Vision Statement
The Christ Church School vision is for everyone in our family to
feel valued and become active, reflective, life-long learners in
an inclusive, safe environment where happiness and success
are our priorities.
Believe and Achieve!
THE SCHOOL
Christ Church CE Primary School is a one-form entry school. We have 236 pupils on roll
including 26 in our full time Nursery. All of our children come from a range of ethnic
backgrounds including Pakistani, Somali and Indian.
The school was judged ‘Good’ in our last Ofsted Inspection in January 2013. We provide a
broad and balanced curriculum and we are working towards implementing the new National
Curriculum.
We have developed good working partnerships with parents and views from parents and
pupils are regularly sought on a variety of issues.
We are a Local Authority School although as a Church School the Birmingham Diocese Board
of Education guides us. We are closely connected to Christ Church Parish. Our ethos seeks
to promote Christian values and morals while being sensitive to the range of cultures
present in our school and community. We seek to reflect the society in which we live and to
provide positive images for the children in matters of race, gender, background, ability or
disability. Our SIAS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools) in March 2011 graded us as
Outstanding.
PREMISES
The school has three playgrounds, a field, a computer suite and a library. There is a hall which is used
for Collective Worship, dance, music, gymnastics, games, drama and school productions, as well as
for school lunches. We have recently developed our upper school playground area to include a
challenging trim trail and a M.U.G.A. We also have a forest school area which is used for targeted
children during curriculum time and for after school clubs.
THE GOVERNING BODY
The school is governed, in accordance with an Instrument and Articles of Government, by a
Governing Body of 13 members, comprising:





2 Local Authority Governors
4 Parent Governors
3 Foundation Governors
2 Community Governors
2 Staff Governors
The Head Teacher automatically becomes a member of the Governing Body unless he or she
elects otherwise and notifies the Clerk of the Governing Body in writing of his or her
decision not to become a member of the Governing Body.
The full Governing Body meets at least once a term and these meetings are usually early
evening meetings. However, committee meetings are held at 4.30pm.
The Governors take an active interest in school life and are invited to all appropriate
functions.
STAFFING
Senior Leadership Team




Head Teacher
Deputy Head Teacher
Assistant Head Teacher
School Business Manager
TLRs





EYFS Leader
KS2 Leader
SENCo
Creative Curriculum Leader
RE Lead Teacher
Classroom Based Staff



8 Teachers
3 HLTAs
8 Teaching Assistants
Non class based staff

7 – including part-time teachers for PPA cover
Other Support Staff





Building Services Manager
School Administrator
Admin Assistant
8 Lunchtime Supervisors
2 Breakfast Club Supervisors
BUDGET
Delegated Total S52 Formula School Budget Share (SBS)
Pupil Premium
1,224,262
96,300
Devolved Capital Standards Fund Allocation
6,475
Total Funding for 2013/14 (@ 01.04.13)
1,327,037
Sports Premium (September – March)
5,429
ORGANISATION
School Times
Nursery
8.55am – 3pm (doors open at 8.45am)
Rec – Year 6
8.55am – 3.15pm (doors open at 8.45am)
Class Organisation
The pupils are grouped according to age in classes of 30 pupils as follows:
Nursery
Children aged 3-4 years
Reception
Children aged 4-5 years
Year 1
Children aged 5-6 years
Year 2
Children aged 6-7 years
Year 3
Children aged 7-8 years
Year 4
Children aged 8-9 years
Year 5
Children aged 9-10 years
Year 6
Children aged 10-11 years
School Meals
School meals are cooked on site and served cafeteria style. We also provide facilities for
pupils who wish to bring a packed lunch.
CURRICULUM
English
English includes reading, writing, spelling, punctuation, grammar and spoken language. We
are implementing the new National Curriculum but believe in the development of English
across the curriculum to develop skills.
We feel it is important that the children are confident and enthusiastic readers who read for
pleasure and value the support, involvement and encouragement of parents in this
partnership.
Mathematics
Years 3 and 4 are following the New Curriculum for Maths and are trialling a new method of
assessment. All other classes use units from the National Numeracy Strategy alongside APP
to set the pitch for their teaching. The curriculum is undergoing review as the new National
Curriculum is rolled out to all classes.
Science
Children develop positive attitudes, learn basic scientific skills and knowledge, which will
help them become more aware of the role and influence of science in our lives. There are
four areas of science in the National Curriculum – investigations, living things, materials and
forces.
Religious Education
Religious Education is taught in accordance with the Birmingham Agreed Syllabus, which is
multi-faith by its nature and aims to educate children about the world’s major religions. As a
Church School we ensure that Christianity is taught in every year group.
We engage in a daily act of ‘Collective Worship’, through assemblies, which is broadly
Christian in character and is linked to specific themes chosen to promote inquiry and
discussion. In both RE and our daily act of Collective Worship we also take into accounts
other faiths, children’s backgrounds and beliefs. Our aim is to help children understand that
society is made up of people with differing values and beliefs.
Foundation Subjects
Children have the opportunity to explore and develop creative skills in the Foundation
Subjects (D & T, Art, Music, Geography and History) through practical activities, research
projects and Educational visits. Maths and English skills are embedded during these lessons
and provide opportunities to use and apply knowledge. Topic work begins with a ‘Wow
start’ and finishes with a Grand Finale when work is celebrated in a fun way.
ICT
Our aim is to provide the children with as wide a range of experience in the application of
ICT as possible including computing and programming. The children use computers,
interactive whiteboards, digital cameras, programmable toys and a range of sounds
equipment throughout the curriculum.
Modern Foreign Languages
All children in Key Stage 2 have the opportunity to understand and communicate in French
with teaching providing a balance of spoken and written language laying the foundation for
further foreign language teaching in Key Stage 3.
SEN (Special Educational Needs)
There is a part-time (60%) non-class based SENCo who supports pupils in all key stages.
Teaching Assistants are non-class based during the afternoon in order to deliver SEN
Interventions. Pupils are monitored and assessed carefully by their teachers throughout the
school. 14% of our children are on the Special Needs Register. At Christ Church CE Primary
School we work closely with outside agencies including Pupil and School Support, Speech
and Language Service, Brays Outreach Service and Stepping Stones.
PE
All children are taught two hours of PE each week. Teachers are following the LCP planning
framework. Throughout the school year each class will take part in Games, Dance, Athletics,
Outdoor activities and Gym. In addition to this, Years 4 and 5 go swimming every week and
most reach the expected level of being able to swim 25m unaided by the end of the two
years. A PE coach currently helps deliver PE lesson in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6. A PE teacher from
Calthorpe Sports School also works alongside the Year 2 teacher.
BREAKFAST CLUB
At Christ Church CE Primary School we have a breakfast club which is held at Christ Church a
few minutes’ walk away from school. Breakfast Club runs between 8am – 8.45am and is
free to attend.
PASTORAL CARE and DISCIPLINE
PATHS stands for Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies and will help our children to
recognise emotions and make sensible choices about their own behaviour and that of
others.
During the lessons, children are taught to recognise and describe feelings, understanding
that all feelings are okay but some feelings are comfortable like being happy or excited and
other feelings are uncomfortable like being anxious or annoyed. Children also learn to use
control signals to manage their feelings.
Parent workshops have been held for all the parents across school and our lunchtime
supervisors have also completed PATHS training.
Every day a child is chosen randomly in each class to be the 'PATHS Child of the Day.' This
child wears a special shirt and is given important jobs to do during the day. At the end of the
day, compliments are given to this child by children and staff in their class.
LINKS WITH THE COMMUNITY
Christ Church CE Primary School is part of the very active ‘Sparklers’ Consortium which
covers the Sparkhill and Sparkbrook areas. We are also part of the Calthorpe Teaching
School Alliance.