The Provider:

Sytchampton Endowed First School, Worcestershire

Sytchampton Endowed First School is a village school (without a village) established in 1729, situated by the side of a busy dual carriageway.  There are 115 on roll at present aged between 4-9 years.  After two extremely successful Ofsted inspections we attract children from a wide catchment area and are currently oversubscribed.  Pupils enter school with broadly average abilities and leave with attainment that is well above the National average.  This is due to the very good teaching and from the efforts of the Head Teacher, staff and governors in raising and maintaining high educational standards.

Summary:

T.E.A.M is our school motto and we firmly believe that teamwork is one of the reasons for our school success.

The Aim:

To work together as a team for everybody to achieve more (enhancing the personal developing of all).

What do you see in the school?

• All staff attend staff meetings and contribute to School Improvement Planning
• Motto displayed around school – T.E.A.M.
• Pupils understand teamwork
• All school staff have a chance to work with the management team, ideas valued and staff develop their enthusiasms
• Parent and pupils take on change initiatives and see them to completion
• TAs are fully involved in planning, writing IEPs, assessment and pupil tracking
• Targets and objectives shared with pupils and parents
• Curriculum is shared with parents through workshops, curriculum letters, website, opportunities to work alongside teachers in school
• Awards – joint work on application for a range of awards
• School self evaluation process informing school improvement cycle

What difference does it make?

• High achievement
• Good behaviour
• Everyone is valued
• Caring atmosphere developed
• Pupils taking responsibility for roles on their committees
• Pupils are well rounded and their personal and social achievement is good
• Parents raise large amounts of money and run own charity
• Good reputation
• Former pupils still feel part of the school and return regularly to support
• Good communications with parents and community

From where is evidence collected to prove the Leading Aspect?

• School Development Plan
• Everyone aware of and committed to school motto
• Examples of pupils’ writing showing an understanding of teamwork and its importance
• Staff survey
• Evidence all around the school of numerous projects developed by pupils, parents and community
• TA objective (planning) sheet
• PANDA and test results
• Description of maths workshop (request from parents)
• Awards
• Pupils shared improvements they had instigated and made – Hot dinners, football behaviour, taps and flushes, and a basketball net

The Verifiers Comment

The devolved leadership and good teamwork enables everyone to develop personally.  Pupils run their committees with clear roles.  They are responsible for chairing, minute taking and managing their own finances.  They have a very mature approach to team and collaborative group work.  They understand how effective team works.  Parents and community members develop by working on ambitious projects, helping in school, using their expertise and participating in courses and training.  All staff have good opportunities to take on aspects of leadership, develop their own ideas and an opportunity for regular professional development discussions.  Views are sought through surveys for the whole school community and ideas and issues that are raised inform the school development planning.  The whole school is aware of the school improvement agenda.  This leads to high achievement and makes the school very popular with the local community and its pupils.  All members of the school community feel valued and this has a positive impact on the school ethos and learning environment.