About Ambleside

School Structure

Teamwork

The staffing structure at our school centres itself around teams, with everyone within the school community having an equal and important part to play. There is no ‘I in the word team’, which is something well worth remembering.
‘A team is a group of people that can effectively tackle any task which it has been set to do. The contribution drawn from each member is of the highest possible quality and is one which could not have been called into play other than in the context of a supportive team.’
Professional key features of teamwork for all members of staff at Ambleside Primary include;

• Friendship
• High morale and positive attitude at work
• Shared perceptions
• Common Purpose
• Agreed procedures
• Commitment
• Co-operation
• Resolving of disagreements by discussion and understanding
• Shared skills
• Potential realised
• Reduction of stress and anxiety
• Dedication
• Honesty
• Supporting one another
• Pride
• Confidentiality when needed

It is through a shared whole school vision, teamwork, enjoyment, mutual support and encouragement between all staff, that we will develop the experiences and opportunities for all who attend our school, enabling every individual to develop their full potential.

School Governors

From 1st September 2006, the Governing Body for Ambleside Primary school has consisted of;

7 Parent Governors, 4 Staff Governors, 4 Community Governors, 4 local authority Governors,  The Head teacher

Phase Managers

With the school being the size it is, the class groups will be lead and managed by four ‘Phase Managers.’ If you have a concern, that unfortunately, you are not able to sort out with your Childs class teacher, please arrange to see the Phase Manager appropriate to where your child is placed. Please refer to the breakdown below:

Teacher PPA (Planning, Preparation and Assessment) Release

Since 2006, the government have entitled teaching staff to be released on a weekly basis. To ensure consistency for the children we have teaching and coaching staff internally employed, who provide the cover for the whole year. Teachers are released for a morning during one week and the afternoon the second.

Physical Education

We are very fortunate to have a sports centre on the school site. Every class has the opportunity of using it at least once a week.
All classes from Year One onwards go swimming within the school year. Due to the school size of the school this is currently rotated on a half termly basis.

School Entrances

The main entrance continues to be opposite Sherborne Road between the Minver Crescent Sports Centre and ACTC. During the day this is the access main point to and from the school.

The Hilcot Road entrance, along the side of the Sure Start building boundary, is opened for access at the beginning and end of the school day. The third entrance point which will give access to the middle of the playground will be opened shortly.

Raising Aspirations

We continually strive to set high expectations for everyone within our schools learning community. For instance, children are not allowed to swear or fight within the school grounds. Unfortunately, there have been a few incidences where some parents have not modelled this for our pupils, at the beginning or end of the school day. This is extremely unsettling and frightening for both the children and other adults within the site. Could I please urge you all to help set better aspirations and model good conduct at all times within our school community, as conflict and threats does not set a good example of being a responsible adult. Any adults who exhibit this behaviour will be banned from the school premises on legal grounds.

Celebrations

End of year successes for the last academic year 2007/2008, I would like to share with you, are attendance and assessment outcomes.

The National average for attendance is 94%. Our whole school attendance has increased by point three percent from last year from 92.7% in 2006/2007 to 93.0% for 2007/2008. We have three classes who actually beat the national average, these are Class 6 with 96.5%, Class 8 with 95.5% and Class 10 with 94.1%. Thank you and well done to all of you who have children in those classes.

Children’s attainment is compared nationally at the end of the three key stages we have within our school: Foundation Stage (Aged 5); Key Stage One (Aged 7); and Key Stage Two (Aged 11). We still have some way to go to be as good as the best schools in the country and strive to get there in the future. But, for now I’d like to share with you that our results at all three stages were higher than last year in a majority of areas.

Other key successes that have occurred are the growing number of after school clubs for the children; the creation of the school newspaper ‘The Ambleside,’ The school vegetable garden; our state of the art building; Residential trips in Years 3, 4, 5 & 6; and the of achievement so many of our children which will give them access to many different opportunities as they become adults.