Headteacher  Mrs. Caroline Clarke

Address:

ABOUT THE SCHOOL

Bardwell Church of England Primary School is a village school in the Western Area of the Suffolk Education Authority, serving the parishes of Bardwell and Bowbeck.

It has a Voluntary Controlled status under the diocese of St. Edmundsbury.

School Governors

Foundation Governors: Liz Jump, Mrs. D. Williamson
                                                                                                                                                             
Local Authority Representatives: Mrs. A. Burrows, Mr. A. Nurse

Parent Governors: Mr. W. Williamson, Mr. S. Larder, Mrs. S. Trowell, Mr Richard Coombs

Community Governors: Mrs. I. Williams, Mrs. P. Babraff 

Associate Governor: Mr. C. Bewley 

Teacher Governor: Mrs. C. Gionis 

Clerk to the Governors: Mr. B. Shaw, Area Education Office

SCHOOL STAFF 

Ladybirds Class Teacher: Mrs. C. Gionis 

Busy Bees Class Teachers:  Mrs. J. Crown, Mrs. A. Barber 

Dragonflies Class Teachers: Mrs. M. Bailey, Mrs. C. Clarke 

Admin Officer: Mrs.Y. Trench                                                                                                 

Teaching Assistants: Mrs. E. Dodsworth, Mrs. J. Whitelock, Mrs. K. Cooper, Miss. E. Mullet, Mrs M. Pollitt 

Lunchtime Supervisors: Mrs. J. Clarke,  Mr. P. Easton, Mrs. A. Burrows 

School Cook:  Mrs. M. Cooper   

Caretaker:  Mr. M Carter                                                                                                              

The Building

The original school was built in 1855 with a two classroom and cloakroom extension built in 1959 joined by a corridor to the hall. The original building serves as a hall and dining room. In the Summer Term 1999 a second extension was built. This consists of a classroom, library and activity area.  In 2004 an office extension was added at the front of the school and we are awaiting the addition of a permanent staff room at the rear of the school.

The school is set in pleasant grounds, which are well maintained. As well as a hard-surfaced playground, there is a lawn and outdoor adventure playground at the front of the school, with a field to the rear of the school for football and other outdoor games. There is a good-sized orchard next to the school playing field, which has been turned into an environmental studies area. Plans are in place to redesign the school grounds, beginning in the Autumn Term with a wooden sheltered area to provide shade, a variety of colourful playground markings, seating areas and table top games.There are also plans to develop the outdoor learning area next to our Early Years Class.

Admission Arrangements

The catchment area for Bardwell School is BARDWELL and BOWBECK. Bardwell School is a Church of England Voluntary Controlled First School for children from 4 to 9 years of age. In line with current Suffolk policy children are admitted full-time at the beginning of the term in which they become five. We are also able to offer part-time early year’s education to children who become five during the school year (that is those whose fifth birthday is on or between 1st September and 31st August the following year). This means that children who will be five on or between 1st September and 31st December will start full-time in September. The others will attend part-time untilthe beginning of the term in which their fifth birthday falls. The session for children attending part time runs from 8.45 and 12.30 a.m. staying for their lunch.

In most academic years we are able to offer places to children outside our catchment area. In order to apply for an out of catchment place parents must complete a CAF1 form and return it to the Western Area Education office.  The order of priority for all applications received will be as follows:

(a) Applications made on account of the child's medical condition. Parents must send written support from the family doctor and/or the school medical officer with the PA form before medical circumstances can be considered.

(b) Applications for children to attend with brothers or sisters who will be attending at the proposed date of admission.

(c) In the case of this voluntary controlled school, applications which are made on religious grounds.

(d) Other applications, where the sole criterion will be distance from home to school, on the basis of the nearest available route with priority being given to the child living nearest to the preferred school. In the half term before the children are admitted to school a varied programme of visits is organised. By the time the children join us they already feel part of our school community.

Transfer to Middle School

At the end of Year 4, children transfer to Middle School. The catchment Middle School for Bardwell and Bowbeck is at Ixworth. Close liaison is maintained with the School's catchment area Middle School, Ixworth Middle School, and other catchment area Primary Schools to ensure as smooth a transition as possible at nine years old. Close links are also maintained with other Middle Schools in the area.

Acts of Collective Worship

Daily acts of collective worship are an important part of our school life, and they reflect the Christian foundation and ethos of the school. Staff and children gather together for an assembly which gives them the opportunity to reflect upon and learn more about spiritual things. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from the daily act of collective worship, and children who are removed will be looked after n a classroom.Parents wishing to withdraw their children may do so in consultation with the Headteacher.Care and Discipline

We believe that school rules should be kept to a minimum and based upon the need to keep the children safe and to foster respect for people and property. We follow the Bardwell Code and each class has its own rules, written by the children, which they are expected to observe.  A copy of the School Behaviour Policy is available from the Headteacher.

The Bardwell Code

Let’s work together to make Bardwell School a place where everyone is happy and safe

• Listen and do your best
• Follow an instruction the first time
• Treat your friends well and keep your hands and feet to yourself
• Remember to walk inside school and be sensible
• Look after things and remember to share
• Be kind with your words and actions