High School and Crediton Learning Community Liaison
RATIONALE
Newton St Cyres Primary School is a member of the Crediton Learning Community, which consists of twelve primary schools and Queen Elizabeth Community College. Most of the primary aged pupils transfer to QECC at the age of eleven, so liaison between this High School and its feeder schools is relatively easy and well developed. On occasion, children transfer to the private sector or selective grammar schools. Under these circumstances, every effort is made to comply with the expectations of the schools involved. However, the remit of this policy relates to the links that have been established between NSC primary and the other schools within the Crediton Learning Community. Back to top
AIMS
Schools within the Crediton Learning Community aim to be mutually supportive at all levels. Working together as a collective of schools, information is shared and opportunities are provided for headteachers and co-ordinators to work together on current initiatives. It also provides opportunities to train Staff at all levels and helps to counter the isolation that is sometimes felt in small schools. As a collective, schools are represented by the learning community during consultation on governmental and social issues that will affect our communities. Back to topTRANSITION BETWEEN SCHOOLS
Transfer between primary schoolsWhen primary aged children transfer between schools a record of transfer is completed by the class teacher and core files are sent to the receiving school following confirmation of attendance.
Transfer to High School:
The established links between QECC and its feeder schools are very good. The Principal and Assistant Principal attend the Learning Community meetings held each half-term, and the primary schools have a representative on the High School Governing Body. It is our aim to ensure that we work together to ensure that transfer will:
? Be exciting and non-threatening for children
? Be supportive and useful for Staff in both phases
? Be effective in the transfer of records and pertinent information
? Give children opportunities to become aware of and reflect on their learning needs as they move to another phase of their education
There is a full liaison programme which covers the whole academic year as follows:
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
QECC employs a link Advanced Skills Teacher and ICT Technicians to support the ICT needs of its primary schools. The technicians are available for technical support and installations of networks on a pay as you go rate and they were effective in setting up our network in school. The AST has been involved in producing schemes of work for the QCA units of work, and also works in primary schools for three days a week.
The work of the AST is currently line managed by the Headteacher of NSC Primary school as the ICT co-ordinator for the Crediton Learning Community. His work is based at our school each Wednesday and involves focused skills training for selected groups of children from across key stage two. Our children are joined by pupils from other learning community schools for these sessions and teachers and teaching assistants from any school are invited to visit as part of their professional development. In-service training sessions for ICT are arranged as needed throughout the year and held at NSC primary when appropriate.
PRIMARY AREA SPORTS
Primary Schools Area Sports events are organised by the Staff and students of QECC each term. During the Autumn Term, Football and Netball tournaments are arranged; during the Spring Term, a Swimming Gala is organised and during the Summer Term, an Athletics Event is held. Each of these sports events include children from across Key Stage two.
CREATIVE AND EXPRESSIVE ARTS EVENTS
Feeder primary schools may be invited to take a group of children to watch dress rehearsals of lower school performances. At Newton St Cyres Primary, we usually offer these opportunities to the children in Class Four.
From time to time, cross phase events will be arranged in the creative and expressive arts; as numbers are limited on these occasions, they are offered as extension activities to the children who are gifted and talented in these areas
QECC LIAISON VISITS TO PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Sometimes liaison involves teachers from the Community College visiting its feeder primaries (by invitation), to work alongside teachers with children in years five and six. The visiting liaison programmes currently include:
? French
? Technology
? Science
FRENCH
A QECC modern foreign languages teacher visits NSC Primary for a 40 minute lesson with the children in year six, once a fortnight. These visits support the MFL provided by our own staff.
TECHNOLOGY
During the spring term, arrangements are made for a QECC technology teacher to visit NSC Primary for two afternoon sessions with Class Four, on a topic agreed between the visiting teacher and the class teacher
SCIENCE
During the summer term, arrangements are made for a QECC science teacher to visit NSC Primary for a 60 minute lesson with the children in year six, on a topic agreed between the visiting teacher and the class teacher. The year six children then make a return visit to QECC upper school, where they learn about the safe use of Bunsen burners.
OTHER AREAS OF LIAISON IN THE CREDITON LEARNING COMMUNITY
Within the Learning Community there are support groups for Core subject co-ordinators, SEN Co-ordinators and administrators.
The Headteacher of NSC primary is an active member of the Crediton Learning Community. In addition to managing the primary links with ICT, she is responsible for organising the Annual Spring Conference for all primary and secondary school staff and continuing professional development courses based at NSC primary. Both of these initiatives provide high quality continuing professional development for our staff at minimal cost to the school.
Policy agreed at Premises and Curriculum meeting on 06 02 06
Policy to be considered for renewal during Spring Term 09 Back to top