Helping to broaden horizons (From Gazette & Herald)

Helping to broaden horizons

PICKERING-based St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School is putting the fun back into learning.

Headteacher Stafford John admits it can be easy to get bogged down with meeting literacy and numeracy targets.

Of course, he acknowledges their importance. But, as the Government's strategy for primary schools advocates, the school has become more innovative with its curriculum.

Every half-term, the whole school sets aside one day when it devotes itself to a particular theme. It has already enjoyed a multicultural art day when it explored different artwork from across the world. A beautiful display, featuring Moroccan art, which greets you on entering the school, is evidence of this.

A design and technology day is planned for early April. And in the summer term, the school intends to spend a day producing a newspaper, visit Scarborough beach to do an environmental study and, in conjunction with its sports day, hold a PE-themed day.

Mr John said: "These days add an extra dimension to the curriculum. For example, instead of doing art for just an hour, we spent a whole day and children could see their finished product at the end of it. They mean we can cover things in more depth."

Another creative idea which the school has adopted is the share project. Introduced in January, this is a family learning initiative involving year one and two pupils and their parents. Once a fortnight, parents meet with the year group teacher to learn more about their children's studies, particularly activities with a fun element.

From these meetings, parents can help their children with projects at home. The first one involved puppet-making, and is detailed in a colourful classroom display.

Mr John said 18 families had become involved and he was really pleased with the response.

Families are also encouraged to participate in some of the school's extra-curricular activities.

Grandparents attend the country dancing club, run by Mr John. He set up the class, having organised a successful one at his previous school, just across town at Pickering Community Infant School, where he was deputy head. The group has recently benefited from acquiring a new PA system, thanks to an arts council grant.

Other clubs at the school include chess, scrabble, wildlife, percussion and orchestra and rounders.

Looking ahead, changes are planned at St Joseph's School.

It hopes to have a nursery class by September. Plans are set to go from the informal to formal consultation stage with North Yorkshire County Council by the end of this week.

Speaking of the proposed nursery, which would be incorporated with the reception class, Mr John said: "If children come to us earlier, they get used to the routines and it is not such an upheaval."

Changes are also earmarked for the school building in the next three years. With the staff-room currently doubling up as the secretary's office, an extension at the front of the school, to incorporate a new office, is planned.

In addition, the school wants to increase the size of its main hall by extending into one of the classrooms. Two new key stage two classrooms would then be built onto the rear of the main building.

The Friends of St Joseph's play a key role in raising funds for the school. Mr John was full of praise for their support. They have helped pay for trips and visitors to the school, and have spent around £3,000 for various resources in the last year.

The group has also spent £2,000 on wall bars for gym class in the school hall. And it raised money for the impressive-looking two-tier playhouse, which resides in class two. Currently decked out as a toy shop, it has been the focus of many displays from fairytale stories such as Jack and the Beanstalk and James and the Giant Peach.

With 87 pupils on the roll, St Joseph's is a relatively small school. It means children right across the age spectrum 3-11 mix with each other.

To facilitate this process, a 'reading friends' scheme has been set up since September, in which older pupils read to younger children on a weekly basis.

The school was founded at the end of 1901 by Father Bryan, in premises behind St Joesph's Church. The present building was opened in 1968 to accommodate children from the parishes of St Joseph's, Pickering, and St Chad's, Kirkbymoorside.

The school enjoys a good relationship with St Joseph's Church, celebrating mass there once a month. Father Bill East is a regular visitor to the school in a pastoral capacity.

He said: "It's an absolutely brilliant school and a joy to be associated with it."

While most pupils are from Roman Catholic families, it is not a requirement for joining the school.

Having completed two terms as acting head, Mr John has been full-time since September. Looking back at his first 12 months, in what is his first headship, he said: "It's been really enjoyable. No matter how much theory you do, nothing beats practical hands-on experience.

"I have a very supportive staff, who did everything to help me in the early days.

"Parents are also very supportive. Curriculum evenings and assemblies are well-attended. And I mustn't forget the governors, who do a very good job."

Like so many other schools in Ryedale, St Joseph's provides a quality learning environment for youngsters.

Updated: 12:03 Wednesday, March 17, 2004