far as possible, in separate age groups (ie top Infants, and the four Junior age groups), with parallel classes in each year group.

Nursery Foundation Stage

Reception

Year 1 Infants

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Juniors

Year 5

Year 6

SCHOOL SESSIONS

The session times are:

Junior: 9.00am - 12.00pm

1.00pm - 3.30pm

Infants: 9.10am - 12.00pm

1.10pm - 3.30pm

Mid-session break times

Morning: 10.35am - 10.50am

Afternoon: 2.15pm - 2.30pm

SUPERVISION

There is a teacher on playground duty for ten minutes before the start of each session, and for ten minutes after each session ends. There are auxiliary helpers on the Infant playground between 1.00pm and 1.10pm and the practice is for Infant children to be collected from their classrooms when the Infant afternoon session ends at 3.30pm.

It is important that parents are aware that no supervision can be guaranteed outside these times (other than during organised out of school activities), and that the school cannot take responsibility for children who arrive on the premises before 8.50am (or 12.50pm for Juniors, and 1.00pm for Infants who go home for dinner) It is essential that arrangements are made to meet children, to receive them at home, at the end of the stated session times. If for any reason you wish your child to leave school during a session, it would be appreciated if you would telephone or send a note as we are unable to release children without a specific request from their parents. In the case of young children, parents are requested to collect them from the classroom. Please register with the secretary when you collect a child, or return a child from appointments during the day.

For children who enter the school via the gate to the Park Hall Estate, would you please use the path around the school buildings, and not across the field and staff car park.

If you bring your child by car, do not park on the ‘No Parking’ zig-zag lines at the school entrance, and keep your waiting time to a minimum, to ensure the welfare and safety of the children.

As a further safety measure, no parents’ cars should be brought down the school drive at any time.

BULLYING POLICY

The school has a bullying policy that contains a range of strategies to counteract bullying.

We deal with any cases of bullying promptly and effectively. It is important that children or parents inform the teacher or Headteacher if any bullying occurs.

SEX EDUCATION POLICY

Sex Education is seen as an integral part of the school pastoral care. It cannot be separated from the broader social responsibilities which are encouraged throughout the school as relevant to the different age groups. We are concerned with emphasising the attitude ‘Looking After Yourself’ which is summarised under the following headings:

P Personal hygiene

P Health

P Safety

P Physical/Emotional issues

P Facts of life

We believe that at the Primary age of education, it is still the parents’ responsibility to decide what and when to tell their children with regard to sex education, and this right will be respected. Bearing in mind the maturity of the individual child, teachers will deal sensitively with questions that arise.

EDUCATIONAL VISITS

Our recent OFSTED inspection approved our Policy on Educational Visits.

At Goldthorn Park we think that the experience gained from topic related or curriculum based educational visits is extremely valuable and one such visit is likely to be arranged each term in most classes.

Costs are kept to a minimum, but we realise that some families (for example those on income support) may have some difficulty in paying the full amount. Parents’ contributions to the expenses are voluntary, but if insufficient contributions are received, then the visit will have to be cancelled. There will also be opportunities for some children to participate in residential visits.

SICK CHILDREN

If children are sick or injured at school, it is school policy to contact parents and make arrangements for the child to be received at home. For this reason, it is essential that we have telephone numbers both of home and places of work so that parents can be contacted with the minimum delay. Please be sure to inform us promptly of any changes in telephone numbers.

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES

Although extra-curricular activities, such as Library and Sports teams, are going on throughout the year, during the Spring and Summer Term a greater number of after school clubs and activities are organised. These are not available for all age groups and may vary from year to hyear.

FRIENDS OF THE SCHOOL

A number of activities, eg discos, cake bakes, etc are organised during the year for the children’s enjoyment and to raise funds to support the school. It is hoped that you will feel able to support this.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

It is hoped that you will be able to comply with the school list for items of clothing to be worn at school.

Each item of clothing should be marked with the child’s name. I am sure that you will understand the need for this when you think of the large number of children that we have in the school, all wearing similar clothing.

Please also ensure there is a loop on your child’s coat to hang the coat up by.

FOOTWEAR

It is essential that children wear suitable footwear for school which allows their feet adequate room, and gives proper support and ventilation. For this reason please do not send children to school wearing shoes with high heels and pointed toes, and discourage them from wearing trainers.

JEWELLERY

In order to ensure adequate safety standards, particularly in organised games and physical education, children should not wear jewellery, especially earrings while at school. Studs are allowed, but must be removed or covered over for PE and Games.

Items of jewellery with a religious significance should be discreet and must always be removed during physical activities.

Any item, for example the Kirpan with a three inch blade, that is considered by Governors to pose a threat to safety will not be allowed.

UNIFORM LIST

Ø Sweatshirts (Green or Yellow)

Ø T Shirts (Green, Yellow or White (Plain - suitable for PE)

Ø Polo Shirts (Green, Yellow, White)

Ø Grey Trousers

Ø Green/Grey Pinafore Dresses (suitable length)

Ø White blouses/shirts

Ø Green/Yellow Summer Dresses (suitable length)

Ø Ties (Green with gold stripes - with our without elastic)

Ø PE Bags

Ø PE Shorts (Plain)

Ø Grey/White Socks

Ø Shoes/Sandals (preferably Brown or Black)

Ø Trainers and pumps

These items can be purchased from the Uniform Shop held on a Wednesday afternoon at 3.15pm in the School Hall. During the summer months, caps are also available.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

SCHOOL MEALS

Dinner money should be sent in an envelope with the child’s name and class on it - the exact amount please, as no change can be gsiven. You will understand that it will be necessary for a child to remain for a full week at a time.

Children may only change from a hot meal to sandwiches at half-term. It is not possible to keep accurate records if they constantly change.

Please ensure that the Headteacher is given early notification of a dinner child not remaining at school at midday (eg dentist, clinic appointment etc)

Children who persistently refuse to behave for the supervisory assistants will not be allowed to stay in school between 12.00 and 1.00pm.

MILK

Cartons of whole, or skimmed, milk are available every day. Parents are asked to pay 1p per carton and the full amount is collected at the beginning of each term.

ABSENCES

In the event of absence please let the child’s teacher know the reason. This can be done by telephone or a note to the teacher.

For holidays taken during term time, there is a procedure followed by the Local Authority whereby up to ten statutory school days absence (ie two full weeks) can be granted on completion of a Holiday Form. These can be obtained from the School Office.

AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENTS

All policy and curriculum documents can be seen at the Annual General Meeting or by arrangement at the school at other times.

COMPLAINTS

Parents who have any minor problems or complaints should, in the first instance, raise them with the member of staff involve. Parents are asked to arrange this through the school secretary. If this meeting does not resolve the situation, or if the problem is serious, then the Head Teacher is available at most times, although it would be appreciated if an appointment could be made through the school secretary.

School prospectus/C/prospectus

SCHOOL RESULTS : 1999

These tables show the percentages of Year 2 children achieving each level at

Goldthorn Park Primary School

TEACHER ASSESSMENT
	Level
	W	1	2	3	4+	Pupils disapplied	Pupils absent
English	0	9	74	18	0
Speaking and Listening	0	9	74	18	0
Reading	2	19	61	18	0
Writing	0	9	82	9	0
Mathematics	0	5	67	28	0
Science	0	5	74	21	0

TASK AND TEST RESULTS
	Level
	W	1	2C	2B	2A	3	4+	Pupils disapplied	Pupils absent
English (KS2Tests)
Reading task	2	19	19	25	16				2
Reading com - prehension tests			18	26	11	18			2
Writing task	0	9	25	30	26	9			2
Spelling test			47			19			2
Mathematics	0	5	42	18	9	25			2

NATIONAL RESULTS : 1998

These tables show the percentages of Year 2 children achieving each level nationally in 1998.

TEACHER ASSESSMENT
	Level
	W	1	2	3	4+	Pupils disapplied	Pupils absent
English
Speaking and Listening	2	14	63	20	0	0	0
Reading	3	16	54	27	0	0	0
Writing	5	16	68	11	0	0	0
Mathematics	2	13	65	20	0	0	0
Science	2	12	67	19	0	0	0

TASK AND TEST RESULTS
	Level
	W	1	2C	2B	2A	3	4+	Pupils disapplied	Pupils absent
English (KS2Tests)
Reading task	3	16	18	20					0
Reading com - prehension tests			16	16	19	26			0
Writing task	6	12	33	26	15	7			0
Spelling test			48			18			1
Mathematics	2	12	23	24	18	19			1

SCHOOL RESULTS : 1999

This table shows the percentages of Year 6 children achieving each level at

Goldthorn Park Primary School

	Levels
	W	1	2	3	4	5	6	Pupils disapplied	Pupils absent
English
Teacher Assessment			8*	34	41	16
Test	10*			18	59	12			2
Mathematics
Teacher Assessment			3*	38	39	20
Test	5*			28	43	25
Science
Teacher Assessment			5*	36	48	12
Test	5*			26	57	8			3

NATIONAL RESULTS : 1998

End of Key Stage 2

This table shows the percentages of Year 6 children achieving each level nationally in 1998.

	Levels
	W	1	2	3	4	5	6	Pupils disapplied	Pupils absent
English
Teacher Assessment	0	1	6	27	48	17	0	0	0
Test	7			26	48	17	0	0	2
Mathematics
Teacher Assessment	0	1	6	28	47	18	0	0	0
Test	8			31	42	17	0	0	2
Science
Teacher Assessment	0	1	4	24	53	18	0	0	0
Test	4			23	53	16	0	0	3

SCHOOL TARGETS FOR ENGLISH AND MATHEMATICS

Targets have been set by the DfEE for English and Mathematics for the Year 2001. The school has set the following targets based upon children achieving level 4 or above.

	2000	2001
English	75%	83%
Mathematics	70%	72%