SCHOOL OF THE WEEK: Deri View Primary School in Abergavenny

SURROUNDED by beautiful scenery, Deri View Primary is indeed a school with a view.

But it is the changes going on inside that make the school so impressive.

Welcoming me into the building was new head teacher Sarah Davies, who has been head at the school since September last year and has brought the school in to its “new era” of excellence.

Guiding me into her office, the school’s modernity is shown in the building itself, with wide corridors and spacious classrooms, creating a tranquil learning environment.

Open since 2005, children at the school have the benefit of a modern learning environment complete with a library, ICT suit, cookery and music rooms.

The modern environment has also given way to changes to the school structure.

“We have really enhanced the governing body with people from local businesses, education, and accountant, who are all very proactive in the school,” said Mrs Davies.

“Each governor has a link to a class that they are partnered with and they come on trips and events as well as working alongside the children in the class.

“We are also developing our relationship with parents and class teachers to create a shared vision.

“I am from Abergavenny and want to make a difference in the community.”

Part of this difference is the various changes being made throughout the school bringing it into its new era of learning.

“It is a new start for our school,” Mrs Davies said.

“We have a new uniform in a vibrant purple colour which the children chose themselves as we want people to know who we are.

“We have a strong parent partnership with the PTFA and our parent forum, as we feel that the parent’s voice in the school is very important.

“This gives them a voice in what they want in the school.”

Part of this parental input is the schools involvement in being one of the first pilot schools for the Welsh government’s IT platform Hub, which gives parents the opportunity to see their child’s work at home and in school and to communicate directly.

The school has recently given a big push with the technology used in class to give the pupils more variety with learning.

Apple technology is used throughout the school, with the use of tablets, laptops and TV all consolidated by software applications.

“All the children have access to the technology during and outside of school time through extracurricular activities such as Mindcraft,” Mrs Davies added.

Extracurricular activities are a big part of school life and children are now given an extended lunch break of one hour to ensure that they have time to take part in activities such as sport or crafts.

Break times are also an opportunity for playtime buddies and pupil groups to be active, with head girl Alice Morgan and head boy Ahmed Akeel working along with prefects to ensure that everyone is happy.

“Our Deri View smile is very important to us, as we want the children to be happy and learning,” Mrs Davies said.

“We know our children are happy, as our pupil behaviour and attendance is excellent.”

Other after school clubs include the Deri View Dragons, a holiday provision across Abergavenny which provides child care during school holidays and training days.

This good behaviour is recognised through a behaviour management scheme which rewards pupils for aspects of daily school life such as wearing the correct school uniform, representing the school, and having the correct PE kit.

“Children accumulate points for whole school rewards such as trips to Barry Island and picnics in the park,” said Mrs Davies.

“This is a positive approach that is linked to the school’s rights and responsibility groups.”

The school also has an active school council working alongside the governing body and an eco committee working with keep Wales Tidy.

The eco committee has achieved its bronze, silver and gold awards and is aiming for its third green eco flag through its participation in the Switch off campaign to save energy.

“Our care taker Charlie Davies built the eco green house and holds the gardening club which grows fruit and vegetables, which they then harvest to produce soup and cakes.”

The outdoors are a big part of the school’s activities, with pupils actively taking part in the forest schools project learning both on site and in other forest school sites, as well as learning in their outdoor classroom.

“A strong part of the school is that it is a community school and we are at the heart of the community,” Mrs Davies added.

Part if this community feel is the fact that the school is used widely by other members of the community for a wide range of clubs such as gymnastics, kickboxing and zumba; as well as this the Corner Stones Church use the school for their Sunday service.

It is also a healthy-eating school, with businesses such as Waitrose promoting healthy eating through cookery lessons for both parent and children.

“We also work closely with the local community to provide sport such as hockey, cricket and tennis, which gives the children exposure to sport outside school, as well as the commitment of the staff who deliver the extracurricular activities.”

Pupil-generated groups also include the conservation group where pupils choose to sponsor an animal.

Music is also an essential part of school life, with children having the opportunity to play classic instruments such as the violin, and cello along with traditional instruments such as the harp, with many children performing in concerts.

The school caters to special-needs pupils with a special-needs resource base and develops its international links with projects in Africa as well as Munich.

The school has just held its first open morning to welcome people and to give them the chance not only to come and see the school but to show off the hard work of the staff and children.

“This is a new time and a new beginning for us,” said Mrs Davies.

l For more information visit www.deriviewprimary.co.uk