South Farnham School P R O S P E C T U S The Continual Pursuit of Excellence
0 2 S O U T H F A R N H A M P R O S P E C T U S “Pupils achieve exceptionally well.” O F S T E D “Pupils at South Farnham School receive an excellent education.” O F S T E D
S O U T H F A R N H A M P R O S P E C T U S 0 3 Dear Parents, I hope you will find this prospectus informative and useful in discovering what makes South Farnham School such a special place to be. Education is a vitally important process and it is right that you should try to find out more about the opportunities and resources that are available for your children. I fully understand that choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make. I hope that you will want to visit South Farnham School to see the school, talk to the children and staff and experience firsthand the excellent facilities and outstanding learning environment that we offer all our children. We are committed to providing the highest quality care and education for your child; our teachers strive to deliver outstanding lessons which will stimulate and engage your child, and ultimately, foster a life-long love of learning. Underpinning this philosophy is the importance of each child’s wellbeing and our first-class pastoral care which recognises that, for a child to achieve their educational potential, they must feel safe, happy and valued at school. Ofsted ranked the school as ‘Outstanding’ for the fourth time in a row in June 2012 commenting that pupils are given a rich and exciting programme of activities and tasks, matched accurately to their needs. ‘The curriculum is second to none in the opportunities it offers the pupils to learn, explore and develop their talents. While the key skills of literacy and numeracy are at the heart of the curriculum, there are exceptional opportunities for pupils to develop their talents in such fields as music, art, drama and sport. These very effectively promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and provide memories that will stay with the pupils for life.’ As you read through this brochure I trust that what will unfold is an indication of the philosophy of our school. You will see that our concern for children means providing themwith a stable, secure and disciplined environment, where academic, personal and social potential may be achieved in preparation for the journey into the adult world. I would very much like to meet you and would be delighted to show you around the school. Yours sincerely, M R S E S T H E R F R A N K S H E A D T E A C H E R Welcome
0 4 S O U T H F A R N H A M P R O S P E C T U S The School
S O U T H F A R N H A M P R O S P E C T U S 0 5 South Farnham is a primary school taking pupils in the age range 4 to 11. We currently have 849 children on roll. They come from a variety of local schools. Parents are able to state a preference for this school for their child irrespective of where they live unless the school is oversubscribed. Most of the children move on to Weydon School, when they leave at 11 years of age, although once again parents have the right to choose any secondary school. We maintain close contact with all local Secondary providers to preserve continuity in our children’s education. Infants 4-7 The original Victorian school building dates from 1875. Significant extensions have been added over the last 12 years including a new hall which was completed in 2014. The school currently incorporates 9 classrooms, a library, several small rooms for group work, and a large studio used for dance and drama. Assemblies and activities such as P.E. and music are held in the new hall, which is also used at lunchtimes. School meals are freshly cooked on the premises. The school has extensive grounds which include two dedicated Early Years play areas, a large multi-use games area, an adventure playground, a grassed playing field and a sensory garden. There is also a small produce garden where the children can grow vegetables. We have an outdoor heated swimming pool, which is safely fenced off beside the multi-use games area, and this is used for lessons during the summer term. Juniors 7-11 South Farnham (7-11) was built to a high standard in 1938 as a girls’ Grammar School and has been significantly modified for younger children in recent years. The accommodation includes two large libraries, video walls, 6 art rooms, an assembly hall, two dance/drama studios, gymnasium, cloakrooms and changing rooms. The 7 acres of play area include 3 multi-use games areas, grassed sports fields, a pavilion and an outdoor gym. In September 2000 South Farnham became a Beacon School, which meant that following a rigorous programme of inspection, the school was asked by the government to share good practice with other schools and teachers to help to raise national standards in education. Following the end of this national initiative, South Farnham School has continued to support schools across the country and to take a leading role in national developments. In 2009 we became a National Support School, in 2011 a National Teaching School and in 2020 a Teaching School Hub. For many years we have been one of the highest performing schools in the country and nationally recognised as a leading school. South Farnham School stands on two sites lying, as its name suggests, south of Farnham. The infants are taught in School Lane and the juniors in Menin Way.
0 6 S O U T H F A R N H A M P R O S P E C T U S We aim to help our children, with the co-operation of their parents, to We do this by providing We have wider aims to Ethos,Values & Aims • develop into happy and confident individuals with a secure foundation in learning that will last throughout their lives. • develop lively and enquiring minds through knowledge with understanding. • establish a command of the subjects contained in the National Curriculum. • value and understand religious and moral beliefs and develop a respect for the views of others. • understand something of the world in which we live with regard for our mutual dependence on others as individuals, groups and nations. • appreciate human achievements and aspirations. • a school environment in which they can enjoy developing their mental and physical abilities. • whole school and individual staff professional development which ensures the highest quality of teaching and learning. • opportunities to work with other children and adults in a friendly atmosphere and so develop social skills in co-operating with each other. • an environment that vigorously pursues excellence. • play our part in raising national standards in education through sharing good practice with other schools and teachers across the country. • take a leading role in national initiatives and be in the forefront of educational thinking.
S O U T H F A R N H A M P R O S P E C T U S 0 7 The curriculum is balanced and broadly based. It consists of all the activities designed or encouraged in the school to develop intellectual, personal, social and physical activities in the children. Curriculum It includes not only the formal programme of lessons, but also the ‘informal’ programme of extra-curricular activities as well as the features which produce the school’s ethos, such as equality of opportunity, the values shown in the way the school sets about its task and the way in which it is organised and managed. The curriculum at South Farnham School is planned by staff in conjunction with governors and colleagues from partner schools in the Trust. Each subject is carefully sequenced to ensure that the knowledge and skills outlined in the National Curriculum can be acquired, developed and mastered by each child with long-term retention. Our teaching and learning is child-centred in that pupils are central to all our planning. We have high expectations of our children and have constructed a curriculumwhich allows all children to achieve to the highest level, nurturing their personal interests and talents, and equipping themwith the skills and knowledge to be successful in their lives. We aim to interest and excite the children so that they want to learn and enjoy their new skills and understanding.
0 8 S O U T H F A R N H A M P R O S P E C T U S “Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary. Pupils are intrinsically motivated to achieve their best.” O F S T E D Beyond the Classroom
S O U T H F A R N H A M P R O S P E C T U S 0 9 Extra-Curricular Activities Many activities and clubs take place at lunchtime and at the end of the normal school day. At present a choice of over 50 out-of-school activities is available including cookery, dance, gardening, singing, netball, football, tuition, crosscountry, pottery and chess. To help parents who are unable to collect their children at the end of the day we operate an After-School Care Facility at both our Infant and Junior Sites. Children are cared for by responsible adults until 5.30pm at the Infant Site and until 6.00pm at the Junior Site. We also operate a Breakfast Club at both sites for those parents who may require an early start for their family. Again, children are cared for by responsible adults. This facility runs from 8.00am at the Infant Site and 7.45am at the Junior Site. School Visits As part of our commitment to delivering a broad and balanced curriculum, we recognise the value of educational trips and visits in enriching the learning and overall experience that our pupils have at school. With carefully planned learning outcomes, school trips add valuable context and real-life experiences to our class-based teaching. We also take every opportunity to explore our local environment both within the school grounds and in the wider community and enjoy good relationships with local businesses and providers. Our trips and local visits programme are regularly reviewed and include: • The Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth • Butser Ancient Farm • Marwell Zoo • The Aldershot Military Museum • Natural History Museum Residential Trips The school also runs three very successful residential trips during the school year for Years 4-6. Sports Our aim in Physical Education is to help the children learn more about their bodies through a programme of sporting fitness incorporating gymnastics, dance and games. A full competitive sporting programme has been developed with children from all years encouraged to take part at whatever level they can. A positive social attitude towards team games is fostered enabling the children to understand the importance of teamwork and co-operation.
1 0 S O U T H F A R N H A M P R O S P E C T U S An Exceptional Education for all Inclusion South Farnham School is committed to a policy of inclusion for all members of the school community irrespective of social background, culture, race, gender, differences in ability and disabilities (in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975). We are committed to promoting racial equality and good race relations across all areas of school life including curriculum, teaching and learning, progress, attainment and assessment, admissions, attendance, behaviour, discipline and exclusions, pupils’ personal development and pastoral care, staff recruitment and professional development, membership of the governing body, partnerships with parents and community. Additional Support From time to time many children will need additional support either to overcome a learning difficulty or to ensure that the curriculum fully extends their abilities. Specialist help is available within the school. Our Special Needs Co-ordinator oversees the work of a team of teachers and teaching assistants who support and advise the classroom teacher. They work with small groups and monitor the progress of children. Additional help is available when appropriate from Educational Psychologists and the other outside support agencies, including those with particular regard for looked after children. The More Able Child Our school policy is to identify through clear curriculum guidelines those children who have outstanding abilities. Opportunities are given for children to develop their specific skills or talents right across the curriculum. Parents are always closely involved in all aspects of this special provision.
S O U T H F A R N H A M P R O S P E C T U S 1 1 For more information on results, see here. Our OFSTED inspection stated that: “There is a sharp focus on identifying and meeting the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND.” For more information on admissions, see here. Our OFSTED inspection stated that: “Staff develop pupils’ character exceptionally well.”
Contact Infant Site Address School Lane, Lower Bourne, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 3PE Telephone 01252 716398 Fax 01252 718102 Email infants.southfarnham@sfet.org.uk Website www.south-farnham.surrey.sch.uk Junior Site Address Menin Way, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 8DY Telephone 01252 716155 Fax 01252 718260 Email info.southfarnham@sfet.org.uk Website www.south-farnham.surrey.sch.uk
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