HOW WE MEASURE UP!

School Organisation

Currently the School is organised into five classes in the morning, with one year group in each class. For one afternoon each week the Year 3 and 4 classes join together for their work. Every class has its own class teacher(s), although in order to use the personal strengths of the staff there can be a re-organisation of classes and teachers on occasions to facilitate the most appropriate learning situation.

The teaching staff also have time out of the class every other week to carry out some of their management duties.

The five year groups, as named in the Education Reform Act, are organised as follows:

School Attendance 2002/03

Percentage of Pupils on Roll for at least one session           100%
Percentage of Authorised Absences                                       7%
Percentage of Unauthorised Absences                                0.02%

School Curriculum 

The curriculum aims are translated into practice through the range of activities prepared by the staff in accordance with the National Curriculum documents and Government guidelines. All staff use a range of teaching methods including whole class, group and individual teaching. The Reception class follow the Foundation Curriculum which starts pre-school. All other classes are taught the core and foundation subjects relevant to their ages and stage of development. The school follows the National Literacy and the National Numeracy Strategies.

 The core and foundation subjects are: 

CORE                                       FOUNDATION

English                                      History                           Art
Maths                                        Geography                      Music
Science                                     PE (Games, dance,            PSHE(Personal, Social

I.C.T (Information and              gym and athletics)             and Health Education.
communication technology          Design Technology
R.E

 In addition to these subjects, the children are invited to join a Spanish lesson after school once a week.  

There is a teacher responsible for co-ordinating each curriculum area. Special arrangements are made for children in Years 2, 3 and 4 who wish to pursue their musical talents by playing an instrument. A choice may be made of one or more instruments. Those available at present are recorder, guitar and violin, trumpet or comet, and keyboard. Details of these lessons are given on request. 

As well as receiving the required physical education determined by the National Curriculum children are also offered the chance to participate in a variety of sporting after school clubs, including Short Tennis with an LTA coach, football, cricket, and Country Dancing. Children in Year 3 complete a ten week swimming course during the Spring term and we take up opportunities to participate in competitions and festivals outside school, e.g: Kwick Cricket Competition, Country Dance Festival, etc. 

At the beginning of each term, each class teacher will send out written information outlining the curriculum details for that term and parents are always welcome to discuss the curriculum provision with the Class teacher and/or Headteacher. 

Religious Education

The Religious Education at St Thomas of Canterbury is based on the doctrines and teaching of the Catholic Church, so that a child may be led to know, love and serve God our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. All classes follow the Here I Am religious programme (recently updated) recommended by the Diocese and all staff participate in relevant Diocesan training. 

In our Catholic School, our faith permeates every aspect of our school life. The children are taught those truths which are matched to the stages of their development and guidelines are given in the syllabus recommended by the Diocese. 

Daily prayers are said by each class, and as a school we meet three times a week for joint worship. Sometimes these assemblies are class led, and parents and friends are encouraged to celebrate with us. Holy Days of Obligation can be celebrated at a Parish Mass at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Church by families and will be marked in school by a special, whole school assembly. At least once a year the whole school go to St Thomas of Canterbury Parish Church to celebrate Mass and parents and friends are encouraged to join us. 

Parents legally have the right to withdraw their children from RE lessons and collective worship and if this is requested a member of staff will supervise your child during these times. As our faith values underpin all we do, not just our RE lessons and Acts of Worship, we expect that your application for admission to the school signifies your acceptance of our desire to provide an education within a Catholic ethos. However, should you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to raise them with the Headteacher or a member of the teaching staff or Governing Body prior to your application for admission so that you can be sure St Thomas of Canterbury is the right school for your child.  

Information about the RE topics to be covered is given in the termly class newsletter and in the Here I Am information sheet which we give out at the beginning of the year. 

Sex Education

As in all other areas of the curriculum we believe the school has a role to play here which works in partnership with parents. 

We recognise that the children in our care come to us with a range of knowledge, needs, and abilities and therefore see sex education as an area of learning which is placed within the context of the child’s spiritual, moral, emotional and social development. We do not see Sex Education as a separate curriculum area but as an area of learning which permeates the whole curriculum and the general ethos of the school.

Physical growth, change and processes are introduced according to the child’s age and ability as detailed in the Science National Curriculum Programmes of Study, and this is statutory for all schools. However, Sex Education is obviously more than this and will include work on relationships, feelings and attitudes where the importance of caring human relationships are recognised.  

Parents have the right to withdraw their children from any part of the Sex Education Curriculum apart from that which is detailed by the National Curriculum Science Orders.  

If you have any concerns over this area of the Curriculum you are invited to discuss the matter with the headteacher who will be able to provide you with further information and show you the resources and materials used. Copies of the school’s Sex Education Policy are available to Parents/Carers on request. 

Equal Opportunities

The school strives to provide equal access for all members of its community. It has an Equal Opportunities Policy, a Racial Equality and Cultural Diversity Policy, and a Disability Access Plan which outline the ways in which the school works towards achieving this aim.

Parents are invited to comment on the school policies and procedures and copies of all relevant documentation are available from the school office. 

Complaints About the Curriculum

The Local Authority has drawn up a procedure, as required by the Education Reform Act 1988, to deal with any complaints by parents or others about the implementation of the National Curriculum and religious worship in schools, or other matters concerned with the curriculum responsibilities of schools or the Authority. A copy of the procedure is available in schools (and at the Education Department, County Hall, and in public libraries). A copy will be given if desired (a charge may be made for photocopying), to any person wishing to make a complaint about the relevant matters. 

Curriculum and Other Information

As required by the Education Reform Act 1988, the following papers and documents about the curriculum and related matters are held at the School, and are available for inspection to parents and others. A copy of these papers not covered by copyright will be supplied to parents (a charge may be made) on request. 

It would be most helpful if parents wishing to see or acquire any of these papers would let the School know in advance so that arrangements can be made to have them available. 

i)     The Authority’s statement of curriculum policy and the Governors statement of Curriculum Aims (where different). 

ii)    Circulars and other papers from the Government about the National Curriculum and related matters. 

iii)   Any schemes of work and syllabuses used in the School. 

iv)    The Authority’s procedures for the consideration of complaints about the curriculum. 

v)     The Authority’s agreed syllabus for religious education OR (in the case of aided schools) the School’s arrangements for the teaching of religious education. 

vi)          Any published reports on the School by OfSTED

Provision For Children With Special Educational Needs

All children have individual educational needs but some pupils have ‘Special Educational Needs’ and are supported by the staff through the appropriate use of resources and differentiated planning in line with the new Code of Practice. In addition, extra help from advisory teachers, support services, speech therapists, and other specialist teachers for hearing, visually and physically impaired children, is arranged when assessed as necessary, and when available. 

Parents will receive information about Special Educational Needs if their child is identified as needing support with their learning or behaviour. 

Parents may, if they wish, inspect the current Policy on Provision for Special Educational Needs, and are warmly invited to discuss any concerns/queries with the Special Needs Co-ordinator (Mr P Caws) or the Headteacher, (Mrs L Fairhurst) at any time. 

The Governing Body also elect a representative to have special responsibility for Special Needs. At the present time this Governor is Mrs Lorraine Issitt. 

Children for whom the English language is a second language are also given additional support within school under the direction and advice of specialist staff from the Local Authority. 

Provision for Children who are ‘Gifted’ or ‘Talented’

All children have abilities, personal qualities and talents which we need to identify and nurture. However some children have the potential to perform at a level well above their peer group in one or more areas of the curriculum. At St. Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary we aim to help all children grow and develop so that they achieve the highest standards possible. We have a policy for ‘Gifted and Talented Pupils’ and copies can be obtained from the school office (a charge may be made to cover photocopying). 

The school maintains a Gifted and Talented register and parents are informed if their child is on that register. Children who are identified as being more able are supported through the appropriate use of resources and through differentiated curriculum planning. On occasions they may also work outside of the classroom with another teacher as part of a small group of children with similar abilities. 

School Assessment Results

These are the overall results for St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School, 2003, followed by the comparative national results for 2002. (Please note that tasks and tests are slightly different from year to year and this year there was a separate test for Level 3 maths and significant changes to the Writing test).

 Teacher Assessment: Percentage at each level.

Task and Test Results: Percentage at each level.

Key: W = working towards level 1    Dis = Disapplied         Abs = Absent                                     

          U = unable to assess due to absence or disapplication.

NATIONAL RESULTS: 

Teacher Assessment: Percentage at each level.

Task and Test Results: Percentage at each level.