Forches Cross Community Primary School

 Forches Avenue   §    Barnstaple  §    Devon   §    EX32 8EF

(    01271 343214

e.mail         admin@forches-cross.devon.sch.uk

Welcome

Thank you for taking the time to read our prospectus. As a parent and a teacher myself I know that choosing the right school is an important decision. This brochure has been designed to provide you with all the information you need. However, I would ask you to visit the school as well. We are very proud of our school and I would be delighted to show you around and answer any queries you may have.

Paul F. Wisken – Head Teacher

Our Vision

To serve our children, parents, staff and local community by building and maintaining an excellent school where all pupils have the opportunity of the best possible education.

The School

Forches Cross Community Primary School is a local education county school in the Devon County Council. The school is co-educational and has nursery, infant and junior sections. The school has excellent links with Park Secondary School.

Our aims

q       to provide a challenging, stimulating, caring environment where children can be encouraged to develop to their full potential

q       to encourage independence, responsibility, self-discipline and a genuine pride in our achievements and our school

q       to value children’s many and varied abilities

q       to give children the opportunity to learn where possible with direct practical experience

q       to develop every child academically, physically, morally and spiritually

q       to offer well-planned and appropriately resourced teaching

q       to equip our children for the future and to nurture a desire to learn

q       to show care and sensitivity in the way we behave with one another in our school and the community

q       to encourage a very positive relationship between the child and the class teacher particularly

Background

The school opened in 1954 and has purpose built classroom blocks, a fully equipped kitchen, two playgrounds, an adventure playground, an environmental area and about 1.5 acres of field belonging to the school. There are approximately 300 children on roll, including the nursery. The school mainly serves the local Forches Cross community.

The school has detailed curriculum policy statements and schemes of work, which are reviewed regularly and approved by the Governing Body. The National Curriculum provides the main core of our teaching. Copies of all school policy statements are available for parents from the school office.

Organisation

The children are grouped mainly in mixed year groups and the school’s admission number is 55. Each class has a designated full-time class teacher.

Staffing

All teachers at Forches Cross Primary are qualified. There are also a significant number of Teaching Assistants. There are 39 staff in total including our cleaning and lunch time MTA team.

Nursery

The nursery is purpose built and has its own entrance, toilets, play area and garden. Children attend for half a day and start soon after their third birthday. Children are offered places according to birth date. Although all of our nursery children transfer into the Infants, attending the nursery does not guarantee a place. Entry to full time schooling is in accordance with the Devon County Council Admissions Policy.

Curriculum

History and Geography

Children learn History and Geography to enable them to develop a greater understanding of the past and present. Topics are integrated into Literacy and  Numeracy where appropriate. Geography is taught through a balance of places, themes and skills and in History, children learn about important times in Britain’s past as well as the history of other parts of the world.

Art

In Art children have the opportunity to develop self-expression, imagination and creativity through practical exploration of methods, skills, techniques and media. Pupils also are encouraged to understand different kinds of work by various artists.

English

Children are taught Literacy every day, based upon the National Literacy Strategy. Each lesson follows the same format throughout the school. The children are taught a balance of reading, writing, spelling, speaking and listening. The school uses a number of reading schemes. Reception children start aspects of the Literacy Hour on admission.

Mathematics

The school teaches mathematics using the National Numeracy Strategy. Children learn mathematics every day in a three-part lesson covering mental arithmetic, computational skills and problem solving. Children spend up to an hour each day learning numeracy.

Music

All children learn music throughout the school.  Also, the children sing together regularly in assembly.

Physical Education

Children are taught a variety of games and have the chance to participate in competitive whole teams. Dance, swimming and gymnastics are also taught. The school has a school football team. Various games are organised at lunch times. Sports Day is in the summer, with a variety of competitive and fun events.  The school is having a Multi-Games Area built in 2003.

Science

Children learn Science throughout the school and are able to use the outside environment. Science assists children to develop a more informed understanding of the world around them and builds upon their natural curiosity. 

Religious Education and Collective Worship

The school follows the Agreed LEA Syllabus for R.E. Collective worship takes place daily and is led mainly by staff. Special visitors occasionally may be invited to take an assembly. Also Father Jones from Holy Trinity, one of our local churches, takes assemblies each term.

Technology

Children have the opportunity to solve problems, design and make and to test products in Technology.  There is sometimes an opportunity to take these designs home afterwards and occasionally voluntary contributions are invited towards the cost.

Personal, Social and Health Education

The school has a rolling programme of PSHE which starts in Reception/Year 1. Governors have agreed that children should be taught Sex Education at Forches.

Equal Opportunities

Equal Opportunities are central to everything we do in school. The school believes that all children should have the opportunity to be able to succeed. The school has clear procedures for Special Needs and encourages early identification, differentiated learning programmes and where appropriate, extra learning support.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

The school has a computer suite of 16 machines all with internet access. Forches has it’s own web site which is updated regularly.The library also has 6 networked computers. The school is connected with Broadband and is developing classroom bases to take advantage of this facility.

Forches Cross School Parents Association

The school has a very positive Parents Association made up of parents and staff of the school. The association organises a variety of events throughout the year. Some of these events are intended to raise funds and others are purely social.

Home School Links

The school encourages parents/carers to be partners in their child’s learning. There are termly meetings organised between teachers and parents/carers. Also, parents are informed each term about the areas to be taught. Annual Reports are issued in the summer term.

Behaviour

Children are encouraged to take responsibility for their own behaviour. The school places high priority on good manners and sensible behaviour. The school has clear rules that are brought to children and parent’s attention. Staff reinforce positive behaviour. Inappropriate behaviour is dealt with firmly and consistently in line with our Behaviour Policy.

School Uniform

All children are expected to wear school uniform that is both simple and practical. Children are encouraged to look neat and to take pride in their appearance. Details of uniform are provided on a separate sheet. 

Damage to School Property

If a child deliberately damages school property or loses school equipment the Governors will ask parents for a voluntary contribution towards the cost of replacement.

Attendance

The school contacts parents on the first day of absence unless a reason has already been provided to either the teacher or the office. Requests for holidays during term time should be made to the Headteacher in advance.

School Transport

Devon County Council provides free school transport where a pupil lives beyond 2 miles for children up to 8 years old and 3 miles for those aged 8 years or over. There are exceptions i.e. medical grounds. Please enquire in the school office for further information.

Valuables & Personal Accident Insurance

The school does not accept responsibility for the loss of watches, childrens’ possessions or money. Governors do not hold an insurance policy to cover personal accidents to children, in common with other schools.

Health

The school is allowed to administer prescribed medicines only, with clear instructions and when a parent has completed an authorisation slip. Any child who is actually sick should be kept home for 24 hours.

Complaints Procedure

Parents are urged initially to talk to their child’s teacher. If the matter cannot be resolved they may refer the issue to the Head Teacher or Deputy Head. If the complaint can’t be dealt with at this level, parents have the opportunity to follow the Complaints Procedure.

Policy on Charging for School Activities

No charge will be made for any school activity taking place during school hours except in the case of board and lodging; similarly, no charge will be made for any activity required as part of the National Curriculum. Charges may be made for optional activities which take place wholly or mainly outside school hours.

Participation in an optional activity will be based on parental choice and a willingness to meet the charges made. The cost may include cover for: travel, board and lodging on a residential trip, materials, non-teaching costs, insurance or instruction. The charge made will not exceed the actual cost.

Voluntary Contributions

Occasionally the school organises activities like school trips and asks for voluntary contributions from parents. All pupils eligible will be able to take part but if funds are insufficient, the activity may be cancelled.

Extra-curricular Activities

The school offers a range of activities for different year groups over the year which include the following: athletics, choir, football, gymnastics and dance.

Withdrawals

Parents have the right to withdraw their children from Religious Education and Collective Worship. Requests should be put in writing to the Head Teacher.

Lunches

 Hot meals are cooked on the premises and may be bought by the children. Children can also bring a packed lunch from home. Cartons of drinks are acceptable but not cans or glass bottles. Please ask if you think you may qualify for free school meals; e.g. if you receive Income based Job-Seeker’s Allowance or Income Support.

Security

The school asks all visitors to the school to enter via reception only.  This rule applies to parents as well. The school operates a security system throughout the school.

Cars and Dogs

Cars should not be driven into school except in an emergency or with permission of the Headteacher.

Dogs are not allowed in the school grounds at all.

 Admissions

The school is allowed to admit up to 50 children in each year group. The school follows the LEA’s Admissions Policy and parents may contact either the LEA direct or the school office. New parents and children have the opportunity to meet with the Head Teacher and to view the school.

My child enjoys coming to Forches School/Nursery