Polegate School in East Sussex has become a Flagship School.
Strong and Determined Leadership
Polegate School continues to be a highly successful school. Its attention to detail in relation to inclusive practice, ensures that the hard working and dedicated staff strive to support the children to achieve their best. The Head teacher puts high standards and expectations at the heart of her vision for the school, and is supported in this aim, by an effective, experienced and knowledgeable leadership team. The staff are inspired to give their best, as the Head teacher shows strong and determined leadership.
A High Proportion of Outstanding Teaching
The quality of teaching is never less than good, with a high proportion of outstanding teaching. The leadership team, are extremely knowledgeable about the individual stages of development of staff, and coach and mentor accordingly. Excellent professional relationships are prevalent, with an ethos of trust and appreciation. This is further enhanced by high levels of dialogue, which take place formally and informally.
Disseminating Excellent Practice
Staff reach out to other schools and there are many and varied examples of them disseminating their excellent practice. They also exhibit a desire to continually learn themselves, both within the school and outside it. Classroom practice is regularly analysed and dissected, and the school has a reflective and self-evaluative ethos. The Head teacher has emphasised that she too values the learning process, and she has embarked upon additional training for herself, for the benefit of Polegate School. Hence, she recently took the opportunity to train as an Ofsted Inspector, which gave her additional knowledge and understanding in relation to their criteria.
Regular Pupil Progress Meetings
Regular pupil progress meetings take place and there is detailed analysis which leads to the identification of any child who needs additional support to make the expected progress. The Leadership Team monitor the children’s workbooks, observe lessons and track data that they can continually evaluate. Governors are also involved in the monitoring and evaluation, and in this respect, ask challenging questions to check that the actions taken have made a difference.
Outstanding Displays
Displays within the school are truly outstanding. They are an accurate indicator of the high standards the school adopts and a barometer of the expectations that the Head teacher, leadership team and other staff have for the children. Colourful, imaginative and informative displays therefore, combine both the celebration and exemplification of learning. There are high levels of artistic skills within the staff team, which further contribute to the quality of displays. The environment seeks to include all the children, in its aim of motivating their interests.
An Excited Buzz and Vibrancy
The children are Polegate School’s greatest ambassadors. The school has an excited buzz and vibrancy. They quite simply love their school and are articulate in their descriptions of all the school has to offer. Children feel very well supported in their progress and have enormous faith in the staff. They can clearly explain how the teaching team help them in their learning and make the lessons enjoyable. Their behaviour is excellent. In class, they are focused and hard-working, showing interest and enthusiasm. The lessons are creative and made fun by very talented staff.
Parents are Valued
Parents are a valued part of the school team, and are highly respected by the staff. The school has gone to great lengths to be welcoming and to value all members of the community and different family circumstances. The thoughtful approach taken by the school has served to break down barriers, which in turn helps the children to settle well.
Find out more about the IQM Inclusive School Award
If your school is interested in obtaining the IQM Inclusive School Award or you wish to talk to a member of the IQM team please telephone:
028 7127 7857 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm)
or email: [email protected] for further details.
Want more information on the IQM Award? Click here to request your free IQM information pack.