Job Description
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HIGHFIELDS PRIMARY SCHOOL
SCHOOL PROFILE
Highfields Primary School was opened in 1978, providing places for pupils from St Michael's Church of England Primary School and the Manningtree Wesleyan School, both of which closed at that time. The pupil roll has steadily increased since then due to the development of the Lawford Dale Estate and other new housing in the area.
Manningtree is a small rural Market Town and lies 10 miles to the North East of Colchester. Highfields is positioned in the village of Lawford and serves a mixed catchment area that includes parts of the surrounding villages of Mistley and Manningtree. A large Council estate is situated to the front of the school and a private housing estate to the rear, the latter having generated rapid growth in pupil numbers over the last few years.
The school shares a site with the local Manningtree High School.
In 2000 we were one of twelve Tendring Schools privileged to be included in a PPP scheme. This has meant a brand new school with permanent accommodation for 350 pupils. Architects worked closely with the school to ensure a building that met the new model brief for Essex. We have spacious closed classes, a large purpose built ICT suite, 2 halls a medical room, large welcoming entrance hall and many other features that give opportunity for enhanced stimulating teaching and learning. The landscaping is now completed to provide spacious soft/hard play areas where pupils can enjoy quality leisure time.
In 2010 a purpose build independently run Kindergarten was opened on the school site. The majority of the children move into 'Highfields' following a detailed induction. We also take in children from a variety of private nurseries and pre-school settings in the area.
Employment in the area is limited to a small industrial estate nearby and minimal casual work in the local market garden industry. A large proportion of parents living on the council estate are local to the area, some of whom are not in full employment. A high percentage of the parents from the Lawford Dale estate commute to the surrounding towns of Colchester, Ipswich and the city of London.
The school has a mission statement and AIMS that were formulated by staff and Governors in January 1995. Monitoring and evaluating systems are in place, and the AIMS are reviewed annually with staff and the Curriculum Committee of Governors.
AIMS AND ETHOS OF HIGHFIELDS PRIMARY SCHOOL
General Statement
At Highfields we have created an environment which allows and encourages children and staff to mix freely, to move through the building with a minimum of fuss and noise.
We are a 'team' prepared to share experiences, knowledge and skills, to share common working areas and create learning situations which are right for children, irrespective of the number of years they have spent in school.
Parents are positively encouraged into the school to play a valuable part by working on a voluntary basis to assist in a wide variety of school and extra-curricular activities. The children are encouraged to adapt quickly to a day which is full and rich in interest and variety.
Our objective is that all children should leave us at 11, confidently able to apply skills and knowledge in the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science, ICT and RE. The child's natural enthusiasm for books, painting and music, sport, a hands on approach to learning, for seeing and exploring, for making and enquiring, will also have been developed through the foundation subjects.
Our aim is to encourage children to see school as an exciting place, rich in a wide range of experiences in preparation for life.
Aims
To create a happy, stimulating and safe environment that encourages the desire for learning and an awareness of a healthy lifestyle.
To provide a caring, friendly and secure atmosphere that helps and encourages each child to develop a set of moral and spiritual values and to become self-disciplined.
To encourage children:
to think for themselves
to show initiative
to gain confidence
to be helpful to others
to show tolerance and awareness of others
to be reflective
To provide a broad and balanced curriculum that encourages the highest possible standards for each individual child.
To ensure that every member of staff endeavours to be an active participant in the learning process by observing, listening, evaluating and intervening to give new challenges that ensure all children reach their fullest potential.
To have a whole school approach to the delivery of the curriculum which provides continuity, progression, differentiation and equal opportunities for all children.
To develop a school where Head and staff work as a team to utilise the individual talents and expertise of each member of staff for the benefit of everyone.
To enable children to develop increased responsibility for their own learning, so that they are encouraged to understand that learning is a life skill. Through self-motivation the children will be encouraged to produce work of quality, both in presentation and content.
To establish and maintain the school's credibility and identity as an important part of the community, whereby parents, governors and others will feel able to visit, participate and contribute to that which goes on in the school, thereby enhancing and enriching the quality of school life for all concerned.
To develop an awareness of care and concern for, and appreciation of, the physical environment of the school, the surrounding community and its inhabitants.