SCHOOL OF THE WEEK: Learning is fun at Blackwood Primary School

ARRIVING at Blackwood Primary School on a beautiful sunny morning I am greeted by the schools care taker Mr Morris, who directs me in to the school.

Surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the Valleys, Blackwood Primary School is a school with a lot going for it.

Chatting to the head Mrs Mather-Thomas, I learn that a testament to this is the pupils themselves who work hard year round.

“We are a happy, caring and friendly school and just want to make it fun to learn,” the head said.

“We do a lot for charity with events to raise money for charities including Barnardos, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, and Children in Need, which we rotate on an annual basis.

“We have incredible support from the community who have helped us be very successful in everything we do.”

Alongside charitable activities, the school also actively develops its global links including links with schools in Indonesia to give the pupils a broad learning experience.

The school has had the link with the school for three years with teachers from the school have visiting Indonesia to teach gymnastics to the children.

The school also has a very active school council run by teacher Ms Kinsey with a representative from each class putting forward ideas and discussing targets for the year.

One such target includes achieving the Platinum Eco Flag, as part of the schools eco status, of which they have achieved three so far.

As well as being an eco school, the school also places importance in being a healthy school carrying out healthy eating policies alongside two weekly sports sessions within the pupils P.E lessons.

The school places a big emphasis on sports and this is demonstrated through the sports council led by P.E teacher Mr Lewis.

“Mr Lewis delivers all the sporting activities within the school and organises all of our after school clubs,” Mrs Mather-Thomas added.

Sporty after school clubs include rugby; tennis; football; athletics; hockey; netball; and cross country amongst others.

Many of the children have the school and county in sporting competitions such as football and netball, as well as being a part of Olympic history when they held their own mini Olympic torch rally after supporting Blackwood Comprehensive teacher Mrs Pickard who was involved in the Olympic celebrations.

“This is just one example that shows the community support and feel the school has.

“As part of this we also have a very active PTFA-Parent Teacher Friends Association who organise lots of events such as ladies evenings and Christmas shopping trips which in turn raise funds for the school,” the head added.

The community spirit of the school is also demonstrated through the gardening club which outline the schools motto “It’s fun to learn.”

Showing me around the school year six teacher Mr Thomas explains to me that the school makes use of the schools vast grounds by getting the children involved in growing vegetables and looking after chickens in the school chicken coop.

“The chicken coop was part of our topics-environment and living project,” Mr Thomas said.

“Local businesses such as Denmans Builders and Plumb Wales helped us with the project supplying things like water butts.”

“The children have gotten so much out of the chicken coop, they are involved in looking after the chickens and collecting the eggs.

“We hatched the eggs ourselves and we had a live video on the website where the whole school watched the eggs hatch,” Mr Thomas added.

The outdoor learning aspect is a big part of the school life with children donating plastic bottles to make an eco greenhouse, and planting fruit trees on the school grounds.

Mr Kerr and Mrs Williams also run forest schools to give the children a fun, practical approach to learning and risk assessment.

“All of the children have access to the outdoor areas and it provides a lovely environment for the children day in day out.” Mrs Mather-Thomas said.

Music is another of the ways the school aims to stimulate the children’s learning in a fun way, with many of the children talking part in violin, piano and harp lessons as one of the only English medium schools in Wales offering such lessons.

“Our choir are going to be taking part in a concert recorded in December to be played live either on Christmas day or Christmas Eve at St David’s Hall,

“There are around 40 children in the choir and this is part of a project called Million Voices,” Mrs Mather-Thomas said.

The school encourages the pupils to work hard to achieve their aspirations by holding weekly award assemblies, and awarding house points, and using trips as an incentive.

A strong focus is placed upon the importance of literacy skills delivered by the Read, Write Inc. programme, managed by Mrs Barber in the foundation phase and early juniors, which uses a fun element such as dress up to engage the children in phonics.

Interactive learning also extends to other subjects such as history with children from year four dressing up as Tudors and year six as Edwardians.

This is part of the schools ‘Wow days’ which introduce a new topic to pupils in a fun interactive way.

The school’s mascot Dewi the Dragon also raises spirits in the school and supports the children in sports and various events.

Mrs Mather-Thomas has high hopes for the children’s future.

“I always tell the children that whatever they do in the future to make sure that they give their best in everything- to work hard and achieve because that is a big element in achieving their aspirations.”

FACT FILE

Head: Mrs Jane Mather-Thomas

Deputy head: Miss Nerys Jones

Chair of Govenors: Mr Delwyn Davies

Pupils on roll: 420

Ages: 3-11

Motto: It’s fun to learn/ Mae’n hwyl i ddysgu

ESTYN REPORT

The schools last Estyn inspection was carried out in 2009.

Key points include:

• Blackwood Primary school is a good school with many outstanding features the commitment of a forward thinking headteacher staff and governors ensures that a high standard of quality learning activities are experienced by all pupils.

• There is a caring and supportive ethos in the school which is reflected in the confidence and adventure of the pupils in their work.

•

• The behaviour of pupils is very good and they move around school in an orderly and very courteous manner.

• They are respectful to their fellow pupils and adults, listening and responding appropriately to instructions and suggestions

• Pupils have very positive attitudes to learning, show high levels interest in their work and nearly all pupils maintain concentration in lessons. They are very well motivated and show great enthusiasm for their schoolwork and related activities

• Pupils achieve similar standards irrespective of their social, ethnic or linguistic background.