Mission Statement
We nurture a love of learning at Shipham Church of England First School by bringing out the best in all the children and by valuing their individuality. We rejoice in the uniqueness of our surroundings and, being a Church school, are at the heart of the local community. We develop curious, creative and confident children in our friendly village school.
Christian Values
Community
‘Serve one another in love’ (Galatians 5-13)
Trust
‘My God is my strength in whom I trust’ (Psalm 18.2)
Kindness
‘Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience (Colossians 3.12)
Respect
‘Do to others as you would have them do to you.’ (Matthew 7.12)
Thankfulness
Always be thankful (1 Thessalonians 5.16)
Courage
‘You are never too small to make a difference’ (Greta Thunberg)
Our Aims
At Shipham Church of England First School we are committed to the following aims:
- to establish a community in which every member is valued and respected
- to welcome all children.
- to promote self-discipline, good manners and a sense of responsibility
- to provide a broad, balanced and well-structured curriculum in accordance with the National Curriculum
- to promote an enjoyment of learning and develop independent learners with enquiring minds
- to promote understanding and respect for the Christian faith and for the spiritual, cultural and moral values of others
- to establish and maintain positive partnerships between home and school, the Church, other local schools and the wider community
- to create a positive, happy, safe and stimulating environment
Our Ethos
We want our children to:
- achieve high standards across the curriculum
- take responsibility for their own learning and actions
- respect and value other people, the world in which they live and themselves
- have the skills, knowledge and understanding to be able to make choices in the changing world
- have enquiring minds and the motivation to learn
- have good social skills and be able to communicate well
- extend themselves in mind, body and spirit
School Development Priorities
(2023 / 2024)
In a fast-changing world, schools must adopt a forward thinking and open minded approach to providing a high quality learning experience for children. We continuously strive to do better for the children in our charge and, in doing so, try new things, seek to learn from those experiences, and work to adopt and embed the practices that work best. We work closely with other schools in the Wessex Learning Trust and learn from other professionals outside the organisation who may suggest innovative, evidence-informed strategies to use in the classroom.
Every year we use feedback (e.g. Ofsted reports), internal evaluation and assessment of the children to develop a list of priorities to develop certain aspects of our provision. This year, we are focusing on:
Learning Behaviours – Developing A Culture of High Expectations Across The School
Reinforcement of expectations of children from the start of the school day to the finish. Children are 'ready to learn' at the beginning of each session and are respectful of themselves, others and the school environment.
Phonics and Reading in KS2
An ongoing priority following the introduction of 'Unlocking Letters and Sounds' phonics scheme. Includes staff training, monitoring by English lead to ensure consistently high quality practice with fidelity to the scheme.
Early Years Foundation Stage (Pre-School and Reception) Curriculum Development
Collaboration across two schools (Shipham and Draycott) in the Early Years Foundation Stage to ensure consistency of planning and daily practice.
Leadership, Professional Learning and Wellbeing
Development of Senior Leadership Team across two schools. Improved training offer for support staff. Focus on staff wellbeing with trained Mental Health First Aiders and Wellbeing Champion in the team.
Community Engagement
Harnessing opportunities for children to participate in community events; involvement of community within school to utilise expertise for the benefit of the children's learning.
Sports, Competitions and Outdoor Learning
Ongoing improvement in PE teaching and after-school offer. More competition opportunities, hosted by local middle school. Development of outdoor learning provision.