HATHERSAGE ST. MICHAEL'S C. OF  E. SCHOOL

Our school aims to provide:

• a safe and caring, fun and happy environment;
• high quality teaching within a broad curriculum;
• a climate in which everyone has a commitment to do his or her best;
• opportunities for all children to co-operate together in learning the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to reach their full potential;
• praise and encouragement for all children;
• a Christian example, where we respect and value both ourselves and others;
• a cheerful and friendly atmosphere;
• equal opportunities for every child to progress in all aspects of school life;
• ways for children to develop personally within school and through extra curricular activities.

We want the children to:

• be at the centre of our caring community, which is based on Christian values, and will prepare them for the future;
• look after our school and its surrounding environment;
• have fun.

Our school is very lucky to have a dedicated team of six teachers, led by the Headteacher Mr Poole.  Like other schools in the area we are relatively small and have only five classes, with 129 pupils on roll at present, which means that most classes have mixed ages in them.  From an educational point of view Reception to the end of Year 2 is classed as the Foundation stage and Key Stage 1 (KS1) and Year 3 to Year 6 is classed Key Stage 2 (KS2).  This relates to the National Curriculum and the Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) which are taken at ages 7 and 11 and which will be explained later in this booklet.  Classes are organised on an age basis and these will be the class arrangements from September 2003.

All children will be offered extra curricular activities.  These vary according to the year group and the interests of members of staff in the team.  A programme of varied activities takes place throughout the year.  They are likely to include:

v     Sports – Gym, athletics, football, netball, tag rugby, basketball and country dancing.  As a member of the Hope Valley Junior Schools Sports Association the school competes in annual football, netball and rounders tournaments and area sports days. Inter-school football and netball matches are played throughout the year.  The school usually participates in an annual folk dance party.

v     Music – There is a lunch time recorder group and a choir for infants and juniors whilst the school band meets weekly and performs concerts during the year.  Violin tuition is offered, as are keyboard and piano lessons.  These lessons take place during the school day (a charge is made).  The violin tuition can lead to the opportunity to join the Hope Valley Strings.  The school participates in the biannual Hope Valley Junior Schools Music Festival.

v     Drama – For the last 7 years the school has put on an annual musical production, which has, involved every child in the school.  They have been tremendous events “Victorian Memories”, “Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “Rats”, “Bugsy Malone”, “Blastoff”, "Moving On" and “The Seven Sided Dice” and have been extremely popular not only with the children but also with the community.  Much of the rehearsing is done during lunchtimes and after-school. We feel that the confidence and sense of achievement that the children have gained has been well worth all the effort.  We hope to have more such events in the future.

v     Arts and Crafts – Various clubs take place throughout the year, like colouring and creative writing.  There is also an annual Arts Festival with volunteers coming into school and offering a wide diversity of activities.  A Well Dressing during Gala week.  We also have a KS1 A Make It Break it Club.

v     Others – A Chess Club runs at the minute and clubs like, Gardening Club, Computers, Board Games and Chess have run in the past and may well do so again.  Children are also encouraged to act as librarians in the school library.

v     Residential Activity – Year 4, 5 and 6 children are offered a residential trip each year.

Many of these activities are possible only with the aid of volunteers, so if you feel that you have any skills or interests that you could share with the children, we would love to hear from you.