The Greetland Academy

reaching great heights

Foreword: Amanda Bennett, Principal

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to The Greetland Academy Prospectus. We are situated on two sites in the village of Greetland, within beautiful, spacious grounds and three miles from the centre of Halifax.

We welcome you as parents and look forward to a happy and successful partnership with you and your children.

ConsistencyIt has been my privilege to be Principal for over ten years. This has helped establish a consistency of leadership and care, not only with pupils, but staff also. We even have teachers who attended the academy as children and are delighted to be back here teaching. It often feels as though we are one big family!

Dedicated staffAll our staff are highly dedicated and passionate about education…and it shows. The proof is that our pupils are passionate about learning too.

We encourage aspirational thinking and believe that there are no limits to a child’s abilities and dreams. They can reach great heights…and we will encourage them to do so.

Outstanding and inspirationalAs an outstanding academy convertor we are also at the heart of local and national educational initiatives, and work in partnership with many other academies. What does this mean for your children? It means that we are constantly striving to provide the very best proven and inspirational education and care.

Life skillsWe also have a long history of fully preparing our children for their future. Not just academically, but equipping children with the wider social and self-care life skills needed to better cope with, and excel in, school and life.

Get in touchI would urge you to visit The Greetland Academy. I am confident you will find this a welcoming and supportive school, with staff who listen, consult and actively encourage your involvement. I know that you will be impressed by the quality of education we can offer your child.

To make an appointment to visit, or to simply ask any question, please call the school office on 01422 372893.

Amanda Bennett Principal

Welcome to The Greetland Academy: reaching great heights

Pages 2 Welcome to The Greetland Academy

Pages 4 Starting school

Pages 6-8 Curriculum

Page 10 Inclusion: a curriculum for all

Page 12 Clubs and activities

Page 14 Admissions

Page 15 Getting involved

Page 16 Contact and location map

Good vibrationsEnthusiastic staff, happy and polite children, an all-round ‘good vibe’ – what more could any parent want from a school? As far as Emma is concerned it was all these things plus the lovely semi-rural setting which convinced her and Stuart to send Tom and Jamie to The Greetland Academy. “The boys’ nursery school was near farmland so they were used to open spaces and being pretty energetic, they love being able to run around in the meadow,” she says. “Obviously, we wanted a good academic grounding for them but the location was a real bonus.”

A gentle introduction to learningThe interior of the school was no disappointment either, with bright, open plan spaces and well organised classrooms. “In the Reception class especially there are specific areas for different activities and although it was different to what they were used to at Nursery it wasn’t intimidating for them as there were so many interesting and fun things to do. I like the way that Greetland’s policy seems to be to ease the children gently into more formal and structured education whilst they find out what each child’s strengths and weaknesses might be.”

According to need Most parents with more than one child will acknowledge that what fits one does not fit all – so Emma was impressed by the fact that her very different sons have been treated according to their own needs. “Jamie found the work a bit hard at first, particularly handwriting, and he wasn’t doing as well as we all thought he could. When he started Year One, he was one of several children who were given a bit of extra help in a smaller group and he thoroughly enjoyed the experience. When he was no longer in need of that support he was really disappointed to leave his little team! Nevertheless, since then he has absolutely flown; it did him a great deal of good.”

Encouragement through challengeWhilst Jamie had a bit of a slow start, Tom was a different matter. Quick on the uptake, he was soon given more challenging tasks to stretch him: “To their credit, his teachers are prepared to encourage his abilities and interest in learning and I have no worries that they will help him to reach his full potential. All the teaching staff seem to have the knack of tuning into each child and know how to draw out the best from them.”

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Emma and Stuart Clinton and their children Jamie, eight and Tom, five, live in Greetland.

A parent’s experiences on selecting The Greetland Academy

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School Hours Start Finish Key Stage 1 Mornings Between 8:45 and 9:05 a.m.* 12:00 noon Afternoons 1:15 p.m. 3:15 p.m.

Key Stage 2 Mornings 8.55 a.m. 12:05 p.m. Afternoons 1:10 p.m. 3:30 p.m.

*To make each child’s introduction to school as comfortable as possible, in the first week Reception children have a staggered start to better settle them in.

UniformAll pupils wear school uniform appropriate for their curriculum year. A full uniform list is available from the school office. All items of clothing must have the child’s name clearly marked.

School meals and snacksDinnerMeals are cooked on the premises at both sites and children are given a choice of main course and dessert. Children can also bring in a packed lunch.

SnacksAt KS1 children have the opportunity during the day to have a piece of fruit or vegetable, there is a different choice each day e.g. banana, carrot, pear, apple or orange.

MilkMilk is available to all children at our Key Stage 1 site if parents register with CoolMilk

https://www.coolmilk.com/register

Starting school

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Nicola and Adam believe they have found the one school which could address their children’s very individual and important needsEvery support“All of our children have been given every support we could have wished for,” says Nicola. “Of course we were concerned about moving Joe and Jacob at an important stage in their education but they have responded extremely well and it was definitely the right decision. Greetland has a way of making education a creative experience and the students react very positively.”

A firm foundation for the future “I could wish that all my children could have been at Greetland Academy from day one but we are so pleased that Daniel at least has had that benefit. The school offers an exceptional and firm foundation on which to build their future and all three of my sons have had that to some extent. All three have grown in confidence as well as academic ability and, to me, that is of paramount importance.”

Nicola and Adam Raven have three sons – Joe, fourteen, Jacob, eleven and Daniel, seven. Joe and Jacob moved to Greetland Academy towards the end of their primary education, whilst Daniel has been there since Reception year.

The Greetland Academy strives to always provide an inspirational, positive and welcoming environment where there is a sense of pride and fun and where everyone works together with confidence, enthusiasm and mutual respect. We aim to nurture academic, personal, spiritual and social development in a caring and professional manner so that all achieve their full potential and all can reach great heights.

Key StagesThe National Curriculum at The Greetland Academy is divided into three stages:

• Early Years Foundation Stage: from ages 4-5 • Key Stage 1: from ages 5-7 • Key Stage 2: from ages 7-11

Children enter the Foundation Stage of the school in the September of the year in which they will turn five years.

Starting at the Key Stage 1 site, they remain there for three years, transferring to the Key Stage 2 site at the end of the year in which they turn seven years.

National CurriculumAreas of the curriculum are:

• Mathematics • Literacy • Science • Design Technology • ICT/Computing • History • Geography

Enhanced curriculumThe curriculum is further enhanced by the introduction of inspiration days and specific focus weeks each term, such as Technology Week, Arts Week, Poetry Festival, Science Week etc.

Curriculum

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• Art • Music • Physical Education • Religious Education • Health • Citizenship • Personal and Social Education

Curriculum

Something special to offer“There was something special about Greetland that appealed to me,” says Michelle, “something I couldn’t quite define but made me feel that this was what I wanted for my daughter. Scarlett is a quick learner, enthusiastic to embrace something new and has an enquiring mind, and I felt that Greetland had the edge in what it could offer in that respect.”

Creative learning“I absolutely love the creative approach. They deliver the curriculum with imagination and that really helps to cement what the children have learned. The Inspiration Days really are an inspiration.”

“From my own point of view – as a parent and a reading volunteer – I have seen that the school ethos is about getting to grips with each child’s personality and ability, and offering them something over and above the ordinary.”

School disciplineThe Greetland Academy helps pupils develop self-discipline and an acceptance of responsibility for their own actions. We endeavour to create the conditions for an orderly community in which effective learning can take place, where mutual respect between all members is evident and where there is a caring concern for the environment.

Curriculum: letting parents know their child’s progressIt is important to The Greetland Academy that parents are kept fully informed of their child’s progress during the academic year. The progress of all children is monitored by class teachers and reported to parents by means of parent-teacher interviews on a formal basis at one Open Evening, two Open Days and, more informally, on a daily basis. Termly reports are sent to parents.

Half-termly feedbackHalf-termly ‘Topic Maps’ are produced for parents to give details of the curriculum being studied and the expected outcomes in knowledge, skills and understanding for the children in each year group. Half-termly open afternoons are also provided for parents to come into school to see the outcomes of learning.

Every child has something to offer, and The Greetland Academy can give them the chance to make the most of their abilities, as Michelle and Robert have discovered

Michelle and Robert Finlay live in Greetland with daughter Scarlett, who is eight.

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Positive feedbackHaving been born and brought up in the area, both Simon and Stephanie have a great deal of local knowledge so were in a good position when it came to choosing a school for William. “Greetland Academy had a good reputation and we’d heard a lot of positive reports from people we knew,” says Stephanie. “In addition, being a fairly small school, we felt it was able to offer the individual attention which was particularly important for us.”

Awareness of riskThe reason that Stephanie and Simon were concerned about the level of care is because William suffers from a very severe form of haemophilia and it is vital that, in an emergency, the people around him should have a thorough understanding of what to do. Stephanie explains: “Many people believe that it’s only when they can see heavy bleeding from a cut or scrape that the situation is dangerous but in William’s case, it’s internal bleeding which can need urgent attention and the staff therefore need to be extra vigilant in managing risk. Unless you know what to look out for and how

to assess the potential damage, what looks like a minor incident could be extremely serious but William has an excellent Link Representative at the school which ensures confidence for us all.”

A gentle push in the right direction pays dividendsSecure in the knowledge that William was in safe hands at school, Stephanie and Simon were also naturally keen to ensure that his educational needs were being met equally as effectively and, again, they have been very happy in this regard. “The school has a very good rate of achievement amongst the students and they seem to make every effort to push the children to their potential,” says Stephanie. “William is an able child but needed a bit of extra one-to-one support to make sure he did his best and that support has paid off. To begin with, I thought that perhaps there was a bit too much pressure but in retrospect I can see that because he was given high expectations of his abilities he rose to the challenge; he is now used to working at a level which should stand him in good stead for when he starts at secondary school later this year.”

Stephanie and Simon Wright live in Greetland with their son William, who is eleven.

The Greetland Academy is dedicated to teaching all children, regardless of their abilities, health or personal circumstances. The school seeks to ensure access to a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum for all. Every child has talents and can reach great heights.

Pupils with Special NeedsWork within each classroom is structured so that all children are motivated to achieve their full potential. Termly assessments in all classes, supported by ongoing teacher assessment, ensure that any special learning difficulties receive early identification and diagnosis.

The school employs a dedicated Special Needs Co-ordinator who monitors the needs of all children in conjunction with the class teachers.

Gifted and talentedGifted and Talented is the term generally applied to those pupils who are achieving, or have the potential to achieve, at a level significantly beyond the rest of their peer group, in one or more areas of both curriculum and non-curriculum subjects. We are fully equipped to identify and teach gifted and talented children.

Once identified, gifted and talented pupils will be added to a Gifted and Talented Register. The Register helps the school identify their gifted and talented pupils, and track their progress to ensure successful progression throughout school.

Inclusion: a curriculum for all Stephanie and Simon needed a very specific type of care for their son, and were reassured that he would be safe at Greetland Academy

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Christina believes that The Greetland Academy has the means to give her daughters the life skills they will value in their futureHopes and expectations“In more or less every way, Greetland Academy has lived up to our hopes and expectations,” says Christina. “Both the girls have been able to take advantage of a range of opportunities, totally appropriate to their own individual personalities, which they may not have had elsewhere. What particularly appeals to me is the way that the pastoral care of the children is given equal importance to their academic education. As far as I am concerned, if a child is happy they will be more able to achieve and there is no doubt that my children are happy in their school life.”

Choir - Dance - Code Club - Judo - Rock Band - Story Time - Chess - Bo

xercise

Gymnastics - Art - Football - Drama - Cheerleading - Multi-Sport - Netball

There are a wide variety of clubs that children can join, during lunchtime and after school. Options often include:

Clubs and activities

Christina and David Wilkinson live in Greetland with their daughters Georgie, 9 and Jess,10.

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Getting involvedVolunteersThe Academy is always grateful for the help given by parent volunteers in the classrooms. Each September an invitation is issued to parents and grandparents, who have some free time during the school day, to come along and help for an hour or two. No previous expertise is necessary.

Helping skillsWe have encouraged and utilised a wide range of helping skills this year including listening to children read, supervising art and craft activities, working alongside children on computers, lending a hand at the Chess and Environment Clubs and helping with sporting activities.

Parent Helper HandbookThe school has produced a Parent Helper Handbook to help volunteers feel more confident about their role.

Many of our helpers have undertaken training as a result of their involvement and some have gone on to become Support Assistants within the school.

Be a volunteerIf you would like to be a volunteer, please contact the school office.

FOGSThe Friends of Greetland School (FOGS) - of which parents are automatically members – works tirelessly each year to provide fun, entertainment and serious fund-raising to enhance the life of the school. Money raised provides countless invaluable extras for the Academy’s children.

Get involvedIf you would like to be involved please contact the school office.

GovernorshipThe Governing Body of The Greetland Academy is made up of 15 Governors including the Principal. The term of office for each Governor is four years.

MeetingsGovernors meet termly, both in Committee Groups (overseeing a particular area of school life) and as a full Governing Body. Governors help plan events in the school, oversee the curriculum and monitor the school’s development and improvement through the School Development Plan.

A Governor says:Angela and Chris Birt live in Greetland with their son Euan, who is eight. She is a Parent Governor. Angela says: “I wanted to have the chance to support the school and to give something back to a place which is benefitting my child. Additionally, I like to feel that I can have some input, both as a mother and as a representative of the school; having some inside knowledge of how the school works for its pupils is reassuring and makes me feel that I am a part of my son’s education.”

Interested in being a school Governor?If you would like to be a School Governor please contact the school office.

Children start at The Greetland Academy in the academic year (September - August) of their fifth birthday and enter our Early Years Unit into either Class 1 or 2.

Visit The Greetland Academy Parents who are thinking of applying for a place at The Greetland Academy are invited to visit and look around at any time. In the Autumn term we also hold an open morning for prospective parents and children to come and visit the school and be introduced to the staff.

ApplicationsApplications to The Greetland School must be made through Calderdale Council. Parents are encouraged to visit http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/education/schools/admissions or phone 01422 392617.

Admissions

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Rochdale Road

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Saddleworth Road

Early Years &Key Stage 1 Site

Key Stage 2 Site

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B6114

B6114

B6113

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Early Years & Key Stage 1Saddleworth Road, Greetland,Halifax, HX4 8LX

Email: ks1@greetlandacademy.org.uk

Key Stage 2School Street, Greetland,Halifax, HX4 8JB

Email: ks2@greetlandacademy.org.uk

Tel: 01422 372893 Fax: 01422 377125

Website: www.greetlandacademy.org.uk

PrincipalMrs A J Bennett

Deputy PrincipalsMr P DixonMr R ShawMiss D Worthington

The Greetlands Academy is a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and WalesCompany No. 07465343. Registered office at School Street, Greetland, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX4 8JB

For more information click to www.greetlandacademy.org.uk