Our School    School Profile

BRANKSOME HEATH MIDDLE - SCHOOL PROFILE

      Children's Service Authority: Poole Borough
 
      Age range:             8 to 12
      Number of pupils:    512 
      Head teacher:         Mr S Fox
      Chair of governors:  Mr Clive Hardy

What have been our successes this year?

• Successfully completed Ofsted Inspection in June 2007 with elements of very good and excellent but overall satisfactory
• The development of our Rewards and Sanctions scheme has been used to inspire the children and has been taken as an example of good practice by other schools
• The development of our 'Pupil Mediators', to extend from Year 7 onto 'Mini Mediators' in Year 5 
• Providing more Interactive Whiteboards/projectors for teaching bases
• Development of outside performing area for both cirricular and extra-curricular activities
• Start of paired reading including Year 7 pupils working with younger children to further improve reading levels
• Development of Assessment for Learning from Core into Foundation subjects
• Increased membership of Breakfast Club
• In partnership with a neighbouring First School within our Pyramid we are able to offer high quality child care from 7.40am - 6.00pm
• Whole staff training with 'Team Teach'
• An improved attendance
• Healthy Schools Award
• Inclusion Mark
• Active Mark 2007
• Successful completion of Financial Management Standard in Schools Assessment (FMSIS)
• Positive report from Joint NS/LA Regional Review 

What are we trying to improve?

We are trying to improve:

• the standards in mathematics by developing planning and assessment;
• the standards in writing throughout the school by focusing on lesson objectives and accurate assessment of pupil learning;
• the use of precise curricular targets in Literacy and Numeracy;
• the skills of staff and pupils in ICT and the development of a wider range of software to support learning and the curriculum;
• the facilities and resources for the effective delivery of art and design;
• the standard of assessment throughout the curriculum and particularly the use of AFL;
• the attendance and punctuality of a number of pupils;
• liaison and transfer arrangements with pyramid schools in other phases of education;
• the fabric of the school building, the decor and the facilities available to the pupils.

How much progress do pupils make between age 7 and 11?
 
 
How well do pupils achieve at age 11?

This chart shows the Key Stage 2 results for 2005. It indicates the percentage of pupils eligible for KS2 tests (usually 11 year olds) who achieved or exceeded the expected level (level 4)

 
Our school             Local schools (Local Authority)           All schools


 
How have our results changed over time?

Our results, as measured by Key Stage Tests at Key Stage 2, reflect a stabilisation of results with our Contextual Value Added for all subjects being 99.2 for the academic year 2006/7.

Value Added score - Science 99.3
Value Added score - English 98.8
Value Added score - Maths 98.8

We have had particular success in:-

• Raising attainment of boys so that their value added is 99.6 whilst girls are 98.9
• Our SEN children on School Action Plus have value added 100.1
• Our children on METAS register with their first language other than English, value added 100.5
• Optional tests indicate that all year groups can show that all children are making progress.
  

 
How are we making sure that every child gets teaching to meet their individual needs?

• A carefully implemented scheme of assessments and tests ensure we chart individual progress and set appropriate progress target.
• A continually improving report system ensures that parents know progress in each subject, and are  informed of targets to aid further progress.
• The setting of precise Curccicular Targets for every child in Literacy and Numeracy
• Every lesson having a learning objective and the use of success criteria to differentiate outcomes
• Development in marking strategies help teachers focus on individual pupils' progress through the use of AFL strategies
• Adult education courses for parents covering mathematics and readiness for middle school education were well received.
• Increased number of teaching groups for Year 6 pupils in Literacy and Numeracy helped support targeted youngsters 
• We have a range of intervention strategies to meet the needs of groups and individuals such as:
  • effective Individual Education plans for children with special educational needs;
  • setting for groups in Maths and English;
  • 'springboard' classes to build in extra support in the core subjects;
  • additional Literacy Support groups;
  • further Literacy Support groups;
  • well structured, daily, guided reading;
  • english as a foreign language (EFL) support for a small group of pupils.

  How do we make sure all pupils attend their lessons and behave well?

• All children marked absent have phone call home to obtain reason for absence (if not already notified by parent/carer)
• Monitoring with EWO looks for patterns of absence
• Weekly prizes of £10 vouchers for 2 children who have 100% attendance
• Termly prize for best 2 classes for attendance - cinema, beach visit etc
• Annual award for every child who has 100% attendance presented by Governors at Awards Evening
• Year leaders monitor each half term and contact families of lowest attenders
• Every class uses Contract for Teaching and Learning
• All children know process in the contract - 3 warnings given
• Reciprocal classes used for children to complete work
• 'Purple Card' system used to take disruptive children away from class and work in isolation
• Detention used after school as sanction for receiving 'Purple Card'
• Deputy Head monitors the issuing of sanctions to ensure consistency across school
• Regular intervention meetings arranged with parents as child reaches 10, 20, 30 sanctions
• Monitoring Card, Report Card, Sanction Reduction Cards, Report Books all help child focus on positive behaviour
• Pastoral Support Plans created to help individuals improve behaviour

 How do we make sure our pupils are healthy, safe and well-supported?

• An effective rewards and sanctions policy (used as a model by other schools), celebrates success and raises self esteem.
• Two Pastoral Care Workers are able to support the emotional needs of all pupils and families.
• Our 'Pupil Services Centre', allows us to withdraw individual pupils to receive one to one or small group learning and behaviour support.
• Our Pupil Mediators, recruited from Year 7 pupils, support staff on the playground at breaks and lunchtime, by helping younger pupils resolve friendship problems
• The school is part of:
  - the Healthy Schools' Scheme with its own drinks and healthy snacks policy;
• - the Sport England Active Mark and offers a wide range of extra-curricula sporting activities supported by trained Year 6 pupils.
• Effective child protection policy and procedures.

 
How do our absence rates compare with other schools?

This chart shows the percentage of half days missed through authorised and unauthorised absence by all pupils at the school. Information is given for the school, for schools within the local authority and for all schools.

 
Our school        Local schools (Local Authority)        All schools

What activities and options are available to pupils?

• The local environment and museums are used to enhance the curriculum.
• There is a day residential visit to Cherbourg in France for Year 7.
• Sporting activities provided are:-
  • Soccer - all year groups for boys and girls 
    Tag Rugby - Years  5 and 6
    Rugby - Years 6 & 7 boys
    Athletics - all year groups
    Cross Country
    Cricket - all year groups
    Hockey - Years 4 and 5 
    Stool Ball - Year 7
    Climbing

Musical activities provided are:-

Choir, recorders, keyboards, guitars, drums, violin, clarinet and flute 

• Other activities include:-

Homework Club , ICT Club, Art Club, Drama Club
 
How are we working with parents and the community?

• Parents are given contact with the school through:-
• Questionnaire every two years
• Termly parent/teacher consultation evenings
• Meetings of the 'Friends of Branksome Heath' Association
• Frequent newsletters
• A new children's newsletter started Spring 2008
• Termly curriculum newsletters
• Pupil journal and homework book
• Rewards and Sanctions certificates and letters
• Effective communication with parents of SEN pupils
• An extensive website available in a range of languages
• Governor 'surgery' at parent/teacher consultation evenings
• 'Make a Difference' Evenings - getting together to decorate classrooms
• An 'open door' policy operated by senior staff and Pastoral Care Workers
• School and grounds used by a number of community organisations such as football and table tennis.

  What have pupils told us about the school, and what have we done as a result?

• Our children are able to make their views known through our active School Council. They have considered issues such as uniform, the playground, healthy eating and bullying.
• We also seek their views through a pupil questionnaire.
  89% enjoy school most days
  98% feel they are expected to do their very best
  90% feel that this is a good school.
• Classrooms have 'worry boxes' or 'tell the teacher' books.
• The library has a suggestion box.

As a result of pupil opinion we have:

• Introduced additions to the school uniform, planned and managed by the School Council.
• Raised money towards the puchase of lockers
• Updated and painted toilets and changing rooms
• Continued development of the school's Rewards and Sanctions Policy to ensure that fewer pupils have their education disrupted by others.
   
  

What do our pupils do after leaving this school?

• There are a range of opportunities available for our youngsters as they move into secondary education.
• The majority of our youngsters go to our neighbourhood high school Rossmore Community College.
• A small number go to Poole High School
• A small number go to St Edward's School, a church school.
• A small number go to the single sex grammar schools.
• A small number go to Ashdown Technical College

 What have we done in response to Ofsted?

• The last OFSTED Inspection was in June 2007. The school was described as 'a satisfactory school and one with some strengths, notably in the care it takes to ensure pupils feel safe and are happy'.
• Since the inspection we have had Staff Training to develop the use of Assessment for Learning strategies further, in order that children will know what steps to take to improve.
• We have reviewed and implemented our Presentation Policy, started all children with new exercise books and set aside time each week to focus particularly on handwriting.  We are also changing our central assessment system for recording the half termly progress results which will allow all staff access to analyse results and highlight key children as the next focus group in Literacy and Numeracy.
• The school has continued with a range of strategies to ensure pupils and parents are aware of the importance of attendance and punctuality.

More Information

If you would like more information about school policies, including our policies on special educational needs and disability, admissions, finance, school food and our complaints procedure, please contact us:

By telephone: 01202 747966