Rothwell Church of England Primary AcademyPart of The LEAF Academy Trust
PROSPECTUS
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CONTENTS
Welcome 1
Curriculum 2-3
Our Children 4-5
Achievement 6-7
Key Information 8-9
WELCOME
Dear Parent/Carer,
Joining the LEAF Trust has meant a fresh start for Rothwell Church of England
Primary Academy as a new academy with new leadership within a small and
passionate Trust that serves children in Leeds. Our Trust is built upon the
cornerstones of love, enterprise, aspiration and faith and what makes LEAF
Academies unique is their commitment to serve pupils and their families
and to educate children in an environment that nurtures and inspires.
We are a rapidly improving academy. Our culture is based around Christian
values and a Growth Mindset; a learning theory which sees potential as
limitless and that achievement is a result of hard work, learning from
mistakes and identifying next steps on the learning journey. I believe that
every child can and should have a positive attitude to learning, make good progress and develop life skills. Our pupils embrace challenge,
work hard, co-operate well and are articulate and happy.
We set high standards of behaviour and pupils are courteous, well-mannered and considerate. As a one form entry academy we retain
a family feel and we actively encourage our older pupils to take a lead in community events and in supporting younger pupils. The
welfare of our pupils is paramount and we pride ourselves in the care we extend to pupils and their families. Our pupils have a strong
identity and a sense of pride in their academy.
As a Church of England Academy we have close links with Holy Trinity church and attend services there. Christian teaching is part of
our curriculum and helps to make our academy special. Our daily collective worship reflects out Christian values and our pupils know
our clergy well and look forward to their time in the academy. Although we have a strong Christian character we welcome families of
all faiths and none; our school reflects the local area we serve.
As an Academy, we are ambitious for ourselves and our pupils and have high aspirations. I am blessed to be the Principal of an academy
with such amazing pupils, supportive parents and a dedicated staff. I hope that this prospectus is not just informative but also gives
you a flavour of what our Academy is like. If you have any questions or would like any further help then please don’t hesitate to contact
me. I truly hope that you choose Rothwell C of E for your child and wish them every success in their future school career.
Yours Sincerely,
Darren Foulke
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MISSION AND ETHOSAt Rothwell C of E Primary Academy we are proud of our links with the parish
church. We recognise that success is a journey rather than a destination. The
contributions made by parents, governors, staff, children, the church community
and wider community throughout this journey are greatly valued.
Aims:
• To create an ethos which ensures that all children and adults working within our
school feel valued and are able to value others.
• To give children and adults the opportunity to realise their full potential.
• To provide a curriculum which is broad, balanced and appropriate to individual needs.
• To provide a happy, caring, disciplined and stimulating environment in which
everyone is encouraged to achieve the highest possible standards of work.
• To work in partnerships with parents and carers.
• To develop with children an understanding of their responsibility to themselves,
the Academy and wider community.
• To extend and enrich links with the church community.
• To develop new and strengthen old relationships within the wider community.
• To be reflective and innovative.
To serve and to learn, to challenge and to love.
LEAFRothwell Church of England Primary Academy is part of the LEAF Academy Trust. The trust consists of primary and secondary academies and the Diocese of West Yorkshire and
the Dales, who work together to serve local communities by providing innovative educational practice within traditional values.
The LEAF Academy Trust believes that every child in our care is unique, a child of God, and that our mission is to serve them by providing the highest possible standard of
education, suited to their needs and aptitudes, within an atmosphere of trust
and love. Our academies nurture productive and supportive relationships based
on mutual respect, dignity and love, and work within a framework of discipline
which is confident of forgiveness.
LEAF Academy Trust is based on a set of principles that we follow in all aspects
of school life:
LOVE ENTERPRISE ASPIRATION FAITH
COLLECTIVE WORSHIPAs part of our day we have a worship session which is predominantly Christian in nature. We explore a range of themes and
give children the opportunity to reflect and give thanks. We attend Holy Trinity Church in Rothwell at least twice a term and
parents are most welcome to join us. Our Clergy deliver regular whole Academy acts of collective worship as well as
conducting class visits. Pupils in Year 6 also have the opportunity to attend confirmation classes. It is our belief that our
Academy is made even more special by our Christian values and links with the local church and these contribute to the
warm and welcoming Academy that we have. If parents would like to withdraw their children from worship an application
must be made through the Principal.
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FOUNDATION STAGEThe Foundation Stage of learning is taught to
Reception (4 and 5 year olds). When children first
join us our priority is to help them feel happy and
secure in their new environment. They are taught the
routines and procedures of life in the academy and
are supported by a dedicated and talented early
years’ team. Children follow the Early Years
Foundation Stage Curriculum.
Throughout the day children enjoy a range of
experiences and play forms an important part of
their learning. Pupils are also taught as a whole class
and in small group’s with a teacher or teaching
assistant. Key challenges are used alongside open
ended learning activities to ensure that pupils are
able to apply prior learning, develop new skills and to
be successful, engaged and happy in their learning.
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Half termly Cycle 1 Cycle 2 topics
Term A History Geography
Term B Enterprise History
Term C History Geography
Term D Geography Community/Citizenship
Term E Community/ ScienceCitizenship/Global
Term F Current Event/ Current Event/Pupil Led Pupil Led
Computing, MFL and PE will be taught as stand-alonesubjects.
Science RE and PSHE will be taught as a mix of stand-alone subjects and as part of cross curricular andtopics where appropriate.
Art, DT, Music and PSHE to be taught as part of crosscurricular topic work
KEY STAGE 1 & 2The curriculum has been designed differently to
many other curriculums. We have started from the
premise that we know our pupils, know their needs
and know our aspirations for them. First and
foremost our curriculum has been designed to meet
these requirements. Our core values and needs are
listed below and our topics are designed to meet
these requirements as well as ensuring that the
National Curriculum is covered.
Key features of our Curriculum:
• It promotes a love of learning and wider
aspirations.
• It is rich in speaking opportunities.
• It promotes a rich literacy heritage.
• It focuses upon pupils being numerate and able to
apply these skills in different situations.
• It provides opportunities for using and applying
ICT and computing skills.
• It develops in our pupils Growth Mindset and
skills of risk taking, respect, resilience, reflectivity,
responsibility and resourcefulness.
• It develops pupils awareness of their place in the
world.
• It ensures there are opportunities for pupils to
learn beyond the classroom.
• It encourages parents to be involved in their
child’s learning in a variety of ways.
• It involves pupils in the planning of curriculum
topics in age appropriate ways.
All curriculum topics:
• Are planned in phase teams that enable
maximum collaboration in their construction.
• Are memorable learning experiences that are
based on individual subject skill development.
• Where knowledge is woven into the topics at age
appropriate points that ensures pupils have a bank
of facts that are useful to them as they develop an
understanding of the world in which they live.
• Includes at least two trips each year.
• Are planned on the following two-year cycle:
Themes may be moved between half terms
within each cycle depending on best fit.
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EXTRA-CURRICULARTo ensure that every child’s experience is as enriching as possible we offer a wide range of clubs and activities which
take place at lunchtimes and after school. The variety we offer depends on areas of staff expertise, but has included, in
the past year: music, drama, DT and sport.
PERFORMING ARTSWe have a proud tradition in this area. Our academy has been
represented at Young Voices for a number of years and we ensure that
throughout the course of the year pupils have the opportunity to
perform to parents and star in academy productions.
CHARITYCharity begins at the Academy! In the last year alone
we have supported Operation Christmas Child, Lent Charities, St
George’s Crypt, Comic Relief, Children in Need, NSPCC, PDSA and
MacMillan. Our fundraising for the last academic year exceeded
£1500 which is a huge achievement for a small academy.
TRIPS AND FIRST HAND EXPERIENCESWe believe that first hand experiences and trips build lifelong memories and inspire a love of learning and lead to better pupil outcomes. For this reason we are committed
to providing as many of these as we can throughout the Academic Year. In Autumn 2014, the first year of our new Curriuclum, activities included: Barnabas in Schools
(Y3/4 Why Narnia? Y1/2: Who am I? Y3-6 What Price Peace?), Y3/4 Evacuation to Lotherton Hall, Y6 residential to Robinwood Activity Centre,Y1/2 a Victorian Christmas at
Thwaite Mill and a Y5/6 visit to see Peter Pan at the Leeds Grand Theatre.
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PUPIL SUPPORTWe take the pastoral care of our children very seriously and have
support mechanisms and activities in place to develop your child as a
well-rounded and responsible citizen. To support wider social
development we offer a number of opportunities including an academy
council, planned community work, play leader roles, peer support such
as buddy reading and staff to student mentoring.
ACADEMY COUNCILOur Academy Council consists of children from each class who are
elected by their peers to represent all pupils in academy affairs. At
Rothwell we understand the importance of giving all our pupils a ‘voice’
so their ideas and opinions can be considered. The Academy Council
empowers our pupils and encourages them to make a positive
contribution to their learning environment. The recommendations
made are considered by the Senior Leadership Team and the academy
responds to their needs. The Academy Council have also participated in
the appointment of staff. As well as raising awareness of issues, the
Academy Council serves to increase the confidence and develop the life
skills of our pupils.
CHURCH COUNCILWe also elect a Church Council each academic year. Like the Academy
Council, children are chosen by their peers to work with our Clergy, RE
Co-ordinator and Senior Leadership Team. This ensures that pupils have
a say about collective worship and their RE curriculum.
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LEARNING MENTORSWe have Learning Mentors who support our children and their families during good and difficult times. Our Learning Mentors work with individuals, groups
and families to assist them and if necessary, contact outside agencies whose expertise may be of assistance. Our Learning Mentors are available for children to
confide in and put specific programmes of support in place to help children cope with any difficulties.
SAFE GUARDING Our academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All staff,
volunteers and outside agencies involved in the academy have been subject to an enhanced DBS check.
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THE ACADEMY DAY08.50 Academy starts
12.00 – 1.00 Lunch
3.20 Academy ends
ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITYTo ensure your child is safe, secure and engaged in learning we are very keen to maintain our high standards of attendance and punctuality. Parents are asked to
report any absences to the Academy by 9.00am on the first day of the absence. Our Learning Mentors will monitor absence and telephone home if there are any
discrepancies.
As regular attendance at the academy is vital to help children achieve and get the best possible start in life we follow the Local Authority guidelines on monitoring
attendance, supporting parents/carers and issuing Penalty notices (fines) for non-attendance and holidays taken in term time. We are happy to discuss our
attendance policy further with you or you can view it yourself on the academy website.
UNIFORM • Purple Sweatshirt or cardigan (preferably with school logo
• White/yellow polo shirt
• Black or grey trousers or shorts (summer), skirts or pinafore dresses
• In summer girls may wear yellow or purple gingham dresses
• Black shoes (outdoor)
• Black Pumps (indoors)
PE KIT• Black shorts.
• Plain white T-shirt.
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SCHOOL MEALSAll children in Reception to Y2 are entitled a free school meal under the government’s
universal free school meal plan. Meals from Y3-6 are charged at a flat rate of £2 per
day (2014-2015). This represents extremely good value for money. Our meals are
cooked on site by Leeds City Council catering agency staff who use fresh ingredients
and prepare meals from scratch. As such, our meals have a home cooked feel and are
enjoyed by staff and pupils. All meals are nutritionally balanced and children are able
select from a choice of mains and desserts. A favourite is Roast Dinner Wednesday and
children who would normaly bring a packed lunch are able to choose to have this on a
week to week basis.
PACKED LUNCHESThe food children eat has a great impact on their mood, behaviour and temperament
and we urge parents and carers to keep this in mind when preparing packed lunches. To
ensure your child is ready for an afternoon of learning we do not allow chocolate,
sweets or fizzy drinks (glass containers are also not permitted).
OUT OF SCHOOL CLUBSBefore and after school care is provided on the Academy site.
PARKINGWe appreciate that there is a very limited amount of parking in and around the Academy site. To ensure the safety of our children, we ask parents, carers and any visitors to
park away from the Academy and walk the short distance.
ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTSThere will be 30 places available for admission to Rothwell C of E Primary Academy in September 2015 (dependent on the number of applicants with special educational
need). Children will be admitted in accordance with the Academy’s Admission Policy, which is available to view on our website (hard copies can be obtained from the
Academy). Application for admission can be made online or by completing the local authority’s Common Preference Form. Forms should be returned no later than
15th January 2015.
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Rothwell Church of England Primary Academy, Queensway, Rothwell, Leeds LS26 0NB
Tel: 0113 273 9190 Email: [email protected] Website: www.rothwellcofe.org.uk
Serve . Learn . Challenge . LoveROTHWELL
CHURCH OF ENGLANDPRIMARY ACADEMY
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