ABOUT US
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL
The school was built in 1913 and since that time has been the only school in Silkstone Common. With the closure of Hood Green School, children from the neighboring villages of Hood Green and Stainborough also attend our school, as well as drawing in families from a wider area. For many years it was the only Primary school for the Silkstone area, as Silkstone School was a secondary school for a period after the second world war.
In 2004 a new extension was added, giving an extra classroom. This meant children in KS1 could be taught in separate year groups for the first time in many years. In 2010 further building work took place giving a purpose built Reception/Year 1 classroom, a new hall and kitchen. This meant we had now a R/Y1 class, a Y1/2 class, a Y3/4 class, a Y4/5 class and a Y5/6 class, which is our arrangement today. We now also have 2 teaching rooms for small group/ intervention and music activities, as well as greater space for P.E. and outdoor/ mixed activities and the facilities to prepare our own food. We wanted to ensure that the extensions blended in with the original building so the frontage of the school retains a uniform appearance. Inside, the rooms are bright and airy with plenty of space and modern facilities. At the same time we improved our playing field by levelling it, improving the drainage and reseeding It, so it is now a better surface, which we have used for a variety of sporting and local events. We have also improved the other outside play facilities with improved playground markings, outdoor play equipment and a climbing wall.
The school has always been close to the community, where it serves and inspires a good deal of affection. Several local meetings are hosted here, and our leavers have their end of primary school party there, with lots of fun, games and water! Within the local community there are many that attended the school up to seventy years ago.
Our staff has evolved with the changes in education over the last two decades. Mr Philip Evans, retired in 2013, had been Headteacher for a record 28 years, and steered the school through 2 highly successful outstanding OFSTEDS, as well as overseeing the biggest building programme in the school in a century. Since 2013, Mr Simon Tabbner, our current Headteacher, has developed our vision further, integrating new staff into our family, initiating further change and continuing to develop the building to meet the needs of the 21st century, whilst maintaining and enhancing our high standards of education and care.
We maintain a friendly and family oriented approach which results in a positive atmosphere which has been favourably commented on in our Ofsted reports.
The school is dedicated to the development of the whole child. To achieve that, we work in partnership with the children, their families, and the local and wider community throughout the whole year.
Our SCHOOL DAY
- The school doors open at 8:50 to welcome children in.
- The school day starts at 9.00 am.
- LUNCH is 12.00 until 1.00p.m.
- School ends at 3.30 p.m.
We have a daily assembly to inform, celebrate and share. Once a month we have a popular ‘Star Of The Month’ assembly, where families are invited to share in the successes of their children.
There is a break of 15 minutes during both the morning and afternoon sessions.
Parents may choose whether their children has a home packed lunch or a meal provided by Barnsley Catering Services. A hot meal and vegetarian option is provided for all the children who choose this. Daily lunchtime playground activities are provided by Team Plus, to develop whole child mind and body health initiatives.
Dinner money is collected through Parentpay. Packed lunches are allowed if preferred.
The School's Overall Approach
WHAT IS OUR SCHOOL'S TEACHING PHILOSOPHY?
Following our philosophy that learning is engaging and is based upon first hand experiences in order that skills in the core subjects and wider curriculum can be acquired and built upon.
A proportion of the National Curriculum is taught through our 'QI' or 'Topic' cross curricular approach to learning, with key skills within a subject, built upon from year to year. These are carefully chosen by members of staff to ensure that the programmes of study laid down in the National Curriculum are being covered. As a result of this approach to learning, pupils are able to make links between areas of learning, whilst building upon the separate key skills required within a given subject. At various times during the year the children may be involved in visits out of school, or alternatively, welcoming experts in to deliver themed experiences, to deepen their overall understanding of a particular topic or area of study.
Should you wish to know in more detail what your child will learn during any particular year please do not hesitate to contact your child's class teacher who will be pleased to give you details of the anticipated curriculum for your child. Our termly class newsletters and regular fortnightly whole school updates will keep you informed of our forward planning and intentions, as we feel good communication between home and school is key to the development of our pupils.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE ETHOS OF THE SCHOOL?
Some quotes from the last Ofsted Report:
- "Pupils acknowledge, modestly, that they learn a lot, but they stress that the school is also about 'friendship and laughter'."
- "Their enormous enjoyment of every facet of their education is just one element in their outstanding personal development."
- "Exemplary relationships between pupils and adults contribute to pupils feeling utterly safe in school."
- "Children's personal, social and emotional development is outstanding."
To find out more about curriculum areas and our approach to teaching and assessments please continue to explore our website or even better come and visit us.
OUR APPROACH TO CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR
No school community can work efficiently and harmoniously for the greater education and wellbeing of the pupils without guide-lines. It is neither desirable nor possible to make regulations about every aspect of school life and every situation that may arise. We expect high standards of sensible, responsible and considerate behaviour from all our children. Our most recent Ofsted Report said “Pupils very good behaviour and attitudes to school enable teachers to concentrate all their efforts on teaching and pupils learning”.
We have a small number of school rules, which include:
- READY
- RESPECT
- SAFE
BULLYING
The school doe not tolerate bullying and has an effective anti-bullying policy. Please contact the Headteacher if bullying becomes a concern to you, because if it is a concern for you, it is a concern for us.