SCHOOL PROSPECTUS

Welcome to St Bernadette's School prospectus.
This prospectus explains about the life and work of St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School.

Curriculum	Mission Statement
Staffing/Teacher's Responsibilities	Admission Policy
Committee Structure	Accessibility

 EDUCATION FOR ALL IN A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY

As a Catholic school we follow the teaching of Jesus Christ – to love all men and regard all people as equal.  We believe that we are one world and one family.  This philosophy is central to our being.  We aim:

• To promote equal opportunities for each individual in all areas of the curriculum and in every aspect of school life.
• To actively promote attitudes and values which enable children to recognise the worth of all individuals regardless of gender, race, creed, disability or age.
• To seek to eliminate from all resources in the school, any bias towards or against any particular groups or individual.
• To educate children and enable them to recognise bias in the media literature, individual viewpoints and societies in general.

All who work at St Bernadette’s walk with the pupils for a small amount of their life’s journey. We are strengthened and inspired in our mission by the profound words of Oscar Romero, as above, the Martyred Archbishop of El Salvador

Within a loving, disciplined atmosphere and in partnership with parents, the school encourages all children to work hard to reach their full potential by developing their special aptitudes and skills.

As the profound words of Oscar Romero state, “we cannot do everything”.  We rely on your co-operative support as parents/guardians.  Together we can achieve the very best for the children.  We wish to make all aspects of your child’s development meaningful and exciting and encourage each pupil so he or she will progress and attain to his/her full potential.  In order for our school partnership to be fully effective, a copy of our home-school agreement is enclosed for you to sign.  This is a pledge of your shared role in your child’s education.

If you have any questions, or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact either your child’s class teacher or myself.  Your views will be sought and valued. In the unlikely event of your concerns not being addressed there is a procedure that can be followed- a policy for complaints is held in the school office.

Many thanks for taking time to read St Bernadette’s School prospectus.  As head teacher, I am always happy to show prospective parents around school.  Appointments can be made with our Administrative Staff.  Each year prospective parents are welcomed to our Open Day.

God Bless and thank you,

Sharon Marie Halsall                                       Father Peter Foulkes

Head teacher                                                     Chair of Governors

 

There are six classes in the school in 2007-08.

• Reception
• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3 /4
• Year 4 /5
• Year 5 /6

The well-qualified and experienced teachers are well supported by Teaching Assistants. French is taught throughout the school.  Children in Key Stage 2, years 4, 5 and 6 have a swimming session for a term and a half during the year.  The Headteacher leads and manages Special Educational Needs throughout the school.  All teachers lead and manage areas of the curriculum throughout the school.

 

top

 

Teacher’s Responsibilities and staffing for September 2007

 

Teacher	Responsibilities
Mrs Sharon Halsall Head teacher Teacher for various intervention groups	Head teacher Leadership and management of Basic skills Quality Mark (English and Mathematics) Leadership of “Investors In People”
1	Subject leader for Art & Design
	Leads and manages provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs -SENCO
	Leads and manages provision for Disability Equality and Accessibility
	Leadership and management of appraisal for Teaching Assistants
	Leads and manages Performance Management for teachers
	School Development/ Improvement Planning / Staff Continuing Professional Development School Self Evaluation (SEF) School Prospectus Lead and manages Assessment, Recording and Reporting in partnership with Miss Burke.
	Design & Technology (shared)
Mrs Jo Josephidou
Foundation Stage Teacher/ Leader	Subject Leadership for English
	Subject Leadership for French
	Subject Leadership for Geography
Mrs Dympna Lambert	Assistant head teacher
Teacher forYear1,  Leader for Key Stage 1	Subject Leadership for Mathematics
1	Subject Leader for Music
	Leadership and management for the appraisal of Welfare staff/ site supervisor/cleaner-Appraisal
	Leadership and management of PSHE and  Healthy Schools and EVC Person responsible for Child Protection/Looked After Children
	Design & Technology (shared)
	Student mentor
Mrs Anne Bramhall Year 2 Teacher	Subject leadership for Religious Education Collective Worship Leader Subject leadership for Physical Education
Mrs Helen Pilkington Year 3/4 Teacher Newly Qualified Teacher
Mr David Findlay Year4 / 5 Teacher	Subject leadership for Science Leading and managing drama in school
Miss Rose Burke	Assessment, Recording and Reporting
Year 5/6 Teacher	Subject Leadership for History
1 1	Subject Leadership for ICT
	Able & Talented Student Mentoring, leading and managing Induction training for the NQT in partnership with the Headteacher
Teachers covering Planning, Preparation and Assessment time	Mrs Elaine Hume Mr Gordon Butterworth
Administration	Mrs Julia Postlethwaite
Teaching Assistants	Mrs Julie Allonby Mrs Bernadette Bolton Mrs Amanda Hegarty Mrs Teresa Hodgson Mrs Lesley Lord Mrs Anne Maudsley Mrs Helen Stewart Miss Rebecca Wain Mrs Denise Woodhouse
Site Supervisor	Mrs Carla Callan
Cleaning Staff	Mrs Michelle Carr
Kitchen/Welfare Staff	Mrs Carla Callan Mrs Michelle Carr Mrs Loretta Hartley Mrs Kathryn Horrocks Mrs Kris Karuniawati Mrs Brenda Winder

 

 

 

top

 

St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School Committee Structure
Buildings	Curriculum & Admissions			Staffing & Finance	Committee of Appointed Governors/ Pay Committee
Mrs M Carr	Mrs E Cole			Mrs A Bates	Mrs E Cole
Mrs A Bates	Mrs C Darwen			Fr P Foulkes	Fr P Foulkes
Mr J Christian	Mrs S Halsall			Mrs S Halsall	Mr K Postlethwaite
Mrs S Halsall	Mrs D Lambert			Mrs D Lambert
Mrs J Kirkman (Associate Governor)	Mrs L Macari			Mrs J Kirkman (Associate Governor)	Grievance Appeals
Mr K Postlethwaite	Mrs V White			Mr K Postlethwaite	Mrs V White
Mrs H Seddon	Mrs H Seddon			Mrs V White	Mrs A Bates
Mr R Barton	Mr R Barton			Mrs H Seddon	Mrs C Darwen
Mr A Copping	Mr A Copping			Mr R Barton
				Mr A Copping	Pupil Discipline
Capability / Complaints				Mr J Christian	Mrs C Darwen
Appeals Committee					Mrs E Cole
Mr R Barton	Grievance / Official Complaints against National Curriciculum/			Staff Discipline/Attendance	Mr J Christian
Mr A Copping	Pay Appeals Committee			& Dismissal Committee
Mrs C Darwen	Mrs H Seddon			Mrs H Seddon	Staff Discipline & Dismissal
	Mr J Christian			Mrs A Bates	Appeals Committee
Staff Review &	Mrs L Macari			Mr J Christian	Mrs V White
Dismissal Committee					Mrs L Macari
Fr P Foulkes	Performance Management				Mrs E Cole
Mrs E Cole	Review Officer
Mrs V White	Mrs C Darwen

 

top

 

Mission Statement

Our mission is to ensure a happy and secure learning environment where we celebrate the dignity and worth of all in our school community.

As a Christian community we recognise that in loving others we love Jesus and so help each other to reach our full potential.

TOGETHER WE WILL:-

v     Support the child and help achieve a complete education within a Catholic environment of Faith and Love.

v     Support and encourage the child whilst taking part in the spiritual and religious life of the school/parish.

v     Encourage the children to keep the school rules.

v     Implement any Special Needs, which may be required to enable the child to succeed happily in their learning.

THE FAMILY WILL TRY TO:-

v     Encourage our/my child to have a positive attitude to learning: to recognise that learning is a life long activity.

v     Make sure our child is punctual, attends school regularly and notify school as early as possible on the day of absence.

v     Support the school’s policies on discipline, uniform, jewellery and medicines and advise the school of any health or relevant family problems.

v     Attend Parent Conference evenings to discuss our child’s progress, as arranged.

v     Share stories regularly, participate in the ‘Home Reading Scheme’ and encourage our/my child to recognise the importance of homework.

THE SCHOOL WILL ENDEAVOUR TO:-

v     Provide a broad and balanced curriculum to meet the needs of your child.

v     Provide a safe and happy environment with help and encouragement to ensure that your child does the best they can.

v     Be open and welcoming at all times and offer opportunities for you to become involved in the daily life of the school.

v     Provide regular information about school events and your child’s progress.

v     Set homework that is varied and manageable, developing good study habits.

v     Recognise that the children are unique and respect individual differences.

THE CHILD WILL:-

v     Love one another as Jesus loves us.

v     Try my best in class, listen to my teacher and finish all tasks in a reasonable time.

v     Try my best to achieve the targets set for me.

v     Work quietly and sensibly and do as I am told, when asked.

v     Be polite and helpful and look after our building, its books, equipment and plants and take reasonable care of my own clothes and belongings and have respect for those of others.

v     Tell the teacher or Headteacher if anything is worrying me.

top

 

St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School
Admission Policy

Admission arrangements for September 2008/2009

1.  St Bernadette's serves the southern area of Lancaster and primarily admits Catholic children from this area.  All children, Catholic and Non-Catholic, who are admitted, become full members of the School Family.  Applications are welcomed for children with Special Educational Needs.

2.  The Governing Body has set the planned admission number for 2008 at 30.

3.  If any parent wishes to view St. Bernadette’s School in session, prior to making an application, they would be most welcome.  To arrange a convenient time they should phone the School. If more information is needed about St. Bernadette’s School e -mail the School at bursar@st-bernadettes.lancsngfl.ac.uk

Last year the School was able to admit all pupils whose parents applied.

How to apply

4.  Applications for a place at the school should be made on the appropriate form either by hard copy or online and returned to the school by no later than the designated date.

5.  Parents or guardians will be informed by letter of the outcome of their application on a common date designated by the Local Authority.  Where an application has been successful, parents must tell the school of their intention to accept the place within 10 working days.

6.  For unsuccessful applications the letter will give the reason for the decision and will tell parents of their right to appeal.  Guidance on how to appeal will also be included.

Over-subscription criteria

If the number of applications for admission exceeds the places available, children will be admitted in the order of priority 1) -7) set out below.

1) Baptised Catholic children in public care.

2) Baptised Catholic children from Catholic families in the St. Bernadette’s parish, who are regular worshippers.

3) Baptised Catholic children from Catholic families living outside the parish, who are regular worshippers at another Catholic church.

4) Baptised Catholic children from other Catholic families.

5) Non-Catholic children in public care.

6) Children of practising Christian families who are not Catholics.

7) Children whose parents wish them to be educated within the aims and values of a Catholic school.

If the number of children in any of the categories 1) – 7) is greater than the places available, applications will be further ranked as follows:

a) Children who will have a sibling (brothers, sisters, step brothers, step sisters, fostered and adopted children residing at the same address) in the school at the time of admission.

b) Children living nearest to the school as measured by the shortest walking route from home to the school’s main entrance.

Note:

• In the event of a child living with parents with shared responsibility, each for part of the week, the “home” address will be determined to be the address at which the child lives and sleeps for the greater amount of time.
• If necessary, a waiting list will be kept until the end of September.  Children will be ranked and admitted in the same order as above.
• Regular worship will need to be supported by a letter from the parish priest/ minister.
• Late applications after the deadline will be considered by the governors’ at an appropriate time, who will then determine whether or not a place can be offered.
  

top