School Prospectus 2011-12 1

St Mark’s C.E. Junior School

School Brochure 2011-12

Letter of Introduction

Dear Parents I am delighted to welcome you and your child to St Mark’s C.E. Junior School. We are very proud of our school and believe it is a warm and friendly place in which to learn. We believe the relationships we develop with our children and their families enable us to create a distinctive Church School ethos. Our primary aim is to settle the children quickly into an environment where they feel happy, supported and challenged. It is within such surroundings that we believe children will flourish and be encouraged to do their best, whatever their starting point. Excellence and enjoyment are two themes that are evident in all we try and do in our school. We encourage every child’s interest and help them develop as individuals. We are a dedicated staff committed to giving our best – helping your child be contented and fulfilled. We believe that children are naturally curious. Therefore, part of our challenge is to channel their thirst for living and learning so they can develop into independent and lifelong learners. We feel that by developing children’s knowledge, core skills and attitudes we are well placed to be able to prepare them for the next stage in their education and life. We believe our friendly ethos is evident when you walk into our school for the first time. However, we fully understand that education is a partnership between home and school and in order for all children to achieve and develop fully it requires us all to work together. Therefore, if things are not going well for your child please inform us immediately. We will always listen and endeavour to resolve any problems early on. If things are going well please let us know – we, like all children, respond positively to praise! All children at the school are treated with the same respect – we model what we expect from children. As a school we unashamedly have high expectations of manners, behaviour and values for every child. We truly believe that all children can make progress, enjoy themselves and be successful in their own right. We endeavour to make learning fun, varied and inclusive. This brochure is designed to give you a brief insight into St Mark’s and hopefully capture a sense of our school and the values which underpin all we seek to achieve. If you haven’t already done so we would encourage you to take the opportunity to visit us so you can experience this for yourself. If you have any further questions, or need clarification, please feel free to speak to any member of staff at any time. Alternatively, our website (www.st-marks.wilts.sch.uk) may hold many answers to assist you. On a personal level I take enormous pride in seeing our youngsters grow into confident, successful and responsible individuals. I hope your child’s time with us will be one for you both to always fondly remember. Yours faithfully

Gareth Flemington Headteacher

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What is the school about?

Background of St Mark’s C.E. Junior School The school was founded in 1888. Since that time it has been granted Controlled Status under the 1944 Education Act, which means that it remains a Church of England Foundation. The churches of St. Mark, St. Francis and St. Thomas, into whose parishes our catchment area extends, retain a strong interest in the school by appointing governors and demonstrating a continuing educational and pastoral concern with the life of the school. The Governors, Headteacher and Staff welcome new families into our caring school community. Today there are approximately 340 boys and girls aged from 7-11 years. Each year group has three single age classes of parallel ability. School Motto: Reaching in, Reaching up, Reaching out Unpacking the school motto:

Reaching in to discover talents, inner strengths and reflect on our beliefs. Reaching up with a sense of hope, wonder and enquiry about our world and God Reaching out with the hand of friendship, showing compassion and respect to all.

Mission Statement: St. Mark’s is proud to be a Church School committed to doing our best for children. We aim to provide a welcoming, caring and inclusive environment where every child is respected and valued for their unique contribution to life. We are a school where every child will be challenged to achieve their best whatever the situation, and where they will be encouraged and supported in their endeavours.

Reaching in, we take pride in developing ourselves, our talents, our confidence, and the positive attitudes to help us in all situations.

Reaching up, we look for inspiration, by wondering and marvelling at the universe around us. We look to the future with hope, and seek to understand how we relate to the ‘bigger picture’. We seek to understand the Christian experience and live out Christian values, while respecting and valuing those of all beliefs.

Reaching out, we work hard to develop fruitful relationships and seek to serve others within and beyond our community. We develop an understanding of the world we live in and show high levels of respect and responsibility towards others and our world.

St Mark’s aims to encourage

success in all we do confidence to be who we are responsible citizens who defend the rights of others searching for the truth with reason and imagination respect for self, family and others; responsibility for possessions, choices and actions hard work, commitment and perseverance; tolerance, compassion and integrity honesty both in pupils' studies and in their personal relationships; enjoyment in all we do

Working with others The school recognises that it is only one phase of your child’s education. We can only be successful whilst working in partnership with home and other schools. Openness, approachability and honesty are crucial in underpinning this relationship. We believe that by making ourselves available, keeping you informed and ensuring transparency in all we do goes a long way to forging lasting working partnerships with everyone. Feeder Schools The majority of our Y3 children join us from Wyndham Park Infants, the link feeder school on the same campus site. The schools work very closely together to ensure a smooth transfer between Y2 and Y3. Our Planned Admission Number (PAN) is set at 90 children in each year group.

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What facilities does the school have?

St Mark’s opened on its present site in 1961. Originally, it was a single school on a big site. However, as other establishments grew, and space was at a premium in town, both Wyndham Park Infants and Exeter House Special School were built on the site. This gives us a unique ‘campus’ perspective. Close links spatially and professionally strengthen our provision for all. The building is single storey and lends itself well to access for everyone. There are ten classrooms in the main building and two further classrooms in the mobiles adjacent to Wyndham Park Infants. The building has been extended, modernised and refurbished several times in the last fifty years and has the following facilities:

A welcoming, accessible reception area and School Office Twelve well-equipped classrooms – bright, spacious with an Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) A well stocked library from which the children may borrow fiction and non-fiction books Two dedicated resource areas, including reprographic equipment. An ICT suite with 16 PCs,16 laptops and an IWB Two laptop trolleys for use throughout the school A large, well-equipped hall used for assemblies, PE lessons and extra-curricular activities A large kitchen providing hot school meals each day The Green Room - music store which is also used for peripatetic music lessons The Garden Room – an additional learning area for small group support The River Room – a learning space to support Nurture Groups Extensive school grounds used to support learning, breaks, extra-curricular activities etc ICT Office – where Miss Hollman supports ICT teaching and learning A medical room – a safe, hygienic place to treat minor injuries, sickness etc Offices for the Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher School gardens Large multi-use playground Outdoor swimming pool and changing facilities Adventure playground

How are things organised? St Mark’s is organised into twelve classes. The school has four distinct National Curriculum year groups (Y3, 4, 5 and 6) each with three mixed ability classes. Each year group is led and managed by a Year Leader (YL). They are responsible for the day to day organisation of activities, timetabling, homework, learning opportunities etc. YLs also line-manage the teachers and Teaching Assistants (TA) in that team. In most cases enquiries or concerns should be first directed to the class teacher, then YL before being referred to the Headteacher. Most lessons are taught by the class teacher but we do teach in groups for maths – which are regularly reviewed and adjusted according to need. Other teachers also work with the children to enable teachers to have their Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time each week. Standards are monitored within year groups but are ultimately overseen by the Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher. The school is also subject to monitoring and evaluation visits by governors, the Local Authority and OFSTED. We are continually striving to raise the standards for all children in the school. We use a variety of teaching methods to ensure that children acquire the skills, understanding, concepts and knowledge they need to succeed. Variety and enjoyment are essential to learning through practical activities, applying understanding to new situations and problem solving. Increasingly, we recognise the importance of learning how to learn (L2L). We recognise six key dispositions that underpin learning: 1) Resilient; 2) Resourceful; 3) Reflective; 4) Curious; 5) Positive; 6) Sociable We incorporate opportunities in our planning, teaching and learning, activities etc for children to develop, enhance and embed them. We believe they are building blocks to help children succeed. We expect children to try hard, make mistakes and learn from them and enjoy learning.

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What can the children get involved in?

Extra-Curricular Activities and Clubs We believe that learning and enjoyment are not confined to the classroom. Although our curriculum is broad and balanced there are further opportunities for children to join in and make a positive contribution to the wider community. We provide a wide variety of activities at lunch time and after school (most of them free of charge) to help children develop and discover about themselves and their interests. Club lists are published termly for parents and children to see. Music Approximately a third of our children play a musical instrument and take specialist lessons from peripatetic staff during the day (e.g. guitar, violin, woodwind etc). More information is available via the ‘Documents to Complete’ section. Singing The school choir is comprised of children throughout the school and performs at annual events in and around Salisbury. It meets during lunchtime and is run by Mrs Avery. Drama, Dance and Performances The school puts on a variety of shows and eclectic performances throughout the year. Children have the opportunity to write material, produce, act and perform to large audiences. Each Year group is responsible for an aspect: Y3 (Christmas); Y4 (Harvest); Y5 (Easter); Y6 (Summer Production/Leavers’ Service). The school offers a Performing Arts Club (Starcast) after school, run by an external provider. This helps children develop confidence and a love of entertaining. Sport Depending on the season we offer clubs for football, tag-rugby, netball, cricket, badminton etc. Some clubs happen at lunchtime and some are after or before school. Clubs outside the normal school day require your written consent. We also compete in the annual cross country race (Mini Marathon) held each May in Laverstock. The school is involved in many inter-school competitions within our cluster. We also hold our own internal inter-house competitions as part of our programme encouraging healthy competition as well as participation. In July we hold a sports week where all children take part in traditional athletics competitions, a swimming gala, a ‘Clockwork Sports’ challenge – testing their agility, balance, coordination and team skills. Community Action Team The Community Award Team is an exciting initiative to develop children’s sense of responsibility and being part of a community. Children undertake a series of activities and challenges to attain bronze, silver and gold awards. These help children ‘put something back’ into the community. School Council This is the voice of the children. Children are elected to the council by their peers (1 per class), which meets every week. There, with the support and guidance of the Deputy Headteacher they raise issues brought to them by their class mates, discuss ways forward and put into action plans and initiatives which will have a positive effect on the school. Prefect System Y6 children take it in turn to be School Prefects. Their important duties provide an insight into serving others and developing more responsibility. We also believe this develops the children’s leadership skills and foster good team work within the year group. School Library and Librarians The school has an excellent library that is well stocked with fiction and non-fiction material. We encourage children to foster a love of reading and borrow from a wide selection of material. We have a librarian and a team of adult volunteers to help keep things organised, tidy and welcoming for users. The library is open on four lunchtimes so the children can choose, scan and discuss books with others. We believe independence and self sufficiency are important life skills. Peer Supporters Many of the children are trained to help others resolve their differences, give support and advice to other children. Training is endorsed by Childline.

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Who’s who in the school?

Year 3: Miss C Stafford (Year Leader) Mrs M Caley (Class teacher) Mrs A Humphrey (Class teacher) Year 4: Ms N Phillips (Year Leader) Mrs L Avery/ Miss K Lenarduzzi (Class teachers) Mr D Hortop (Class Teacher) Year 5: Mrs F Reidy (Year Leader) Mr A Hamilton (Class teacher) Mrs C Pringle-Doyle (Class teacher) Year 6: Mrs S Ibbotson (Year Leader) Miss H Worrall (Class teacher) Mr B Williams (Class teacher) Part-time teaching Staff: Mrs S Bale Mrs K Meron Secretary: Administrative Officer: Network/Data Technician: Mrs R Lancaster Mrs C King Miss B Hollman Site Manager: Headteacher: Deputy Headteacher: Mr C Nelhams Mr G Flemington Mr M Sambrook Teaching Assistants (TAs): Mrs S Andrews Mrs O Archer Mrs S Browning Mrs L Callaway Mrs B Dalton Mrs R Dymott Mrs M Hawksworth Mrs A Hill Mrs P Killner Mrs L Parkinson Mrs K Smith Mid-day Supervisory Assistants (MDSAs): Mrs L Denning (Senior MDSA) Mrs L Callaway Mrs S Meatcher Mrs L Parkinson Mrs D Russell Mrs A Waite Mrs M Hawksworth (Positive Play Leader) Mrs C Banks Governing Body: Mr P Paisey (Foundation/Chairman of Governors) Rev J Findlay (Foundation/Ex-Officio) Vacancy (St Mark’s - Foundation) Vacancy (St Thomas - Foundation) Mr N Curtis (Parent) Mr S Young (Parent) Ms K Boswell (Parent) Mr F Sheehan (Parent) Mrs D Melville (Parent) Mrs V Shield (Parent) Mr D Brown (Community/ Vice-Chair of Governors) Mr R Bexon (Community) Mrs P Killner (Non-teaching) Mrs S Bale (Teaching Staff) Mr M Sambrook (Teaching) Mr G Flemington (Headteacher) Mrs M Douglas (Local Authority) Mr B Moss (Local Authority) Mrs D Shanley (Clerk to the Governors) These are accurate only at the time of printing.

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How can parents support their children?

School Times School starts promptly at 8.50 am. Children need to be on site between 8.40 and 8.50 am. Lunch is from 12.15 pm until 1.30 pm and school ends at 3.25 pm. A good, prompt start for your child is a good start to the day for all of us. Lateness causes anxiety for your child, creates additional work for the school and interferes with the smooth running of the school. If you need help or advice please contact Mrs Norma Hallett, the Parent Support Adviser (PSA) or the Headteacher. When your child is absent from school Please inform us as soon as possible to avoid us telephoning you to establish a child’s whereabouts! This can be done in person at reception, by note (to class teachers) or contact book, telephone call (01722 333497 – or leave a message on the answer phone at any time), by email (admin@st-marks.wilts.sch.uk). Friends of St Mark’s The school has a thriving and supportive Parent Teacher Association called The Friends of St Mark’s. They organise many large events e.g. summer fayre to raise money for the extras in school for all children to enjoy. In recent years they raised enough money for the ICT Suite, adventure playground and the Garden Room. They work tirelessly to support many other events in school e.g. Parents’ Meetings for Y2 Transfer. It is an excellent way for parents to meet others and do something for the good of the school. Please ask the PSA or office for further details. Keep us informed of important changes Please inform us immediately of any changes to your details e.g. address, mobile numbers etc so you can be contactable at all times e.g. if your child is ill or has been involved in an accident. Visiting the school We respectfully ask that all visitors report to reception staff located in the front entrance of the school. This is to ensure the safety of children. Our reception area is accessible throughout the day for visitors. Visitors sign ‘in’ and sign ‘out’ of the Visitors’ Book and will be issued with a name label. We respectfully remind all visitors to keep to pedestrian pathways on site. The main gates and entrance drive are for vehicular access only. Please be vigilant at all times for traffic and children. Parents can refer to the ‘Guidelines for Adult Helpers in School’ if they wish to be more involved. Parents should complete and return the agreement section. Homework A copy of our policy is available through our website (www.st-marks.wilts.sch.uk). It follows government guidelines for children of junior school age. Each year group sends parents a detailed schedule of what to expect over a period of time so you can support your child’s learning at home. All children have a Home/School Communication book for comments/messages to pass each way. This book will have homework information or weekly schedules to refer to. Home School Agreements (HSAs) Parents and children are invited to sign this important commitment. It reinforces the partnership between home and school to help us achieve the best for your child. Class teachers sign on behalf of the school. The HSA clearly sets out the responsibilities of each party and starts the year in a transparent and fair way for all. When things go well in school… Please tell us – we respond well to praise just like children do. Written testimonies are always very welcome as letters, emails etc. Positive reinforcement helps everyone. When things go wrong… Please tell us so we can help resolve things quickly and amicably. Most problems can be sorted informally through talking with class teachers. Alternatively the Year Leader can be approached to clarify or provide more assistance. However, sometimes some issues need to be considered more formally by the Headteacher. Our Complaints Procedure clearly sets out the routes to resolve issues. Copies are available for parents via the website.

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How do we look after your child? School Rules and Behaviour Policy We have high expectations of behaviour achieved through a partnership with home. Excellent behaviour is greatly appreciated and enables children to flourish. We, as adults, model the behaviour we expect from children. We encourage, reward and reinforce these behaviours we value. Our policy is designed to encourage self-discipline – it is not just a list of rules, rewards and sanctions. St Mark’s transmits its values in relation to the standards of behaviour. We welcome positive behaviour and deal firmly, fairly and consistently with negative behaviour. Our policy is available via the website and is summarised for parents and children to refer to. Anti-Bullying Policy Bullying is defined as intimidating behaviour – physical and/or psychological – where an individual or a group is exerting power over others. This is more often exhibited over a period of time rather than as one off events. We use the acronym STOP – Several Times on Purpose. We recognise that this unwanted behaviour can cause considerable distress. However, when we know about issues we endeavour to intervene swiftly, firmly and consistently. Often school is the last to know of issues and we appreciate early and appropriate information to act upon. Pastoral Care Each class teacher is responsible for the care of the children in their class. We recognise that if children are happy and feel secure in school they have a better chance to learn and develop. When children are anxious, about any aspect of school, they cannot fulfill their potential. Knowing something about each child helps us strengthen the relationship between teachers and pupils. Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) This is something that is covered in each year group. We use the Channel 4 ‘Living and Growing’ series of programmes to support our teaching. We place increasing emphasis on understanding yourself, exploring feelings and looking at relationships. This is in addition to the biology of reproduction. The policy is available via the website. Videos are available for parents to inspect. Medical needs If your child becomes ill during the day we may need to contact you to seek advice or to collect them. We are not allowed to keep tablets, creams or pain relief. We cannot dispense over the counter medicines, even with your verbal consent. If treatment needs to be given we will require a completed consent form and prescribed medicines. If your child is ill, especially sickness bugs and/or diarrhoea, please be vigilant with returning too early. Children should not return after sickness for 48 hours as they often can vomit in school again or pass on germs unintentionally Please think carefully before sending poorly children to school to see ‘how they get along’. Please reinforce the basics at home of blowing noses with disposable tissues and washing hands with soap/water. Children with asthma should always keep an inhaler in school. Special Education Needs (SEN) Some children require some extra or different types of support to assist their learning. This can take many forms e.g. one to one support, small group work or in class support. Our SEN policy is reviewed annually and constantly updated to reflect changes in procedure. Some children need specific help e.g. reading and some need more generic help e.g. social skills. Some children are ‘gifted and talented’ in particular areas and they too require something different to access the curriculum and fulfill their potential. SEN provision is directed by the school’s SEN Coordinator (Mrs Ibbotson). Appointments are available weekly for parents to attend meetings (day tbc). Keeping Healthy St Mark’s holds the Healthy Schools Plus Award. To support this we ask that parents send in healthy snacks for break time e.g. fruit, and supply a balanced packed lunch i.e. not too many processed foodstuffs. We also have a rule about not bringing treats for your child’s birthday e.g. cakes. Previously we have had issues with the provenance of food e.g. allergies as well as issues with children not always being able to reciprocate the gesture to the whole class. Nurture Groups Some children need support with friendships, social skills etc. This group helps meet additional needs that many children can develop. Supervised activities help children function better in class.

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How can we safely travel to school?

The school published its School Travel Plan (STP) in March 2010. The STP document, which is available via the school website, looks at all the barriers to safe travel to and from the school site. We encourage parents and children to travel safely, in good time and give due care and attention to others on or off site. Parents often ask if their child can bring a mobile phone, or an MP3 player, with them if they make their own way to or from school. However, we do not allow either of them in school. Many schools report they hinder safety especially when children are crossing roads whilst texting, making a call or listening to music.

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What happens when…‘I don’t know what I don’t know?’ Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when the children transfer at the end of Y6? Children go to a variety of ‘secondary’ schools for Y7 (KS3). These include state boys or girls schools, state boys or girls grammar schools, private schools or out of county secondary schools. Parents need to apply for a place at their preferred school in the autumn before their children leave. Grammar school entrance is via the 11+ exam (a Saturday in late November). Full details of the 11+ process are given to children in Y5 after staff have attended meetings at either grammar school, usually in July. A meeting for Y6 parents is offered early in September. Who could I speak to if I didn’t want to approach the school directly? Please contact our PSA (Mrs N Hallett) on n.hallett@st-marks.wilts.sch.uk or 07873 427658. What happens with Assembly and Collective Worship (CW)? As a Church School Collective Worship is an integral part of the school day. Assemblies occur daily in the school hall each morning at 9.00 am. Some CW sessions are led by school staff and some by the team of local clergy (now five members). The school follows a programme of topics from the ‘Values for Life’ scheme, as well as integrating key events in the Christian calendar. What happens when I need to find further information? We put much of our information in the download section of our website. Many are updated annually to take into account our responsibilities and ensure current best practice and common sense is borne in mind. Any policies not available can be requested via the school office. What happens when I want to book an appointment to see a teacher? Although we are available daily for informal talks with parents there are occasions when a more formal, private discussion is called for e.g. Parents’ Evening (October, March and July). All appointments can be made via the school office so a mutually convenient time can be agreed. What happens about trips? Do the children have any visits? Yes – lots! Some are local visits, often close to the school. Occasionally they may visit important sites connected with the current topics e.g. Old Sarum or Salisbury Cathedral. Y6 children have the opportunity to attend a residential trip at Osmington Bay, Weymouth. School trips are designed to complement school activities and learning. Many trips, as well as visitors to school are free and some we have to charge for to cover the cost e.g. The Life Education Bus. See section about charging and remissions. What happens when we want to take holidays during term time? Parents need to fill in a yellow holiday request form (available from the office or via the front entrance) if they wish to take their children out during term time. The Headteacher is allowed to authorise a maximum of 10 days holiday during an academic year. There are exceptions to this. The Headteacher is not allowed by law to authorise absence during national curriculum test week (SATs week in May each year) or because families would like a day off to celebrate a birthday/catch up with visitors etc. If parents seek more than their ‘allowance’ or do not work reasonably with school we may be obliged to involve the Educational Welfare Officer. What happens about eating at school? The school offers appetising mid-day meals daily. The choice includes a hot main meal or a vegetarian option. Dinner money is paid on Monday for the week in advance. Some families may qualify for free school meals. Please contact the office for details and an application form or visit the school website. Alternatively children can bring their own packed lunch from home. If your child is late in e.g. medical appointment please inform us if they require a dinner for that day by 9.30 am at the latest so it can be cooked! We respectfully remind parents not to send in peanuts or peanut products because of severe allergic reactions of some of our children – even when passed by touch. Most children with a packed lunch eat in their own classrooms or outside if the weather permits, to minimise pressure on the hall, which can only comfortably accommodate 160 diners.

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How do we keep you informed?

Newsletters These are sent out fortnightly – always on a Thursday. They are usually two sides only in length and produced on coloured paper. Copies are on notice boards and held in the front entrance. All newsletters are held on the school website for easy reference. Telephone Calls Occasionally we need to contact you by phone e.g. exploring an unexpected absence, child injury etc. Please help us by answering promptly. If we are unsuccessful with a landline we may try a mobile contact. Please inform us promptly if numbers change. Text Messaging We use a text messaging service (Teachers2parents) to contact many people instantly. The service selects groups of mobile numbers to send the same message e.g. informing you that the school is closed due to severe weather. The service does not require you to answer or acknowledge the message. The service can be adapted to send specific texts to a group rather than everyone e.g. informing parents the football team will be late returning from a match. It can also be used to send reminders or to request you contact the school urgently. It can also convey positive messages quickly, especially if parents do not always visit the site daily. Having your current number is vital. The system is not foolproof and will not replace other mediums. School closures will still be announced via Spire FM and BBC Radio Wiltshire. Website The website is updated regularly and is a good point of reference (www.st-marks.wilts.sch.uk). Emails We can send some correspondence via emails (to reduce paper usage) if we have up to date information. However, not all parents want to receive such electronic information or do not have the capacity. We can also be contacted on admin@st-marks.wilts.sch.uk. Bookings for parents’ evening can be made via on booking@st-marks.wilts.sch.uk. Notice Boards We display newsletters and advertise events in a notice board on the top playground near the mobile. We also use our front entrance/reception area to publicise various events. Letters We send numerous letters for information and to gain specific consent. Copies are usually held in the office. General permissions are sought when a child begins at the school (Forms to Complete). These are invaluable to ensure smooth transfer of information and ensure parents’ wishes are adhered to. Permission can be altered in writing at any time. Download Section There is a facility on the school’s website to download some of our policies e.g. behaviour, Child Protection etc as well as frequently used forms e.g. holiday request form, newsletters etc. School Planner In an attempt to plan ahead we produce a yearly planner setting out the main events for the academic year. We try our best to stick to the plan and very rarely have to re-schedule events. In person Information is a two way process – please ask questions in person if unsure. The Headteacher is available most days without appointment (8.30 - 8.55 am and 3.25 – 3.35 pm) or contact reception. Class teachers are also available before and after school without the need for an appointment (8.30 – 8.40 am). Experience tells us that keeping these communication channels open benefits everyone. If in any doubt please contact us and we’ll do our best to assist you. Termly Curriculum Letters Each term Year Leaders publish a seasonal termly letter outlining what will be covered in areas of learning and how parents can often support their children’s learning.

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What should the children wear?

We are proud of all our children and think that when they are dressed smartly in their uniforms they are better prepared to learn at school. Our uniform is simple and supports a sensible approach. Please note that we now hold very little stock in school. This is because we have previously had to buy it in bulk. This costs money and often left us with stock in unpopular sizes. The new system reduces our outlays, releases space in the office and gives a transparent system for all to use. Please note that scarlet is the school colour. Please ensure all clothing has your child’s name in or on it. PE bags, or an equivalent, are particularly convenient. Second-hand uniform e.g. embroidered sweatshirts are available on request - usually on Parents’ Evenings. Ordering Uniform To make things easier for the office and more transparent for parents we offer six dates in the calendar for ordering uniform. Orders received before these dates (usually the penultimate Friday in each term) will be held until one bulk order can be dispatched. Our manufacturer then has two weeks to produce the garments, which should be delivered on the first day of the next term. Our School Uniform is…

Embroidered round neck sweatshirt (Fruit of the Loom – tumble dryable) available via the office or Plain round neck sweatshirt or Cardigan (Plain) – sourced by parents

Grey or black school trousers or tailored shorts or Grey school skirt/culottes White or red polo shirt or white shirt/blouse (long or short sleeves) Red and white gingham/striped dress or Grey pinafore dress

We can also offer an embroidered fleece and an embroidered reversible jacket (waterproof and fleece). An order form in enclosed in the pack for your convenience and can also be found on the website. These items are ‘in addition to’ a jumper/cardigan and not a replacement. Shoes It is important that children wear sensible school shoes (preferably black or brown) and not trainers. Shoes with large heels are particularly unsuitable for the safety of children, especially when they need to run and play at break times. In the summer children can wear proper tailored sandals. Slip on footwear e.g. mules, flip flops or ‘Crocs’ are not suitable for school. Practicality is essential. Boots, of any kind, are not allowed. Sports Kit

Red T-Shirt with printed logo and Navy blue/black plain shorts and Plimsolls (indoor PE sessions) and Trainers (outside sessions) Tracksuits or equivalent are recommended for outdoor sessions One-piece swimming costume for girls and swimming hat (term 5 and 6 only) Swimming trunks and hat for boys (term 5 and 6 only)

Where can we buy items from?

The School office (Embroidered items or with our logo can be ordered via the school office)

Any local clothing retailer, Supermarket etc Hairstyles Hairstyles should be sensible and practicable. Coloured hair or extreme cuts are not suitable for school. Long hair should be kept tidy and preferably tied back. Hair should not impede PE lessons. Tied back hair is less susceptible to transmittable agents e.g. head lice. Extreme hairstyles are often difficult to reverse and can cause anxiety to your child. Please be vigilant. Jewellery No Jewellery should be worn for school. Exceptions include a sensible watch and stud earrings. Pierced ears, within the first 6/8 weeks, should be covered with a plaster/medical tape (provided by home) during sports sessions. Please note that ‘taped’ ears are not suitable to be in the pool. For health and safety reasons children are not permitted to wear necklaces or bracelets or rings because of the potential danger to the wearer and others. This includes ‘religious symbols’. Any parent having concerns over this should speak directly to the Headteacher.

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What is our Curriculum?

At St Mark’s we are aware that the world in which we live today is one that is changing at an ever increasing rate. We understand that the children of today and the adults of tomorrow will be called on more than ever before to show adaptability, flexibility, independence, open mindedness and resilience in order to thrive and succeed. Therefore our curriculum seeks to foster and develop such skills at its core whilst delivering something which is broad and balanced and encompasses a whole host of knowledge, skills and understanding in the following key areas:- Human and social, linguistic and literary, mathematical, scientific, technological, physical, moral, emotional, spiritual, aesthetic and creative. Our school curriculum is concerned with the highest possible personal development of each individual pupil in all facets:- Intellectual, emotional, social, physical and spiritual – they are all equally important Our aims are to help pupils to:-

develop lively, enquiring minds, the ability to question and argue rationally and to apply themselves both mentally and physically;

acquire understanding, knowledge and skills relevant to adult life and employment in a fast changing world;

use language and number effectively;

develop personal, moral values, respect for religious values and understanding of other races, religions and ways of life;

understand the world in which they live and the inter-dependence of individuals, groups etc;

value human achievements and aspirations;

find pleasure in learning and experience success;

develop creativity and aesthetic awareness. International Primary Curriculum (IPC) From September 2009 the school embarked on a new venture. Although OFSTED rated our curriculum (learning experiences) as outstanding we have been working for some time to make further improvements. After considerable research we decided the IPC best suited our needs and that of our children. The IPC was developed for British schools overseas many years ago but has continued to evolve. It is a collection of topics (choice of 40) varying in length from a few weeks to several months. Each topic is designed to develop knowledge as well as transferable skills. It does so by combining discrete subjects e.g. history, geography, technology, science etc into a cross-curricular topic. Each IPC unit ‘blocks together’ particular skills/knowledge/areas of learning to build on children’s successes and reinforce learning. Any gaps are analysed and filled with discrete teaching activities. This ensures full curriculum coverage. Each topic begins with an ‘entry point’. This intended is to inspire the children – setting out the ‘big picture’ of what will be covered in the topic. This ‘awe and wonder’ activity e.g. dressing up, recreating a scenario of an airport etc is designed to capture interest. The ‘exit point’ is the culmination of many weeks of learning and may involve a presentation or a play etc. The children are constantly assessed on what they have learnt and how they apply this knowledge. Some areas of learning e.g. English, maths, PE, RE etc are not included or catered for. The year groups will still look at creating links and improving coherence e.g. tying English writing activities to fit the current IPC topics. Each Year group produces a comprehensive plan of the topics covered, resources that may be used and how parents can reasonably support their child’s learning. As we become more used to each topic parents will be invited to take part in certain entry/exit points.

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What do others think about our school?

OFSTED – Who exactly are they? OFSTED – the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills – came into being on 1 April 2007. It will inspect and regulate care for children and young people, and inspect education and training for learners of all ages. OFSTED are undergoing many changes and we still await confirmation of their new remit – due for September 2011. OFSTED Report – Where can I access them? The most recent inspection occurred on 16th June 2009. The report can be accessed via: http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxcare_providers/urn_search?urn=126364&type=2&submit=Go Scroll down the page to see the Latest Reports. Some pleasing quotes from the latest inspection report (2009): ‘This is a good school where pupils make outstanding progress in their personal development. An outstanding curriculum ensures they enjoy developing these skills in addition to achieving high standards, particularly in English and science.’ ‘Pupils thoroughly enjoy the very wide range of curricular activities and their attendance is above average. One pupil wrote in a literacy exercise, ‘If you want your child to have fun and a good education, send your child to St Mark’s Junior School.’ Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools (SIAS) As a Church of England School (Diocese of Salisbury) the school undergoes a separate ‘Church Inspection’ by a registered inspector. The full report can be viewed via our download section of the school website. It will also be published nationally via: http://www.natsoc.org.uk/ (Church Schools Inspections (SIAS). Highlights include:

The school, through its distinctive Christian character, is outstanding at meeting the needs of all learners

The impact of collective worship on the school community is good

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the school as a church school is good

Established Strengths:

The personal development of the children is very good and they are supported in growing into self-confident and self-evaluative individuals

Well-established positive relationships between all stakeholder groups support the children’s outstanding personal development

An open, transparent leadership system that parents find a real aid to working in partnership with the school

Parents’ Questionnaire Each year (May) we survey our parents to gain valuable feedback. We endeavour to use the same basic questions to allow us to compare results over time. The results are published in the download section of the school website for you to inspect. Overall, the responses are very positive. The areas for development are then considered by the Parents’ Council, staff and governors. We take feedback seriously and always listen to reasonable requests and ideas. Report Feedback Forms In early July we publish your child’s annual school report. There is a feedback form for parents to complete about specifics to their children, as opposed to more generalisations in the parents’ questionnaire. The forms are kept year on year to help us improve what we do. Parents tell us they find the simple format easy to read and helps compare progress easier year on year.

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How can you get in touch with us?

Address If you ever need to write to us, or use a sat-nav to locate us, please use the following address: St Mark’s C.E. Junior School Somerset Road Salisbury Wiltshire SP1 3BL Telephone If the phone is not answered (e.g. out of hours, high demand times etc) please leave a message:

01722 333497 (main landline – reporting absence, enquiries etc) Fax The school has a separate fax line to receive incoming messages at all times:

01722 328978 Email If the content is general i.e. not sensitive or confidential please use the main address, which is read by several staff. If the content is specifically for the Headteacher please use the alternative address:

The main address: admin@st-marks.wilts.sch.uk Bookings for Parents’ Evenings: booking@st-marks.wilts.sch.uk For the Headteacher: head@st-marks.wilts.sch.uk

Governors School governors play a vital role in the life of our school. They meet frequently, depending on need throughout the year, to oversee the general policy and direction of the school. Any correspondence with governors should be addressed to the clerk to governors at the school, in the first instance.

Clerk to the Governors: Mrs D Shanley (c/o School Office) Chair of Governors: Mr P Paisey (c/o School Office)

Full Governor Body Meetings: This includes all the governors, meeting six times a year (at least once a term). They receive a report from the Headteacher and from each of the committees, if they have met since the previous meeting. The governors meet regularly in school, take an active role and give freely of their time. Their active support and diverse expertise is greatly appreciated and of benefit to the children at the school. Much of the governors’ work is delegated to further committees: Curriculum Committee: This committee is concerned with teaching and learning and how this is reflected in the data e.g. test results, targets, evaluations etc. They deal with all curriculum policies and planning. Personnel Committee: This committee is concerned with issues related to human resources in the school. These include appointment of staff, class sizes, admissions, staff changes etc Resources Committee: This committee is concerned with monitoring energy usage, health and safety issues, regular building inspections, agreed maintenance programmes, building and improvement projects, site accessibility, adhering to legal requirements e.g. disability access. The committee also controls all the financial aspects of school life. This includes setting the budget and subsequent revisions, monitors spending patterns, ensuring proper procedures are used, evaluating if the school provides value for money, ensuring accredited auditing of the accounts etc.

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What is our Admission Policy?

Admission of Pupils and Visits by Prospective New Parents The school welcomes visits by parents who are considering sending their children to the school. The Headteacher will be happy to talk about the school, answer questions and show parents around during the school day. Please telephone to make an appointment. Our admissions policy follows that of Wiltshire Local Authority which requires all parents to apply to the LA on the appropriate form. Forms can be collected from the school office or by contacting County Hall (01225 713000). Criteria for Admission This is the priority order given to applications when there are more applications than available places:- 1. Vulnerable children Looked After Children (LAC) as defined in Section 22 of the Children’s Act 1989, Children from families registered with the National Asylum Support Service. Children with a severe medical condition (where the condition is of a long term and seriously

disabling nature and where written evidence has been provided with the application from a senior medical officer or the child’s general practitioner or specialist showing it would be detrimental to the child’s health not to admit him/her to the school).

2. Linked Infants’ School (Step, half and foster siblings are also included in this category) A child is considered under this criterion if: An older sibling is on the roll of the preferred school, or the linked junior school in the case of

applications to an infants’ school, at the deadline date; and The sibling is not in their final year at the school; and The child lives within the designated area of shared area of the school at the same address

as the older sibling.

3. In-area siblings (Step, half and foster siblings are also included in this category) A child is considered under this criterion if: An older sibling is on the roll of the preferred school, or the linked junior school in the case of

applications to an infants’ school, at the deadline date; and The sibling is not in their final year at the school; and The child lives within the designated area of shared area of the school at the same address

as the older sibling. 4. Other in-area children A child is considered in this category if they live within the designated area of the school or an area shared by the preferred school and another school. 5. Out-of-area siblings (Step, half and foster siblings are also included in this category) A child is considered under this criterion if: An older sibling is on the roll of the preferred school, or the linked junior school in the case of

applications to an infants’ school, at the deadline date; and The sibling is not in their final year at the school and The child lives at the same address as the older sibling. 6. Other Children Children to whom none of the above criteria apply. If there are more applications than places available within any of the criteria above then the straight-line distance from the child’s home address to the school will be used as a tiebreak. Distances will be measured using Ordnance Survey eastings and northings. In the event that two or more distances are identical, the allocation of places will be decided by casting lots. The final year is Year 6 for a Primary School. A sibling (i.e. brother or sister) is defined as a child who shares one natural parent, a step

brother or sister, or has been legally adopted or fostered into the family. The address that determines a child’s designated or shared area is the place where s/he is

ordinarily resident at the deadline for admissions. There is not a guarantee that a younger sibling will obtain a further place in the same school as his/her brother or sister.

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What does the school charge for? Charging and Remissions Policy The term ‘Parents’ is used throughout to mean biological parents, legal guardians or carers. We have been obliged to make a statement on charging and remissions for certain defined activities. The Governors have determined that:- 1.1 All costs for activities undertaken during the school day must be met in full by voluntary contributions. 1.2 In the case of residential visits, the cost of board and lodging will legally be charged to parents. The remaining costs must be met in full from voluntary contributions. 1.3 Families in receipt of income support or family credit will be given remission of board and lodging costs only (NB other benefits may be available since publication. If in any doubt please contact the PSA for up to date information and amounts. Free Time vouchers can be re-deemed for some trips/activities) 2.1 Any costs involved in the individual tuition in the playing of a musical instrument, when in or out of school hours, will be borne by the parents of the child concerned. 2.2 The school invites parents or guardians to provide a recorder for school music lessons to reduce pressure on the school budget. However, no child will be penalised if this provision is not made. 3. Parents will be asked to pay the cost of any deliberate damage caused by pupils to school property or equipment. 4. Pupils will be asked to pay for, or provide, ingredients, materials, or equipment for practical subjects if the finished produced is to be taken home. School trips and Visitors Trips and visitors are often the most memorable part of children’s learning. Parents, children and staff recognise the benefits. Although we offer many trips/activities/visitors in school at no cost we also charge for some. We can only run them with a ‘voluntary contributions’. The costs are kept as low as possible – indeed we cannot ‘round up’ a cost from £9.98 to £10.00 – it’s against the law. Neither can we adjust the price to legislate for parents who cannot or choose not to pay. It is a contentious issue as we cannot subsidise or make up the shortfall of any cost. The headteacher reserves the right to cancel trips due to insufficient funds or prevent a child attending an event because of poor behaviour, insufficient funds or posing a significant health and safety risk to themselves or others. If in doubt please seek advice from the headteacher. We endeavour to inform parents of trips at the earliest opportunity to allow parents to plan for the expense. In certain circumstances the school will, at the discretion of the headteacher, allow payments to be made in installment.

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What information can I access via the website? Download section of school website (www.st-marks.wilts.sch.uk):

FORMS click on the

required format

INFORMATION click on

the required

document POLICIES click on the

required document

Admission Form word or

pdf Accessibility

Plan pdf Admissions pdf

Bicycle Licence word or

pdf Documents for

Reference pdf Anti-Bullying pdf

Ethnic background data collection

word or pdf

Fair Processing Notice

pdf Attendance pdf

Forms to complete word or

pdf Guidelines for

Helpers pdf

Charging and Remissions

pdf

Free school meals word or

pdf Home-School Agreement

pdf Child

Protection pdf

Holiday/Absence request word or

pdf OfSTED Report

2009 pdf Complaints pdf

Medical consent word or

pdf

Parents' Questionnaire Results 2009

pdf Health and

Safety pdf

Music Tuition agreement word or

pdf

Parents' Questionnaire

2010 pdf Homework pdf

Permission Form word or

pdf Planner 2010-11 pdf

School Rules and Behaviour

pdf

Pupil first language data collection

word or pdf

School Brochure pdf Special

Educational Needs

pdf

Pupil Religion data collection

word or pdf

School Profile pdf - -

Uniform order word or

pdf School Travel

Plan pdf - -

- - SEN general information

pdf - -

- - SEN leaflet -

reading pdf - -

- - SEN leaflet -

spelling pdf - -

- - SIAS Inspection Report (Church Inspection) 2009

word or pdf - -

Letters to parents

Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Whole School

Pantomime 24.11.10

Invitation T2 IPC 6.12.10