Deputy Head Teacher

Vision Statement

The Christ Church School vision is for everyone in our family to feel valued and become active, reflective, life-long learners in an inclusive, safe environment where happiness and success are our priorities.
Believe and Achieve!

The School

Christ Church CE Primary School is a one-form entry school.  We have 236 pupils on roll including 26 in our full time Nursery.  All of our children come from a range of ethnic backgrounds including Pakistani, Somali and Indian.
The school was judged ‘Good’ in our last Ofsted Inspection in January 2013.  We provide a broad and balanced curriculum and we are working towards implementing the new National Curriculum.
We have developed excellent working partnerships with parents and views from parents and pupils are regularly sought on a variety of issues.

We are a Local Authority School although as a Church School the Birmingham Diocese Board of Education guides us.  We are closely connected to Christ Church Parish.  Our ethos seeks to promote Christian values and morals while being sensitive to the range of cultures present in our school and community.  We seek to reflect the society in which we live and to provide positive images for the children in matters of race, gender, background, ability or disability.  Our SIAS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools) in March 2011 graded us as Outstanding.

Premises

The school has three playgrounds, a field, a computer suite and a library.  There is a hall which is used for Collective Worship, dance, music, gymnastics, games, drama and school productions, as well as for school lunches.  We have recently developed our upper school playground area to include a challenging trim trail and a M.U.G.A.  We also have a forest school area which is used for targeted children during curriculum time and for after school clubs.

The Governing Body

The school is governed, in accordance with an Instrument and Articles of Government, by a Governing Body of 13 members, comprising:

• 2 Local Authority Governors
• 4 Parent Governors
• 3 Foundation Governors
• 2 Community Governors
• 2 Staff Governors

The Head Teacher automatically becomes a member of the Governing Body unless he or she elects otherwise and notifies the Clerk of the Governing Body in writing of his or her decision not to become a member of the Governing Body.

The full Governing Body meets at least once a term and these meetings are usually early evening meetings.  However, committee meetings are held at 4.30pm.

The Governors take an active interest in school life and are invited to all appropriate functions.  

Staffing

• Senior Leadership Team
• Head Teacher
• Deputy Head Teacher
• Assistant Head Teacher
• School Business Manager
• TLRs
• EYFS Leader
• KS2 Leader
• SENCo
• Creative Curriculum Leader
• RE Lead Teacher

Classroom Based Staff

• 8 Teachers
• 3 HLTAs
• 8 Teaching Assistants

Non class based staff

• 7 – including part-time teachers for PPA cover

Other Support Staff

• Building Services Manager
• Senior Office Manager
• Administrative Assistant
• Clerical Assistant
• 8 Lunchtime Supervisors
• 2 Breakfast Club Supervisors

Budget

• Delegated Total S52 Formula School Budget Share (SBS)   1,256,198
• Pupil Premium             139,100
• Devolved Capital Standards Fund Allocation            6,576
• Total Funding for 2014/15 (@ 01.04.14)     1,401,874
• Sports Premium (April-September)                           3,451

Organisation

School Times

• Nursery 8.55am – 3pm (doors open at 8.45am)
• Rec – Year 6 - 8.55am – 3.15pm (doors open at 8.45am)

Class Organisation

The pupils are grouped according to age in classes of 30 pupils as follows:

• Nursery     Children aged 3-4 years
• Reception     Children aged 4-5 years
• Year 1      Children aged 5-6 years
• Year 2      Children aged 6-7 years
• Year 3      Children aged 7-8 years
• Year 4      Children aged 8-9 years
• Year 5      Children aged 9-10 years
• Year 6      Children aged 10-11 years

School Meals

School meals are cooked on site and served cafeteria style.  We also provide facilities for pupils who wish to bring a packed lunch.

Curriculum

English: English includes reading, writing, spelling, punctuation, grammar and spoken language.  We are implementing the new National Curriculum but believe in the development of English across the curriculum to develop skills. 
We feel it is important that the children are confident and enthusiastic readers who read for pleasure and value the support, involvement and encouragement of parents in this partnership.

Mathematics: Years 1,3,4 and 5 are following the New Curriculum for Maths and a new method of Assessment.  Years 2 and 6 are following the National Numeracy Strategy alongside APP.

Science: Children develop positive attitudes, learn basic scientific skills and knowledge, which will help them become more aware of the role and influence of science in our lives.  There are four areas of science in the National Curriculum – investigations, living things, materials and forces.

Religious Education: Religious Education is taught in accordance with the Birmingham Agreed Syllabus, which is multi-faith by its nature and aims to educate children about the world’s major religions. As a Church School we ensure that Christianity is taught in every year group.

We engage in a daily act of ‘Collective Worship’, through assemblies, which is broadly Christian in character and is linked to specific themes chosen to promote inquiry and discussion.  In both RE and our daily act of Collective Worship we also take into accounts other faiths, children’s backgrounds and beliefs.  Our aim is to help children understand that society is made up of people with differing values and beliefs.

Foundation Subjects: Children have the opportunity to explore and develop creative skills in the Foundation Subjects (D & T, Art, Music, Geography and History) through practical activities, research projects and Educational visits. Maths and English skills are embedded during these lessons and provide opportunities to use and apply knowledge. Topic work begins with a ‘Wow start’ and finishes with a Grand Finale when work is celebrated in a fun way.

Computing: Our aim is to provide the children with as wide a range of experience in the application of ICT as possible including computing and programming.  The children use computers, interactive whiteboards, digital cameras, programmable toys and a range of sounds equipment throughout the curriculum.

Modern Foreign Languages: All children in Key Stage 2 have the opportunity to understand and communicate in French with teaching providing a balance of spoken and written language laying the foundation for further foreign language teaching in Key Stage 3.

SEN (Special Educational Needs): There is a part-time (60%) non-class based SENCo who supports pupils in all key stages.  Teaching Assistants are non-class based during the afternoon in order to deliver SEN Interventions. Pupils are monitored and assessed carefully by their teachers throughout the school.  14% of our children are on the Special Needs Register.  At Christ Church CE Primary School we work closely with outside agencies including Pupil and School Support, Speech and Language Service, Brays Outreach Service and Stepping Stones.

PE: All children are taught two hours of PE each week.  Teachers are following the 2014 New National Curriculum planning framework.  Throughout the school year each class will take part in Games, Dance, Athletics, Outdoor activities and Gym.  In addition to this, Years 4 and 5 go swimming and most reach the expected level of being able to swim 25m unaided by the end of the two years.  We use Project Hero to deliver sports instruction for the new National Curriculum and at lunchtime for Yrs 4, 5 and 6.  We also offer a range of sports after school clubs.

Breakfast Club

At Christ Church CE Primary School we have a breakfast club which is held at Christ Church a few minutes’ walk away from school.  Breakfast Club runs between 8am – 8.45am and is free to attend.

Pastoral Care and Discipline

PATHS stands for Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies and will help our children to recognise emotions and make sensible choices about their own behaviour and that of others.

During the lessons, children are taught to recognise and describe feelings, understanding that all feelings are okay but some feelings are comfortable like being happy or excited and other feelings are uncomfortable like being anxious or annoyed. Children also learn to use control signals to manage their feelings.
Parent workshops have been held for all the parents across school and our lunchtime supervisors have also completed PATHS training.

Every day a child is chosen randomly in each class to be the 'PATHS Child of the Day.' This child wears a special shirt and is given important jobs to do during the day. At the end of the day, compliments are given to this child by children and staff in their class.

Links with the Community

Christ Church CE Primary School is part of the very active ‘Sparklers’ Consortium which covers the Sparkhill and Sparkbrook areas.  We are also part of the Calthorpe Teaching School Alliance.