The Herefordshire Excellence Cluster
At the end of the Education Action Zone, the LEA nominated the Haywood Pyramid of Schools in the south of Hereford to transform into an Excellence Cluster. Again, this brings funding for initiatives into those schools. Michaelchurch, along with the other Primaries of the Golden Valley have become Associate Schools of the Cluster, which brings our School a small budget so that we can ‘dip in’ to activities of interest to us.
Extended Schools
From September 2003 the five Schools of the Golden Valley Pyramid (Longtown, Clifford, Peterchurch, Fairfield and ourselves) have gained funding to develop as Extended Schools. The four Primaries used the vast majority of the funding to continue developing the links that support our operation and ensure the sustainability of small rural schools such as ours. Joint projects build upon our current practice of joint curriculum events, shared staffing and the pooling of expertise. We hope to build even closer links between the schools for the benefit of the staff and children, as well as undertaking a range of projects that will form closer ties with the parents of our pupils and the local community.
Golden Valley Primary Learning Network
Our school is a member of the "Golden Valley Primary Learning Network" which is a very proactive pyramid- based group of five schools who aim to raise the development of mathematical thinking, problme solving and investigative techniques throughout the primary phase. With an empahsis on pupil learning focus, the network has been very successful to date and has hosted pyramid-based events such as an annual "Chistmaths" event and an orienteering style "maths trail" is planned for both KS1 and KS2 for 2006 and onwards.
Links with Playgroups & Pre-School Groups
There are strong links between the school and the Mother and Toddler Group which meets on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings in Michaelchurch Eskley Community Hall. We also visit Peterchurch Playgroup to meet the children who will be feeding into the reception class at Michaelchurch. Whenever possible we try to include visits from the Playgroup children to the school and sometimes combine school trips with the Playgroup.
Links in the Pyramid
Michaelchurch Escley Primary School is part of the Golden Valley Pyramid of Schools. The Pyramid is composed of Fairfield High School and its four main feeder Primary Schools: Michaelchurch, Peterchurch, Longtown and Clifford.
The Schools join together for a range of activities including staff development, sports and music events. The Pyramid Primary Schools co-ordinate their topic planning and teaching through regular meetings, allowing us to come together for trips including the residential trip. The range of activities we undertake provides our pupils with opportunities to make friends with other children their age before transferring to the High School together.
Fairfield High School has attained Arts College Status and this positively impacts upon all the Primary Schools in the Pyramid. To allow pupils transferring to High School to feel more secure, several transition days are held throughout the year to familiarize children with the new setting. These days are themed around different curriculum areas.
The Pyramid also shares expertise and staffing, particularly in Maths, Music and Special Needs.
The School's sporting aims
The sporting aims of our school are contained in our PE policy. The aims and the policy were drawn up in conjunction with our partner schools in the Pyramid. A full copy of the policy is available for perusal at school.
Beginning in September 2002 the Golden Valley Pyramid began to benefit from a new Government initiative to provide further sporting expertise and staffing in schools. Miss Eleanor Farnham, who works in the PE department at Fairfield High School and will be working within the Golden Valley for the equivalent of one day per week to enhance the sports provision for all children aged from 5 – 11, both within curriculum time and beyond.
Musical instruments
All Key Stage 2 pupils have weekly Recorder lessons with Mrs. Martyn, the Music teacher. The children also have the opportunity to learn to play other instruments, including the violin, flute, clarinet, trumpet, drums, guitar and keyboard. Mrs. Martyn can supply further details. A charge is made for these lessons and many take place at Fairfield High School.
