Oak Lodge Primary School
Growing Young Minds
Oak Lodge aims to be a caring school that actively encourages every child to maximise their potential.
Welcome to Oak Lodge Primary I feel privileged to be Headteacher of Oak Lodge Primary School and I am very proud of all that is achieved in our school community. I aim high and encourage our teachers and children to do the same. I am committed to providing a school where children can achieve their potential and attain high standards. Our school has a deservedly high reputation but we are not complacent! Our strong Governing Body and dedicated staff are continually looking for ways to improve, to devise clear strategies to achieve goals in order to provide the best possible opportunities and environment for our children. Oak Lodge is a very large primary school situated in West Wickham on the borders of Croydon and Bromley. The school is organised in seven year groups – Reception to Year 6 with three classes in each year group. We have excellent facilities and a secure learning environment allowing us to deliver a curriculum rich with opportunities and a variety of learning experiences. Facilities include 21 large, bright classrooms, two halls, an ICT suite, a large library, music rooms, a parents’ room and small group rooms. Our excellent environment includes a natural wooded area and a large outside learning area for our early years children. The whole school site is maintained to a very high standard. Oak Lodge is a friendly, exciting and stimulating place to learn. Although we are a large school, through our strong sense of community, we ensure that children feel safe and nurtured. Above all we want our children to have a variety of experiences during their time with us, to be willing to try new things without fear of failure and to become independent and confident young people. I look forward to meeting you and hope your child will be happy in our school. Miss J E Barrett Headteacher
A Curriculum for all At Oak Lodge we believe in children’s entitlement to a broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum. We have high expectations and a strong focus on literacy and numeracy. We appreciate that a child’s ability to understand and communicate with others is an important step to success. We aim to nurture concepts and skills in numeracy which enable children to develop their ability to problem solve and investigate. Acquiring scientific knowledge is important, so that children become actively engaged, inspired and curious about the world around them. We promote enjoyment for learning and encourage children to be independent, reflective learners through the development of thinking skills. Educational visits, workshops, visiting speakers and theatre groups extend opportunities for learning and enhance the curriculum. Getting a clear picture of how each individual learns best is important. Well established procedures are in place to identify and meet children’s individual needs. Each child’s progress is carefully monitored so that appropriate action can be taken to help any child who might be struggling with a particular area of learning, to provide the more able with appropriate challenge and to help every child fulfil their potential.
“Learning is lively which adds to the pupils’ enjoyment. As a result they work hard and apply themselves diligently to their tasks.” Ofsted
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“Pupils’ personal development is excellent. This is a result of high quality care and an extremely wide range of sporting, cultural and other activities.” Ofsted
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Beyond the classroom Oak Lodge has a strong commitment to helping children adopt healthy lifestyles and we aim to make health an integral part of school life. We have achieved the Healthy Schools and Activemark Awards. We offer an active and thriving range of additional activities to assist the children to realise their full potential. A varied range of extra-curricular activities organised by enthusiastic staff provide additional opportunities to extend children’s experiences. Large numbers of children are involved in sport, music and creative activities. A good supply of equipment promotes play at break times. PE is a valued and high priority. We have sports coaching from qualified coaches and we offer a wide range of extra-curricular sporting activities. We compete regularly in sports tournaments and events and are involved in school sports partnerships. We value our strong music and performance tradition. Children perform regularly in music and drama events and entertain groups within the community. There is a range of opportunities for children to develop their musical strengths and talents – we offer instrumental and vocal lessons and our orchestra, recorder groups and choir meet regularly.
Our school community At Oak Lodge, guidance and support are strong features of our school ethos – we believe children learn most effectively when they are at ease with themselves and others. Children are expected to be considerate, unselfish and self-disciplined – both towards each other and towards adults. We offer equality of access and opportunity for all children. Children settle in quickly and are soon eager and keen to learn. Strong links with pre-schools and secondary schools ensure smooth transition in and out of our school. Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE) plays a vital role in helping children to develop self-esteem and be active citizens who value themselves and care for those around them. Monitor and buddy systems give children opportunities to develop responsible attitudes. Pupil voice is important and the school council takes an active role in school improvement. Partnership with parents is vitally important. The school provides opportunities to discuss each child’s progress and needs through regular consultations. As well as our enthusiastic and dedicated teaching and support staff we have a large group of volunteers who visit regularly to provide additional support to teachers and children. We also have an extremely active and hard-working Friends of School Association (FSA).
“My child has thrived this year and is happy and secure at Oak Lodge.” PARENT
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letter from the Chair of Governors I hope that our prospectus has provided you with the information which you need, and given you a ‘flavour’ of our school. The Governing Body are immensely proud of the school, and the Senior Leadership Team, led by our able and experienced Headteacher, Miss Janet Barrett. As a governing body we maintain a strategic overview of the education of your children, and always strive to ensure that every child has the opportunity, support and encouragement, to reach their full potential. To be able to help to ‘grow a child’s mind’ is a joy and privilege, and I hope that you will join us on the journey with your son or daughter. Mrs A Medhurst Chair of Governors
“I am always thinking and sometimes it makes my mind hurt!” PUPIL
My School is Great Oak is the best All the children feel safe and happy Kind teachers and dinner ladies Lessons are fun like maths and art Our school has the best ever trips Days are fun like Roman Day Great headteacher Each and every child is proud of this school! by a pupil
Oak Lodge Primary School Chamberlain Crescent West Wickham Kent BR4 0LJ T. 020 8819 6996 F. 020 8776 2596 E. admin@oaklodge.bromley.sch.uk
www.oaklodge.bromley.sch.uk