Going Above and Beyond

Going above and beyond

"There is an expectation that all schools should be good, whether that is their curriculum, the safety of pupils or the outcomes they achieve." - Jo, Governor at St Margaret's Collier Street Primary School.

Our school is exceptional, we go above and beyond. Our embedded ethos and high expectations for all children across our broad curriculum results in every child being nurtured and inspired to discover all our amazing school has to offer. The outcome: exceptional, happy, well rounded children; whose results are the pride of parents, teachers, the school and most importantly the children themselves. This is how we do it:

In 2018, we extended our school grounds. With support from the local community, we purchased an acre of land and since then have, with the support of volunteers and a successful bid to Tesco, been creating reading domes as well as planting over 400 hedging/trees. The extra land is frequently used by children for PE and other opportunities to be active which impacts positively on their physical and mental well-being.

By working alongside the same Sports Coach for a number of years, staff have received consistently high quality professional development. All classes receive 2 hours of PE each week. By offering weekly swimming lessons for 2 years, we also have confident and successful swimmers by the end of Year 4. We have an expectation that a majority of Year 4 will be proficient swimmers to at least 200 metres.

Eating well is as important as being active. We have a purpose built children’s kitchen which is used for weekly cookery lessons and an after school club too. The produce from the school garden is often prepared and cooked.

Both during and after the school day, pupils are able to enjoy a wide range of extra-curricular clubs run by staff and parents. There are currently 10 on offer each week.

This is a school where singing and music can often be heard. As Headteacher, I lead a weekly music time for the school. Children are also offered the opportunity to play a musical instrument as well as attend the school choir and orchestra. Musical performances are integral to the church services we lead in St. Margaret’s church.

Children need to be aware of their local area. To this end, classes take every opportunity to make visits around Kent and further beyond.

Consequently.....

In the annual questionnaire issued to parents, 100% of parents consider their child to be happy and safe at school and 98% think their child receives good teaching.

For at least the last 15 years, the percentage of pupils assessed for a grammar school place has exceeded the Kent average of 25%.

Finally......

As our pupils leave us, they really are well prepared for the next stage of their education. They will have been offered the opportunity to attend a residential week further developing their independence and resilience, offered numerous responsibilities around the school during Year 6, led church services, be trained mediators but also attained well. Since the introduction of the National Curriculum in 2014, our pupils have consistently achieved above the national average in reading, writing and mathematics combined, all of which are essential for Year 7 and beyond.