Education outside the Classroom

The school supports the provision of a regular school journey. Journeys are linked to the school curriculum and allow our year five and six children the opportunity to explore areas they would not normally pursue at school. Parents support this approach and contribute to the cost. The Isle of Arran, The Lakes Louisiana, Plas Menai National Watersports centre and Europe have all been visited. All classes take part in a rich and varied trip programme encompassing visits to museums, galleries, exhibitions and sites of historical, geographical or cultural importance. The school is developing its own grounds and has its own pond and environmental areas. The school runs a range of after school activities, French, short tennis, netball, chess and football coaching by Wimbledon being a few examples. Parents are encouraged to volunteer and help run new clubs.

Sporting aims and Provision.

The school has a range of sports activities organised within the content of the national curriculum and a range of additional activities linked to a programme of health education. The school manages its activities within its limits set by the budget.

We bring in a range of sports coaches to enhance the provision made by the class teachers and this is further enhanced by additional offers of coaching during the year. Our hall limits the type of gymnastics we can offer but we are fortunate to have reasonable external play-space, which is supported by well-stocked range of PE equipment. We offer a range of team games and after school sports activities run by professional staff.  We are also part of the Sport England link school programme.

Homework

The school sets a variety of homework tasks. The home reading scheme PACT is in itself homework for all children promoting and sustaining the vital skill of reading. Children at the school from five until seven will be asked to learn tables and spellings, to carry out simple research tasks for work being pursued in class and to collect items, objects or materials for a variety of projects.

From eight until eleven tables and spellings will still feature in homework. English and mathematical exercises linked to work in class will also feature as regular homework. Research work and investigations will encourage children to use the library out of school hours. We expect parents to support the policy and to ensure homework is completed on time and in a presentable form.

By year five and six the school will support children who are faced with the selective tests now carried out by the range of schools our children move onto, the school provides the necessary skills and approaches to enable each child to perform at their best. The children of Beatrix Potter have the knowledge and understanding to tackle these tests confidently. Our success is shown in the range of schools our children move to and our success each year at common entrance and scholarship exams.