ABOUT US

Greenmount Primary School was built in 1971, and has since been extended to now include: 8 Classrooms, a computer room, a library, a resource base together with a main hall which is used for Assemblies, indoor PE and dining. The school kitchen is on site and provides midday meals and facilitates pupils who bring packed lunches. The school is very fortunate in having extensive hard and soft playing areas, sports fields and a pond area for environmental science studies. The building is secured by an extensive magnetic locking system, which is safe for children to escape the building but prevents access from outside.

We are fortunate to have the use of an outside classroom, which can be used throughout the day for all sorts of activities. This additional space will facilitate us in using the pond and new herb gardens all year round. We have recently refurbished our computer facilities and all children have access to the computer room on a regular basis.

Children in the reception age group follow the "Foundation Curriculum" which continues from Nursery into the Reception year. However. many children transfer from the Foundation Curriculum to the National Curriculum in Literacy and Mathematics fairly early on in the Reception year.

Teaching still emphasises experiential, activity based learning and teaching methodologies are employed to facilitate this.

Foundation Curriculum includes:

(Personal, social and emotional development), (Communications, language and literacy), (Mathematical development), (Knowledge and understanding of the world), (Physical development) and (creative development).

Many aspects of the foundation stage approach is likely to still be in evidence during Reception and Year 1. There are many similarities in topics in the early years of the National curriculum and in the Foundation curriculum.

Throughout the rest of key stage 1 the emphasis is on developing basic skills within a context of a broad curriculum designed to stimulate interest and motivation. Children follow a teaching programme including the National Curriculum, and the best aspects of the literacy and numeracy framework. Within classes tasks are differentiated to accommodate all differing abilities including special needs.

Science, History, Geography, Art, Music, PE, RE, Design & Technology, PSHCE and Information and Communications Technology are taught within a three year cycle of topics, differentiated to ability levels.

English and Mathematics is taught using a skills based curriculum which is differentiated within each group of children.

A cross - curricular week takes place each half-term in which children participate in visits, outdoor activities, and visitors are brought into school to share their expertise with the children i.e. Community artists, Bury Conservation Volunteers.

As in Key Stage 1 the curriculum includes the National Curriculum, however at Key Stage 2 we utilise the expertise of members of staff to enhance the teaching of Art, Music, Science, and Physical Education.

We extend our curriculum to include a cross-curricular week each half-term. This facilitates the basic skills learned to be used in extension and enrichment activities incorporating many different aspects of the National Curriculum and beyond.

Our Year 5 and Year 6 classes have recently experienced their first taste of the French language. Many visits and visitors out of and to school have been included in the programme for the year.

Religious Education follows the agreed syllabus for Bury Schools. Parents who wish to withdraw their children from Religious Education (under section 25 of the 1944 Education Act) are requested to discuss this with the Headteacher before doing so.

Our Sex education policy is shortly to be reviewed. At the present time it is not taught as part of the National Curriculum in science.