ST PETER'S COFE PRIMARY SCHOOL in Nottinghamshire, Nottingham

Education Centre Information: St Peter's CofE Primary School:

Establishment Type:Voluntary Controlled School
Phase of Education: Primary
Status: Open
Local Authority: Nottinghamshire
Boarders: No Boarders
Sixth Form: Does not have a sixth form
Urban/Rural Description: Town and Fringe - less sparse
Special Classes: No Special Classes
Religious Character: Church of England
Diocese: Diocese of Southwell
Nursery Provider: No Nursery Classes
Total Pupils: 218
Number of boys: 114
Number of girls: 104
Age Range: 5-11
Gender: Mixed
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Background:

Founded in 1864 St. Peter's today strives to be a modern, vibrant, spirited school which through a broad and balanced curriculum offers pupils the chance to achieve excellence at all levels. As a Church school it is defined by a strong set of values which both shape and challenge the school to be a place that is continually seeking to improve it self on behalf of the children and community it serves. Moreover in this way these guiding principles can be both felt and seen throughout the school. St. Peter's sees itself as a school which encourages a climate of participation through providing pupils with as many opportunities both in and outside of the classroom to learn and grow effectively, where 'growing' is seen as learning in its broadest context provided through all the extra-curricular activities and experiences the school offer: opportunities which help children to develop into confident, well adjusted citizens who are motivated to learn and who can make the best of whatever their potential happens to be. In this way the school strive for not only academic achievement, but also offer a comprehensive programme of music, drama, art and sport. This includes the opportunity to take part in musical productions, gifted and talented art groups of any combination of cross country, netball, hockey, table tennis, athletics, football, lacrosse and cricket. Through this the school also place an emphasis on inclusion, but allied to the opportunity to learn excellence who shows a particular aptitude. This is about a clear understanding that to be truly equitable, equality of opportunity must also include equality of challenge. This is hard work, but also brings a lot of such success and an enriching quality and vibrancy to the school. Just this year, for instance, the school has become East Midlands Lacrosse Champions, Area Hockey Champions, Area Netball Champions, County Cross County Boys Relay Champions, County runners-up for Girls' and Boys' Table Tennis, Football League Champions and City Schools Cricket Champions (2005). Alongside this the school has achieved national accreditation through achieving Artsmark and Activemark both at Gold Standard, Quality in Study Support (Established Level), Investors in People (for a third time) and have also achieved Eco Schools' Status in recognition of the environmental opportunities and learning. The schools greatest claim to fame, however, is that innovative approach to school meals (and subsequent work on a national level in partnership with the Soil Association), which the school still sustain and develop, proved the catalyst and driving force for the whole national movement to provide better school meals (and nutritional education) for the nation's children. In this way St. Peter's is a challenging and exciting place to be and one which continues to strive for ever better ways to help its children achieve the high standards and satisfaction they are capable of and deserve. Any success that St. Peter's has is based firmly on its 6 'guiding principles to excellence'. These clearly state what the school stands for and allow integrating all the work, whilst acting as markers by which the school can both challenge themselves and judge their effectiveness. Although all very important the key one is that St. Peter is 'a take care school', as this is the meaningful way they have chosen to define the ethos, a way of being that can be understood in different ways by both young and old alike, as they seek to 'Take care of themselves, each other, their world and with their work'. That it includes 'take care with their work', is particularly significant as 'take care work' is in large part how they define and value the creative, well presented work that they are striving to achieve and that anyone can see on visiting St. Peter's. It is a phrase which reflects an approach which encourages children to take ownership of their work within a framework of 'quality and discipline', where 'quality' is the high standards teachers have shown and taught and that pupils are encouraged to strive for and 'discipline' is the positive 'want to do well' attitude that they bring to the work.