Ysgol Derwenfa

[EduCativ]

Ysgol Derwenfa serves a rural area and is in the county of Flintshire for administrative purposes. At the age of 11, the children are transferred to Ysgol Castell Alun, Hope or Ysgol Alun, Mold but parents may opt for St. Richard Gwyn School, Flint, for religious reasons, or they may choose Ysgol Maes Garmon, Mold, for Welsh linguistic reasons.
The school is a semi-open plan, co-educational day school, which was opened in 1979, after the old County Primary and Church Schools which had served the community for nearly a century, closed. The school day begins with an act of corporate worship and a period each week is devoted to Religious Education but arrangements can be made for exemption from Religious Instruction and attendance at Assemblies where other arrangements will be made for the pupils. Parents who have strong religious convictions who prefer their children not to participate in Christmas Concerts, Christmas Parties, sponsorships, taking raffle tickets home for parents to sell should contact the headteacher.
In the past, all the Infant classes were single age groups. Three years ago we established an Early Years Unit comprising of Nursery and Reception pupils. This year we will continue with this arrangement but owing to pupil numbers the Unit will include a single nursery class as well as a mixed-age Reception / Year 1 class (comprising of the younger Year 1 children). The other class will be a year 1/2 mixed class (comprising of the older Year 1 children). The Junior classes are a mixed year 3 / 4 and mixed year 5 / 6 and one single age Year, 4 class. The mixed-age classes in K.S 2 are determined by the ability of the pupils to take into consideration N.C. levels and test results and the need to keep all classes under 30.
Attention is given to the core subjects on an individual or group tuition basis. The foundation subjects are either integrated into the curriculum through the study of different topics or as separate subjects when the need arises, taking into consideration the age, stage of development of the pupils, and the attainment targets laid down in the National Curriculum.
Children experiencing learning difficulties are supported by the school's Additional Learning Needs teacher twice a week. If the difficulties are more serious, the child/children will be referred to the Educational Psychologist so that a statement can be compiled. Additional Needs Team Meetings are convened twice a year during which the difficulties/progress of the pupils on the Additional Needs register is discussed and minutes kept. Representatives from outside agencies i.e. educational psychologist, school nursing sister, high school, etc. are also invited to the meetings. Where the learning difficulties are more serious, arrangements are made for a member of the learning Inclusion Team to come to school to work on a one-to-one basis with the particular pupil/s. During open evenings parents are informed of their pupil’s progress. As part of the Special Needs Code of Practice, parents are kept informed either by the class teacher, Additional Needs Coordinator, or Headteacher of the different stages and implications of the Code of Practice.
Although English is the medium of instruction and the normal vehicle of communication, yet following the National Curriculum, Welsh is taught as a foundation subject. All class teachers teach Welsh as a Second language to their class. Children who opt for Welsh Comprehensive education are given extra Welsh lessons by the Area teacher during the summer term before transfer.

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