Park Community School

Park is a small one form entry Free primary school and we are proud to be part of the Chapel Street Community Schools Trust. We are located in Merton Park just behind the Morden Hall tram line. The school opened in September 2014 and we are growing by one class every year.

At Park we believe that a high quality education within a Christian environment is the best start a child can have in their school life. We understand that children need a secure value system as they grow up. We work in partnership with parents to build a sense of community and respect for others. Our children are encouraged to be friendly and considerate to one another, to always do their best and achieve the highest standards in their learning.

Park Community School (PCS) will comply with the School Admissions Code to ensure the admissions arrangements are clear, lacking complexity and fair. PCS will make sure that all communication is targeted and accessible to all in our community, including the hard to reach, and those requiring information in additional languages.

The school will not seek to select its students by ability, interview applicants or seek payment from parents and carers for admission. Because PCS has a Christian ethos, we will not seek to admit on the basis of faith and will operate an inclusive admissions policy (open to all faiths and to none).PCS will work alongside Merton Council ensuring that parents and carers can benefit from a prospectus and suitable marketing materials at the earliest opportunity. PCS will of course ensure that website information is available to all prospective parents and carers.

Park Community School will offer full time education to children from the September before the fifth birthday. Parents may request to defer their child’s entry to Reception until later in the Reception year, or request to stagger entry from part-time to full time attendance, but not beyond statutory school age. If the parent of a summer born child wishes to defer their child’s entry until the start of Year 1, they must re-apply for a school place at that time.

We intend to attract local students and all our publicity and promotional material is designed to appeal to parents and carers in the surrounding neighbourhoods of the school. We are determined that no-one will be marginalised because of challenging or difficult circumstances and will put support in place where this is needed to access information and communication with PCS.

At Park Community School, the curriculum is tailored to the needs and aspirations of our children. Every pupil has individualised targets, which are tackled in a variety of settings, including individual work, group work and whole class teaching. Our staff not only share knowledge and skills, we encourage children to delight in knowledge: to move from, ‘Whatever!’ and ‘So what?’ to wonder and wellbeing. Lessons come with a licence for adventure and learning is integrated across subjects and disciplines.

Park Community School develops life-long learners who are able to relate their learning to practical problems. Staff provide children with regular opportunities to apply learning to real life and to work in groups, thus building capacity for life skills such as team-work, self assessment, problem-solving, social skills, etc.

We want to support the children in taking ownership for their own learning, since we recognise that lifelong learning means that knowledge acquisition is secondary to learning how to learn. Whilst they are in the younger years, our approach includes informal methods such as Learning Show and Tell, where the children talk to others about what they have learnt, how they have learnt it and what they would change next time. As the children gain confidence in these skills, Park Community School will use an approach to help children set suitable targets and plans for their growth and development, with input from staff, parents and carers. In this way all parties can recognise, contribute to and benefit from the progress that children are making. Our teachers are trained in personal coaching to build children’s confidence, aid motivation and raise achievement both in and out of the classroom.

Children with special educational needs will benefit from a range of provision, including support in the classroom and targeted interventions for individuals and groups. Children with a formal statement of special educational needs will receive a programme of support tailored to meet the objectives laid out in the statement.

Chapel St schools are founded on the principles of grace, love and fellowship. We create inclusive learning communities where each individual is respected and valued. Chapel St schools share a broad, generous and inclusive Christian ethos. We welcome children and families from all faiths and none, inviting everyone to work together towards the good of the whole community.

The Local Academy Board is responsible for the strategic leadership of the school in partnership with the Headteacher, Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Chapel St Community Schools Trust. The Local Academy Board also focuses specifically on the progress the school is making on each of its priorities and those identified by Ofsted.

Each individual Local Academy Board Member takes responsibility for a different aspect of the school and its development. Many of these are specifically linked to part of the school improvement plan, although some sit outside of that. Each Local Academy Board Member will visit the school at least twice a term to assess how well the school is progressing in each area, measured against the relevant targets and indicators. They then report back to the Local Academy Board who have the opportunity to ask questions and provide challenge.