If you have a child starting school in September 2011 or are looking to transfer your child from another school, Brighstone CE Primary School welcomes you to visit during its annual Open Morning on 5th November, 9.30-11.30am.
The school, whose motto (written by the children) is “It’s a small school where big things happen”, serves Brighstone, Limerstone, Hulverstone, Brook, Shorwell and Chale and also attracts pupils from further afield.
There’s a popular escorted school bus service for those pupils who live in the catchment area, but more than two miles from the school or for whom there is no safe walking route.
There are currently 140 children on roll (Reception to Year 5), and next September the school will have a Year 6 for the first time.
Here’s a flavour of what Brighstone Primary offers:
- An innovative curriculum, praised as “outstanding” by Ofsted. For example, this year the school is participating in the Forest Schools programme, with groups of children visiting Brighstone Forest each week to participate in team- building and survival skills. Children report weekly on their activities through a blog on the school website. Class topics are chosen by the children. There’s a clear focus on ‘life skills’ such as first aid. From this year, all classes will undertake some cookery activities as part of their topics. The award-winning (Wight in Bloom) school garden is cultivated by the children and products grown included in the cookery. Foreign languages are taught from Year 2, supported by a French student in Years 3, 4 and 5.
- One form entry, single age classes.
- Results above the national average.
- Wonderful grounds with areas designed by the pupils.
- Awards include: Silver Travel Plan accreditation, High Sheriff’s Award for Services to the Community, Healthy Schools and Eco Schools Award. This year the school received four nominations for National Teaching Awards, including ‘outstanding school team of the year’.
- A wide variety of after school clubs including: Bushcraft, Cheerleading, Football, Netball, Sewing and Performing Arts.
- Wrap around care from 7:45am-5:45pm for children aged 3 and over.
- Pre-school for children aged 2-4 with close links to the school.
- School visits to support the curriculum including: Brading Roman Villa, Osborne House, INTECH, British Museum and Day Museum. Previous residential visits have included 3 days in Burley (New Forest). This year, Year 4 will be going to London and staying on HMS Belfast.
- Wide range of instrumental lessons available including: piano, guitar, violin, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, saxophone and flute.
- Active school council, which in the last year has visited County Hall, broadcast a show on Isle of Wight Radio and purchased new play equipment for lunchtimes. Current project is on improved cycleways to school.
- All children in Years 3,4 and 5 have access to a netbook all day if they require it to support their learning.
- Community involvement, participating in local events such as the Brighstone Horticultural Show, Remembrance Day Service, Christmas Tree Festival and Shorwell Midsummer Fair.
- Family Learning opportunities and twice-weekly opportunities for parents and members of the community to come in to school and have a roast dinner!
- Wide interest in supporting local charities e.g. Pedal for Parkinson’s, RNID (sponsored ‘fingerspellathon’) and Walk the Wight (£1300 was raised last year on this event alone).
- Active parents’ association called the ‘BSA’ (Brighstone School Association), raising money to provide additional resources to support the school’s expansion to Year 6.
For more information, please see the Brighstone Primary School Website
