Welcome to Burnt Ash Primary School. We are an inclusive and vibrant school, with a committed staff who work hard to ensure that all our children develop to be confident and independent learners. Our excellent/outstanding results reflect the rapid progress that all our children make during their time at the school and their high levels of academic achievement.
We pride ourselves on putting the child at the center of our educational vision with a clear shared ethos, supporting children to be successful. We are forward-thinking, creating, and developing our curriculum and environment to provide the children with experiences that capture their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. Every child is treated as an individual, with their talents and targets. Teachers and Learning Support Assistants ensure that learning is personalized to extend each child’s development.
The school’s excellent practice has been recognized by Ofsted who highlighted outstanding leadership as well as the outstanding behavior and wellbeing of our children “Pupils behave exceptionally well and are very polite and well mannered. Their consistently positive attitudes have a very strong impact on the progress they make.” (Ofsted). We have also received recognition from nationally accredited organizations such as Early Excellence and Challenge Partners who have identified our Early Years, attainment for pupils, and leadership as outstanding. The Mayor of London has bestowed several awards on the school under the Gold Club, Schools for Success, and Team London schemes.
New starters in our reception classes enjoy learning in our attractive and stimulating learning environment where they feel confident, secure, and challenged. Their thinking and social skills are developed through carefully planned child-initiated activities and challenges both in the freeflow learning area and in the large, safe outdoor area. “Children … get off to a flying start because teaching and the space provided are both of a good quality.” (Ofsted) These foundations are then built upon as children continue through Keystage 1, learning independence and responsibility for their learning in creative and engaging environments. This culture of independence is valued and developed as the children progress through school.
Fostering a genuine love of reading is something we are passionate about at Burnt Ash. There is a high focus on learning phonics and reading skills in infants and children quickly become independent readers, preparing them well for the further challenges of the whole curriculum as they enter Keystage 2.
The school has strong links in the community and makes regular use of the local community gardens where children can enjoy learning in a natural open-air environment. The knowledge they gain is then applied on the school site with opportunities to garden, care for pets and enjoy our Down to Earth club.
We believe that children’s learning is deepened by first-hand experiences, therefore visits out of school are important and staff makes excellent use of local places of interest and museums. The children enjoy whole school trips – with Joss Bay being a firm favorite. There are lots of opportunities to take part in theme days and many visitors are welcomed to the school to bring the curriculum to life. The Governors run a scheme to ensure the cost of educational visits is ‘matched funded,’ ensuring that parents only pay £15 for each academic year.
Our staff understands the need to nurture the whole child and are supported by our dedicated Pastoral Team who work therapeutically with individuals and groups, they also offer advice for parents. Children learn well when they are happy and engaged and so we offer many extra activities in sport, dance, and music through our school clubs.
Parents enjoy the affordable wrap-around childcare services – two breakfast clubs, a learning club, and after school club. Our nursery works alongside our reception classes to help children prepare for starting school, giving children the opportunity to become familiar with school life and take part in whole school activities. Burnt Ash Primary offers a well-resourced environment with a sensory room, soft play room, computer suite, library, music room, allotment/garden, and large playing fields directly opposite the school. Could we say something about the learning environment? Classrooms and learning spaces have been carefully planned to reflect our vision and ethos at Burnt Ash, encouraging independence and child-initiated learning allowing the children to access the curriculum in a way that interests them.
Children, staff, and governors all played a part in creating them and, as a result, they form our shared ethos and moral purpose.
They provide for an excellent education to enable all children to achieve, flourish and succeed through:
- A high expectation for all children to achieve their potential through a rich, inspiring curriculum.
- Working in partnership with parents and with a strong network of schools to build and develop the highest standards of teaching and learning.
- Providing a safe, secure, and supportive environment in which all children and adults are valued and respected, and develop a strong sense of self-worth.
- A caring and inclusive school that engages families and the community and celebrates its diversity of cultures and religions.
- Giving children the confidence and desire to make a meaningful contribution to the wider world and develop a strong sense of social responsibility.
As well as teaching to a high academic standard we also care about nurturing the whole child. Children develop a sense of fairness, equality, and justice as well as a strong sense of their own identity and respect for others. Our staff is trained to plan for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development in everything we do to inspire children to become critical thinkers expressive, and confident on their journey towards independence.
