ONE BIG family is how staff and pupils at Lliswerry Primary in Newport view their school, as they told CATHERINE COOK.

LLISWERRY Primary School was only amalgamated in January 2009, but the latest inspection report says that Head Teacher Sherry Saunders has drawn together a very effective and efficient team of teachers and support staff.

The mission statement of the school, which greets you in the reception area written on a beautifully painted mural, is “Working together for all to reach true potential as tomorrow’s success begins today.”

"We believe each child should be able to reach their full potential" said Mrs Saunders "and that permeates whatever we do. We work closely with our parents, outside agencies, with the community and that all was shown clearly on our report."

She added, " We make sure all our children feel like individuals, even though we are all different, we are all still the same and one big family here."

Much of the ethos of the school is based on mutual respect between teachers and children, she went on to say.

Mrs Saunders went on to stress that the smooth running of the school was a team effort comprising caretaker, canteen staff, teachers and support staff and parents and not forgetting the pupils who naturally have a say in the day to day business of running the school and play a very important part.

At present the infant and junior buildings are joined by the canteen or alternatively they can be accessed via an outside route that is not very practical in bad weather. Mrs Saunders is currently on the lookout for any businesses that may like come to their aid and be able to donate materials to build a connecting corridor. The school already has a promise from one of the parents, who is a builder, to help with the practicalities.

This would make communication much easier between the two schools so any builders able to help please contact the school.

Recently some of Year 6 were treated to a practise day during the Ryder Cup event and were fortunate to meet some real celebrities including Terry Matthews, Tiger Woods and Katherine Jenkins although I was told the highlight of the day was meeting Rob Brydon.

The Level 2 Award has been given to the school from Newport City Council in recognition of four aspects - Inclusion/Diversity/Achievement/Equalities.

The school has also been awarded the Green Flag and Healthy Schools Award.

Within the school grounds is an outdoor fitness run, a performance stage and an all weather football pitch.

The school takes great pride in its outside facilities and rightly so as it was mentioned in the latest inspection report that 'the use made of and quality of accommodation especially the area set aside for foundation phase where the outdoor and indoor areas are vibrant and stimulating learning areas.'

I met the Deputy Head Teacher Mrs Joanne Giles and the school council including the head boy and girl, Joseph Sutton and Lauren Parry respectively.

Joseph told me: "Being a head boy makes me feel proud and I hope to be a good role model. My hopes for this year include more playground equipment and it being used correctly."

Brightly coloured scarves were being waved in an Indian dancing class where Nas Ali was teaching a native Indian dance routine ready for the school assembly the following day. One of the pupils, Zoe Clark said she really enjoyed learning this style of dance as it was "great fun and good exercise."

Friends of Lliswerry and the PTA have been busy fundraising to provide every class within the school with a recorder. In the foundation class a group of three children were demonstrating how easy it was to operate the recorders and wore headphones so that the rest of the class would not be disturbed.

Caitlin Taylor, Evan Harry and Analise Holland (aged four) were listening to nursery rhymes and matching the words in the book with what they could hear through the headphones.

Lliswerry Primary School is an important part of the community and enjoys many diverse in-school and after-school clubs such as sport, drama, news team, choir, gardening and swimming every Monday at Spytty pool.

The music club has visits from peripatetic teachers teaching piano, recorder, guitar and clarinet to name but a few.

After school family literacy and numeracy are two clubs planned for the future.

The pupils are currently preparing for their Eisteddford where the children will enter handwriting competitions, poetry competitions and each class can perform a Welsh song or drama.

"This is something in which the whole school can participate" said Mrs Saunders.

FACT FILE

Head Teacher: Sherry Saunders

Teaching Staff: 24 + Head Teacher

Age of Pupils: 4-11 yrs

Number of Pupils: 482

Nursery: 71 pupils

Chairman of Governors: Councillor Richards

E-mail: lliswery.primary@newport.gov.uk

LATEST INSPECTION REPORT in May 2010

Outstanding features identified in the report:

  • Consistent and effective encouragement of bilingualism throughout the school.
  • Quality of support and provision for learners with additional needs.
  • The school's provision for work related education and for the development of learners' entrepreneurial skills.
  • The school's comprehensive procedures for assessing and tracking learners' progress as they move through the school.
  • The Head Teacher is an exceptional leader ably supported by the Deputy Head Teacher and there are high standards attained through high quality of teaching and learning coupled with stimulating and imaginative school ethos and environment.