RAVENSCOTE JUNIOR SCHOOL
Welcome to Ravenscote Junior School Thank you for taking the time to find out more about Ravenscote Junior School. The purpose of this prospectus is to provide you with general information about the school and answer some of the questions you may have about your child’s education at Ravenscote and the day to day running of the school. Our school caters for children aged 7 to 11 years old, who come from a variety of local infant schools. We are a large junior school with 620 children. At Ravenscote Junior School, we offer a caring, engaging and secure learning environment for our children. Every aspect of our school is underpinned by our vision: Engage•Enrich•Excel We provide a varied and engaging Connected Curriculum, building on and linking key skills, to prepare your child for the future and, through a range of learning opportunities, equip them with the enthusiasm to pursue learning for the rest of their lives. We encourage the children at Ravenscote to have a sense of individual worth and the ability to realise their full potential by developing each child’s capacity to live as an independent, self-motivated person. We are proud of our happy, friendly school where all staff and governors work hard to provide the best school life for all of our children. In addition to support and challenge within our academic curriculum, we provide a wealth of pastoral support, including ELSA and key adults, to ensure that all children are provided with the support they need to thrive. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and show you our wonderful school. Yours sincerely, Amy Wells, Headteacher “We are proud of our happy, friendly school where all staff and governors work hard to provide the best school life for all of our children.” “Children achieve extremely well. They start to make rapid progress as soon as they join the school,which is sustained until they leave. This leads to very high standards.” Ofsted 1
Our Values Our school values are the foundation of our success. Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, TeamWork, Excellence & Happiness Each half term, we focus on a value and work with our children to understand what it means and how they can apply it to every aspect of their lives – school, home and community. Our Mission Statement Ravenscote Junior School is devoted to developing all our children to achieve their full potential academically, personally, socially and emotionally. Our mission is to create a safe, happy and inclusive learning environment which challenges and motivates. We believe that teaching and learning is a process of co-operative teamwork and we welcome and encourage the involvement of parents and others in the community. • Deliver high-quality learning experiences • Provide a wide range of extra-curricular activities which enable our children to grow in confidence and strive to become successful members of the community • Help our children develop self-awareness and a knowledge of the outside world • Help our children develop their own circle of friends and other supportive relationships • Fully involve our children in the process of education • Prepare our children for the challenges of the future • Ensure that our children are valued as people • Foster the hopes and dreams of our children Our Aims “Children almost always behave in a very caring and thoughtful way towards each other, especially to those whom they see as having special needs or who need extra help. This leads to all children having a strong sense of feeling part of the school community.” Ofsted 3 2
Extra-Curricular Activities Curriculum The Connected Curriculum ensures learning is effective, exciting and above all relevant to the needs of our children. All children will secure firm foundations in English and mathematics and this underpins a growing excellence in other subjects. Our child–led and knowledge-based curriculum offers a broad range of subjects from Year 3 through to Year 6. We believe in bringing learning to life, both in the classroom and within wider outdoor opportunities, with an emphasis on engaging and purposeful learning. The Connected Curriculum aims to develop a child socially, academically and spiritually. Our primary aim is to help develop a child so they are able to become an active member of our school community and society. The subjects and topics we teach enable children to learn and develop new skills, which they are able to link across their learning. Central to the Connected Curriculum is the development of reading, writing and mathematics. Reading, writing and mathematics are essential to understand the world around us. Ravenscote has a clear language of learning and our enrichment activities support these. For example, every year group has an overnight experience. These experiences enable our children to challenge themselves and discover talents they never knew they had. This is a clear definition of our vision, ‘Engage Enrich Excel’. Our subjects are: •Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, Computing and RaW (Religion and World Views) •Physical Education, Music and Spanish •History, Geography, Art and Design Technology, PSHE (Personal, social and health education) •Forest Schools Specialist Teaching We provide high quality specialist teaching for music, physical education and Spanish. Music maintains a high profile at Ravenscote – our specialist ensures that all our children are given the opportunity to develop a confidence and passion for music. Physical education is one of our strengths; sport and developing children from grass roots is a huge opportunity within our community. Our expert linguist delivers high quality language teaching and ignites a passion for learning languages. Special Educational Needs The Connected Curriculum structure at Ravenscote enables us to support a range of educational needs. Our Special Educational Needs provision is targeted and individualised and we cater for Gifted and Talented children through innovative teaching methods. At Ravenscote we offer a wide choice of extracurricular activities every day which take place before, during and after school. These activities provide many benefits for our children including developing social skills and building relationships, learning about long-term commitments and raising self-esteem and confidence. We offer an extensive range of after-school clubs, many of which are free of charge and led by our teaching team. Some of our after-school clubs are run by external providers. Educational Visits We recognise the importance of educational visits and their holistic value to the development of children. We believe that outdoor learning enriches the Connected Curriculum and can improve educational attainment. Residential Trips We organise residential trips for our children in years 4 and 6. These trips enable us to challenge the children in a different context. These experiences can be life changing and memorable for all the children. We also have over-night experiences at school in years 3 and 5. Early Risers and Ravens Roost We operate an Early Risers club and an after-school club (Ravens Roost). Both clubs are well attended and are an extension to our school day. The aim of our clubs is to enable the children to have fun in a caring environment. Early Risers runs every morning from 8:00am to 8:35am. Ravens Roost runs Monday to Friday with activities running from 3:25pm until 6:00pm. Ravens Roost accepts both childcare vouchers and Tax-Free childcare. “Leadership and management are exemplary. Leadership was described to inspectors by parents, staff and the local authority as ‘innovative’, ‘inspirational’ and ‘passionate’ – and it is.” Ofsted 5 4
Our Learning Environment Indoor learning We have an internal learning environment to cater for the ever-changing educational landscape. The school has twenty classrooms, a music room, a computing suite, group learning areas, an assembly hall, a library (on a bus!) and an ELSA cabin. These excellent and extensive facilities enable us to provide our pupils with a range of learning opportunities. Outdoor learning and forest schools We have exceptional school grounds which feature: A wildlife garden, a pond, a school garden, a nature Assessment Your child’s progress will be carefully tracked throughout the school. The work of all our children is assessed by our teachers during each lesson and, more formally, through our own system of regular assessments in reading, writing, grammar, punctuation and spelling and mathematics. We can therefore ensure that every child is making progress and given the appropriate level of challenge. Our teachers regularly liaise with the school’s senior leadership team to discuss individual children and set individual targets in reading, writing and mathematics to ensure that each child’s potential is realised and that each child enjoys success. Social and behavioural targets will also be set where appropriate. Through teaching a variety of self-assessment techniques, our children are able to develop their capacity to reflect on their work. trail, gazebos, a seated quiet area, grassed sports fields and an extensive tarmac playground. The grounds enable us to take learning outdoors and provide a dramatic contrast to the indoor classroom. Outdoor experiences are used as stimulating sources of fascination and personal growth. Accessibility In order to ensure that our environment is accessible to the needs of all our learners, we carry out annual risk assessments and observe the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. “Learning is exciting because teachers make lessons challenging and interesting. Teachers always adapt their teaching when necessary to ensure every child succeeds.” Ofsted 7 6
Working Together Admission “Our children have a love of learning. Our dedicated staff enable all abilities to grow in confidence and achieve their potential. Every day is an exciting challenge – we learn together to enable them to conquer and realise they are truly unique and wonderful.” David Harris, CEO (EEEA) Partnership At Ravenscote we firmly believe that all our children succeed if we work in effective partnership with parents. Learning is a collaborative process between school and home and it is important that parents share in their child’s education and discuss aspects of their work and progress regularly with teachers. The school places great importance on regular discussion with parents and the development of a trusting relationship. Many discussions between parents and teachers take place informally as a result of daily contact but we also hold Parents’ Evenings and Celebration Assemblies throughout the year, to which parents are invited. We provide extensive opportunities for parents and carers to be part of our school community. We are a junior school, catering for children aged 7-11. We admit children to our school in the September after their seventh birthday. Whenever possible, we like children to visit the school before they are admitted to get to know the building and the staff with whom they will be working; this happens during the summer term preceding entry. In the summer term of each year, we arrange for the children who are due in to join us in September to visit the school for part of the day to welcome them to the school. There is also an information evening which we encourage parents to attend. As part of our transition work, our year 3 staff visit all the infant schools to discuss the children due to transfer to us and we also co-operate closely with staff from local secondary schools to ensure a smooth transition to the next stage of education. Admissions are made in accordance with the Admission Policy which can be located on the school website. There is also information here relating to in-year admissions. “Parents value the school extremely highly and are overwhelmingly positive about the quality of leadership.” Ofsted Newsletters and Information Every two weeks, we send parents and carers an electronic newsletter which provides information on the school and upcoming events. Newsletters are also available on our website. Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Ravenscote is supported by a brilliant PTA which organises many events during the school year including a Fireworks Spectacular, discos and Party in the Park. The PTA also organises smaller, more social occasions, to enable parents and the wider community to get to know each other better. PTA website: www.ravenscote-pta.org.uk 9 8
Positive Behaviour Positive behaviour is vital to enable children to learn in a happy and safe environment. At Ravenscote, we operate a positive behaviour policy with our three school rules: ready, respectful and safe. Care is encouraged at all levels, in both the staff and children. This happens both spontaneously and more formally through organised activities and opportunities. The opportunities help manage child behaviour, set good examples and provide children with responsibilities designed to enable a positive learning environment. Examples of this include Prefects, School Councillors, Eco-School reps and House Captains. Attendance To ensure that all children make the appropriate progress, we believe it is important that they attend school regularly and on time. Punctuality We aim to encourage the good habit of punctuality from the earliest age. We ask that all children be on the school premises ready for the start of the school day. Holidays During TermTime At Ravenscote, we adhere to statutory guidelines and we do not encourage parents to take their children out of school during term time. If you feel that you need to request time out of school, we ask that you complete our leave of absence form. Each request will be assessed by the Headteacher; however, absence requests will only be approved in exceptional circumstances. If parents take unauthorised absences, they will be subject to a fine. General Absence All absences are recorded and monitored. If your child is absent from school for any reason, please use our ScholarPack Parent App, telephone or email the school at info@ravenscote.surrey.sch.uk and confirm the reason for their absence.. In line with county guidelines, if a child has been absent due to certain illnesses, we ask that they are kept off school for 48 hours to prevent the spread of illness. Attendance Policy For more information, a copy of our Attendance Policy can be located on the school website. “Parents and staff agree that the school keeps children safe and manages their behaviour well. The school has very thorough systems to check on behaviour and takes well thought out action where needed.” Ofsted To enable children from different classes and age groups to mix and form friendships, the school is divided into house groups and made up of children from each class. We use an online system called Class Dojo to encourage our children to do everything in a positive way, wherever they are in school – in class, in the lunch hall or in the playground. If a behaviour issue does arise, we deal with it swiftly in partnership with parents. If any children are found to be bullying others, this is dealt with positively but firmly in accordance with our Positive Behaviour and Anti-bullying Policies – both documents are available on our website. 1 1 10
School Opening Times RAVENSCOTE JUNIOR SCHOOL 08:35 – 15:25 (with wrap-around care 08:00 – 18:00) Office hours 08:30 – 16:00 Children will be met by the teacher every morning and are dismissed from their class doors at the end of each day. For further information, please contact us on either: Email: info@ravenscote.surrey.sch.uk Website: www.ravenscote.surrey.sch.uk Telephone: 01276 709007 “All leaders and governors share the responsibility for making sure children get the very best opportunities and the highest quality teaching at all times.” Ofsted 12
Photography & Design by Jolt Media: www.jolt-media.co.uk Old Bisley Road, Frimley, Camberley, Surrey, GU16 9RE info@ravenscote.surrey.sch.uk www.ravenscote.surrey.sch.uk 01276 709007 Follow us on Twitter: @Ravenscote Visit our website: How to find us: RAVENSCOTE JUNIOR SCHOOL
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