St. Michael's Church of England Primary School

St. Michael's - A Primary School in Howe Bridge

School Aims

All children are entitled to a high quality education which will enhance their self-esteem, skills, knowledge, understanding and which prepares them for their future lives.  We believe children learn best in an environment in which they feel safe, cared for and are well supported in their learning.  While there is a strong focus on academic success we believe in the education of the whole child and we are equally committed to ensuring that every child receives a broad, balanced and stimulating curriculum with Christian values at the heart of everything we do. 

Therefore, at St. Michael’s Church of England Primary School we aim to:

Enable all children to achieve their potential.

This will be achieved by:

• Identifying and sharing clear learning objectives.
• Help to develop a positive attitude to learning and encourage children to become involved in planning and organising their own learning.
• Providing activities that support the learning objectives and take account of differentiation.
• Supporting children in their learning through effective adult deployment.
• Having effective systems of assessment, tracking & target setting that informs future planning & provision.
• Encouraging children to work with concentration and at an appropriate pace.
• Providing a range of teaching & learning activities and experiences that take account of all learning styles.
• Working in a well-managed, organised environment that promotes challenge & self-motivation.
• Being encouraged to develop the skills to solve problems independently.
• Using enquiry based approaches that will stimulate and develop children’s natural curiosity and to ask questions.

To promote high standards of behaviour to enable children to become self-disciplined, independent learners.

This will be achieved by:

• Having high expectations of behaviour from all pupils.
• Provide learning environments that are warm, welcoming, and secure, child centred and intellectually stimulating.
• Having a clear code of conduct that is shared and understood by all.
• Having routines regarding managing  behaviour & sharing information that are firmly established and upheld.
• Actively promoting the consistent use of praise and rewards to raise self-esteem of pupils.
• Encouraging children to make the right choices to enable their own learning, and that of others, to take place effectively.
• Encouraging children to reflect upon their own actions and those of others.
• Promoting extra-curricular activities, where children will be encouraged to develop skills, responsibilities & teamwork.

To ensure the children feel safe within a caring, stimulating learning environment.

This will be achieved by:

• Valuing all children’s contributions, and encourage the children to value human achievements in all areas.
• Providing attractive, stimulating work areas where children’s achievements are celebrated.
• Providing displays that give ‘learning hooks’ for pupils, particularly in the areas of literacy & numeracy.
• Having clearly labelled resources that are accessible to pupils and adults.
• Encouraging pupils to take responsibility for their environment so that they become aware of the importance of working collaboratively to maintain this.
• Developing an educational environment that is ‘fit for purpose’ whilst maintaining & valuing the unique historic character of the school.

To encourage respect for oneself and others, within the Christian ethos of the school.

 This will be achieved by:

• Developing positive relationships within the school, with the Church and in the wider community.
• Seeing in practice & following the Christian values of honesty, trust, forgiveness and respect.
• Showing an understanding & tolerance of others, regardless of ability, disability, age, creed, race and culture.
• Encouraging older pupils to support & help younger pupils e.g. play buddies shared reading, lunchtime escorts.
• Encouraging a pride in appearance (school uniform) and fostering positive attitudes.
• Developing community cohesion within the locality, in the wider UK regions and through global links.

To foster a supportive, effective partnership between school, home, Church and the community through encouraging the active involvement of all.

 This will be achieved by:

• Promoting an effective home-school agreement where pupils, staff and parents/carers work in partnership.
• Consulting on & sharing policies e.g. Homework, behaviour, anti-bullying, attendance and Healthy School policies.
• Informing the parents of school news and events through a weekly newsletter.
• Discussing progress of pupils, twice yearly, through parental consultations.
• Reporting to parents/carers annually, in a written format, on individual pupil progress.
• Providing termly overviews of class topics to be covered.
• Informing parents/carers of pupil targets in English & Mathematics each term.
• Providing the opportunity for parents to attend workshops to enable them to support their children in their learning.
• Encouraging parental involvement in school on a day-to-day basis 
• Providing an annual questionnaire for parents to report back to school regarding progress/concerns and further needs.
• Developing Church-School links through the sharing in celebration services.
• Encouraging ecumenical links through the participation of visitors in Collective Worship & in the delivery of the R.E. curriculum.
• Encouraging links with local High Schools & outside agencies to broaden & develop pupils’ experiences.

We have a breakfast club and an outside provider (ABC Childcare) supports our after school club. Please see further information below.

CLICK HERE to see before and after school care that picks up and drops off at this school.

Ofsted Report

Link to our Breakfast Club Our Town Page: Link.

Link to our After School Club provider: Link.