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We are a forward-thinking, small primary school with a history of providing an excellent education for the children of this community for over 400 years. When people come to Didsbury CE Primary, they tell us not only how beautiful our listed building is but that it feels like a very caring school, with staff who will do everything to support our children. We have high expectations of ourselves and all of those associated with our school. Our ethos is Belonging, Believing, Becoming where children feel a sense of belonging to the school, to the community of Didsbury and God, Believe in themselves and each other, and Becomewell-rounded individuals who achieve the best for themselves and society. We are committed to teaching a broad and balanced curriculum where children not only take part in high-quality lessons in maths and English but also have the opportunity to develop their skills, knowledge, and understanding in the full range of National Curriculum subjects. This is supplemented with school trips, after-school clubs, and residential trips to ensure a rich learning experience at Didsbury CE. Didsbury CE Primary School is a one-form entry primary school for children aged 4-11. Every September we welcome 30 children into our reception class - although high priority is given to children with Church connections, other local children are welcome and attend the school and nursery in significant numbers. As a Church Of England school with strong links to St James & Emmanuel Didsbury, we admit in the first instance children whose parents/carers have a proven commitment to that church - although priority is first given to children with a statement of special educational needs naming Didsbury CE Primary School, looked after children, and siblings of children already attending the school. The school focuses on an exciting core curriculum where children are encouraged to reach high standards in literacy, numeracy, and personal and social skills. Taught by fully qualified, enthusiastic, and caring staff, child-focused learning encourages pupils to develop to their full potential. When parents come to Didsbury CE Primary for the first time, we often hear them marveling at the caring, nurturing, family atmosphere of a school that also offers outstanding education. This is very much our vision: to grow a diverse and creative educational community where we encourage belonging and nurture believing: together becoming fulfilled and responsible members of God’s world. These ideas of Belonging, Believing, and Becoming are more than just buzz words - they’re the guiding principles behind everything we do at Didsbury CE Primary. Didsbury CE Primary will work tirelessly to ensure that each child not only becomes a force for good in society but develops into a well-rounded young person in mind, body, and spirit. The head of the school is a governor because of his job. He can decide not to be a governor, but he still has to attend the meetings and prepare reports for the governors. Didsbury CE primary school is a church school with very strong links to the Parish of St James and Emmanuel in Didsbury. The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of the church nominate five of our nine governors so that the faith foundation of our school is firmly upheld. The PCC nominations have to be ratified and approved by the Members of the Trust, who have the controlling interest. This school has two parent governors. One is elected by all the parents and the other is a PCC position. There are also two staff governors. One is the head of the school. One works as a teacher in Didsbury CE Primary School. All the people who work in the school vote for the person they want. There is one governor who is selected by the Trust to represent the local community on the Governing Body. This position is agreed upon by the PCC. This school on occasions also has associate members to ensure succession planning is rigorous. All our Governors have enhanced DBS checks. At Didsbury CE, we aim to help your child achieve the very best they can at school. We work in close partnership with parents and carers - you know your child best and you may feel that your child requires additional help or support for some of their time at school. E-Safety is a safeguarding issue, not an ICT issue and all members of the school community have a duty to be aware of E-Safety at all times, to know the required procedures, and to act on them. The Headteacher or, in his absence, the authorized member of staff for E-Safety (the ICT / E-Safety coordinator) has the ultimate responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils in their care. The school must ensure that every child and young person in its care is safe. The same ‘staying safe’ outcomes and principles outlined in the Every Child Matters agenda apply equally to the ‘virtual’ or digital world. This expectation also applies to any voluntary, statutory, and community organizations that make use of the school’s ICT facilities and digital technologies. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils is embedded into the culture of the school and its everyday practice and procedures. All staff has a responsibility to support E-Safe practices in school and all pupils need to understand their responsibilities in the event of deliberate attempts to breach safety protocols. View full school

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. View full school