The School Brochure

Contact Details

Background Information

Admission Arrangements

Our Aims

Staff

Administration Staff

Support Staff

Lunchtime Staff

Premises Staff

Abbeymead Governors

Contact Details

Mead Road
Abbeymead
Gloucester
GL4 5YS

Tel no: (01452) 371710
Fax: (01452) 623857
Email: head@abbeymead.gloucs.sch.uk
secretary@abbeymead.gloucs.sch.uk

Head Teacher: Mr Julian Pass Back to top

Background Information

Abbeymead Primary School first opened in 1990, and grew to become the two-form entry school we are today.

We have over 400 children on roll aged from 4 to 11, with 60 pupils in most year groups, giving classes of 30 children throughout.

The building is light and airy, with linked class bases in each year group and shared workshop areas. This enhances the opportunity for practical and supported group work and encourages pupils' responsibility and independence.

We are proud of our very attractive grounds containing shrubberies, lawns and banks, beech hedges and lines of trees which soften the approach to the building.

Study areas have been developed to include a fenced "wildlife" area with two ponds and a wild garden. Recreational needs are met by the two playgrounds and shared use of the large field adjacent to the school. The addition of a 'mini assault course' (Trim Trail) at the request of the children - for which they raised most of the funding through a sponsored event - has been very popular! Back to top

Admission Arrangements

Nationally a child becomes of primary school age at the beginning of the term following the term in which he or she has a fifth birthday. In Gloucestershire we take children in the September of the school year in which they become five (the September after their 4th birthday).

As a Local Education Authority (L.E.A.) school, the admission authority is the County Council and the arrangements are made by the Education Department at Shire Hall in Gloucester.

If you have a pre-school child you need to register them us as soon as possible. Please ring or call in to give us a few details about your child and we will add them to the list for the appropriate year in which they will start school.

If you have a child who is already of school age you can register their name with us. We are regularly oversubscribed but are happy to put their name on our waiting list if this is the case. Back to top

Our Aims

We want every child at Abbeymead to become a thinking, active and considerate member of society whilst developing fully their abilities and talents, through a broad and balanced curriculum.

Whilst giving appropriate attention to raising standards of attainment in literacy and numeracy, we endeavour to provide our children with a programme of learning matched to their own:-

knowledge and understanding
experience
rate of progress

We will encourage them to develop...


initiative
independent thinking
responsibility
confidence and self-esteem
social sensitivity
mutual respect

We create opportunities for children to apply their learning as they grow in understanding, by stimulating and challenging them: we expect their commitment in return.
We provide a secure, caring and happy environment in which the children can work and play.

All this we aim to do in an atmosphere of close partnership between home and school.

Throughout the school, children are taught in 2 class groups of 30. The two classes within a year group work side by side so teachers can plan and evaluate the learning progress together, making the best use of available space and resources. Sometimes the classes are mixed to create more effective teaching groups. Our children also benefit from the focused help of volunteer parents who work under teachers' direction on a variety of activities.

We have a team of additional support staff who work within classes, focusing on skills which need extra reinforcement. When appropriate children will be withdrawn to work on programmes which target their particular learning difficulty.
The youngest children in school are called the Reception classes, (Rec. for short). Subsequent year groups are identified as Year 1, Year 2 etc. (Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5, Y6). The first three years make up Key Stage One (KS1) whilst the next four years are Key Stage Two (KS2). These terms are used frequently during a child's primary school years.

For all children the day begins with registration in the "huddle" area of the class base. Here the day's plans are established and learning activities begin. The teacher will frequently use this area to introduce a concept or reinforce understanding before engaging children in particular activities.

Children are grouped in different ways depending on the type of activity. Some groupings deliberately encourage discussion about solutions to practical problems. Some groups are established on an ability basis with tasks matched to potential so children can be both challenged and supported, and there are occasions when it is best for children to work as individuals on a particular task. There are other times when teachers engage their whole class in a single activity, this being particularly the case during whole-class sections of the literacy and numeracy lessons.

Where it is appropriate, children are given elements of responsibility for personal organisation within the planned work programme. Whilst still being accountable, this gives them some experience of working independently and managing their own time, under the teacher's close scrutiny. You will see how this process helps children become competent at organising themselves and approaching tasks with genuine concentration and interest. Back to top

Staff

TEACHING STAFF
Mr Julian Pass Headteacher

Mr Richard Riordan Deputy Headteacher

Mrs Sarah Bunce Assistant Headteacher

Mrs Sarah Smith Assistant Headteacher

Mrs Tammi Wainwright Advanced Skills Teacher

Mrs Sarah Shaw Advanced Skills Teacher

Mrs Diane Heron F.S. & Transition Manager
Reception

Mrs Abi Clift Reception

Mrs Jane Chamberlain Reception

Miss Alix Smith Reception

Mrs Frances Walker Y1 Teacher

Mrs Michelle Larbey Y2 Teacher

Miss Rachael Bick Y2 Teacher

Mrs Marika Markham Y2 Teacher

Mrs Colleen Spruce Y3 Teacher

Mrs Sharon Robinson Y3 Teacher

Mrs Heather Wright Y4 Teacher

Mrs Karina Ogle Y4 Teacher

Miss Gemma Ford Y5 Teacher

Miss Sarah Allen Y5 Teacher

Miss Rachel Jones Y6 Teacher

Mrs Sandra McConnochie Teacher

Mrs Kristina Barber Teacher

Mrs Sarah Stubbs Teacher

Mrs Angela Follows Teacher Back to top

Administration Staff

Mrs Chrissy Rushworth School Secretary
Mrs Alison Hammonds Finance Officer
Vacancy Clerical Assistant Back to top

Support Staff

Mrs Abi Coates S.E.N., First Aid, Childcare Students
Mrs Esther Parker Creche, First Aid
Mrs Sue Corcoran Refreshments, First Aid
Mrs Carol White Reception/Y1 support
Mrs Kerry O'Neill

Mrs Debbie Humpage
Mrs Claire Gardiner
Mrs Di Tickner
Miss Jenna Anderson Back to top

Lunchtime Staff

Mrs Pat Barry
Mrs Jan Burford
Mrs Karen Wilson

Mrs Carol Bowns
Miss Claudine Jones
Mrs Kate Pike Back to top

Premises Staff

Mrs Marion Feasey Caretaker
Mrs Carol Bowns Cleaner
Miss Claudine Jones Cleaner
Mrs Karen Wilson Cleaner
Mrs Kate Pike Cleaner Back to top

Abbeymead Governors

Community:
Mr Jack O'Sullivan
Cllr. Andrew Gravells
Mr David Shepherd
Paul Venn

Parents:
Mr Mike Dobson (Chair)
Mr Peter Antonio
Mr Mark Ellis
Mrs Helen Tuckey
Mr Lee Bradley
Mr Andrew Donnelly

Staff:
Mr Julian Pass
Mrs Abi Coates
Mrs Sarah Bunce
Mrs Sarah Smith

LEA:
Mr John Morris
Vacancy
Vacancy
Vacancy


Clerk:
Chrissy Rushworth

School governors are volunteers from a carefully balanced cross-section of council representatives, parents, community members and staff. Our school has a lively group of governors who are very committed to their responsibilities.
They are required, by the government, to make many decisions about the way our school serves its children and their parents, so governors try to spend time in classes regularly.

This means that they are familiar with the quality of children's learning and that knowledge helps them to make appropriate decisions about the operation of the school.

The whole governing body meet twice a term. Sub-committees meet in between, reporting back to the main group on their actions and recommendations. There is a special governors notice board in the corridor near the main office reception area. This will give you lots of information about governors meetings and actions, so do please check it out.

Parent governors are elected by all the other parents. If you have a concern about the school or an idea for its development, please share it with a governor, or with the Head.

Each year the governors send a report to parents on their actions during the previous twelve months. A meeting is arranged to discuss that, and any parent may make suggestions for future consideration. The governors will feel they are doing their work most effectively if they get feedback. Parents views are listened to very carefully and taken into account in future actions. We hope you will participate.

Anyone who considers that governors or the LEA are failing in their responsibilities relating to the curriculum may complain. The formal procedure for doing this is available in school. Back to top

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