Fordham Primary School Background

SCHOOL ORGANISATION

There are seven classes in the school which cover the complete infant/junior age range. Inevitably, classes are going to consist of children of both sexes, and mixed ages and abilities. When new infants are admitted, they come into the Reception Class.
We have clear procedure for determining class organisation in new academic years. Copies of these procedures are kept in the school office.
Within their classes, the children work individually and in small groups. Although the children are in similar age groups, there is still a wide range of ability within each class. Therefore, a lot of work is done individually and in smaller groups within the class. Each child has the opportunity to work at his/her own level, whichever class he/she is in, at whatever age.
During the course of the school year, there may be students from Homerton and/or De Montfort Training College, and young people on Work Experience working throughout the school.

SCHOOL STAFF AND CLASSES with effect from September 2007

Parent/Teacher Consultations to discuss children's educational progress take place twice a year usually during October and in the Spring Term. Parents are welcome to make an appointment to see the class teacher at other times if they have any concerns about their child’s education and welfare.

In the second half of the summer term parents are invited into school to view children’s work and speak to the teacher on an informal basis.

Annual Reports received at the end of the school year (June/July).

The Reception Class teacher will make an ongoing assessment of all pupils, results of which will be passed onto the year 1 teacher. (Pupil profiles)

NATIONAL CURRICULUM AND R.E.

All the subjects of the Primary National Curriculum are taught: the three core subjects, Maths, English and Science, plus History, Geography, Technology, Art, Music and P.E. All children take part in P.E. and games as part of the National Curriculum. A child will only be excused on the grounds of ill-health on production of a note from his/her parents. Personal and Social/Health Education is covered in a variety of ways sometimes crossing individual subject boundaries. A cross curricular approach is often adopted regarding I.T. Religious Education in accordance with the local syllabus is also taught. As this is a Church of England Controlled Primary School, the Vicar of Fordham visits regularly and takes assemblies. Also, during the term, representatives from the Church and Salvation Army, Bury Christian Youth, the Catholic, Baptist, local Congregational and Methodist churches all come regularly to take assemblies. All parents have the right to withdraw their child from religious education or collective worship as long as the headteacher is informed. For more details please see our R.E. and Collective Worship Policies - The school holds a daily act of worship.

Assessment and Testing for all Year 2 (7 year old), and Year 6 (11 year old) children takes place every year.
‘This school’s assessment arrangements at Key Stage 1 have been overseen by Cambridgeshire Local Education Authority as reflecting the requirements of the National Curriculum’.