1. St Mary’s Church in Wales School
School Information

2. St Mary’s Church in Wales School
Welcome
Dear Parents,
At St Mary’s Church in Wales School we believe that every child has the right to receive the best education possible and we strive to provide that. Education is not purely about academic standards, it involves the whole child – his/her physical, moral, social, spiritual, creative and aesthetic development.
As a Voluntary Aided School, we have close links with St Mary the Virgin Church within the Diocese of Swansea & Brecon. This Christian relationship is reflected in the high standard of moral, social and spiritual values that permeates the school.
The world in which we live is changing at a rapid rate. It is essential that we provide our children, not only with the knowledge, but also the skills and attitudes that they need to become independent and confident lifelong learners.
Education is like a journey, where the ‘ride’ is as important as the destination itself. Learning must be rewarding, exciting and fun! It must stimulate our children to want more. St Mary’s provides a wonderful environment in which our children can learn and grow. We aim to work in partnership with you as parents, to seek ways in which we can further enhance the children’s education, so that every child receives the best possible start to their educational journey.
Choosing the right school for your child is an important decision. I hope this prospectus will provide you with much of the information you need. However, please feel free to contact the school on , to make an appointment to visit us and to get a ‘feel’ for the school yourself.
I very much look forward to working with you and your family in the future.
Mr Darren Jones
Headteacher
Welcome

3. Message from the Chair of the Governing Body
Welcome
Message from the Vicarage
Dear Parents,
I am happy to contribute a few words about the Church links which the school has as part of its role as a “faith school”, and my part in that.
As Vicar of the Parish I am a member of the governing body of the school and help with the administrative tasks that the school carries out. But more importantly I work with the head teacher and school staff on an informal basis to provide pastoral support to them, to the pupils and parents.
There are also areas of the curriculum, particularly the religious aspect, where I can provide a source of expertise and the concrete reality of what faith is about, making use of the Church building and its contents as an extended classroom, as well as working in the school in class as asked by the teachers.
Formally the links are that I take a whole school assembly on Thursday every week, that Y3, Y4, Y5 and Y6 attend and take part in the Wednesday morning Communion Service at St. Mary’s Church once a month and that Y6 pupils are offered the chance to be confirmed as full members into the Church in Wales by the Diocesan Bishop, the implications of this being fully explained in whole class lessons taken by myself in the term preceding this.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. P. M. Winchester
Message from the Chair of the Governing Body
Dear Parents/Carers,
On behalf of the Governing Body, I would firstly like to reiterate the Headteacher’s welcome to new parents and to thank existing parents for their continuing support for the school. I am sure that you will find this prospectus useful and informative not only now, but also as the school year progresses.
We are very proud of our School and all of the Governors actively support the Headteacher and his staff in achieving the School’s aims and objectives. These include helping all children to attain their full potential, irrespective of their ability, and constantly seeking to improve standards across the curriculum. As Governors we all have particular responsibilities and are frequent visitors to the School.
Our children’s education is an essential foundation stone for the rest of their lives. We are committed to providing them with the highest standard of education in the best environment and we look forward to achieving this with your assistance and support.
Yours sincerely,
Alan Williams
Chair of the Governing Body
Welcome

4. Introduction Introduction Vision for Our School
The happiness and wellbeing of each child is central to the ethos of this school. Children are encouraged to cooperate with one another, respect diversity and treat each other as equals.
We are a highly motivated and caring team. We are committed to providing opportunities for our young learners to develop into respectful, compassionate citizens, who contribute positively to the well being of others and society.
We aim to deliver a stimulating, exciting and challenging curriculum. Through outstanding and enthusiastic teaching, we will empower children to lead their learning, so that they become motivated and independent.
We want our children to grow in confidence and to develop a love of learning that will stay with them throughout their lives.
St Mary's Church in Wales Primary School dates back to The present school was built in the grounds of the Old Grammar School and draws children from several areas in Brynmawr. The school has been extended and refurbished providing pupils and staff with a working environment second to none.
The school is designed for 210 and a 30 place nursery.
The Church School aims to help children within a Christian Community and all enjoy a common experience of giving and receiving. It sees itself as part of a wider community and strives to develop close links with parents, local community and the local church.
As a Church in Wales school we are an Anglican foundation which is reflected in the ethos of the school and in the importance that we give to Religious Education and Collective Worship. The emphasis for Religious Education will be Christianity. Judaism will also be included as it forms the basis of the Christian religion. All other main world religions will be taught through other curriculum areas when and if they arise during topic themes.
Introduction

5. The Aims & Objectives of St Mary’s School
The main aims and objectives are:
To educate pupils intellectually, socially, morally, aesthetically, physically and spiritually within a school firmly based on Christian principles
To create a happy learning environment, where all children grow in self-esteem and develop the confidence to express themselves clearly
To give instruction in the basic skills namely reading, numeracy, oracy and literacy by the most efficacious methods available to us
To encourage the development of each individual child so that he will learn to take his place in society
To promote Christian values within the school and to encourage in pupils a sense of decency, commitment, self-reliance, responsibility, respect for others and a healthy self-esteem
To create an atmosphere which is relaxed but purposeful and to facilitate the achievement of these aims by forming the best possible relationships between teachers, children, parents and others involved
To help the pupils develop an understanding of their cultural heritage through the teaching of Welsh as a second language, and by developing the Welsh dimension of the curriculum whenever possible.
To create an appreciation of the importance of healthy living and care for the environment, in our endeavour to be an ecologically friendly school
To set challenging targets and celebrate successes through self review in partnership with children, staff and parents
To develop the leadership qualities of all staff through a continuous programme of professional development
We are concerned about the development of the whole personality of each individual. We try to teach that which each child needs regardless of age, sex or ability. We try to make it difficult to fail. We try to present the child with work, which is attractive. We try to create incentives, increase the natural thirst for knowledge and skills present in almost all children, to direct and channel efforts into useful and interesting pursuits. We want children to enjoy school to make the best use of time there.
We do not forget that we are part of a process and we want our children to go on to the next stage of education with a built in desire for further interesting work and experience.
Aims & Objectives at St Mary’s

6. Welcome Administration The School Day School Address
Intermediate Road, Brynmawr, Blaenau Gwent,
NP23 4SF
Telephone No.
Fax No.
Education Authority
Blaenau Gwent
Director of Education
Trevor Guy, Anvil Court, Abertillery
Diocesan Director of Education
Rev. Helen Rees
Session
Times
Registration
Assembly
Session 1
Break
Session 2
(Infants)
(Juniors)
Lunch
(Infants)
(Juniors)
Session 3
Session 4
After School Activities
Welcome

7. PPA Teacher & Environmental Education Peripatetic Music Staff
The Staffroom
Headteacher
Darren Jones
Deputy Headteacher
Alison Chaplin
Nursery
Mrs D Southwell (Teacher)
Mrs B Stephens (Teaching Assistant)
am Miss G Short (Teaching Assistant)
Reception
Mrs J Morgan (Teacher)
Miss K Williams (Teaching Assistant)
Miss A Challenger (Teaching Assistant)
Miss L Griffiths (Teaching Assistant)
Miss C Mills (Teaching Assistant)
Year 1
Miss J Mallet (Teacher)
Mrs M Thomas (Teaching Assistant)
pm Miss G Short (Teaching Assistant)
Year 2
Mrs B Beckett (Teacher)
Mrs L Williams (Teaching Assistant)
Year 3
Miss K Smith (Teacher)
Mrs K Miles (Teaching Assistant)
Miss N Thomsett (Teaching Assistant)
Year 4
Mrs A Chaplin (Teacher)
Year 5
Mr J Price (Teacher)
Year 6
Miss S Lewis (Teacher)
Teacher Support Yr 4, 5 & 6
Mrs C Morgan (Teaching Assistant)
Mrs S Brown (Teaching Assistant)
PPA Teacher & Environmental Education
John Meredith
Administrative Staff
Mrs L Lewis
Mrs L Webb
Mrs L Assirati
Dinner Time Staff
Miss J Davies, Miss L Davies, Miss M Davies, Mrs B Knapp, Miss T Nevill, Miss P Tilley, Miss D Rogers, Mrs J Scurr
Cleaning Staff
Miss J.Davies (Cleaner in Charge), Miss T Nevill, Miss P Tilley, Miss D Rogers
Peripatetic Music Staff
Educational Welfare Officer
Sarah Evans
School Nurse
Emma Waters
Specific Learning Difficulties Tutor
Linda Sharpels
Hearing Impairment Service
Mrs. Barrel
Visual Impairment Service
Mrs. A. Jones
The Staffroom

8. The Governing Body The Governing Body Chairperson
The Governing Body of the school meets formally once every half term to monitor the performance of the School and agree objectives and polices for the working of the school. The Governing Body consists of the following members:
Chairperson
Mr. Alan Williams Tel. No
Clerk to the Governors
Jon Mower, Festival House, Ebbw Vale
Governor
Appointed by
Term of Office from
Term Office to
Mrs. B. James
Foundation
Rev. P. Winchester
Mrs I. Standish
Cllr B. Sutton
LEA
Mr. G. Hill
Mrs. R. Humphreys
Mrs. A. Lewis
07.11,2016
Mr. A. Williams
Rev. N. Perry
Mrs. K. Bailey
Parent
Ms. S. Lewis
Teacher
Ms. E. Thompson
Staff
Mrs. A. Chaplin
Other
Mr. D. Jones
Head-teacher
The Governing Body
Under the present Education Act all schools will have at least one parent governor who will be elected democratically by parents of the school. The parent elected will stand for a period of four years. Each Governing Body will stand for four years. The present Governing Body meets once a term and when the need arises.

9. School Admissions Admission Policy
St. Mary’s Church in Wales Primary School is an Aided School which provides an education for children in the Christian Ethos.
The Governing Body will consider all applications for admission. However, in order to reflect the distinctive Christian character of educational provision, criteria have been adopted to prioritise applications for admission to nursery and mainstream education in the event of over subscription.
In relation to nursery admissions, children will be eligible for admission at the beginning of the term following their third birthday. Nursery places will normally only be available on a part-time basis. In consultation with the Local Education Authority, the Governing Body may give priority to the admission to nursery of pupils with special needs, based on medical or social considerations.
The adopted admissions criteria of the governing body are: -
Looked after children who are baptised members of the Church in Wales
Other looked after children
Pupils whose home address is within the ecclesiastical parish boundaries of St Mary’s the Virgin Church
Pupils with a sibling who will continue to be at the school in the next academic year i.e. not in Year 6.
Pupils whose parents attend St. Mary’s the Virgin Church
Pupils whose parents attend another Anglican Church and for whom this is the nearest Aided School.
Pupils whose parents are active members of a non-Anglican Christian denomination and for them this is the nearest Church School.
Pupils whose parents are active members of another faith and also express a desire for a Church School education.
Children whose parents wish them to attend this school.
Parents not offered a place for their child into Reception are entitled to appeal to an independent appeals panel established by the governing body under the provisions of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998.
Parents should appeal in writing to the clerk to the appeals panel via the school within 14 days of notification not to admit.
School Admissions

10. Safeguarding & Child Protection
Child Protection and Safeguarding
Our school feels it is of the utmost importance to have good systems for protecting children and safeguarding their welfare, throughout all the activities which the school undertakes. This means that all staff and volunteers must be alert to possible concerns about every pupil, and to report these in a proper fashion. The school has a safeguarding and child protection policy which is available for all parents from the school office.
It is important for parents to be aware that:
Staff and volunteers in the school have a duty to report concerns about a child, whether this means the child may be in need of additional support or help of some kind or whether it is thought that a child may have been abused or be at risk of abuse.
The Social Services Department tries to carry out its enquiries in a sensitive fashion. It has to gather information and generally it can be open with parents about the steps being taken.
If school staff need to express concerns about a child or refer a child to the Social Services Department, it is understood that this can cause distress or anger for the child’s parents. It is important that all parties – parents and school staff – try to discuss these matters as calmly and sensibly as possible.
We have a number of set procedures (of which all staff are aware) for handling suspected cases of abuse of pupils, including procedures to be followed if a member of staff is accused of abuse.
The “designated teacher” (the Headteacher) has received training for the role.
Lynford Meade (Tel ) is senior officer in Blaenau Gwent who is responsible for co-coordinating action on child protection.
All staff (and parents) are given the following advice as safeguarding is all our responsibility:
If you see something, or somebody tells you of a concern relating to a child or young person, you should report the concern to:
Social Services
Out of Hours Social Services
Police
If a child tells you something that concerns you, you should ring the above numbers.
If you are unhappy with the response you receive or the child remains at risk with no apparent action then ring again.
If you have any queries about any aspect of the above please feel free to contact the Headteacher.
Safeguarding & Child Protection