Burdett-Coutts and Townshend Foundation Church of England VA Primary School

School Prospectus 2013 - 2014 Rochester Street

Westminster

London SW1P 2QQTel: 020 7828 6790

Fax: 020 7828 3791

Email: office@burdettcoutts.co.uk

Website: www.burdettcoutts.co.uk

From the Headteacher

Welcome to Burdett-Coutts & Townshend Foundation school.This is a school with committed staff and vibrant children. We believe our school has much to offer all children, so that they can achieve their potential. The children in our school are happy and enthusiastic, while maintaining a calm and focussed approach to their work. During the school year we regularly come together as a school community to celebrate the successes and talents of our children.We have a strong emphasis on working together, so that children become aware of the wider world through their friends in school. We are a Church of England school that values the support and resources of the local church. It is our fundamental view that all are welcome here as we are a community school with a Church of England ethos. All our children, of any faith or of none, visit the church regularly and we use the church for a variety of functions where we can fit in the entire school, staff and families together.The school had a very successful Ofsted inspection in December 2009 where we were graded as ‘good’ overall with seven areas highlighted as ‘outstanding’. In January 2010 the school had its statutory inspection as a Church of England School and we were graded ‘outstanding’ overall.Partnership with parents is essential. If we work together, supporting one another, we find that the children are more secure in all they do, and achieve higher standards in all aspects of their school life. Communication is essential in all we do, which is why the school also publishes a school newsletter, ‘School News’ every fortnight. These can also be found on our school website.In the last few years we have been developing a more creative curriculum as well as significantly developing our after school and lunchtime activities. We have around 40 volunteers assisting us with clubs and reading support for children.We have also worked hard to: ensure funding for building projects over the past seven years which has seen an internal increase of the site with, two new classrooms, a Learning Zone, an ICT suite, a Music Room, refurbished toilets, a new state of the art kitchen, playground developments and the refurbished Nursery building. In April 2012 the school completed the redevelopment of the two Reception classrooms which has been funded by our trustees and the government.Finally, our testimony is our children. Do come in and visit, talk to staff, children or myself, so that you get a real ‘feel’ for what we stand for. I am always more than happy to talk with parents about their concerns and aspirations, or just to be able to chat about ‘what we do’. I look forward to working alongside you in the year ahead.

Rosetta Dyer Headteacher

Staffing and GovernanceThe Leadership Team Mrs Rosetta Dyer Deputy Headteacher: vacantAssistant Headteacher (Inclusion): Mrs Ella CamplinAssistant Headteacher (Curriculum): Miss Gemma TurtonAssistant Headteacher (Assessment): Mr Patrick Murphy

There are approximately 20 teachers on staff and 25 support staff.

The Governing BodyChair of Governors: Miss Rebecca Smith (2010-present)Vice Chair of Governors: Vacant

The Governing Body is made up of people who are elected or appointed to represent parents, the church, the local authority and the staff. They are the employers of the staff and are responsible for the school. They meet regularly and help support, challenge and encourage the Senior Leadership Team and staff.

TrusteesThe school also has a board of trustees, chaired by Mrs Fiona Burdett-Coutts,

which looks after the endowment left by Angela Burdett-Coutts, and gives grants to the school periodically.

Our School StatementBurdett-Coutts & Townshend Foundation is a Church of England Voluntary Aided school that serves a diverse and fascinating central London community. Our pupils (360+, 2-form entry) come from a variety of social, ethnic and economic backgrounds. Many are local, and the school has a tradition that many parents also attended the school. There are a significant number of Army families.

The school has a strong Christian foundation and close links with St. Stephen’s church, which adjoins the school, and where school services in the Christian tradition take place. We are pleased that families from a wide variety of faith traditions (and none) choose to send their children to Burdett-Coutts, and that staff members with varying religious affiliations want to work here. We would expect all staff to make a positive contribution to the development of the ethos, and that teaching staff should take part in school worship and the teaching of Religious Education.

Our aim is that children should receive a broad and balanced education that includes a strong focus on achievement. We regard our Christian tradition as a powerful resource for supporting and challenging all members of the school community in fulfilling our educational and personal potential.

Rebecca Smith Chair of Governors

Working Together in Faith, Hope and Love.

Aims of the SchoolAchievement, progress and developing the children’spotential is crucial in all we do as we work together infaith, hope and love. We aim to:• ensure that each child has equality of opportunity

to develop his or her potential• inspire and motivate the children with a love of

learning• develop the highest possible standard in teaching

and learning• teach children Christianity and promote

understanding and sensitivity towards those whose who belong to a different religion or culture

• develop a partnership within the school of children, parents, support staff, teachers and governors, and beyond the school with the church and wider community

• be an inclusive school catering for the needs of those in our community

• develop creativity across the curriculum.

What else do we offer our children?We are fortunate to have many volunteers working in our school on a regular basis.

These include parents and other relatives, people from local businesses and from various government departments. We also work with a range of organisations who run creative projects for our children in the arts.

On Wednesdays we have volunteers from John Lewis Partnerships who run

Gardening, Reading and Craft Clubs.

ICT club is run at lunchtimes by Mr Carden & Westminster

School

Our two School Choirs

perform at many

events and venues

Children participate in stunning Christmas and End of Year Productions

Volunteers from local businesses run Maths Games and listen to

readers

Our children work with a huge range of talented professionals including the BBC singers.

Retired volunteers provide one to one tuition for some of our students

Football Club run by boys

from Westminster

School

We have an elected

pupil school council

Our Year 6 students visit the Chelsea Football Club, Westminster Archive

and Chelsea Pensioners ProjectMost years our Year 6 children take part in a

short residential trip

School trips to galleries, museums

and events

Our students attend Children of Courage and the Children’s

Society Christingle Services in

Westminster Abbey

Children take part in Black History

Month and Refugee Week

We end each year with our annual Founder's Day Service (Speech

Day)

We raise money for charities by having ‘own clothes’ days and holding enterprise events.

Children access an extensive music curriculum including opportunities to learn a string or brass instrument

Children take part in Drumming Workshops

We are proud that we are a healthy school who promote a healthy diet and an active lifestyle. We do this through projects such as ‘Bike It’ cycle training, Let’s Get Cooking and ‘Walk to School Wednesdays’. We are a SEAL school

and have an Anti Bullying Week and a Friendship Squad.

Burdett Coutts is a ‘Healthy School’

Breakfast Club/After School and Holiday Care

Club/Play CentreA successful and popular After School Club was established in 1994 and now provides pupils with the opportunity for extended learning, fun and companionship after the school day and during the holidays. Ms Caroline Hall and Mr Steve Brickell, both of whom have long association with the school, run the Club, which is an independently run organisation, and is inspected by Ofsted in its own right. They also now run a breakfast club from 8am each morning. For more information please phone the school. Only children who attend our school are eligible to attend this facility. In 2008 the school was awarded ‘extended school’ status. The Trustees of our school support the work of the After School Club.

Our School Rules

• Listen and talk to others with respect.

• Walk calmly and silently around our school.

• Keep your hands and feet to yourself.

An Historic SchoolOriginally there were three schools: a boys school, a girls school and an infant school, which was called Townshend Foundation. The main school was built in 1849. The school’s founder was Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts. The school was dedicated to her late father, Sir Francis Burdett. The school celebrated its 163rd Anniversary in 2012.The Baroness left a large endowment to the school, which is overseen by a board of trustees that meet three times a year. Money accrued through this endowment is then spent on the school as the trustees see fit. There is a certain amount of memorabilia around the school including two stunning portraits hung in the first floor hall. Much of the school’s historical documentation is now stored in the Westminster Archive Centre and is available on request.The school pays tribute to its benefactors each year through dedicated lessons, collective worship and during Founders’ Day which is held in July each year.Please see the school website for more detailed information about the history of this historic school.

Admissions CriteriaAdmissions CriteriaPlaces are offered in the following order of priority (in all categories where over subscription

occurs, distance from the school is the deciding factor ~ see Note 1)1. Children who are ‘looked after’ by a local authority (as defined by Section 22 of the Children

Act 1989 (1a+b).2. Children whose brother or sister is currently at the school and will still be a pupil when the

applicant joins (see Note 2).3. 50% of the remaining places are Foundation Places, available in the first instance to

children whose families worship regularly at St Stephen’s with St John, Westminster. Thereafter, Foundation Places are available to children whose families worship regularly at other churches (see Note 3).

50% of remaining places are Open Places available on the basis of proximity of the child’s home to the school.

Any unsuccessful applications for Foundation Places will be automatically included among applications for Open

Places. Any unfilled Foundation Places will be added to the Open Places available.

The Governors reserve the right to give priority to children with documented social or medical reasons for whom

this is the most suitable school: they must have references from a suitable professional (eg doctor, social worker).

Note 1: Proximity to the school is measured from the child’s normal residential address, measured by the shortest walking distance on the road network to the school’s main entrance, which is supported by data supplied by the City of Westminster.

Note 2: The priority for siblings only applies where other siblings are normally resident at the same address, and includes step-brothers and step-sisters.

Note 3: ‘Regular worship’ is understood to mean at least twice a month for two years or more. A clergy reference will be required (see attached sheet). ‘Other churches’ need to be affiliated to ‘Churches Together in Britain and Ireland’ or to the Evangelical Alliance.

Many children from various inner and outer London Boroughs attend our school.Application forms are available from Westminster City Hall, the school office, or on the

school website.

Children with Special Needs (SEN) ~ InclusionDefinitions

The 2001 Amended Special Educational Needs and Disability Act states:

Children have special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty, which calls for special educational provision to be made for them.

Children have a learning difficulty if they:  a) Have a significantly greater difficulty in learning

than the majority of children of the same age; orb) Have a disability, which prevents or hinders them

from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for children of the same age in schools within the area of the LA; or

c) Are under compulsory school age and fall within the definition at a) or b) above or would do so if special educational provision was not made for them.

Children must not be regarded as having a learning difficulty solely because the language of their home is different than the language in which they are taught.

Objectives of the SEN Policy are to:

• Encourage and foster the involvement of parents at all stages of provision for pupils with

special educational needs, recognising that parents hold key information and have a critical

role to play in their childrens’ education.

• Identify and assess the needs of children with SEN at the earliest opportunity.

• Ensure that children with SEN make progress and experience success across the curriculum

by differentiating their work using varied teaching methods and providing additional support

as appropriate to their needs.

• Monitor and review childrens’ progress through accurate assessment and record keeping.

• Take into account the views of the child and make clear to him/her the objectives of their IEP

(Individual Education Plan) at all stages of the procedure.

• Make all staff aware of their responsibilities in supporting children with SEN who are in

their care and to provide them with clear and manageable procedures for doing so.

• Work closely with all outside agencies which are involved in supporting the child.

• Have a designated member of staff who is Special Educational Needs Coordinator and

similarly a Governor with a particular responsibility for SEN provision within the school.

• To provide appropriate In Service Training to support the staff in meeting the needs of

children with SEN.

The Special Educational Needs leader is Mrs Ella Camplin (Assistant Headteacher)

Children with DisabilitiesDisability Action Plan Under the national disability agenda schools are required to give due consideration to those with disabilities and make reasonable adjustments.A disabled person is someone who has a physical or mental disability which has an effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. The effect must be:• Substantial• Long term• Adverse.

Summary of Aims• To increase the extent to which disabled pupils can

participate in the school curriculum.• To improve the physical environment of the school for

the purpose of increasing the extent to which disabled pupils are able to take advantage of the education and associated services provided by the school.

• To improve the delivery to disabled pupils of information which is already provided in writing to pupils who are not disabled.

AttendanceHome/School LiaisonThe school has a Learning Mentor/Home School Liaison Worker. One of the primary roles is to track, monitor and support attendance and punctuality of our children.

We believe that for children to attain high standards in all areas of school life they must be in school regularly and be on time.

We are aiming for 97% attendance or above.

In 2012

we

achieved

96.4%

attendan

ce

National Curriculum Results

Key Stage 1 Key Stage 2

For our current results please see the sheet attached at the end of this prospectus.

School Uniform

Our School UniformIn 2012 a review of the schooluniform policy was undertaken by the Governing Body’s Pupils, Parents and Community Committee. The reviewinvolved input from families. Theschool aims to ensure we use a varietyof cost effective providers.

The Governing Body has agreed

the following:School Uniform is compulsory forchildren from Reception Class to

Year 6. Children in the Nursery may

wearthe uniform if they so wish.The uniform list is attached to the back of the prospectus.

Useful WebsitesThe School Website: www.burdettcoutts.co.uk

Uniforms:www.yourschooluniform.com

Ofsted:www.ofsted.gov.uk

History of the Schoolhttp://webfronter.com/westminster/BC/

Our Church – St Stephen with St Johnwww.sswsj.org