Bannockburn Primary School is a four-form mainstream primary school in the Plumstead area. They have recently become part of the PolyMAT Multi Academy Trust. The school stands out as a happy and inclusive primary in the area, where every pupil is supported to achieve their very best.
The leadership team at the school show a strong understanding of the school’s context and needs, which informs their provisions for pupils and their families. Many would describe the school as outward-facing and progressive in their approach. Every pupil, regardless of background, is able to achieve and feel pride in their work. The school is well equipped to source external support for their pupils, using evidence-based research to decide where funding and support should be placed to meet need. Staff are able to engage in open, professional dialogue as a team to provide excellent support for the school community. An audit was recently conducted of classrooms and learning spaces, and the review has ensured that teaching materials and styles have been adapted to support cognitive load. Working walls are engaging for pupils, with key vocabulary displayed in a way that is accessible for all pupils. Staff speak highly of the training they have been provided with, and how it has allowed them to positively impact their classroom practice and uplift pupil voice in learning spaces. Senior leaders, including the Headteacher, engage in teaching commitments each week, providing opportunities for staff to observe excellent teaching as well as ensuring new expectations and strategies are having an impact. The openness to change ensures that inclusive learning is happening at all times and that children’s needs are met. 
High ambitions for all pupils are embedded in a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere, with every student receiving an opportunity to discuss and engage with their peers. The Kagan approach to cooperative learning is encouraged in all lessons, with pupils seated in pairs or small groups to enable active participation in lessons. Classrooms are calming and welcoming, with purposeful visual displays, learning scaffolds, and Zones of Regulation featured in a prominent place. Student work is proudly displayed in an inclusive manner, so all learners can feel pride in their individual achievement. The school has two sensory rooms and have recently invested in two dark zones to ensure dysregulated pupils have a space to calm privately. There are plenty of spaces for break-out learning and interventions, and the impact of these areas are monitored by the Inclusion Lead. The bespoke Mulberry provision provides targeted support to ensure accelerated progress in Maths and English. Children show pride in being part of this provision and parents share the same enthusiasm.
Inclusive excellence at the school is spearheaded by the Inclusion Lead, who is new to the role yet exhibits phenomenal passion and commitment for the school community. The school has developed a transition programme with two secondary schools in the MAT, highlighting a proactive approach to improving school practices. A learning mentor works with pupils to remove barriers to learning and increase confidence and independence in the face of challenges. The Inclusion Lead is also collaborating with the school’s Attendance and Welfare team to ensure pupils attend school consistently. Leaders ensure there is clear communication with parents about attendance expectations, and daily phone calls are made to parents if their child is not in school, ultimately followed up with a home visit if the call goes unanswered. The school is addressing an increase in pupils joining mid-year, either from a new school or country, so leaders are quick to meet need and teachers assess new pupils joining their classes so they can identify gaps in knowledge.
Making sure all pupils are included in a holistic education is important at Bannockburn Primary School. There are regular visits to London museums, allowing pupils to further explore areas of the curriculum that interest them. Within the school grounds, there is a fantastic extra-curricular offering for all pupils, from musical theatre and football, to sewing and street dance. House Captains were particularly keen to speak to our assessor about the school gardening club, where pupils can grow vegetables such as sweetcorn, parsnips and runner beans, which pupils are then taught how to cook in the school kitchen. An awareness of the outdoors is further encouraged by tending flower beds and showing pride in school appearance. The school most notably won gold in the Greenwich in Bloom competition, where the lead gardening teacher and six pupils got the opportunity to attend the awards ceremony representing their school.
Providing for the needs of every single child, whilst creating a fun and welcoming environment, shows how Bannockburn Primary School has embraced inclusion in every aspect of school life. Every child has the opportunity to engage with the curriculum and in extra-curricular activities, giving them something to show pride in and to strive for in the future. By instilling a culture of belonging, every child can find a place and a voice at Bannockburn Primary School, and this confidence sets them up for life on the next steps of their educational journey.
