OUR MISSION:

The Staff and Governors at Denby Free School undertake a 

commitment to the pupils and parents to offer equal access to a wide, balanced education within a secure and safe environment, based on a Christian foundation.

HISTORY

The school was founded in 1728 by Mrs Jane Massey from Whitemore Hall, Belper.  She overcame many difficulties to have the school built and arranged a trust to ensure its continued use. 

The first pupils of the school were at the start of the movement to establish free schooling for everyone.  The Trustees still meet to manage and administer the Trust, which allows the school to be as it is today.  With their generous help the school has recently been altered and decorated and a new classroom has been built.

Denby Free is a primary school catering for children aged four to 11 years.  The original building comprised of three classrooms and a small hall.  Subsequent extensions have provided the offices, staff room, indoor toilets and a kitchen.  The new classroom was built in the autumn of 1988.

The extensive playing field and small hard surface play areas are used as much as possible during breaks, PE lessons and other outdoor activities during and outside school hours.

PROSPECTUS

Values and aims of the school

• Denby Free School is a Church Aided School.  This means that the Church of England has a financial, as well as pastoral, interest in the school.  We have close links with the Church and the Community and try to create a Christian atmosphere in the school at all times.  We meet together daily to offer worship and thanks to God.  We actively encourage the children to love and care for each other in a positive and supportive way.
• We aim to create a happy, secure, stimulating and purposeful environment in which every pupil enjoys their academic, social and creative development.
• We place great emphasis upon the promotion of the basic skills required fie language development mathematics, scientific and artistic observation and encourage the many ways of self expression and recording information.
• We give careful attention to developing social awareness, positive attitudes, self respect and respect for others and their beliefs and property.
• In addition to achieving academic and creative success every pupil is encouraged to be self-motivated, reliable and able to use their own initiative to make decisions.
• A half-termly Achievement Assembly and school Award System recognises individual achievements in and out of school to ensure children develop a good self-image.

The curriculum is determined by the 1988 Education Reform Act. Emphasis is placed on the core curriculum of English. Mathematics and Science. The foundation subjects are – IT, Technology, Art, Geography, History, Music, PE and Games. Religious Education is a statutory subject, which is taught as a separate subject. Our programme also includes Health, Personal and social Education to help children understand more about themselves. These subjects will not be found as individual items, but are incorporated in the topic work. Topics are carefully balanced during the year and are planned across the curriculum.

1. Do be honest – don’t cover up the truth
2. Keep hands and feet to yourself – don’t hurt anybody
3. Think of other people’s feelings – don’t say hurtful things
4. Be polite to everyone – don’t be rude or swear
5. Work quietly – don’t waste time
6. Walk in school and around the front of the building – don’t run
7. Always keep things tidy, take care of our School – don’t spoil things
8. Wait your turn to speak and listen to instructions – don’t interrupt