A welcome from our Headteacher...Mrs Jackson

Welcome to our website.

Ladysmith Junior School is situated in the city of Exeter. It is a large junior school with a family feel, where everyone believes that the children in our care should be happy and safe and that they should achieve the highest standards of which they are capable. We also believe that school should be fun!

We will encourage our children to become life-long learners, able to appreciate the arts and science and to be numerate and literate. As a head with three children of my own (now grown up), I know that it is really important for school to be an exciting and motivating place for learning, where all children are supported and encouraged to have a go, whatever their difficulties or strengths. I believe strongly in developing children’s self esteem. Not everyone is academic, but everyone is special, and has some particular talent or skill that we can celebrate and encourage. Everyone is important to us in their own way, whatever their race, creed or religion.

Our skilled staff team are committed to working with children and parents to achieve all of this and much more and to celebrating the children's successes as well as supporting them through any troubled times. Everyone in the team, teachers, meal time assistants, teaching assistants, administrators, cleaners and our great caretaker, work together because we want the best for our children and are proud of our school. We are always working hard to develop and improve our work as teachers, and educationalists and we value both the input of the children and of parents, governors and the community.

If you have any questions please use the contact information or make a personal visit by arrangement with the school office. Prospective parents can collect further information and application details from the school where you are assured of a friendly reception.

We are always pleased to welcome parents into our school and hope that you will bring your children into the playground, talk with teachers, and myself and let us know how your children are finding life at our school.

The Governors are a group of people who have a strong interest in the School and in education. They represent different sections of the community and are categorised accordingly as Parent, Local Authority, Community, and Staff.

Their primary functions are to ensure that the pupils are taught the National Curriculum, to help the School spend its money wisely and to ensure the buildings are kept in good repair. They work very closely with the Headteacher in making policy decisions regarding staffing, health and safety, collective worship, the curriculum and many other things that affect the running of the School.

The Governors usually meet in full twice a term and the minutes of these meetings are available as a matter of public record which you can ask to see (school office). In addition, each sub-committee will meet once or twice a term.

Governors are invited to contribute to the School Profile, which is available online here and includes the following information:

• What have been our successes this year?
• What are we trying to improve?
• How have our results changed over time?
• How are we making sure that every child gets teaching to meet their individual needs?
• How do we make sure our pupils are healthy, safe and well-supported?
• What have we done in response to Ofsted?
• How are we working with parents and the community?

Governors help to forge links with the community, keeping the lines of communication open between the different groups. Apart from attending meetings they contribute their time, enthusiasm and expertise in many ways. They involve themselves in school life and are frequently in attendance at school functions such as School productions and fund-raising events.

The unvalidated, unpublished results are: Y6 SAT 2007

English Level 4: 82%,  Level 5: 42%  - results up 2% from 2006 at level 4, and 21%  at level 5

Maths Level 4: 79%,   Level 5: 33%  - results  up 7% from 2006 at level 4 and 4% at Level 5

Science Level 4: 88%,  Level 5: 52% - results same level 4 as 2006, but 11%  at level 5

The substance of the day-to-day teaching practice of Ladysmith Junior School is laid out in the National Curriculum, which is organised on the basis of four Key Stages and ten subject areas. In English and mathematics we follow the National Literacy and Numeracy strategies which are now combined as the National Primary Strategy.

We are a Key Stage 2 school teaching children aged 7-11-within Year groups 3 - 6.

More details on how these subjects are taught can be found by following the subject links in the Navigation bar-

Religious Education does not form part of the National Curriculum, but is taught following the Agreed Syllabus produced for all Schools.

However, not every child will be able to achieve all that is suggested by particular age. Additionally, some children may progress beyond the defined levels. If a child does not reach the defined level by the end of the Key Stage, this should not be regarded as a failure, but an indication that the child requires a little more time, additional experiences and targeted help. The child that does progress beyond what is expected will also require targeted help.

We will continue to ensure that all children acquire the basic skills, knowledge and attitudes, needed for improved levels of achievement, through our high expectations all children.