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Standards and Quality Report 2006/7 |
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The School West Barns Primary School serves the community of West Barns village and its surrounding area including Belhaven, Tynefield and into the Lammermuir Hills up to the Halls, with many pupils coming from the nearby town of Dunbar. The present school building came into use in 1972 and overlooks the John Muir Country Park and the Firth of Forth. The building is on three floors; the lower ground housing the P1-P4 in two classrooms; the ground floor containing the administration offices, staffroom, medical / learning support room, the school hall / dining area and adjoining resource area, stage and kitchen; the upper floor caters for P4-P7 in two classrooms, with a covered balcony between housing a computer suite. During the session 2006/2007 the school roll comprised 96 pupils, 7 teaching staff including those designated to support pupils with learning difficulties and special needs, with 1 classroom assistant and 1 auxiliary and 2 Special Needs Auxiliaries. The Nursery is housed in a separate building to the rear of the main school and had, during session 2006/7, 15 pre-school pupils and 10 ante-pre-school children. The school is set in a large grass play area, with its own seven-a-side football pitch, and a tarmac netball pitch. West Barns School is co-educational and non-denominational providing education for children from approximately three to twelve years old. When year groups are required to be split, as in the case of P5/6 and P6/7, it is the policy of the school to do so by age. School Aims In West Barns School we aim:
As part of the school's procedures for monitoring and evaluating progress towards development targets, the following methods have been utilised during the session: Agendas of meetings Aims of the school Assessment records Curricular materials Curriculum structure and balance (audit) Departmental development plans Development plan - progress reports Diaries or records of work Displays in school Forward plans (teachers) Golden Rules ICT usage Individual education plans Minutes of meetings Parental involvement (record) Personal learning plans Pupil council (record) Pupil records of progress Pupil work sampled Quality Indicators School attainment targets School Development Plan Tracking records Current Development Priorities The following priorities were identified in last year's report and incorporated within the school's development plan this session: 1)
Begin preparing for
a Curriculum for Excellence 2)
Eco-School
Development 3)
To develop the
Digital Classroom 4)
Nursery to Primary
1 induction; to develop Active Learning in the Early Stages 5)
Health Promoting
School Stage 2
1) Begin preparing for the
introduction of a Curriculum for Excellence Target: To familiarise staff with a
Curriculum for Excellence
Outcomes: - Staff will be familiar with the principles set out in a Curriculum for Excellence - Staff will be prepared to implement a Curriculum for Excellence on its introduction 2)
Eco-School Target: To develop environmental awareness through an Eco-School
improvement programme Outcomes: -
An Eco-School
committee is established which has representation from
teaching
and non-teaching staff, and pupils -
An Eco-Code is
formulated and implemented which meets the necessary criteria
for Eco-School status -
The pupil council
is integral to the development of the code and programme - The Eco-Code is displayed and used.
3) To
develop the digital Classroom
Target:
To
introduce Smart Boards into each classroom
Outcomes:
- Staff will be trained in the use of Smart Boards -
Smart Boards will be used to aid Learning & Teaching 4) Health Promoting School Stage 2
Target: To
build on Health Promoting School accreditation Outcomes: - To gain Health Promoting School Stage 2 accreditation 5) Improve induction into
Primary 1 from Nursery Target: To effect a smooth transition from Nursery to P1 Outcomes: Nursery pupils have a smooth entry into P1 The Curriculum
The overall structure of the curriculum, monitored by East Lothian Council through an Education Officer, continues to be very good. I t is broad and balanced across each aspect, with additional time given to ICT, Science and Technology. All pupils are encouraged to participate in the production of the website, with senior pupils having particular remits e.g. news items, JRSO, Views of the Month, etc. The website can be accessed at http://www.westbarnsprimaryschool.com/. In the Expressive Arts the programmes of study continued to be aided from the input of specialists teaching Physical Education and Music. The school continued to utilise the opportunities afforded by East Lothian Cultural Services in Drama, Art and Music Either French or German was taught in P6 or P7. Citizenship continued to be developed as part of the very effective Personal and Social Development programme. An incentive scheme was introduced for entry into school (i.e. lining up), which proved to be very effective and popular with the pupils. The school continued to promote Healthy Lifestyles
within the pupils and staff, with the Healthy Tuck Shop continuing to be
successful under the management of senior pupils. Parent volunteers ran our programme of Maths Challenges on Friday mornings. These have proved to be successful with pupils moving through levels, which concentrated on mathematical processes e.g. multiplication. Mathematics resources were revised with the introduction of TJ Maths from Levels B-E. Attainment The overall attainment in English language continues to be good. Most pupils achieved appropriate levels of attainment in listening, talking and reading, with many pupils at the early and middle stages achieving beyond these levels, however, writing can be improved and there will be a focus on this in the coming session with the introduction of new language resources, as well as a continuing programme of moderation within the school. In the early years the use of the Edinburgh Achievement of Literacy programme continued to produce dividends with P1 and P2 pupils reading and writing independently, with confidence. Pupils with additional learning difficulties continued to make good progress overall with the support of SFL auxiliaries and classroom auxiliaries. In Mathematics the overall attainment improved on
previous years. Attainment levels were generally above the national
averages. Most pupils were achieving appropriate levels of attainment in
key aspects of mathematics.
Throughout the school, pupils showed improving skills in mental
calculation.
However, it is always worth noting that care should be exercised when drawing conclusions from raw data as the school population in relationship to class size varies from year to year, and there can be distortion to the overall trend when the class size can mean that one pupil accounts for 10%, or more, of that class. It is also worth noting that pupils with special educational needs, or a specific learning difficulty, are counted in the overall percentages. The target for the school in 2007/8 is to sustain and improve upon the successful year past, with specific emphasis on Writing. Learning and Teaching
The standard of teaching within the school, and the
support which pupils enjoy through Classroom Assistants and Auxiliaries,
continued to be of a very high standard. Teachers have taken on board the AiFL (Assessment is
For Learning) initiatives which been instigated by SEED, and Formative
Assessment, an integral element in the programme, has been adopted as a
core approach to Teaching and Learning. This approach allows pupils to be pro-active in their
learning; to have fore knowledge of what is expected of them; to
experience positive feedback which allows for Personal Learning Planning;
to share learning outcomes and formulate future learning; to interact with
others in a positive learning environment, and to enjoy a more purposeful
approach to the curriculum. Teachers responded constructively to pupils' work sharing the learning outcomes and expanding on sound practice already employed with regard to Formative Assessment. Learning experiences for pupils continued to be very
good with innovative and exciting projects and lessons undertaken. The
introduction of Enterprise in the curriculum further enhanced the learning
experiences for pupils. Pupils' had the opportunity to participate in after school learning in residential experiences, after school arts and craft club, and various sporting activities. Pupils continued to be well motivated and worked hard. They are benefiting from Formative Assessment and were able to contribute to the targets which were set in relationship to their individual and group learning. The needs of pupils requiring additional support are well met. There are Individual Learning Plans and Action Plans for pupils with Additional Support for Learning needs, and those with behavioural difficulties. Various outside agencies continued to visit the school to help support pupils with particular needs, and the school continued to employ two Additional Support for Learning auxiliaries to support class teachers working with ASN pupils. A variety of aids are used within the school to make sure that pupils with additional needs can access the curriculum, e.g. alphasmart word processors, dictaphones, sloping desks, digital text reader, digital voice recorders, etc. Visiting Specialists continued to plan, teach, and assess alongside the class teachers. Homework was regularly set and marked with positive feedback given to pupils. Forward Planning continued to evolve with assessment for, of and as learning, playing an integral part in the process. The recording of Assessment is computerised which is an aid in the sharing of information amongst the staff. It is completed with particular emphasis on differentiation within composite classes. West Barns continues to be at the forefront in its use of technology within learning and teaching and pupils have the opportunity to use computers, digital cameras, digital video cameras and digital recorders within their learning experiences, whilst staff have the opportunity to employ all of the above as well as an interactive smart board to enhance their teaching. A server within school has allowed for staff and pupils
to have space in which they can save their work and subsequently access it
from any school computer. It also means that the Internet can be accessed
from any computer within the school. The server allows the Headteacher to monitor forward plans, assessments and pupils’ work without requiring hard copies. Staff can access any pertinent documents, policies, etc., as well as being able to communicate with each other through the staff room facility. Parents continued to be encouraged to be active participants in their children's education as they can have a fundamental impact upon their child’s learning. Within the school's consultation procedures parents receive an interim report during the first term, and a comprehensive report on their child's progress at the end of the session. In addition to the reports parents are invited twice yearly to Parental Consultations when they can discuss their child's progress with the class teacher. West Barns Primary operates an open door policy and
parents are encouraged to come to the school to discuss any particular
concerns they may have. Support for Pupils
The quality of pastoral care continued to be very good, with staff showing considerable concern for all aspects of pupils' well being. The school has appropriate policies for dealing with issues of child protection and bullying, as well as maintaining Race Relations and Equal Opportunity high on the list of priorities. The school's continues to have a justifiable reputation for supporting and integrating vulnerable pupils and those with additional needs. All staff worked hard to provide an environment in which all pupils feel included. The school very successfully promoted pupils' personal and social development and encourages pupils to be active participants in their own development as learners. Arrangements for supporting pupils' transfer from nursery to primary and from primary to secondary school were very well planned. Teachers addressed pupils' learning needs effectively and support staff continued to make valuable contributions to the work of the school. By way of a system (Cause for Concern) the school has an effective computerised system by which staff can alert the Headteacher and Support for Learning teacher to pupils' individual learning, social and emotional difficulties, and to parental concerns. The school has continued to be very effective in helping pupils with specific difficulties i.e. learning, social, emotional or behavioural, to make good progress in their learning, and to develop their personal and social skills. Early intervention continued to have a positive impact on attainment. Many senior pupils take part in Buddying arrangements for Nursery and P1 pupils as part of Nursery-P1 transition. P7 pupils continued to take part in a transition programme over their last year in primary when they had the opportunity to integrate socially and educationally with pupils from other cluster schools with whom they will be attending Dunbar Grammar School. The programme continues to be beneficial for all pupils. The School Pupil Council allows pupils to have a voice in school matters, and as a further development, is allocated a budget, which they can spend at their own discretion for the benefit of the school and pupils. Through programmes such as Circle Time and the school’s
Positive Behaviour strategy almost all pupils demonstrate positive
self-esteem, co-operate well in the classroom and playground, and show
kindness to others. Ethos
West Barns Primary School has aims, which we hope reflect the ethos of the school. These aims are primarily focused on children's learning within a broad and balanced curriculum. The environment of the school, which is secure and happy, is intended to provide opportunities for each child which allows them to perform to the best of their abilities; where their attainment can be maximized; where their learning experience is of the highest quality regardless of gender, or social or cultural background; where they can learn to understand and care for their personal and wider environment, and they are helped towards understanding and accepting responsibility for their own actions; where children are helped to meet any challenge confidently whether it be physical, intellectual, emotional or practical. We also aim to involve the local community in the life of the school, and the staff and pupils in the life of the community, and through the Enterprise programme, are reaching out to the community to form active partnerships, which enhance pupils’ experience. Staff worked hard to create a welcoming environment for pupils, parents and visitors. Office staff, ancillary staff and classroom assistants made effective and valuable contributions to the life and work of the school. Pupils continued to be considerate, polite and generally well behaved. The school has a range of awards for encouraging pupils to succeed and for sharing their achievements with parents e.g. Star of the Week, Well Done Slips. Pupils, parents, staff and members of the community were treated fairly and with respect. West Barns Primary School has many strengths but takes particular pride in: - Climate and relationships - Pastoral care - Partnership with parents, and the community - Equality and fairness - A sense of common purpose within the staff Resources The school occupies an attractive site providing good opportunities for pupils to engage in outdoor activities, which promote Health and Fitness. The building is generally well maintained with bright and stimulating classrooms, although, as the curriculum develops, the need for space continues to be an issue within the school. West Barns Primary is very well resourced to meet the demands of the 3-18 curriculum and the Curriculum for Excellence and has continued throughout the session to add resources when they are necessary to enhance learning and teaching and allow teachers to deliver the curriculum in an effective way. The deployment of resources to develop a wide range of information and communication technology (ICT) skills in pupils continued to be very good and a key strength of the school. Staff continue to participate in the ELC Staff Development and Review, which has aided them in their Staff Development choices. The deployment of staff is very good with teaching staff well supported by ASN auxiliaries, auxiliary and classroom assistant. The PTA continued to contribute enormously in the acquisition of resources such as the Interactive Whiteboards, and take an active part in consultation with the school on matters which directly affect their children. Management, Leadership and Quality Assurance The Headteacher worked alongside teachers in classes, discussed the appropriateness of learning activities with them and monitored the progress of individual pupils. The Acting Principal Teacher had good relationships with pupils and other staff and had a major influence on the programmes within the school. Parents are informed of what is happening in the school through a monthly newsletter. The Development Plan is discussed with the PTA whose members are welcome to make comment and suggestions. The school continues to ensure that all staff are fully familiar with school policies and procedures with each class having a Policy Folder. Staff new to the school are given an induction pack, which details the procedures within the school on a day-to-day basis. The management structure within West Barns Primary continues to operate through teamwork with an emphasis on joint decision-making. There is a collegiate approach to decision making within the school which serves the staff, parents and pupils well. Promoted staff are always available to give advice and
offer support for teachers, classroom assistants, ancillary staff, parents
and pupils. A Quality Improvement Officer of East Lothian Council visits regularly and in consultation with the Headteacher, Staff and pupils monitors progress within the school. Other Achievements Throughout the past year staff and pupils have made noticeable contributions to the life and success of West Barns Primary School. The website continues to flourish and continues to highlight the achievement of pupils in all aspects of the curriculum. The school magazine was edited and produced by two of our senior pupils. A group of P7 pupils ran the Healthy Eating Tuck shop which is popular with many of the pupils. Our Football and Netball teams continue to compete well in their respective leagues. Brass instruction continued to be very popular with pupils. This has been helped by the individual tuition given by one of our parents. As part of our Christmas activities our brass players took part in Carols Under the Tree on the village green. National events such as Comic Relief, Children in Need
and Think Pink (Breast Cancer Awareness) continued to be well
supported. Senior pupils took part in a musical, Bomaz, to which parents and pupils were invited. Future Developments The areas planned for future
developments are as follows: 1)
To continue
developing the Curriculum for Excellence throughout the school 2) To introduce hand-held units which allow participation by the pupils in the use of Interactive
Whiteboards 2)
To seek to achieve accreditation at Stage 2 in the Health Promoting
Schools programme 3)
To develop Active learning in P1/2 4) To continue to develop planning and assessment which reflect the changing demands of the curriculum.
David Wharton Head Teacher October 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||