Westbourne Primary School

Westbourne Primary School is An Outstanding Academy School: a friendly, caring, family community striving for excellence - committed to achievement and sharing in the success of each individual.

All children at the school follow the National Curriculum, which means that they spend a good deal of time on the Core Subjects: English, Mathematics and Science, with a daily Literacy and Numeracy lesson. There is still plenty of time for the other Foundation Subjects; History, Geography, Computing, Music, Art, Design & Technology, Physical Education, Modern Foreign Languages, R.E. and P.S.H.C.E.

As part of their learning programme, children follow a variety of creative, cross-curricular topics and themes over the course of the school year. The topics are diverse and are drawn from the appropriate programmes of study and level descriptors of the National Curriculum.

A variety of teaching approaches are used by teachers throughout the year, selected to be the most appropriate to the task in hand. This means that children are sometimes taught as a class, sometimes as a group or sometimes on an individual basis. This sensible approach ensures that every child will receive a broad and balanced education based on his or her needs.

Westbourne recognises that the best place for learning may not always be in a conventional classroom environment. The outdoors is seen as another, much larger classroom, with an abundance of natural resources and many opportunities for hands-on, 'real-life' learning. We always consider how and where learning would best take place, and plan for frequent, continuous progressive outdoor learning experiences. A definite strength of the school is the large number of free extra-curricular clubs and activities run at lunchtime and after school.

Throughout the year children are taken on visits which support their learning in school. Children in Year 4 have the opportunity to go on 3-day visit to Sayers Croft; children in Year 5 can go on a weekend visit to Kingswood, and children in Year 6 can go on a week-long residential visit to the Isle of Wight. These visits play a vital part in developing children's learning and no child is ever excluded from a school visit on the grounds of cost. Every class has the opportunity to experience a day out in London, in addition to at least another school outing during the year.

Our vision and values are at the core of everything we do. They underpin our teaching and learning, and provide an environment which prepares our pupils as confident, happy citizens. The aim of the school is to help children develop lively, enquiring minds and a love of learning, together with a sense of self-respect and respect for others.