Prospective Parent Brochure - 2016-17

Hallow CE Primary SchoolThank you for showing an interest in Hallow School. This brochure is designed togive you the essential flavour of what it is that makes Hallow School so special.We hope that reading this booklet will whet your appetite and that you will wantto come and have a look for yourself if you have not done so already. We areproud to show people around and encourage parents to make individualappointments to see the school in action; this is the best way to get a real feel forthe atmosphere of our school. To make an appointment, please ring the schooloffice on (01905) 640354 or email on [email protected]. Head Teacher – Simon Stubbs In brief We are a Church of England primary school situated in the centre of Hallow village, three miles north of Worcester City. We currently have 200 pupils, organised into seven classes of up to 29 pupils. Our size means that we are small enough that every child is known, receives plenty of individual attention and has a wide range of opportunities; but we are large enough to be able to offer teaching in single year groups and a full range of activities. Children may begin at our school in the year that they become five. They move through three separate phases during their time at Hallow School; Reception, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. At the age of 11, children transfer to secondary school. Our children transfer to a variety of secondary schools. The main two, Christopher Whitehead Language College and The Chantry High School Martley, have both been rated as outstanding by Ofsted. How good is the school?Ofsted judged the school to be Good in 2013,with outstanding behaviour. All teaching was atleast good with many lessons observed beingoutstanding. We also received a Church Schoolinspection in 2013 and were judged to beoutstanding in all aspects.Our attendance rate averages 96-7% which isgood. To read the full report, please visitwww.ofsted.gov.ukThe graph on the right shows that Hallow[coloured blue] has consistently provided goodquality education with the combined English andMaths results always outperforming nationalaverages.www.hallow.worcs.sch.uk 1

The building and grounds First-time visitors are always surprised by the size and modern design of the building behind the traditional Victorian frontage. We have carried out much work recently to provide a light, bright and stimulating learning environment. The Reception class, for instance, is a purpose-built room with zones for different learning such as an impressive role-play tower, a computer mini-suite, craft, writing and reading areas as well as its own toilet accommodation. Our hall is large enough for the whole school to meet together and is used for activities such as drama, dance, and gymnastics. Because we are keen to promote the performing arts, we have our own stage, lighting and sound system. Parents are invited to watch their children perform plays, concerts and assemblies. As well as a computer suite, we also have a large number of netbooks and iPads.There has been education on this site since 1712The school is very fortunate to be set in very attractivegrounds including a forest school, pond and outdoor learningareas, accessible from the Reception and all Key Stage 1classes. There are two hard play areas, a tree-house andlarge field. We are very keen to promote the use of theoutdoors and children are encouraged to bring wellingtonboots into school so that they can use these areas to play andlearn in throughout the whole year. Being a Church of England School As a Church of England school, we accept children of all faiths, including those with no belief. The ethos of our school is based on Christian principles, and children are taught to be kind and considerate to all people at all times. Every day begins with an assembly. This school worship, and our religious education, is sensitive to the wide range of beliefs of our children. Children are never told what to believe, but explore the beliefs of others. This includes studying different world faiths such as Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam. In this way, children are able to think about the big questions of life and begin to shape their own beliefs. Our last Church School inspection described our children as ‘delightful’. Behaviour is very good because children are expected to display self-control and motivation. Whenever we take the children on visits we receive very positive feedback about the children’s attitudes and enthusiasm: “Thank you so much – we don’t get groups of children like this anymore!” was one comment received recently.www.hallow.worcs.sch.uk 2

The CommunityThe feature of the school that is most The school supports many other charities such as the Britishconsistently praised by parents is the real sense Legion Poppy Appeal, MacMillan, BBC Children in Need and theof community and strength of ethos. It is felt that Samaritans Operation Christmas Child. Through this work, wechildren are well cared for and genuinely valued can show the children how we can reach out to differentas individuals by staff. One small example of the communities around the world.way that children are valued is the weeklyschool newsletter that contains news about the The children have many opportunities to meet and work withchildren’s achievements both within and outside children from other schools. We have links with a number ofof school. secondary schools, allowing us to access support and resources; examples of this would be PE support from theThe community is strengthened by effective Chantry High School, Martley. Through working with our cluster,parental participation. We have a very active Hallow has just been awarded a Gold PE mark.Friends (PTA) who organise some outstandingevents, helping to forge strong relationshipswhilst raising a considerable sum of money.One such event is the annual Bonfire Eveningwhich has developed a strong local reputation,supported by families in the school and fromoutside. An impressive firework display, thisyear, raised over £3000. Money raised by theFriends has provided the ICT suite, a treehouse, a sound system for the hall, thirty violinsand cornets as well as paying for workshopsand many other facilities.The school has firm links with the church andthe Harvest Festival is a good example of howthis works. The school hold a service on theFriday before the church’s festival. We invitechildren to bring harvest gifts and these,together with the church’s gifts, are combinedand sent to local people in need. Some of ourolder children help to deliver these. The childrenlearn about Traidcraft and the church run a stallin the playground at Harvest time. We have also developed strong links with a number of outside agencies such as Worcester City Football club, Worcester Wolves Basketball, Upper Sapey Golf Club, Worcester Youth Music and many others. These links help us to provide a full, varied and vibrant range of experiences for our children.The children rehearse for the annual end of year music showcasewww.hallow.worcs.sch.uk 3

The CurriculumHistory in role The school offers a full range of subjects including: English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, RE, PE, Art, Design Technology, Music and PSHE (personal, social, and health education). Great care is taken to captivate and inspire the children’s imagination so that they are well-motivated to learn, strive for high standards and so gain a sense of fulfilment and self- worth. One way in which we achieve this is to take children on many visits and many visitors are invited into school. Below are some of the highlights from just one week, last year. We have included this to give you a flavour of our curriculum in action. Monday: • Years 5 and 6 visit to the Commandery to find out about Worcester and the English Civil War. • Year 2 write their own versions of the Billy Goat Gruff story. The children had to come up with a twist in the tale so that the billy goats found a way of crossing the water avoiding the troll’s bridge. Tuesday: Year 6 explore the thoughts and feelings of the main characters in the Christmas story, leading to writing that will be used as the readings in the school carol service.Wednesday: Friday:• Three children from Year 5 play Ode to Joy on their • Year 6 representatives chair meetings of the cornet to accompany children into assembly children in the school to find out further ideas to• Year R have a lesson on food making their own fruit improve the school. kebabs, led by a visitor from Sainsbury’s • Years 3 and 4 create their own outdoor art gallery,• Year 4 make pasta in their food lesson. inspired by the artist Andy Goldsworthy. Parents are invited to view the creations.Thursday:• A girl in Year 6 plays the piano for children to enter assembly.• Year 2 design and make the different methods of crossing the troll’s river from their stories; solutions include a zip-wire, raft and slide!• Year 3 have their weekly violin lesson and Year 4 their weekly cornet lesson.• Year 6 have the third of five sessions learning to play steel pan drums.• Year 5 have an hour of hockey coaching from an outside PE coach, followed by making their own hats in Technology.• Worcester Wolves lead the last of eight baskbetball training sessions after school.• The school football team win 2- 0 against another local school, maintaining their unbeaten league run. The children improve their still life skillswww.hallow.worcs.sch.uk 4

Beyond the CurriculumThe school provides many additional opportunities for children to developand extend their interests, learning and talents.Residential opportunitiesLike many other schools, we organise a residential activity course forchildren in Year 6. Children love these activities; they help to build self-confidence as well as providing valuable life-long learning experiences andmemories. Unlike other schools, we provide other similar experiences forchildren in every year group from the age of 6 upwards. The seven and eightyear olds have an over-night camp on the school field where they can enjoya camp fire. Our 8 to 10 year olds have a short residential activity coursethat prepares them for the longer course in Year 6. Opposite, children learn to conquer their fearsExtra-curricular ActivitiesA wide range of extra clubs are organised to cater for the children’s interests. Children of all ages have clubs thatthey can attend. Between 75-80% of our children stay after school for a club at some point in the week. Some of the clubs we offer are as follows: netball, basketball, golf, multi-sports, cheerleading, Young Enterprise , drama, music makers, ICT, cooking, dance, yoga, summer sports (including rounders, tennis, cricket) and three different football clubs to cater for different age groups.2015 League Champions Sport for all All children receive two hours of physical education a week. This might include gymnastics, games, swimming, dance or outdoor, adventurous activities. We use an outside professional coach to ensure that children receive the best quality teaching. All children have the opportunity to experience competitive sport against children from other schools, such as an inter-school olympics. For those who are particularly talented or passionate about a sport, there are school leagues for football and netball that the school takes part in.Busy BeesThe school runs an activity club before and after school. Children can arrive from 7.45amand attend club until 5.30pm. The aim of the club is to provide fun activities for children aswell as offering a flexible and affordable care service for parents.www.hallow.worcs.sch.uk 5

Above, the brave boys of Hallow do their bit in We are very keen to promote the performing arts A Letter to the Trenches and so give our children many opportunities in this field. Each year, we perform a number of plays and concerts as well as providing performance opportunties within assemblies and church services. Our children visit the theatre to watch live performances beyond that of pantomime. We now have a number of video cameras and an editing suite to allow children to use video in their learning. Children are able to take extra music instrumental lessons on a variety of instruments. Four year groups are provided with free weekly instrumental lessons in violin, cornet, clarinet and percussion. Well over half of our children learn to play a musical instrument. We provide further workshops in dance and music. The timing of the dayThe day begins at 8.45am when children are allowed into their classrooms. Registration is at 8.55am, followed byassembly at 9am. The first teaching session runs from 9.20am to 10.45am when the children have their morningbreak. The second teaching session runs from 11am – 12pm.Lunch break is from 12pm until 12.50pm, during which time children may either have a hot school dinner or bring apacked lunch. The dinners cost £2.30 each and are pre-ordered for a half term. There are three choices every dayand these are selected by parents on a menu for each child, ensuring that children always receive something thatthey like to eat. All meals conform to the government’s latest nutritional standards.Afternoon lessons begin at 12.50 and finish at 3.15pm, with a break of fifteen minutes from 2pm – 2.15pm. Beforeand after-school care is available at our school for a cost of £4 an hour and runs from 7.45am to 8.45am in themorning, and 3.15pm – 5.30pm in the evening. Providing for all our childrenDiffering needs are catered for within each lesson, helping those children who experience problems to accesslearning whilst at the same time providing challenge for the more able. Our assessment system is thorough andallows us to keep track of every pupil’s progress and to plan subsequent learning effectively for each individual. Wehave a special needs co-ordinator who will organise support for those children with specific learning problems.www.hallow.worcs.sch.uk 6

School UniformSchool uniform is worn with pride. It has beendesigned to be both smart, practical andaffordable. Most items can be purchased fromshops in town, such as the grey trousers, skirtsand shorts and white shirts or polo shirts. Theschool sweatshirt can only be obtained fromschool or via the online shop. Also availablefrom school are reversible fleece jackets, hatsand book bags. Who can be admitted to the school?Any child between the ages of 4 and 11 years can be admitted. However, because we are a Church of Englandprimary school, our catchment is the parish of St Philip and St.James Church, Hallow, and first priority is given tochildren who live within this area. The school welcomes application for admission for children who live outside ofthe parish boundary. In the case of over-subscription, places are given using the following criteria: 1. Children who are looked after by the Local Authority 2. Children who live within the catchment area 3. Children who have siblings already in the school 4. Children from families of practicing Christians 5. The active involvement of parent and/or child in the work and worship of a community of any other established faith. 6. Children with special needs 7. Children who live closest to the schoolwww.hallow.worcs.sch.uk 7

PartnershipA strong and geniune partnership with parents is essential if learning is to be maximised. This partnership can onlyexist with good communication.Parents are encouraged to talk frequently with the class teacher, both informally and at the parent consultationevening held in the autumn and spring term. In the summer, an annual written report is sent to each parent andfollow-up discussions can be held on request.The school also operates a mobile phone texting service which helps to remind parents or keep them up to date.Members of the office staff are always available to help with administrative enquiries and the head teacher, or amember of the senior leadership team, can often be found on the front playground immediately before and afterschool. Members of staff can be contacted via email, and their direct email address can be found on the schoolwebsite.The school takes very seriously its responsibility towards the safeguarding of the children in its care. For full detailsplease see our Safeguarding Policy available on the School website. Contact detailsThe children dress in red, white and blue to celebrate the 90th birthday of Hallow CE Primary School, Her Majesty the Queen Main Road, Hallow Worcestershire WR2 6LD Tel: (01905) 640354 Email: [email protected] 8