Welcome to Innsworth Junior School web site. Our vision statement is "Every Learner Matters, Every Lesson Counts."

An introduction to our school

CHILDREN

From September 2009 we will have approximately 121children in five mixed aged classes.

Due to the closure of RAF Innsworth our current pupil numbers are much lower than in previous years. We are looking forward to the arrival of our ARRC (Allied Rapid Reaction Corps) families from Germany in 2010. As a result of this, we fully expect our pupil numbers to return to where they were a few years ago. However, at the moment we are able to enjoy the benefits which come from being a small school.

Our children come from Innsworth , Churchdown, Longlevens, Sandhurst , Longford and Down Hatherley. However, if we have availability, we can offer places to pupils from further afield.

Whilst many children remain at Innsworth Junior for their full four years at the Junior stage, others, because of their Service background, move more frequently. We do not distinguish between backgrounds and treat all pupils equally.

Our pupils display a wide range of abilities, behaviour and needs. We are a school which values everyone as an individual and therefore we pride ourselves on the educational provision we offer.

STAFFING

From September 2009 we will have four full-time and three part-time teachers: two teachers ‘job share’, whilst the third teacher, undertakes teacher release time across the school. We also have a teacher, who is solely employed as a SENCO to take responsibility for Special Needs. We are very fortunate to have a very experienced teaching staff, who are dedicated to providing the best education that we can offer.

The Senior Management Team comprises of the headteacher and a member of the teaching staff, who holds a Teaching and Learning responsibility.

Mrs Hamblett, our highly valued school secretary, is supported in the afternoons by a very efficient admin assistant.

We have the equivalent of 2.5 full time teaching assistants to support the children’s learning in the classroom. We also have teaching assistants who work solely with individual children who have Statements of Educational Needs. Two of our support staff are Higher Level teaching assistants, which mean that there may be times when they take responsibility for a class.

The school premises are looked after by our highly skilled caretaker, Mr Birch. A tour of the school will stand testament to the work he has undertaken during his time with us. He leads a team of three cleaners.

Our lunchtime staff comprises of four midday supervisors, one of which is a gentleman. These four members of staff take control of both the eating arrangements and the organisation out in the playground during the lunch hour.

GOVERNORS

Our governors are proactive in supporting the work of the school and take their responsibility for school development very seriously. They are involved in formulating and regulating policies as well as monitoring spending and pupil progress. Our chairman, Mr. Allen Robson, is proactive about school development.

BUILDINGS & GROUNDS

Our buildings are light, airy and pleasant. We have eight classrooms, a library, a Computer Suite, Special Needs room and a well-equipped hall. Our staff room is often home to individual children needing a place to sit and read with one of our many volunteers.

We are the proud owners of a designated area known as ‘The Growing Beds’. This was originally developed in 2006 as a result of being part of the ‘Health4schools initiative. Having gained ‘ Healthy School ’ status, the Growing Beds are now fully integrated into the school curriculum. During the summer months, children from all classes can be seen watering, weeding and tending their year group’s plants.

Our Ecology area is currently under development. In this 09/10 academic year, we hope to complete this area as a major outdoor teaching and learning resource.

We have a field with either a football pitch or two rounders pitches marked out on it. Our playground is a reasonable size with two netball courts and an area known as the ‘Quiet area’. This area provides seating for children who wish to sit and chat with their friends during the break or lunch hour.

We are very fortunate that we are able to use the Innsworth Community Hall, which was built on our site in 2005. This allows us to access their kitchen facilities as well as the purpose built Games hall.

Our Quiet Area.

OUR PHILOSOPHY
We are known to be a friendly but efficient school. Relationships are based on trust and mutual respect. We are a team, who work well together in order for all children to make the best possible progress, whilst enjoying the environment in which they find themselves. As a school we are very honest and open with people and we value the relationship we have with our parents.

We consider that that the only way we can do the best for our children is by home and school working together. Everything we do at Innsworth Junior School should support this approach.

We take self evaluation very seriously and so we constantly strive to improve what we do. This will often take the form of sending out questionnaires to pupils and parents as we are not afraid to challenge ourselves.

The staff are extremely conscientious and go the 'extra mile' when needed. The headteacher and governors greatly appreciate the commitment of such a dedicated staff.

We believe in good discipline and a firm, friendly approach to children is encouraged. Our school motto 'Respect' is fundamental to life at Innsworth Junior School. Children are expected to be polite and self-disciplined. Any member of staff is expected to correct any child displaying untoward behaviour.

Our teaching approach is a varied one, depending on the needs of the children. Individual teaching is undertaken when necessary. Children may be grouped by ability for specific tasks otherwise mixed ability grouping takes place. English is taught by the child’s classteacher as we fully believe that this better provides for the development of Literacy skills across the curriculum. From 2009 Numeracy will be taught in ability sets as we believe this is the most effective way to support mathematical learning.

We place a great emphasis on the teaching of languages throughout the school. French is currently being taught across the four year groups.

The headteacher will often take a group of Year 6 higher attainers in Mathematics in order to take them beyond the Key Stage 2 programme and into the Key Stage 3 programme.

Parental help in school is encouraged as we recognise that our parents have skills that we can use to the benefit of our pupils. This support is developed under the teacher's supervision and direction.

Extra curricular provision is a key aspect of our school and we are very fortunate that staff offer a huge variety of activities for the children to choose from. We receive very positive feedback from our parents about the clubs we run.

EXTENDED SCHOOLS

Noah’s Ark , a local provider, runs a breakfast club and an after school club for children who need this provision. Adult supervisors are on hand to escort the children to their base at the Infant School.

INNSWORTH SCHOOLS' PARTNERSHIP
The majority of children, who join our school in Year 3 come from Innsworth Infant School (formally called Larkfield Infants School). This is our feeder school and is about a ten minute walk from us. Both schools work together to ensure that a smooth transition between Key Stage 1 and 2 takes place.

Innsworth Infant’s website is: www.larkfield.ik.org

We have two Comprehensive schools in this are of Gloucester to which the majority of our pupils transfer to for the next stage of their education- Churchdown Comprehensive and Chosen Hill Comprehensive. We have developed a close relationship with both secondary schools so that the transition of our pupils to Key Stage 3 is as problem-free as possible.
www.churchdown.gloucs.sch.uk
www.chosen-hill.gloucs.sch.uk

As Gloucestershire still has grammar schools Year 6 pupils are able to take the tests which deem whether they have the necessary ability to enter these schools. Most years we have pupils who take up places at the Gloucester Grammar schools and the prestigious Pate's School in Cheltenham.