West Didsbury CE Primary School

[EduCativ]

West Didsbury CE Primary School is a new primary school for Didsbury, which opened in September 2015. Running alongside Didsbury CE Primary, we are currently providing 180 much-needed places for the community for children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, having opened in a fully refurbished and purpose-built facility on the site of the old Ewing School on Central Road.
The school will add a further two reception classes each academic year, until we become a thriving 420-pupil primary school running from Reception to Year Six in September 2022. West Didsbury CE Primary School will build on the outstanding education provided to the children of Didsbury by its sister school Didsbury CE Primary for over 400 years. Many Didsbury parents have spoken in the past of their frustration at not being able to access the excellent education and Christian ethos at Didsbury CE Primary, which this year received 205 preference applications for just 30 places. So West Didsbury CE Primary will be able to offer that same academic, creative and spiritual development to a further 60 children each year.
The school will focus on an exciting core curriculum where children are nurtured to reach high standards in literacy, numeracy, and personal and social skills. Taught by fully qualified, enthusiastic, and caring staff, child-focused learning will encourage pupils to develop to their full potential. At the same time, just like Didsbury CE Primary, this will be a loving, caring school with a warm, family feel. Our ethos is Belonging, Believing, Becoming where children feel a sense of belonging to the school and community of Didsbury, Believe in their ability and potential, and Become well-rounded and self-aware young people who can be a force for good in society.
Ever since we got the go-ahead to spread the outstanding education we provide at Didsbury CE Primary to a new school in West Didsbury, we’ve been incredibly excited by the opportunity to offer more children the chance to experience our high-quality teaching by caring staff in a warm, family environment. It has been a source of great pleasure to watch this young community grow since we opened in September 2015.
Opening in a brand-new building on Central Road also offered us the chance to work with architects to plan exactly the right building to provide the stimulating curriculum we want to teach, develop a new creative design studio, and promote outdoor learning. When people come to West Didsbury CE Primary they now tell us not only that it's a fabulous building, but that it feels like a very caring school, with staff who will do everything to support children. By both cherishing and challenging your child, this is a school that children, parents, and teachers have quickly come to love. And with each passing year seeing two new Reception classes until we are a thriving 420-pupil primary school by September 2022, it's a wonderful opportunity for everyone to be part of something very special - a brand new school with a firm faith foundation that's building on a 400-year tradition of excellence at Didsbury CE Primary.
So, you’ve been excited by the news that West Didsbury has a new primary school, and delighted that it will build on 400 years of outstanding education at Didsbury CE Primary. The next step is applying to get your children into the school. This is how admissions will work: West Didsbury CE Primary School is a two-form entry primary school for children aged 4-11 years. In September 2015 we opened for 60 Reception age pupils, adding two new Reception forms every year until we become a thriving 420-pupil primary school by September 2022. As a Church of England Free School, we will admit up to 50 percent of pupils to Reception based on faith, and at least 50 percent to community applicants without reference to faith.
What does this mean? 30 places will go to “faith applicants” - children of the Christian faith who regularly attend a Christian Church which is part of ‘Churches Together in England.’ Priority will be given to children who worship at St James and Emmanuel, Didsbury Christchurch, West Didsbury St Christopher’s, Withington or St Nicholas’, Burnage. This will be established by a church leader’s reference: please visit our website and download the form if you think your child qualifies. Thirty places will also go to children who live in the community, and their admission will be based on geographical criteria. In both criteria, children with a statement of special educational needs naming West Didsbury CE Primary School, or looked after children, will be admitted first.
Starting school is an exciting time: a time of new experiences, new friends, and new places. And in West Didsbury CE Primary’s case, brand new place, too! Our school days provide a secure and anxiety-free environment where your child can play, explore, experiment, investigate and learn. We also encourage the children to acquire skills and knowledge through first-hand experience, gaining a sound understanding of the world around them. The curriculum for our Reception classes will be developed from many years of outstanding teaching at Didsbury CE Primary. Don’t just take our word for it: the last Ofsted report at Didsbury CE Primary noted that “children make outstanding progress… curricular planning in. Reception classes are of excellent quality and ensure that children have the opportunity to engage fully in a wide range of fun activities across all areas of learning. From starting points mostly typical for their age, by the end [of Reception] many exceed the early learning goals.

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