Welcome to South Tawton Primary

We are a thriving Primary school, located in the beautiful village of South Zeal in the Dartmoor National Park. Many of our pupils live in the surrounding villages of South Tawton, Sticklepath and Belstone as well as the larger town of Okehampton about 6 miles away. We are fortunate to be in such a wonderful setting with easy access to the moors and the thriving city of Exeter.

We believe that children learn best in a secure and happy environment, where they feel confident, valued and trusted.
We also believe that children should be challenged with a range of learning experiences so that they develop to the maximum of their potential and enjoy learning to the full through the promotion of enthusiasm and curiosity.
We aim to provide a safe, stimulating environment and a curriculum of the highest quality which will enable children:

• To develop lively, enquiring minds, together with a willingness to ask questions and to argue rationally.
• To think and act creatively and with imagination
• To gain knowledge, skills and understanding appropriate to a fast changing world, so they may be self-reliant and adaptable.
• To acquire the enabling skills of literacy and numeracy
• To develop an understanding of the past which will help them to live successfully in the present, and to plan intelligently for the future.
• To grown in confidence and independence, and to experience the value of cooperation.
• To understand the feelings of others, to respect their values and to consider thoughtfully their own attitudes, values and beliefs.
• To achieve their true potential, and to take pride in that achievement, while taking pleasure in the achievement of others.

If there are too many applications for places in the school, places are offered to children who meet the following criteria (listed in order of priority):

• Children who are in Public Care (Looked After Children)
• Children living in the school’s designated area with a sibling who will be attending the school at the time of admission.
• Other children living in the school’s designated area.
• Children living outside the school’s designated area, but with a sibling who will be attending the school at the time of admission.
• Other children living outside the school’s designated area.

For more detailed information about admissions to South Tawton Primary or the right to appeal a decision, please visit the Devon County Council website www.devon.gov.uk and access the admissions page in the @Learning and School’s pages.

Or contact: John Hill, Admissions Officer
01392 383717
john.hill@devon.co.uk

The curriculum is delivered in different ways, from individual work and group work to class lessons, depending on the needs of the child and the skills to be developed.

Each child is encouraged to reach their full potential. The groundwork that we provide within the ‘core’ and foundation subjects (English, Mathematics, Science, ICT, RE, History, Geography, Art, Design and Technology, PE, PHSE) will be something upon which all children will be capable of building in the future.

We complement the National Curriculum with many extra-curricula activities delivered through clubs and residential trips (add appropriate hyperlink).

We hope that parents will feel welcome in school and that together, as a partnership, we can provide a very high standard of education.

Homework

The most useful help parents can give children at home is through positive encouragement, interest and support. If teachers and parents are working together with the interests of the child at heart, then success is more likely.

Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1

Younger children should learn to value reading as an enjoyable experience. There is no better way to do this than to have a story which they enjoy read to them and discussed by parents. As children move on to full reading books, regular and enjoyable reading becomes vital. Reading and enjoying not merely school books but supplementary reading material will help to ensure progress.

Key Stage 2

From September 2006 we are introducing a maths homework programme which will ensure continuity and progress across the Key Stage. It meets the needs of different abilities and complements the work learnt in class. We will be monitoring its impact throughout the year.

Governors play a key role in working with the Headteacher and staff to raise standards in all areas of school life. Governors bring a range of experiences and skills and we are fortunate to have an active Governing Body, committed to its role.

Our Governors work as two committees – the Personnel and Curriculum Committee and the Finance and Buildings Committee. Meetings are held every half term with the full Governing Body meeting each term. Additionally, there are visits to the school by individual Governors.

The current members of the Governing Body are:

• CLLR WILLIAM G CANN - LEA - 3st August 2008
• MR JOHN S DARCH - LEA - 31st August 2008
• DR PETER BROTHERTON - Chairman - LEA - 07th September 2008
• MR MARTIN W UNWIN - Teacher - 16th May 2010
• MRS PATRICIA GLOVER - Clerk
• MRS JANE WHITE - Support Staff - 08th October 2010
• MR CHRIS VILE - Parent - 28th June 2008
• MR GARY JAMES - Community - 17th January 2010
• MS JUDIE YUNG - Community - 16th May 2010
• MRS CLARE FOULKES - Parent - 29th September 2009
• MRS HEATHER POUSTIE - Headtecher
• MR KEITH STEVENS - Parent - 20th June 2010
• MRS CAROLINE BOOTHER - Associate
• MRS SHERREN LAYBOURN - Associate
• MRS THERESA WEAVER - Parent - 08th October 2010
• MRS JUDITH BEACOM - Parent

South Tawton Governors Private Pages

We have set up an area where our governors can share documents with full confidence. To access this area you will need the username and password, which you can get from the school.