SACRED HEARTCATHOLICPRIMARY SCHOOL
2 Oakleigh Park South, Whetstone, London N20 9JU
telephone 020 8445 3854 fax 020 8445 0862 e-mail
headteacher Mrs C A McMahon MA PGCE NPQH deputy headteacher Mrs M Holloway
Welcome to The Sacred HeartCatholicPrimary School
Dear Parents
The Sacred Heart School Community is pleased to welcome you and your child.
This prospectus contains information about our school and the opportunities and facilities we offer.
The Church teaches us that Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children and we are aware that your child has already learnt a great deal from you and through his / her pre-school experiences at nursery or play group.
At this school we aim to extend and build on this previous learning through a successful partnership with you.
We hope that your child will enjoy and benefit from the experiences we provide.
CA McMahon
Headteacher
Archdiocese of Westminster London Borough of Barnet
The Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
“Learning Together in God’s Love”
Mission Statement
History
The SacredHeartCatholicPrimary School is a Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School under the trusteeship of the Diocese of Westminster.
The school opened on this site in 1961 as an independent girls’ secondary school. A primary school existed across the road where the flats are now. In 1967 the existing site became a two form entry primary school linked to the Borough of Barnet.
Ethos
The ethos of our school is based upon Christ’s commandment to love God and to love our neighbour. The teaching of Christ therefore pervades all aspects of school life. We encourage an atmosphere of love, understanding and tolerance where children develop confidence, self-respect and self-discipline. Within our school all children are treated equally, regardless of gender, age, race, creed or ability. Children in their turn are encouraged to learn, play and worship together, with Jesus as the centre of their lives.
Values
Our predominant school values of respect, honesty, love, trust and tolerance are made manifest through our Mission Statement which gives our school its identity and permeates all aspects of school life.
Vision Statement
- Our school will provide a happy, secure and stimulating environment where everyone will be inspired to do their best.
- Our pupils will be guided towards a loving relationship with God through example, prayer and the teachings of Christ.
- They will be competent, independent lifelong learners, with high self-esteem.
- They will be confident and caring in their relationships with others in the schooland with the community at large.
- They will be creative and critical thinkers who will be able to respond positively and enthusiastically to the challenges of our ever-changing world.
- They will have a desire to contribute positively to society and to take responsibility for each other and the environment.
Learning Together in God’s love
at the Sacred HeartCatholicPrimary School
Our focus within the school is effective learning for all – children and adults.
Staff keep up to date with the latest research about children’s learning including recent studies in brain-friendly learning, accelerated learning, multiple intelligences, learning styles, problem solving and creativity.
We know that children of different ages have different concentration spans and make sure that the children’s learning is tailored to their stage of development. Our classrooms make full use of brain gym, breathing exercises and music to aid learning and water is always available.
We encourage our children to eat healthily and take exercise. Perhaps, most importantly, we have a lot of fun learning.
Our intention is to deliver a curriculum that will fit individual children’s needs. In order to ensure relevance for our pupils we deliver our curriculum through broad and balanced cross-curricular topics.
When teachers begin to introduce a topic children are asked three questions:
- What do you already know about this topic?
- What would you like to know?
- How do you think we will be able to find the answers?
The outcomes from these discussions are referred to throughout the topic as a review tool and at the end of the topic to enable the children to evaluate their learning.
The focus of our curriculum is more about the process skills of being an effective learner rather than the content. Children are encouraged to reflect on their learning and self-evaluate their developing key skills and achievements.
Our children have a love of learning and can speak confidently about their future learning needs. They can be self-critical whilst maintaining high self-esteem – skills that will stand them in good stead throughout the whole of their lives.
We aim to provide our pupils with a safe, secure, welcoming environment and a lively and stimulating atmosphere in which this effective learning can take place.
The Sacred HeartCatholicPrimary School
“Learning Together in God’s Love”
Ofsted Inspection
An Ofsted inspection in November 2008 described Sacred Heart “As an outstanding school with many strengths.” They said, “Pupil achievement is excellent overall. By the end of Year 6 standards over time have remained very high because of considerable strengths in the teaching. Quality and standards are outstanding in the Foundation Stage”
Classes
We are a two-form entry primary school, taking children from four to eleven. The sixty children admitted each year are divided into two parallel classes of mixed ability.
Admissions
Admissions are handled by the Governing Body and the London Borough of Barnet. Our Chair of Governors is Mrs Geraldine Smallbone. We admit children at the start of the school year in which they are five. All children are admitted in September with those born between May and August attending part time until the October half term.
Parents may register their children at any time (This is not an application for admission). A full admission package is sent to parents in the November prior to the academic year in which their child is due to start school. At the same time Barnet will issue a Common Application Form.
Before a child is considered for admission parents will be asked to complete a schoolSupplementary Form and provide proof of address, birth and baptism certificates and a reference from a priest. Parents are also required to complete the Barnet Common Application form listing up to three schools in order of preference.
When the Governors have considered all applications received, our priority listing will be returned to Barnet who will then inform parents whether or not their application has been successful.
Children will start school on a staggered basis to enable the teacher to give them maximum attention on their first day.
Before the actual start date parents and children are invited to the school during to ‘drop in’ to meet the headteacher, deputy headteacher, class teacher and classroom assistant.Children and parents are invited to visit the class on a number of occasions during this time so that children become familiar with their new environment.
Tours of the school are held each term for parents considering application. Anyone wishing to see around the school outside these dates is welcome to do so by appointment with the Headteacher.
Please read our Admissions Policy for our criteria for admission.
Environment and Facilities
The school is accommodated in a four-story building. We have a large multi-purpose hall and a smaller studio, separate playgrounds for infant and junior children, a specialist teaching area for music, a well stocked library and a modern ICT suite equipped with thirty computers and an interactive whiteboard.
Equal Opportunities
The whole ethos of our school is based upon Christ’s commandment to love God and to love our neighbour. Therefore, implicit within our teaching is that all children regardless of gender, age, race, creed or ability are treated equally and encouraged to work in harmony with respect for one another. At The Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School we encourage an atmosphere of love, understanding and tolerance.
Behaviour
The school has a positive attitude towards behaviour. Good manners and respect for other people and their property are expected at all times. Children are encouraged to take pride in their work and their appearance. School rules are few but are dictated by the need to create a safe environment. The health, safety and welfare of the children is a priority. We explain rules to the children and expect them to co-operate with us. We aim to establish self-discipline by giving emphasis to values such as honesty, trust and respect for others. Children are encouraged to think for themselves and see the consequences of their actions.
Extra-Curricular Activities
We take children on a variety of visits and outings which complement the curriculum. We also invite drama groups, authors, poets and other organisations to work with the children in school. A range of after school activities is provided.
Parents
We aim to assist parents in their role as Catholic educators by providing them with the opportunity to share in the life of the school and to participate in religious celebrations. As a staff we endeavour to establish a good relationship with all parents. There are opportunities during the school year for parents to meet with teachers to discuss their child’s progress.
All children are given a written report at the end of summer. This will contain targets for the children to focus on for the next year.
If parents have any concerns or worries we encourage them to speak to us.
Weekly newsletters are sent home to keep parents up to date with what is happening in school.
Special Educational Needs
The school has a designated teacher to manage this area and has a policy for meeting the needs of children with special educational needs
Every effort will be made to identify children who may have difficulty related to physical, learning or social needs as early as possible.
Where the school has identified such needs, parents will be contacted immediately and the matter thoroughly discussed so that possible strategies can be put in place to help the child. Parents are assured of the confidentiality of this process.
Children will not be referred to outside agencies without parental consultation.
Parents who have concerns about their child’s physical, social or learning needs are invited to make an appointment with the special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCo).
Gifted and Talented Children
We also identify children with particular talents and abilities in academic areas, in the arts and in sport. An extended curriculum is provided for these children.
Assessment
The first year in school is known as the Foundation Stage. A Foundation Stage Profile is compiled during this year with evidence of each child’s learning.
In Years 1 and 2, (5 – 7 years) children work through Key stage 1 of the National Curriculum and in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 (7 – 11 years) children work through Key Stage 2.
Children are continuously monitored and assessed by their class teacher and are formally assessed in English and Mathematics at the end of Key Stage 1 and formally tested and assesed in English and Mathematics at the end of Key Stage 2.Testing takes place in May and results are reported to parents.
In Year 1 all children’s basic literacy skills are assessed and children who require extra help are invited to participate in a home/school programme.Since 2012, Year 1 children also take part in the government’s phonic screening test.
children in in Years 3, 4 and 5 are assessed inEnglish and Mathematics during the Summer Term and these results are also reported to parents. Spelling and reading tests are carried out every year for children in key stage 2.
Visits
Visits to museums, historical homes, the theatre or other places of educational interest are organised in line with the work being covered in class.
Children in Years 5 and 6 participate in residential trips.
Charging Policy
Voluntary contributions from parents are requested to cover the cost of certain activities which may take place in school hours, for example a visiting theatre company or a day out to a museum, but no child will be disadvantaged if a parent does not contribute.
Music tuition, which forms part of the National Curriculum, is free. This includes all vocal tuition, percussion and recorder. Instrumental tuition is offered to a number of children in the Key Stage 2 classes. Parental agreement is required before this tuition begins, and charges are met by parents.
Textbooks, individual equipment and stationery are provided by the school but it is the parents’ responsibility to provide aprons, sports clothing and football boots.
Attendance
Governors and staff are keen to encourage the good habits of punctuality and high attendance at school. We ask parents to co-operate with us by not organising or booking holidays during term time. This is in line with Barnet LA regulations.
Attendance in the academic year 2013-2014 was 97.35%
Sacred Heart School
Admissions Policy
Academic Year 2015-2016
The Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School is under the Trusteeship of the Diocese of Westminster. The school is conducted by its Governing Body as part of the Catholic Church in accordance with its Trust Deed and Instrument of Government, and seeks at all times to be a witness to Jesus Christ.
As a Catholic school, we aim to provide a Catholic education for all our pupils. At a Catholic school, Catholic doctrine and practice permeate every aspect of the school’s activity. It is essential that the Catholic character of the school’s education is fully supported by all families in the school. All applicants are therefore expected to give their full, unreserved and positive support for the aims and ethos of the school.
The Governing Body has responsibility for admissions to this school and intends to admit the published admissions number of 60 pupils to the Foundation Stage (Reception) classes in the school year which begins in September 2015.
Applications are invited for September 2015 from families whose child attains four years of age between 01/09/2014 and 31/08/2015. Decisions will be communicated to parents on the national offer day for primary schools which will be 16th April 2015
OVER SUBSCRIPTION CRITERIA
Where there are more applications for places than the number of places available places will be offered in the following order of priority.
- Catholic looked after children and Catholic children who have been adopted (or made subject to residence orders or special guardianship orders) immediately following having been looked after.
- Baptised Catholic children from practising Catholic families with a sibling attending the school at the time of admission.
- Baptised Catholic children from practising Catholic families resident in the parish of:
St Mary Magdalen - Whetstone
- Baptised Catholic children from practising Catholic families resident in the parishes of:
St Albans, North Finchley, or
Mary Immaculate and St Peter, New Barnet
5. Baptised Catholic children from practising Catholic families resident in all other parishes.
6. Other baptised Catholic children.
7. Other looked after children and children who have been adopted (or made subject to residence orders or
special guardianship orders) immediately following having been looked after
8. Catechumens and members of an Eastern Christian Church
9. Christian children of other denominations whose parents wish them to have a Catholic education and
whose application is supported by a minister of religion.
10. Children of other faiths whose parents wish them to have a Catholic education and whose application is
supported by a religious Leader.
11. Any other applicants
Sacred Heart School
Admissions Policy
The governing body will give top priority within a category where compelling evidence is provided at the time ofapplication, by a doctor, social worker or other appropriate professional, of an exceptional social, medical or pastoral need of the child which can only be met at this school.
The home address is where a child normally lives. Where the offer of places to all the applicants in any of the categories listed above would lead to oversubscription, the places up to the admission number will be offered to those living nearest to the school measured in a straight line from home to school using a computerised mapping system based on ordinance survey data. Barnet schools are mapped onto the system. The journey is measured in a straight line from the unique address point for the home address to the main school gate.
In cases where applicants live equidistant from the school, or in the case of twins or multiple applications from one family for the Early Years Foundation Stage where only one child in the family would be offered a place, the decision as to which child will be admitted will be done by random ballot in the presence of an independent witness.
Last year, no applicant was admitted beyond criterion 4.
NOTES
In criteria 2,3,4,5, 6 and 8 baptised means baptised at the time of application.
‘Practising Catholic’ means a Catholic child from a practising Catholic family where this practice is verified by a reference from a Catholic priest in the standard format laid down by the Diocese.
A sibling is a brother or sister, a step or half brother or sister.
“Looked after child” has the same meaning as in section 22 of the Children Act 1989, and means any child in the care of a local authority or provided with accommodation by them
(e.g. children with foster parents)
‘Catholic’ means a member of a Church in full communion with the See of Rome. This includes the Eastern Catholic Churches. This will normally be evidenced by a certificate of baptism in a Catholic Church or a certificate of reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church.