Welcome to St James' Primary School!

We are a busy but friendly school, with lots going on. This web site aims to give you a taster of the school, as well as providing regular updated information for both parents and pupils. We hope that you enjoy your visit to our web site, and that you find any information you are looking for. Please feel free to leave comments in the Guestbook, or contact the school direct (details on the Contact page) with any queries you may have. Thank you for visiting!

Mrs Lyonette, Head Teacher

CLASS AND TEACHING ORGANISATION

The school provides an education for pupils from 4 to 11.5 years. The school is popular and oversubscribed with 420 pupils on role. The school is now two-form entry. The school operates fourteen classes into phases as follows:

Reception classes and Year 1 classes (Mrs Smith)

Year 2, 3 and 4 classes (Miss Lewis)

Year 5 and 6 classes (Mr Garner)

The teacher in brackets has responsibility for leading the particular phase.

With the exception of the Reception year which has a separate curriculum, Years 1 and 2 coincides with National Curriculum Key Stage 1 and Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 falls within Key Stage 2. Classes are organised to include the full ability range. Where appropriate, particularly in English and Mathematics, the children are ability grouped within the class. The children are normally based with their class teacher. The specialist skill of teachers is used wherever possible. This happens in Sport, Music, Art, Science, English and Mathematics to varying degrees. Music is taught by Miss Curran to each class.

THE GOVERNING BODY

The Governing Body is responsible for the strategic management of the school. They have statutory duties concerned with the functioning of the school, ensuring high standards and quality of education for pupils. Foundation Governors are in the majority ensuring that the school fulfils its distinctive role as a Church of England School.

Governors are responsible for the appointment of all personnel and for the admission of pupils to the school. They are responsible for the financial management of the School Budget. They also hold responsibility for setting School Policy in line with National Curriculum requirements and for Religious Education, Worship, behaviour, special educational needs and sex education. Each year the Governors set statutory and non-statutory targets for attainment at the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

Full meetings of the Governing Body take place each term. In addition there are Committees which meet according to the School Key Events Timetable which is published in the School Improvement Plan. The Committees have delegated powers and report back to the full meeting of Governors.

Committees are: - Finance, Personnel, Pay, Premises, Curriculum, Admissions and Pupil Welfare, Discipline and Communications.

The responsibilities of Governors are set out in the document entitled "School Governors: A Guide to the Law", a copy of which is available in school.

Our Mission Statement

As a Voluntary Aided Church of England School, we aim to provide a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum for all our pupils, set firmly within the guiding principles of a Christian education. Each child is considered to be a unique person, created by God, whose individual talents and potential must be fully developed. Everything in school is designed to promote the highest standards of spiritual, academic, moral, cultural and social education. We aim to provide an ethos, in which pupils can learn and be happy, as well as providing a firm and lasting foundation of knowledge and values to serve them as they grow up and take their place in the society of the twenty-first century.

We think it is important to:

Provide a secure, caring and happy environment in which children are motivated and learning can flourish within an environment with a clear Christian ethos.

Provide a broad, balanced and stimulating curriculum which will enable pupils to achieve high academic standards.

Provide a high standard of care, professional expertise and example and acknowledge that all children should have equal opportunity and access to the curriculum. The school has a commitment to inclusion and multicultural education.

Provide an excellent quality of relationship and partnership between governors, staff, parents and all adults involved in the education of our children, so that achievements can be recognised and problems sorted out quickly.

Provide an atmosphere of respect and trust whereby there is an attitude of positive response to helpful and constructive criticism and a policy of openness about what goes on in school, thus promoting high and ever improving standards in all aspects of school life.

That, following the example set by the adults in school, children should be taught to have a high level of respect and courtesy towards others that is reflected in their personal attitudes and day to day behaviour.

That children be taught to respect and care for their environment and community and be encouraged to serve that community where possible.

That the school environment be an attractive, well-resourced, welcoming and pleasant place in which to learn.

WE WISH THE VERY BEST FOR EACH PUPIL IN ALL ASPECTS OF SCHOOL LIFE AND HOPE THAT EVERYONE WILL SHARE OUR ASPIRATIONS, DEDICATION, ENTHUSIASM AND DETERMINATION TO ENABLE US ACHIEVE OUR AIMS.

 

THE CURRICULUM

The curriculum of the school is based on the Early Learning Goals for the Reception classes and thereafter, the National Curriculum, taking into account the School’s Statement of Aims and Values. Ofsted said "the curriculum is rich and varied and extends beyond the classroom."

Core Subjects English, Mathematics, Science, Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Foundation Subjects Physical Education, Design & Technology, Geography, History, Music, Art and Design,

In addition Religious Education, Personal, Social and Moral Education (including Multicultural Education and Citizenship), Health Education (including Sex Education and Drugs Education)