As the new school year commenced, I visited Barnwood Primary School for an update with Head Teacher Mrs Anne Davies, who is both excited about the initiatives that are planned and delighted at the way the school’s first term is progressing.
Already plans were well advanced at the school for the celebration of the Harvest Festival, which is always an important event in the school’s year. St Lawrence Church organises many ‘Experience’ events in the church, one of which is ‘Experience Harvest’. This event provides a ‘hands on’ experience of Harvest, which the children enjoy immensely. The school has strong links with St Lawrence Church and its members give a lot of their time and energy creating resources and the wonderful displays for these enriching experiences. Also, with the Rugby World Cup - such a topical event - the school is having a Harvest “Values “ focus day which looks at the principles, attributes and values needed from a Rugby player’s perspective, ie, strength, courage, passion and respect to mention a few.
Early in the term Year 6 pupils take on and accept responsibility for a range of activities within the school. They are committed to helping the younger children in the playground areas; are appointed as House Captains, helping to organise “House” activities and get involved in the publication of the School newspaper too. The Barnwood Rangers, as they are known, act as school monitors with playground duties. It is all part of the school’s ethos and is seen as an important stage in preparing them for the big step up to Secondary school next year.
The promotion of the arts at Barnwood is one of the school’s strengths and a particularly exciting initiative is in place to allow every child in Year 4 (8-9 year olds) to learn to play the clarinet. This will be a year -long activity, under the guidance of a dedicated Music teacher, who will be tasked with developing the children’s musical talents.
The school has a very strong link with parents and is always looking for ways to help parents with different aspects of their child’s development. Recent examples include: a Maths “enlightenment” evening and a phonics information session, which demonstrated ways in which parents with Reception school children could assist with their reading skills.
Work to prepare a new prospectus for the school is in progress and this will be ready for the Open Day which is aimed at potential parents with children wishing to join the school’s Reception class next year. There is an open invitation from the school to attend the Open Day on Wednesday 18th November, and anyone interested should contact the school for more details.
Friends of Barnwood School is the new name for the former PTA which continues, alongside the Governor’s fund raising committee, to raise money for the school, which in turn allows the school to procure extra equipment and provide further enrichment activities. Although the school term has hardly commenced the Governors have already organised a fund raising Quiz Night and together with the ‘Friends’ have plans in place for the Christmas Fair, to be held on Saturday 28th November in the school. This annual event is recognised as an occasion not to be missed. So, put the date in your diary.
Finally, it is pleasing to report that the new partnership between Anne and her Co Head teacher Julia Matson, an initiative introduced by the Governors last year, is working really effectively after a very successful transition. I think this situation is endorsed by the positive way that the school is perceived and how well Staff and Pupils enjoy their school lives. Long may it continue!
Monday, 21 September 2015
A New Head Teacher for Longlevens Junior School
As a new school year gets underway, I took the opportunity to meet with Marion Lloyd, the new Head Teacher at the Longlevens Junior School. Marion has been appointed as the sole Head Teacher at the school, following a number of Co-Head partnerships; a trend that the school has adopted in recent years.
Marion lives in Worcestershire, where she was “born and bred”, before leaving for University in Birmingham. Since completing her degree in 1987, she has taught for 28 years and consequently has considerable experience of teaching children aged from two to eleven in a wide range of settings. Throughout her career, she has held several senior leadership positions, the most significant being the headship of two very successful Primary schools in the Worcestershire area. However, after 14 years at the RGS and Callow End schools, Marion decided to pursue an alternative educational role and for 3 years became part of the Ofsted inspectorate. The opportunity to visit a wide variety of different schools has provided her with some valuable experiences, which, undoubtedly, will benefit the junior school considerably.
Marion feels that it is an absolute privilege to be the Head teacher of Longlevens Junior School, a place where every member of the school community is valued and respected. She has received a “fabulous welcome” from Staff, Parents and of course the children, who, even at this early stage have impressed her with their excellent behaviour and positive approach to school life. Marion considers herself to be very fortunate to be in her position as Head at LJS and looks forward enthusiastically to working alongside the excellent Senior Leadership team, the committed staff and the Governing Body to ensure that the children of Longlevens Junior School have the very best that a school can offer.
The school offers the children a very rich and creative curriculum with many areas of specialism available, where the staff set themselves and their pupils the highest expectations in striving for excellence in all areas. A vibrant and stimulating environment is provided where every learning opportunity is maximized, both inside the classroom and outside in the extensive school grounds. The school ethos considers it essential that every child should feel safe, happy, confident and valued. Part of this philosophy is the belief that the best learning results emanate from a close partnership between school and home. Marion is eager to promote this view and looks forward to joining with families to support their children as they continue on their journey through the school.
With the autumn term underway, there is an excited buzz around the school as the Longlevens Out of School Club (LOSC) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year. Located on the junior school site, in the Longlevens Children’s Hub (LCH), which is a purposely designed building, constructed, for the Longlevens Community. The LOSC provides a tremendous service for the Community. It offers flexible childcare, in the form of before and after school sessions for the children of working parents whose children attend the Longlevens Infant and Junior Schools. The LOSC is integral to the whole Longlevens school pathway. It introduces children at the early year’s stage, before they progress through the infants and junior schools and prior to leaving for secondary school. Following the clubs inception all those years ago, the LOSC is proud to acknowledge that it is now caring for the children of Parents who had been through the Longlevens school process previously. More recently, this included a Married couple whose friendship started at the LOSC!
A Celebration Theme Party is planned for October, which will be attended by the whole school, as well as supporters, past and present. Anyone who would like to attend, please check the school web site for more details.
If you would like to arrange a visit to the Hub, or are interested in either an Early Year’s or LOSC place for your child please contact Kathy on 01452 300824 or email: lchadmin@longlevens-jun.gloucs.sch.uk. As this important milestone coincides with the arrival of Marion to the school; as a Community let’s offer our congratulations to the LOSC and wish Marion a long and successful vocation as Head at our Junior Community school.
Marion lives in Worcestershire, where she was “born and bred”, before leaving for University in Birmingham. Since completing her degree in 1987, she has taught for 28 years and consequently has considerable experience of teaching children aged from two to eleven in a wide range of settings. Throughout her career, she has held several senior leadership positions, the most significant being the headship of two very successful Primary schools in the Worcestershire area. However, after 14 years at the RGS and Callow End schools, Marion decided to pursue an alternative educational role and for 3 years became part of the Ofsted inspectorate. The opportunity to visit a wide variety of different schools has provided her with some valuable experiences, which, undoubtedly, will benefit the junior school considerably.
Marion feels that it is an absolute privilege to be the Head teacher of Longlevens Junior School, a place where every member of the school community is valued and respected. She has received a “fabulous welcome” from Staff, Parents and of course the children, who, even at this early stage have impressed her with their excellent behaviour and positive approach to school life. Marion considers herself to be very fortunate to be in her position as Head at LJS and looks forward enthusiastically to working alongside the excellent Senior Leadership team, the committed staff and the Governing Body to ensure that the children of Longlevens Junior School have the very best that a school can offer.
The school offers the children a very rich and creative curriculum with many areas of specialism available, where the staff set themselves and their pupils the highest expectations in striving for excellence in all areas. A vibrant and stimulating environment is provided where every learning opportunity is maximized, both inside the classroom and outside in the extensive school grounds. The school ethos considers it essential that every child should feel safe, happy, confident and valued. Part of this philosophy is the belief that the best learning results emanate from a close partnership between school and home. Marion is eager to promote this view and looks forward to joining with families to support their children as they continue on their journey through the school.
With the autumn term underway, there is an excited buzz around the school as the Longlevens Out of School Club (LOSC) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year. Located on the junior school site, in the Longlevens Children’s Hub (LCH), which is a purposely designed building, constructed, for the Longlevens Community. The LOSC provides a tremendous service for the Community. It offers flexible childcare, in the form of before and after school sessions for the children of working parents whose children attend the Longlevens Infant and Junior Schools. The LOSC is integral to the whole Longlevens school pathway. It introduces children at the early year’s stage, before they progress through the infants and junior schools and prior to leaving for secondary school. Following the clubs inception all those years ago, the LOSC is proud to acknowledge that it is now caring for the children of Parents who had been through the Longlevens school process previously. More recently, this included a Married couple whose friendship started at the LOSC!
A Celebration Theme Party is planned for October, which will be attended by the whole school, as well as supporters, past and present. Anyone who would like to attend, please check the school web site for more details.
If you would like to arrange a visit to the Hub, or are interested in either an Early Year’s or LOSC place for your child please contact Kathy on 01452 300824 or email: lchadmin@longlevens-jun.gloucs.sch.uk. As this important milestone coincides with the arrival of Marion to the school; as a Community let’s offer our congratulations to the LOSC and wish Marion a long and successful vocation as Head at our Junior Community school.
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