St. Martin’s Church of England (Aided) Primary School

Following in the footsteps of Jesus, caring to learn and learning to care.

Our school always strives to be a caring community firmly rooted in the Christian faith. Every individual is encouraged to succeed in an atmosphere of mutual respect whilst developing the capacity to become independent learners. We aim to provide rewarding opportunities for everyone, resulting in fulfilled, happy people. Respect, co-operation and partnership are key elements in our school.

Address
 Holbeck Hill,
Scarborough,
North Yorkshire.
YO11 3BW

Telephone Number (01723) 360239

Fax Number (01723) 351783

e-mail admin@st-martins.n-yorks.sch.uk

Headteacher Miss S. Brown

Chairman of Governors Mrs. R. Haynes

School Classification Voluntary Aided Primary

Maximum Admission Limit 38

Local Education Authority North Yorkshire County Council
County Hall,
Northallerton,
North Yorkshire.
DL7 8AE

Area Education Office
Valley Bridge Parade,
Scarborough,
North Yorkshire
YO11 2PG

Children whose 5th birthday falls between September 1st and March 31st are admitted in September. Those who become 5 between April 1st and August 31st may be admitted for mornings only if appropriate in September and full time from January following consultation with Parent/Carers.

Application forms for admission of Reception children to the school must be submitted no later than 17^th December prior to the beginning of the academic year during which the child commences full-time education. Applications for children from Year 1 to Year 6 can be taken at any time providing that they fulfil the criteria and a place is available. The Governors make decisions regarding admission, which are based on the following Order of Priorities, and parents of Reception children are informed no later than the beginning of February.

The admission number for 2005/2006 is 40.

Date of Admission to the School for 2005/2006

Although the law does not require children to be admitted to School until the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday, the Governing Body, being the Admission Authority for this School, will admit children into School at one point at the beginning of the school year.

Closing date for receiving applications in School 17^th December 2004

Offer day from the School 1^st February 2005

Criteria for Admission:

Where there are more applications for admission than the planned admission number stated (footnote 1), the Governing Body will apply the following criteria in strict order of priority:

a) on the electoral roll of St. Martin’s Parish (whether or not resident);

b) on the electoral roll of their chosen Parish within the Scarborough Deanery;

c) siblings (including step-children living with the family);

d) new to the area but who have the written support of the incumbent of their previous

Parish.

b) new to the area but who have the written support of the incumbent of their previous

Parish.

Copies of the full Admission policy are available from the School Office.

The Governing Body reviewed this policy in March 2004.

a) Arrangements by appointment are made for parents to visit the school when applying for children's names to be placed on the waiting list.

b) Arrangements are made for parents and children to visit the school after places have been offered. This includes the opportunity for the child to visit his or her teacher and information meetings for new parents.

This is a shared responsibility between the Headteacher and Staff of the school. In appropriate situations further help is available from the clergy of the parish and deanery, and from the Parent-Teacher Association.

Children are admitted into the Reception Year in September of the academic year in which they will be five years old; children whose 5^th birthday falls between April 1^st and August 31^st may attend school for mornings only (if appropriate) during the Autumn term and are full time thereafter.

Children in the Reception year are at the end of the Foundation Stage, which spans the years from 3 until the end of the Reception Year; the curriculum is divided into 6 areas of learning, which often inter-relate and are covered by topic work. These areas are:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Communication, Language and Literacy

Mathematical Development

Knowledge and Understanding of the world

Creative Development

Physical Development

On entry into the Reception Year, all children are assessed in mathematical, language and personal and social areas using an accredited Baseline Assessment Scheme (PIPS) and this is revisited at the end of the Reception year to establish progress made. A national Foundation Stage Profile takes place alongside our PIPS assessment during the second half of the Summer Term.

Discipline is firm but fair, and is aimed at the promotion of a good "Christian family" atmosphere in which mutual respect, responsibility, caring and sharing predominate.

Encouragement and praise are given for effort on the part of individuals and groups. Coloured stars etc. are used as rewards for application, progress, achievement and outstanding examples of community service. Weekly Headteacher Awards and Class Cup highlight responsible and kindly behaviour.

Punishment may take the form of withdrawal of privileges, or detention during breaktime, and it is hoped that parents will play a fully supportive role in helping to maintain an atmosphere of firm but friendly discipline throughout the school, thus helping their children progress towards responsible adulthood.

Session Times:

Morning : 8.55 a.m. - 12.00 a.m.

Morning Break 10.30 - 10.45 for all children

Afternoon : 1.00 p.m. - 3.15 p.m.

Afternoon Break 2.30 - 2.45 for Years R, 1 and 2 only

There is an Afternoon comfort break for Years 3 - 6 (Juniors)

The hours worked by the children (excluding Breaks) are as follows:

Infants (Years R, 1 and 2): 24 hours 10 minutes per week

4 hours 50 minutes per day

Juniors (Years 3, 4, 5 and 6): 25 hours 25 minutes per week

5 hours 5 minutes per day

Included in this time is the daily act of worship.

Various functions are organised throughout the year for both fund-raising and purely social reasons. All parents are automatically members of the P.T.A. and it is clearly hoped that all parents will become involved. It is in this way that all are able to feel active participants in the functioning and development of the school, which can only have positive implications for the children.

The school offers a wide range of activities:

a) Winter and Summer Sports Clubs. g) Drama Club

b) Water Colour Club h) Running Club

c) Reading Club i) Recorder Club

d) Jackanory Club

e) School Choir

f) School Orchestra

Regular homework is set throughout the school and this is done in consultation with parents. A Homework policy is available from the Office. Termly reminders about Homework appear on the Curriculum information letter for every Class.

Any complaints, of whatever nature, should be initially discussed with the teacher concerned and, if necessary, with the Headteacher. Where matters cannot be resolved, then the complaint can be pursued formally through the Governing Body and the Education Authority.

Parents are requested to apply for leave of absence in writing or by holiday form. If a pupil is sick, notification on the first day of absence is appreciated.

The rates of authorised and unauthorised absence for this school are as follows:

2002/2003 2003/2004

Authorised 4.6% 4.1%

Unauthorised 0.1% 0.1%

Sweets, biscuits and crisps are not allowed in school unless they form part of a packed lunch, when they should be eaten in the Dining Hall. Children are encouraged to bring fruit, raw vegetables, cheese and a drink for morning and afternoon breaks. Milk can be purchased for Infant children and water is available throughout the day for all children.

Uniform common to Girls and Boys

Navy blue fleece, anorak or coat Navy blue blazer with school badge
Grey or white blouse/shirt School tie
Plain navy blue pullover or cardigan Black shoes of a sensible ‘school’ pattern (Trainers cannot be used as part of everyday wear)
Named bag for P.E. kit
P.E. Kit - navy blue shorts, white T-shirt, black plimsolls (with elastic tops for younger children) or a change of shoes for older children, navy sweatshirts, tracksuit or jogging trousers
Specific St. Martin’s uniform available from Rumours e.g.ties, P.E. shirts, etc.

There are nine classes covering the age range Reception (Foundation Stage) to Year 6, with each having a chronological age range of approximately 10 months. Classes range in size from 24 to 40 pupils. All are mixed ability classes where children are encouraged to develop at the rate most suited to their ability through a combination of whole class teaching, smaller group work and individual attention. There are five mixed year classes. All Infant classes have access to teaching assistants and Junior classes benefit from the provision of Mrs. Syers, Special Needs teacher, who does not have a class commitment. Mrs. Syers withdraws children from Maths and English lessons thus reducing the size of Year 5 and 6 classes.

The School has a Special Needs Co-ordinator whose role, in conjunction with colleagues, is to identify children who would benefit in some way from further support and encouragement. Various courses of action may be selected, ranging from support from the class teacher, withdrawal for short periods of intensive teaching to the involvement of various outside agencies, such as Specialist Advisory Teachers, the Educational Psychological Service and the School Medical Officers. Parents are involved in every stage of this process.

In the Department of Education’s ‘Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Needs’, to which all schools must adhere, a child is defined as having special educational needs if he or she has a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her. OfSTED 2001 judged special educational need provision at St. Martin’s to be good, stating that SEN pupils ‘make good progress and are well supported’.

The Special Educational Needs Policy is available on request from the Office.

The Governor responsible for Special Educational Needs is Mrs. Heidi Wilcock.

The aims of the school, policies and school curriculum apply to all our children, including those with Special Educational Needs.

Included within the framework of the National Curriculum are the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science, and the foundation subjects of History, Geography, Technology, Music, Art and Craft, Physical Education, plus Religious Education. Information and Communication Technology (I.C.T.) is cross curricular but is also taught as a separate subject.

Implementation of the National Curriculum involves the meeting of Attainment Targets through Assessment after completing specific Programmes of Study in core and foundation subjects. The following are some of the main principles:

1) Equal opportunities should be provided for all pupils regardless of sex and cultural background.

2) Breadth and balance should be ensured for each child.

3) Differing needs of children should be recognised and ways sought to meet them.

4) There should be a range of teaching and learning styles offered to each pupil.

The following is a list of all the Curriculum Areas taught in the school, together with a brief description. Aspects of the curriculum are listed separately, although in practice they are sometimes taught in a cross-curricular way. This involves a unified approach to the curriculum, in particular through the inclusion of well-planned topic and single subject work. We aim to provide a broad based, balanced curriculum as required by the 1996 Education Act.

As a Voluntary Aided School, St. Martin's follows the York Diocesan Syllabus, the aims of which are as follows:

Religious Education should help pupils to:

In this way R.E. is central to the whole ethos of the school, as is its direct link with St. Martin’s Church and its clergy and congregation. There are close links with churches throughout the Deanery, both Anglican and non-conformist and the school is part of the Faith in Scarborough Schools initiative. This element of the life of St. Martin’s School cannot be overstated.

Religious Education forms an integral part of the ethos and curriculum in our school. However, the 1988 Education Act confirmed that parents have a legal right to withdraw their children from R.E. and collective worship in all schools. Whilst regretting that anyone should not be able to join in any of the ‘family’ aspects of our school, we would respect this right and ensure that withdrawn pupils do not feel excluded.

English is the basic language of communication in this country and much of the western world and its mastery is a pre-requisite for educational progress.

It involves:
1) Speaking and listening
2) Reading
3) Writing, including spelling, grammar, handwriting and presentation.

At St. Martin’s our aims in English are that all children will:

a) develop the necessary skills to use the English language confidently, appropriately and accurately to the best of their ability
b) be able to speak clearly, cogently and fluently
c) be able to listen to the spoken word attentively with understanding, pleasure and empathy
d) be able to read a range of materials fluently and with understanding for enjoyment and information
e) be able to write effectively for a range of audiences using spelling, punctuation and syntax accurately and confidently.

English is taught every day in Literacy lessons, extended writing lessons and through other curriculum subject areas.

Mathematics is a body of knowledge which provides a way of viewing and making sense of the world. It is used to analyse and communicate information and ideas and to tackle a range of practical tasks and real life problems.

At St. Martin’s our aims in Mathematics are:

a) To develop children’s mathematical confidence.
b) To develop children’s fluency in number.
c) To enable children to develop flexible and effective methods of solving problems.
d) To demonstrate that mathematics is a means of communication and a powerful tool in solving problems in a wide range of contexts.
e) To help children appreciate and enjoy the fascination of mathematics and the relationships within it.

Mathematics is taught every day in Numeracy lessons and through other curriculum subject areas.

Children need to be aware of the importance of science in their everyday lives and the wider world.

Our aims in Science are:

a) To teach the children to become good scientists.
b) To encourage a positive attitude to science by co-operation, perseverance, responsibility, curiosity, open-mindedness and with a responsible regard to the world around them.
c) To promote the skills of observation, questioning, prediction, hypothesis, interpretation, recording.

Our aims are:

a) To develop the knowledge, skills and understanding necessary to design, make and evaluate products fit for a purpose.
b) To develop practical skills to work with a wide range of materials and components.
c) To develop an awareness of the impact of technology upon everyday life.

This involves working not only with computers, but also with programmable robots, tape recorders, calculators and digital and video cameras.

Our aims are:

a) that children enjoy using I.C.T. and tackle all applications with confidence and a sense of achievement
b) that children will develop practical skills in the use of I.C.T. and the ability to apply their skills to the solving of relevant and worthwhile problems
c) that children understand the capabilities and limitations of I.C.T. and the implications and consequences of its use.

Our aims are to develop children’s knowledge and geographical skills regarding their surroundings, the wider world and the care for the world in which they live.

History chronicles, records, investigates and attempts to explain the past. An understanding of the past also helps an understanding of the present. The work, particularly with our younger children is based on their own lives and that of the community around them, thus giving relevant contexts for learning.

We aim to develop children’s competence and confidence in physical activity. Children take part in a range of activities including games, dance, outdoor adventure activities, swimming, athletics and gymnastics. We try to include all pupils regardless of their physical capabilities.

The following team sports are played by our children:

Matches are played against local schools both in friendly and competitive tournaments in a wide variety of formats for all children aged 8 - 11. There are single-sex and mixed teams for all of the above and we try to ensure that as many children as possible play for a school team.

All children aged 6 - 11 have an hour per week as part of the curriculum devoted to the various skills of sports play and there are also after school sports clubs running four afternoons a week throughout the year. Matches and tournaments are regularly held at weekends. The school has a large playing field, which is regularly used by local schools for tournaments. The local football club, church and community groups also use the field. There are strong links with Scarborough Football Club, Scarborough Cricket Club and Yorkshire County Cricket Club who provide coaching to our children. Many parents are also involved with sports coaching.

Children are introduced to a variety of curriculum drama skills enabling them to question, consider and portray their understanding of the attitudes and experiences of others. The school has a tradition of performing memorable annual productions. There is an active after school Drama club and strong links with the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough.

The school teaches music through the Nelson Scheme, which encourages children as listeners and performers, together with the teaching of musical appreciation. Various styles of music are played and explained at daily assemblies to further experience.

Selected children may receive string, brass or woodwind teaching. There is a school choir and orchestra. Musical performances are given throughout the year.

Our aim is that all pupils may explore and communicate ideas and emotions in visual form based upon what is observed, imagined and remembered, through a wide range of media.

A variety of media are used e.g. painting, drawing, modelling, collage, printing, etc.

The use of children’s own imagination is vital but art is taught at the various developmental levels to foster the skills necessary for more demanding work. Artistic appreciation and the history of Art are developed throughout the school.

The policy of the governors is that there is no formal teaching of sex education within curriculum time. Children’s questions will always be dealt with in a sympathetic and understanding manner as and when they arise. This is done, bearing in mind the church’s teaching on Christian marriage, moral considerations and the values of family life.

Year 6 girls, with their parents and the School Nurse, attend a meeting during which they watch the video "Growing Up" followed by questions and discussion.

All personal property must be clearly marked with the owner's name. Only essential personal money should be brought to school, and should always be handed to a member of staff for safe-keeping. Jewellery and other expensive items (toys etc.) should not be brought to school.

All monies, such as that for school meals, visits, photographs etc. should always be sent to school in a sealed envelope marked with the child's name and class. It is both preferable and safer if as many parents as possible could always send these monies in cheque form, rather than cash. Cheques should be made payable to St. Martin's School, apart from dinner money cheques, which should be made payable to N.Y.C.C.

The school has no accommodation for cycles and these must not be brought to school except on very special occasions - e.g. for Cycling Proficiency training and testing.

Parents should write to the school giving authorisation for the medicines to be administered to their children. The authorisation must accompany the bringing to school of medicine by the pupil and should include detailed instructions with regard to the quantity and frequency of administration.

The medicine should be brought to school in a properly labelled container with the name of the prescribing person (normally the G.P.) on the label, as well as the name and home address of the pupil, the name of the medicine, the dosage and time of administration.

School has a personal accident insurance to cover children on and off the premises.

Should parents wish to take out a policy for their child, they should seek advice from their own Insurance Company.

Under the terms of the Education Reform Act 1988, the school is not allowed to make a charge for school visits, but we are permitted to ask for voluntary contributions and the Governors have authorised us to do so. We are sure you will understand that we cannot afford to pay for visits from within the funds available to us so we would ask you to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost of school visits. No child will be excluded if his or her parent does not make a voluntary contribution. However, if insufficient voluntary contributions are received then, regrettably, visits will not go ahead.

The charges for instrumental tuition during school hours are determined by the Local Education Authority.

Children are occasionally requested to bring items from home for cooking or modelling. However, no child is excluded from an activity for not doing so.

A child can take up to two weeks holiday during a school year. However, parents should consider very carefully before deciding to absent their child, as they may become disadvantaged in relation to the implementation of the National Curriculum, especially in Years 2 and 6 during the run up to the national tests.

HOLIDAY                     SCHOOL CLOSES              SCHOOL RE-OPENS

Summer ’04                         Wed. 21st Jul. 2004                 Mon. 6^th Sept. 2004

Autumn Half-term ’04         Fri. 22nd Oct. 2004                 Mon. 1st Nov. 2004

Christmas ’04                     Fri. 17^th Dec. 2004                   Thurs. 6^th Jan. 2005

Winter Half-term ’05         Fri. 4^th Feb. 2005                     Mon. 14th Feb. 2005

Easter ’05                         Fri. 18th Mar. 2005                   Mon. 4^th Apr. 2005

May Day                            Fri. 29^th Apr. 2005                      Tues. 3rd May 2005

Spring Half-term ’05         Fri. 27^th May 2005                    Tues. 7^th Jun. 2005

Summer ’05                       Fri. 22nd Jul. 2005                     to be announced

These include Staff Training Days and are therefore the dates when children attend school.

The details contained in this prospectus were correct at the time of publication.

May 2004

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