ABOUT US

Caldershaw Primary School, which opened in 1972, caters for children aged four to eleven years old. It is a designated one form entry school and admits a maximum of thirty children in each year in accordance with Rochdale LA admissions policy. At the age of eleven children move into secondary education, most transferring to Oulder Hill Community School.

Our school is a modern building, light and airy set in large open playing fields which it shares with the adjacent St. Vincent's R.C. Primary School. It is a well-resourced, flexibly designed school. Each unit is co-ordinated by an experienced senior member of staff. There is a large hall/gymnasium which gives access to an enclosed patio garden area. Other purpose built amenities include a separate dining room with child/adult facilities, a computerised library, and a performing arts room.

Children joining our school have already learnt a great deal. Many have been to one of a range of settings that exist in our community. The early years education we offer our children is based on the following principles:

• it builds on what our children already know and can do;
• it ensures that no child is excluded or disadvantaged;
• it offers a structure for learning that has a range of starting points, content that matches the needs of young children and activities that provide opportunities for learning both indoors and outdoors;
• it provides a rich and stimulating environment.

Throughout Key Stage One we continue to set realistic and challenging expectations that meet the needs of our children. We believe that all our children matter. We give our children every opportunity to achieve their best. Flexible teaching and learning styles enable our children to develop and begin to refine the basic skills of Literacy and Mathematics.

Though a well planned and differentiated curriculum they practise and build on their ideas and skills. Our children learn how to control themselves and understand the need for rules. They have the opportunity to think creatively alongside other children as well as on their own.

They communicate with others as they investigate and learn to solve problems, making sense of the world around them. Specialist music and French/Spanish lessons begin in Foundation Stage and are extended into Key Stage One and also later into Key Stage Two. In this way a truly broad, balanced, inclusive and enriched curriculum is provided for all children.

In Key Stage Two we continue to nurture and educate our children. We help prepare them for later life and foster a love of learning which hopefully will remain with them throughout their whole life.

We believe strongly in educating the 'whole' child and place a great deal of importance on moral and social education in addition to academic progress.We believe that all children have a right to shine and hence provide a variety of extra-curricular activities such as football and netball and for the more artistically inclined art, music groups and choirs.

As at the end of Key Stage One, Year 6 children in Key Stage Two are required to sit SAT tests. We endeavour to make this process as stress-free as possible for our children while developing their ability to work under a more mature pressure load.

In conclusion, Key Stage Two provides excellent opportunities for our children to make progress and to attain, whatever their ability level. We celebrate all achievements through public performance or sharing good work and we foster the seeds of citizenship, so that by working together we can produce a next generation to be proud of.

We offer a range of extra-curricular activities before, during and after school as part of our enriched curriculum. These extend National Curriculum requirements, encourage a healthy lifestyle and allow participation regardless of ability. Clubs are organised by our own school staff and often by specialist instructors from the wider community. We offer many sporting, musical and creative activities including football, netball, rounders, dance, judo, recorders, choir, art, drama, ICT, Crafts and French.