Brent Knoll Church of England Primary School - Somerset Knoll Church of England Primary School ......
Transcript of Brent Knoll Church of England Primary School - Somerset Knoll Church of England Primary School ......
Brent Knoll
Church of England
Primary School ‘A Feeling of Belonging’
A Primary school, from Reception to Year 6
Welcome to the School
I am pleased to welcome you to Brent Knoll
Primary School. The school has been on this
site in the village since 1861, though much of
the present day building, behind the
Victorian hall and entrance, dates from
2004.
The school has changed a lot since those
early days of Victorian support; we currently have 130 children based within
five classes. As Head, I am one of the newest members of the community,
having only arrived in Easter 2014. Many of the staff, in contrast, have been
here for many years and many are stalwarts of the village as well as the
school. It really is a close community where children and adults know and
support each other incredibly well. If you are looking for an education where
you really do ‘belong’, but that also offers many opportunities that would be
envied by other larger schools, please do come and visit.
Chris Burman, Head teacher, November 2016
Where We Are
The School is situated in the middle of
the village of Brent Knoll which, as
the name suggests, lies beneath the
Knoll itself. We are just a couple of
miles from the town of Burnham-on-
Sea. The coast of the Severn Estuary
is therefore very close, as are the renowned Somerset Levels. Glastonbury, the City of
Wells and Bridgwater are all a short drive away.
Brent Knoll, visible by the landmark Knoll, is just a few minutes from Junction 22 of the
M5. The A38, heading north to Bristol and south to Taunton, is reached at the end of
Brent Street.
For SatNav, the School’s postcode is TA9 4EQ.
Our Golden Rules
We are gentle.
We are kind and helpful.
We listen to each other.
We work hard, making the most of our time.
We look after property.
We are honest.
We are understanding of each other’s differences.
Our Aims and Values
We are proud of our heritage and the links we have
with the Church and the Diocese of Bath and Wells.
The children are very familiar with St. Michael’s
Church that is only just over the road, and attend
services there every half term, as well as on the
occasion of the main festivals. In June 2016, we had
a Church inspection, known as a SIAMS, and were given an ‘Outstanding’ grade.
Mission Statement
Our Mission Statement was established in 2014. Its key elements tell of how we enrich the lives of our children and inspire them to develop a love of learning through our Christian Values. The Mission Statement contains four themes that establish what our school ethos is.
Love of Learning - We provide an inclusive, meaningful, enjoyable curriculum to inspire and encourage pupils to reach their full potential. We nurture the social and emotional development of all our pupils and teach them how to stay safe and lead healthy lives. We develop their confidence and independence and encourage them to question and reason rationally.
Faith – We are proud to be a Church of England School. We promote the values and beliefs of the Christian faith whilst respecting and celebrating the beliefs and cultures of others.
Respect – We develop each child’s sense of self-worth as well as their sense of responsibility. We encourage children to value diversity and the wonder of creation.
Partnerships – We work together with our families, the Church and the local and wider community, valuing their support.
A Feeling of Belonging
Our Curriculum
Our Curriculum is always being developed and improved. The last two years, however,
have seen many extra changes as we have introduced the revised National Curriculum
and have introduced a new system for assessment.
The core subjects of English and Mathematics remain at the heart of out teaching and
learning. Each class has a daily English lesson, which incorporates Reading and Writing.
The youngest children have a daily phonics session, too. Our phonics is led by the Letters
and Sounds Scheme. Reading is always encouraged. We have a Reading scheme for early
readers, but we also now have a general library. The books can be taken out by all our
families, including pre-schoolers and siblings, as well as the pupils themselves. The books
on loan change each term. Writing is often guided by the term’s Topic theme. Linking
work makes each strand more relevant and language can be transposed between
different lessons.
The Curriculum is broad. Apart from Topics, which usually have a Geographical of
Historical basis, there are regular units of work in Science, Art, Design and Technology,
R.E. and French. We have specialist sports coaches to lead P.E. and Swimming, as well as
for Music. Computing has had a major overhaul, and children are now taught more about
programming, which is proving very popular.
As well as regular trips and visits, we are using the local environment in a variety of ways.
The village and Knoll lend themselves so well to outdoor learning. This year the children
are taking part in our Forest School activities under the guidance of Mrs Sinnott.
An up to date review of what the school does and how it is performing is available via the
Ofsted web-site as the school was inspected in March, 2014. We were very pleased to
receive a GOOD grade in all areas.
More Opportunities
This year we are pleased to offer a wide range of
after-school activities. Sports clubs are varied and
include football, tag-rugby, hockey, basketball,
gymnastics and running. Other clubs that are run
include gardening, Spanish, martial arts and arts.
The governors were kind enough to buy the school
a mini-bus and this is frequently used to allow
teams to enter competitive sports events. In the last two years, the boys and girls
football teams have reached the finals of the Somerset Small Schools Competition. Other
one-off trips are also arranged. During the year the Year 6s have been to Weston to
watch the National Theatre’s live performance of Treasure Island; another group went to
a local willow farm to buy the willow for the school field’s new willow dome and a very
dedicated group went on a Saturday to enter the Wellington School Maths Challenge.
The School Day begins at 9am and ends at 3.15pm. Each morning the gates open at
8.45am, allowing parents and carers to meet each other, as well as teachers. The
Head or Senior Teacher are on playground duty from this time. We have an open
door policy for parents to come in, though teachers may ask you to meet them at a
quieter or more convenient time.
A free hot lunch is currently available to every Infant pupil. Key stage 2 children may
purchase a cooked lunch for £2.60. Menus are available from the office.
Attendance at school is critical for learning. However, we know that occasionally
a child may be unwell or will need to attend a medical appointment. If this is the
case, parents are required to call the school for each day of a child’s absence.
The Head teacher is in regular contact with the Local Authority’s attendance
officer and either can advise you about absence from school.
Our Links
Apart from our links with the Church, we are also very familiar
with The King Alfred School in Burnham. This is the secondary
school most of the Year 6 pupils attend. King Alfred’s has also
undergone many changes in recent years. It is worth looking at
their web-site for information or asking for a visit.
http://www.kingalfred.somerset.sch.uk/
Brent Knoll is a village which really does do a great deal to ensure traditions continue, all
of which add up to a real sense of community. The School joins in with several annual
events: Scarecrow Weekend, Easter Egg Trails and Village fete being three of the biggest.
The village has its own magazine, the Brent Knoll News, which can be accessed via the
following link:
http://www.brentknollvillage.co.uk/
Medication and Accidents
Medication can be administered by staff. If this is required, please see
Mrs Field in the office in order to complete the necessary paperwork.
Medicines cannot be left in the classrooms or cloakrooms and children
must not bring in medicines themselves. Parents will need to collect
unused medicines from the office.
If a child has an accident during the school day basic first aid will be
administered. It is normal practice for the school to inform parents if
their child has had a head bump. The school will always seek to speak to
parents if further medical aid is required, but the Head or Senior Teacher
will act ‘in loco parentis’ and take appropriate action where required.
Useful Information
Chair of Governors
Eur Ing Hugh Mackay JP
Head teacher
Mr Chris Burman
Teachers
Senior Teacher Miss H. Richens
Miss. J. Deacon and Mrs L Beardsley (Dr Seuss Class) - Years 1 and 2
Mrs S. Stockham (Rowling Class) – Years 4 and 5
Mrs. A. Banham and Mrs P Baker (Morpurgo Class) – Year 6
Miss. E Hill (Dahl Class) – Years 3 and 4
Miss H Richens and Mrs L Beardsley (Donaldson Class) – Years Reception
SENDCO (Special Needs Teacher) Mrs. B Jones
Teaching Assistants
Mrs. J. Weston Mrs. H. Key Mrs. J. Sinnott
Mrs. H. Bond Mrs. S. Buller Mrs. A. Smith
Mrs C Harkness
Mrs F Edrich Mrs S Bennett
Finance Officer/Secretary Mrs. S. Field
How to Contact Us
Address: Brent Knoll Primary School, Brent Street, Brent Knoll, Somerset, TA9 4EQ
Telephone: 01278 760546
Email: [email protected]
Web-site: https://slp2.somerset.gov.uk/schools/brentknoll
How to Join the School
Brent Knoll is a Local Authority School and so admissions
are authorised by them. However, if you would like to see
if we can offer your child a place, please call us in the first
instance. If you are not familiar with the school, please do
call to arrange a tour. We are always pleased to do this at
any time.
Year 4 pupils at
The King Alfred School
There is a Summer and Winter uniform for boys and girls. Uniform is available
online. The school office can supply up to date details. We are a school that rarely
cancels breaks due to rain and wind. Children are encouraged to wear appropriate
seasonal clothing, such as Wellingtons and warm coats in the Winter.
Though small, Brent Knoll makes every effort to be a fully inclusive school and we
welcome children of all abilities and from all backgrounds. If your child has extra
needs please do let us know, as support is best provided earlier rather than later.