Prospectus2011-2012

A new Primary School for pupils aged 4 – 11

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the first prospectus for the St Ursula’s E-ACT Academy. This booklet will give you all the information you need about the new Academy; a brand new, free, non-denominational school for children aged between four and eleven. We currently have 120 pupils which will rise to 420 pupils by 2017. This year sees 60 new pupils joining our two reception classes.

We look forward to working with all parents and carers, new and existing, to make sure you become partners in your child’s education.

We will work with our sponsor, E-ACT to ensure that all learners can express themselves, are supported and nurtured and challenged to achieve and be successful.

We will strive to make St Ursula’s E-ACT Academy the centre of excellence for Early Years and Primary practice, developing learners who are confident in their own ability to learn, successful in their learning and able to exercise increasing levels of independence.

We are the first ever primary Academy in Bristol and we are very proud of our new school. I hope that this prospectus offers all the information you need as well as a useful overview of the Academy.

Lynette Carter, Principal

At E-ACT we have a long history of sponsoring academies and we bring our experience, our skills and our team to support the establishment of the St Ursula’s E-ACT Academy. We will work with the Academy’s excellent Principal, Lynette Carter, to ensure that every child is encouraged and challenged to achieve their best and to grow and develop in to confident, independent learners. We hope you enjoy reading our first prospectus and we look forward to welcoming you to our Academy.

Sir Bruce Liddington, Director General, E-ACT

Welcome

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The school dayPupils should arrive at the Academy between 8.30am and 8.45am in order to make a prompt start to lessons at 8.55am. Core hours finish at 3.30pm, for pupils not taking part in extra-curricular activities or Tea Time Club.

Enrichment activities will take place immediately after school. The range of activities will vary according to the age and maturity of learners, although there will also be some cross-age clubs, including choir and gardening club. Sport will feature prominently, with clubs including football, judo and badminton.

Personal propertyAt St Ursula’s E-ACT Academy we will actively discourage the wearing of rings, bracelets, and necklaces for health and safety reasons. We do not encourage children to bring toys into school except on special occasions. We cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to these items.

If your child is unwellIf your child becomes unwell while at school, they will be taken care of until you can collect them. It is essential we have at least two correct and up to date contact telephone numbers for your child. Please advise the Academy immediately should this information change.

Life at St Ursula’s E-ACT Academy

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UniformThe St Ursula’s E-ACT Academy school uniform will remain the same as the former St Ursula’s School for the first year. This year, there will be no badge on the blazer, we will be working with pupils and parents to create a new brand for the school over the coming months.

Uniform items are available from Ikon at 190 Henleaze Road, Bristol and online www.ikonschools.com.

Boys Plain black blazer Mid grey trousers or shorts Red and gold striped tie (as current) Grey pullover with black neck trim White collared shirt Topcoats must be plain black with no logos

Girls Plain black blazer Mid grey pinafore dress Red and gold striped tie (as current)Grey pullover with black neck trim White collared blouseGrey socks/tightsTopcoats must be plain black with no logos

Additionally girls can wear a golden yellow/white striped summer dress and white ankle socks during the summer months.

Sports White polo shirt with red trim Plain black shorts (or optional shorts for the girls) Plain black sweatshirt Plain black jogging bottomsBlack plimsolls/white trainers

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Partnerships with parents and carersThe love and support of family and friends is a vital part of the partnership that will help your child achieve. Like you, we want all of our children to achieve their potential in a caring and nurturing environment where they are happy and safe. You are very welcome to discuss your child at any time. Appointments can be made with the class teacher directly or via the Academy office.

We will work together with you and make sure you have regular opportunities to discuss your child’s progress during the course of the year. Reports will be issued every half term and you will receive a full written report at the end of the Summer Term. We will send out weekly bulletins which will share information on forthcoming events and other items of interest.

Parents and friends are welcome to join us in a range of school activities and celebrations throughout the year including assemblies, concerts, Carol Service, and Sports Day.

Working together for your child

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Parents and carers can become more involved in school life in a variety of different ways including:

n Volunteering in classn Helping on school tripsn Making resourcesn Helping in the libraryn Making costumesn Fundraisingn Gardening

All volunteers will be asked to complete an enhanced CRB check.

Helping in school

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Our youngest pupils at the Academy will be supported and nurtured as they find their way into the routines of school life. Every child will embark on an exciting learning journey from the day they join us, learning at their own pace. Our curriculum will provide a robust structure within which teachers can adapt their lessons to meet the needs of individual learners. The Academy uses the International Primary Curriculum to teach the Foundation subjects. This is a structured framework linked to the National Curriculum that will ensure appropriate coverage of all subjects.

Teaching and learning

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Literacy/EnglishIn the Foundation Stage children will spend much of their time on Literacy activities. As they move up the school, literacy provision will change and develop to suit children’s needs as they develop basic skills and become confident readers and writers.

Numeracy/MathsAn extensive range of resources, both indoors and outdoors, will encourage play around number and stimulate children’s natural curiosity in the Foundation Stage. As children’s skills and understanding deepens, lessons will be complemented by more formal teaching, using number activities to consolidate understanding and support progress.

Physical EducationAll children will be taught the relationship between physical activity and a healthy body and a healthy mind from an early age. This will include the development of an understanding of the key role that healthy eating plays in the development of a healthy lifestyle.

The curriculum

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ICTICT will permeate the whole curriculum. From the very youngest age children will become familiar with technology through the use of Interactive Whiteboards and will have opportunities to use ICT themselves within whole class and small group teaching. Children will use ICT in all aspects of their learning.

Religious EducationRE will be an important area of the curriculum for all age groups. The Academy will develop a culture that actively explores a broad range of faiths.

ScienceScience will be taught as both a separate and a key subject in its own right. It will also be taught through the International Primary Curriculum to ensure that children make the connections between Science and other areas of learning.

Modern Foreign LanguagesChildren will begin learning French in Year 1. At this age they will be introduced to the joy of learning a new language, introducing them to key vocabulary that can be used on a daily basis in class, along with singing and playing games.

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The ArtsThe teaching of the arts and creativity will be an important aspect of the curriculum at all ages. Art and pictures will underpin the development of Literacy from the youngest age and will continue to influence pupil’s speech and writing as they mature and their skills develop.

Music and singing will be encouraged not only in their own right, but also to enhance other areas of the curriculum. The Academy will look to specialise in Performing Arts, particularly Music and Drama.

International Primary CurriculumThe rigorous approach to the core skills of Literacy and Numeracy will be complemented by an equally rigorous, thematic approach to all other curriculum areas. Based on the International Primary Curriculum, this approach will provide an explicitly global dimension to learning for children of all ages. The curriculum will enable children to learn essential skills and knowledge, whilst covering all subjects of the National Curriculum, thus developing an understanding of how each is connected to the others. It will focus on developing the personal qualities that children need to be good global citizens and to develop a sense of their own nationality and culture. At the same time, it will actively support the development of a deep respect for the lives and cultures of others.

Philosophy 4 ChildrenThis will form part of the Thinking Skills approach to learning across the whole school. It will be taught as a discrete lesson, with the aim to stimulate debate and reflection within a structured setting.

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Pupils will be assessed every eight weeks and if a child is not reaching a milestone then a personalised programme of catch-up will be put in place.

Provision for children with Special Needs will be a natural extension of the Academy’s approach to all aspects of its work. The Staff will work in close partnership with parents/carers in both identifying and addressing the particular needs of a child. The SENCO will ensure that appropriate provision is made across the Academy.

All children with SEN will be offered full access to a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum and all class teachers will be well-versed in identifying and overcoming barriers to learning. Children and parents will be actively involved in determining learning programmes and the Academy will involve outside agencies as early in the process as possible.

The Academy’s concept of Special Needs will include the very special needs of those learners who are Gifted and Talented. These will be addressed not only through differentiation, but also through the provision of targeted clubs and programmes of learning and visits. However, this will be carefully managed to ensure that other children do not feel excluded as a result.

Every child is unique

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Contact detailsPrincipal: Mrs Lynette Carter, BA Cert Ed

St Ursula’s E-ACT AcademyBrecon RoadWestbury-on-TrymBristolBS9 4DT

T: 0117 962 2616F: 0117 962 2616E: info@stursulase-actacademy.org.uk W: www.stursulase-actacademy.org.uk

Getting involvedYou can find more information about becoming a Governor or a member of the PTFA on our website. The Academy will encourage parent volunteers to assist during the school day or to deliver enrichment clubs. If you would like to become a volunteer please email the Academy.

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