Quilters Junior School

"Quilters Junior School strives to make learning fun, interesting and available to all pupils, whatever their ability. We believe children and adults can learn from and with each other, side by side and develop the school in partnership with parents to the benefit of everyone".

June Dodd - Headteacher

Quilters Junior School is located in pleasant grounds which are shared by the adjacent Infant School . It is privileged  in having a rich local environment offering an urban setting as well as both farming and woodland environments. The Billericay school, to which the majority of the children transfer, is only a short walk away.

The school was established in 1878 and moved to its new premises in September 1988. The school is well equipped both in terms of space and resources.  There are nine teaching bays and a large resource room which is of major benefit to  the school providing excellent storage space and additional accommodation for children.  There is also a reference library, a fiction library and an ICT room with 15 computers. Class bases are, where possible, arranged in year groups, to enable staff to work alongside each other to the benefit of  the children.

We have facilities for soccer and athletics on the school field and a Netball court on the playground.  Play equipment was purchased in 1997 with funds raised by the PTA for all the junior children.

There is a modern, indoor heated swimming pool which is used by our children throughout the year.

As a school we endeavour to provide for the development of essential learning skills in the context of a broad, balanced curriculum in an environment which encourages success. Learning opportunities are provided within separate subjects. In line with new government initiatives  numeracy and literacy are taught for one hour each day in class units, mostly in the morning. Current timetabling reflects the narrowing of the curriculum with the emphasis on Maths, English, Science, ICT and R.E. We still offer a broad and balanced curriculum with art, design technology, music, history and geography all being taught in units of work which fit the general topics planned for that year group

We stress the development of socially confident young people and enable children to be happy, respectful and successful  in school.

We celebrate achievement and effort, both in and out of school in our Pick of the Week assembly on Friday afternoons where we also award Merit Certificates and House points. There is a House system in School:

Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Mercury,  to which all children belong and are represented by House Captains and Vice Captains. We believe firmly in positive behaviour management and respect for your peers. To this end the children have worked on a “Code of Conduct” to assist behaviour in school.

The Governing Body of Quilters Junior School adopted the full curriculum statement published by Essex called “Every Learner” This comprehensive document fulfils our needs and we adhere to the principles outlined in that booklet.

The National Curriculum is taught with the addition  of further material. We offer a broad and balanced curriculum suitable  to the needs of Key Stage Two pupils. We believe that individual children tackle different tasks at different speeds. Tasks must be set which are appropriate to the ability of the individual so that learners can achieve and yet still be challenged and extended. They must always be relevant to the interests, needs and experiences of the learner and allow for a variety of approaches.

We believe these needs are best met when:

·      The child feels that he/she is in a safe and caring environment

·      That environment is attractive, welcoming and well resourced

·      The child understands that the school and parents are working in partnership

·      That the curriculum provided is based wherever possible on first-hand experiences, well supported by practical activities.

·      Schemes of work form the basis for our delivery of the curriculum

·      Th emphasis is on the core subjects of Mathematics, English, Science, ICT and R.E. Where appropriate this is delivered by separate subject teaching. A thematic approach will be offered to encompass the foundation subjects : History, Geography, Design and Technology, P.E. Art  and Music. 

Paramount importance is given in ensuring progress and continuity throughout the year, between the years and at the stages of transfer from the Infants to us  and from us  to the Secondary School.

These activities take place either during the dinner hour or after school. They are extra , voluntary activities undertaken by the members of staff in their own time. They may change from time to time according to the interests and abilities of the staff. Currently we offer:

Orchestra

Choir

Netball

Football

Cricket

Science Club

Knitting and Crochet

Recorders

*French

*Karate

*Tennis          

Clubs marked * denote  that the club is privately run  and requires additional payment.

What is it?

The purpose of the Quilters Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is to enhance the education of the pupils at the schools by providing facilities that would not normally be provided by other means. It is a voluntary organization which is run as a charity.

What does it do?

The PTA organizes and runs events such as discos, fun runs, inflatable afternoons, pampering evenings and fetes. The profits from these events accumulate in a fund that is split between the Quilters Infant and Junior Schools at the end of the year.

Why is it needed?

As is well publicised, there is minimal money available from Government and from Local Education Authorities to fund educational facilities. Therefore, the schools depend on money raised by the PTA each year to maintain their high standards.

Examples of past projects funded by the PTA are:

• The paving and landscaping outside Miss Frost’s and Mrs Walton’s classrooms
• Play equipment for Infants and Juniors
• Books in the Infant and Junior libraries
• Fencing around the Infant school
• Junior laptop computers and wireless network

Who can join?

All parents and carers of pupils at the school are automatically members of the PTA. In addition, teachers, Heads and governors of the school are eligible to join. As with all voluntary groups, an influx of new blood is vital to keep our PTA functioning. Mum and Dads are welcome, in-fact, Craig would be very pleased to see another dad!

How much time is involved?

Meetings are held monthly on a Tuesday evening and last 1.5 hours. For anyone unable to get to the evening meetings, afternoon meetings are held during school hours a few days after the evening meeting. This lasts an hour. Mums are welcome to bring younger children with them.

Dates for meetings and events are advertised on the school notice boards.

The meetings offer an opportunity to:

• get to know other parents
• find about more about how the Infant and Junior schools work
• share common concerns
• fundraise for extra items or services to enrich your children’s education.

Events require donations of items and time from parents, carers and other family of children at the school. 

We do not put pressure on anyone to take on unwanted responsibilities - all events are organized on a voluntary basis with people giving as much time and support as they can.

How do I join?

Please consider getting involved and come along to a meeting to find out more details of what we do. Alternatively, contact one of the committee members listed below.

Without parent’s and carer’s active involvement in organising and contributing to events, this valuable source of funding would be lost.