Knowles Primary School has achieved the Inclusive School Award.
Outcomes for Students are Very Positive
Knowles Primary School is in Bletchley and has 303 students on its roll. The school joined the Tove Learning Trust in July 2020. The current site has housed schools of different types since the 1890s. A total of 45% of students receive Pupil Premium (PP) funding and 68% are from minority groups, both of which are well above the national average. Students registered as SEND make up 18% of the cohort and nine students have an Educational, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Outcomes for students are very positive; some of the highlights include, 96% of students in Year 1 achieved the expected standard of phonics in addition to 89% meeting the expected standard in Mathematics at Key Stage 2 (KS2). Both measures place the school in the top 20% of schools in the country.
The inclusive ethos radiates through every aspect of the school and the school values are fully embedded and shape all aspects of school life. There is a warm welcome as soon as you step foot in the door and that continues wherever you go around the school and whoever you speak to. There is a real community feel as parents appreciate everything the school does not only for the pupils but for the families as well.
Headteacher Fully Committed
The Headteacher is fully committed to getting the very best for those in her care and she said, “the staff are our strength, they buy into our values”. There is a genuine trust between the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the staff and this is embodied by the ‘open door policy’ mentioned by so many of the staff throughout the day. The Headteacher works incredibly hard to ensure that the resources are readily available to ensure every pupil receives the support they need.
The SLT is passionate to ensure every pupil fulfils their potential both in and out of the classroom. Pupil outcomes are very positive and their ‘big hearts, big dreams’ ensures every single child gains an invaluable life experience each year as well as engaging in community projects. They monitor the workload of staff and are proactive in reducing it to ensure good mental health is secured throughout the academic year. This commitment has led to achieving the School Mental Health Award – Gold Status in March 2023. The development of staff is a high priority of the leadership team as they seek to get the very best for their staff and pupils.
The staff body has a genuine passion and take pride in the ‘culture of acceptance’ and the fact that ‘we look after each other’. All staff speak very highly of the support they receive from SLT and the fact that they genuinely care. In the encounters with staff, it was clear they all go the extra mile to do everything possible to support the pupils in their class and understand their needs. There is a commitment to identifying barriers and swiftly intervening to either remove or limit their impact on the pupils.
Well Trained
The Teaching Assistants (TAs) are well trained and strategically deployed based on their strengths and the needs of the students. It is quickly evident that staff in all areas know their pupils and greet them wherever they are in the building. TAs have access to fantastic Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and are encouraged to grow and develop within the school. They complete regular impact reports to ensure all their support is having the desired impact and engage very well with available data.
On learning walks the attitudes to learning are exemplary and the support to different groups of pupils is outstanding. Pupils acknowledge that others need different support and are focused on their own learning, allowing interventions to seamlessly take place in the same classroom.
Early identification from the ‘early help team’ ensures support and intervention is swiftly triggered and tracked. The team is made up of Senior Leaders, SEND and pastoral staff who explore every possible reason that a pupil may not be fulfilling their potential. The team then ensures that carefully planned strategies are used to secure a positive outcome.
The pastoral support for both pupils and parents is exemplary. This starts from attendance monitoring and every possible strategy is used to get students into school. Some of the strategies include home visits and adapted start times to ensure pupils can make it into school on a regular basis. The school uses well researched programmes such as Kaleidoscope to provide pastoral support to pupils across the school.
Proud of their School
The pupils are very proud of their school and they feel they have a valued voice through the Together Everyone Decides Team. There are lots of leadership opportunities across the school and pupils acknowledge that they are supported very effectively by staff. Pupils talk enthusiastically about the many trips they go on and the extra-curricular clubs that are easy and free to access. They love the rewards they can achieve and the awards they receive in the weekly assembly. The students have access to a vast outdoor area which includes a secret garden, Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and Forest School. Lunch times are structured and there are a range of different activities to get involved in.
Parents acknowledge that the support for families is “amazing” and the school goes above and beyond both in and out of school hours. One grandparent talked about the bereavement of their daughter and how the Family Support Worker reached out in the holidays to offer support which then carried on into the term. They said that the staff are so accessible and respond quickly to any questions they raise. The school’s work with its community is a real strength and the community acknowledges its rapid improvement over the past few years.
The high mobility within the school catchment area presents many problems but these are met with overwhelming enthusiasm to welcome new pupils into the school and ensure stability at a time of high anxiety. The staff quickly get to know the students and engage effectively with external agencies to plan a smooth transition.
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