Colindale Primary School

Colindale Primary School is a non-denominational three form entry Community School for girls and boys between the ages of 3 to 11, maintained by the London Borough of Barnet, with a resourced provision for children with physical disabilities. On site there is also and an assessment centre for pre-school children with complex needs, called Acorn.

At Colindale we are fortunate to have a fantastic new school building which provides a well-planned, spacious, learning environment which is well-resourced and fully accessible. All our classrooms and learning areas are equipped with interactive whiteboards. Outside we have a variety of beautifully landscaped areas which give wonderful scope for outdoor learning and play.

The excellent facilities we have include an indoor heated swimming pool, large all weather play pitch, an enclosed netball/basketball court, a tennis court, soft play room, physiotherapy rooms and a large hall with a stage and sound and lighting system. We also have an environmental area with a pond, a sensory garden, a woodland area and gardening areas.There are 750 pupils who attend Colindale, organised into seven year groups, each with three parallel mixed ability classes of not more than 30. There are two nursery classes of 39 children, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

We all work hard to provide a safe, happy and responsible environment in which everyone can learn, flourish, reach their potential, and be valued as an individual.Our school is a place where we share and celebrate our cultures, languages and faiths in harmony with each other. We have children from many different cultures speaking over 40 different languages.When children leave Colindale School I want them to do so with confidence and with an awareness and understanding of the world so that they can work positively towards a better future for all.To achieve this for our children staff work closely in partnership, offering support and challenge to each other. We also work closely with Parents and Carers. Throughout the year there are regular meetings with parents to exchange information. There are also other opportunities such as sports days and assemblies for them to be involved in their child’s education. We want to make the most of these opportunities to build good relationships and partnerships between parents and the school.

We are proud of our school and share and celebrate the diversity of our community. Inclusion and equal opportunities are a fundamental part of the ethos of our school. We work towards a community in which there is a common vision and sense of belonging by all; a community in which the diversity of people’s backgrounds and circumstances is appreciated and valued; a community in which similar life opportunities are available to all; and a community in which strong and positive relationships exist and continue to be developed in our school and in the wider community.Our role in promoting equality is crucial in creating opportunities for pupils’ achievement and enabling every child to achieve their potential.

We are funded for nine places for children with physical disabilities. Children are based in the mainstream classes alongside their peers. In this way they benefit from participating in all the curriculum activities in their class, as well as the specialist facilities and resources that we have in the school. We work with outside agencies, for example physiotherapy and speech, to ensure the optimum inclusion. Support staff, therapists and parents work together and meet regularly as a team to review and set targets and to differentiate the curriculum when needed.Colindale Primary School is a Unicef Rights Respecting School where children are valued, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive in an inspiring environment.