School Profile
Published 29 January 2008
This is the most recent profile available for this school.
The information provided was correct at the time of publishing. Please be aware that details may have changed.
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Colston's Primary School 18 Cotham Grove, Cotham |
Local Authority: |
BRISTOL, CITY OF |
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Age range: |
4 to 11 |
Number of pupils: |
420 |
Head teacher: |
Mr J Gavaghan |
Chair of governors: |
Paul Bowtell & Simon Read (Joint Chairs) |
What have been our successes this year?
Attainment at the end of Year 6 was the highest ever and the "valued added" measure places the school within the top 20% of schools' nationally. We are very pleased with the progress shown by children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
All our children were involved in the Performing Arts; we put on productions of "The Turtle and the Island", "Up the Beanstalk!", "Medusa and the Gorgons", Year 6 "Masked Drama" and "Skool Daze"; We held Winter and Summer concerts celebrating song and music- making; children performed dance at Cotham School, The Victoria Rooms and Colston's Hall; all children and many parents contributed to our Summer Arts Week.
Our cricket teams won two Bristol based tournaments and qualified for the Gloucestershire finals. Netball and Football teams also had their successes.
To celebrate our diversity "Asia" and "Mozambique" weeks were held. We also were hosts to many visitors from abroad strengthening our international links with Mozambique, Ghana, Denmark and India.
What are we trying to improve?
We are working to ensure that our school values are visible in school. Our School Council phrased them so that children can easily understand them - RESPECT, DOING OUR BEST, LEARNING, LISTENING, KINDNESS and BEING SAFE. Our aim is that all children are aware of these values and through them play a positive role in our community.
We have had training for our School Council in citizenship and democracy; resulting in lively hustings and elections.
Achievement for more able pupils has been promoted through training for "thinking skills" and working alongside partner schools to share good practice.
16% of our children are bi-lingual and we have joined the national "EAL" (English as an Additional Language) pilot programme.
To be a more inclusive school we appointed a member of staff to promote inclusion.
We have strengthened our links with Cotham School, a Performing Arts College,to improve further our teaching of performing arts.
We are actively promoting Healthy Eating for pupils.
How much progress do pupils make between age 7 and 11?
Our school
Confidence interval
How well do pupils achieve at age 11?
This chart shows the Key Stage 2 results for 2007. It indicates the percentage of pupils eligible for KS2 tests (usually 11 year olds) who achieved or exceeded the expected level (level 4)
Our school
Local schools (Local Authority)
All schools
How have our results changed over time?
Your child has more opportunities for success in secondary school if achieving a level 4 or above when they leave us. The % of children achieving level 4 at the end of Key Stage 2 over the past three years are as follows:
ENGLISH
2003 - 82% 2004 - 85% 2005 - 91%
MATHEMATICS
2003 - 73% 2004 - 80% 2005 - 84%
SCIENCE
2003 - 93% 2004 - 97% 2005 - 93%
We are still working to improve our writing skills and problem-solving skills in numeracy. Good progress has been made by children with Special Educational Needs. Progress by all our pupils has resulted in a value-added score placing us very high in comparison to other Bristol schools.
Results at the end of Key Stage 1 for mathematics and writing are positive and stable, reading has increased from 84% to 90%
The number of applications to join the school have increased dramatically in recent years resulting in us having many more initial applications than we have places. Parents tell us this is because of our school and Early years philosophies.
How are we making sure that every child gets teaching to meet their individual needs?
Our strong school ethos daily celebrates our diversity and individuality. We believe that it is good to be different.
We offer a broad curriculum with strong emphasis on visual and performing arts.
We have developed plans for SEN, gifted & talented and bi-lingual children, following advice from OFSTED. Our staff have received training to implement these plans.
We have a teacher whose sole responsibility is for SEN children.
We maintain strong Early Years links with parents (the first educators) and local pre-school facilities.
We develop individual and group learning programmes for children who require additional assistance with the national curriculum.
We monitor the achievements of all pupils and assess their progress.
Our curriculum and other school activities reflect our truly international community and curriculum enrichment is a strength of the school. We have children from every continent except Antartica!
Our provision for physical activity (Swimming, badminton, tennis, netball, football, cricket, rounders are offered in addition to PE.) has produced county level players in badminton, cricket and swimming.
How are we working with parents and the community?
Our PTA raises funds thanks to the voluntary activities of parents and pupils, these include regular "tea and cake" meetings, a Christmas and Summer Fair and Barn Dances. These are open to all in our community.
Many parents attend Thursday morning reading workshops, sharing stories and helping with reading skills.
Our Governors hold an annual "Curriculum Evening", inviting all parents into school to see and hear from teachers about the breadth and depth of our curriculum.
Children regularly perform in the community and raise funds for local and national charities (e.g. Tsunami Relief.)
An important part of our global citizenship education are the visitors from abroad, the international links we have fostered include Mozambique, Ghana, Denmark, India.
What have pupils told us about the school, and what have we done as a result?
Our pupil questionnaire told us that the children;
Liked our school and learning with children of many languages, religions, nations and ethnic backgrounds.
Liked our staff, they feel they can approach and talk to them.
Liked what they were learning in class.
Wanted more play equipment and less name calling in the playground.
Also, a few year 6 children were worried about leaving.
In response we have;
Completed our playpark project, a great piece of outdoor play equipment.
Given the School Council a budget to buy new play equipment for use at lunchtime.
Recruited playground buddies from years 5 & 6 to support younger children at lunchtime.
Reinforced our school values in class and assemblies, to raise everyones expectations of behaviour.
Strengthened our links with local secondary schools.
How do we make sure our pupils are healthy, safe and well-supported?
We offer our school community full "wrap around" care with a Breakfast Club at 8 am, two after-school clubs and an Ofsted registered playscheme for school holidays. These offer significant support to working parents.
Parents manage our Walking Bus to ensure a safe, healthy and green journey to school.
Lunchtime play is structured, with a wide range of sports activities, games and quieter zones. "Playground buddies" help children with their relationships and there are qualified First Aiders available. A questionnaire completed by children is helping us make the playground safer and more enjoyable.
School meals are cooked on premises and there is a high "take-up" by pupils and staff. All of the school community contributed to our new school policy covering healthy eating.
How do our absence rates compare with other schools?
This chart shows the percentage of half days missed through authorised and unauthorised absence by all pupils at the school. Information is given for the school, for schools within the local authority and for all schools.
Our school
Local schools (Local Authority)
All schools
What activities and options are available to pupils?
Years 5 and 6 attend separate camp weeks at a residential outdoor activities centre. Children climb, canoe, cave, abseil, hill walk, build rafts and generally have a great time. Bursaries are available for both camps.
After school clubs include:junior and senior choir, netball, football (x3), cricket, computer, dance, theatre, Spanish, French and Art Clubs.
Each year group offers activities that enrich the school curriculum; visitors, trips multi-cultural and arts events, that are considered a major strength of the school.
We provide Year 6 with training in cycle proficiency.
During the school day there is tuition for guitar, violin, viola, cello and 3 brass instruments.
What do our pupils do after leaving this school?
Sixty children left Year 6 this year and all went to local secondary schools. Our closest is Cotham School (a Performing Arts College) - most transferred there. A small number of children leave for other secondary schools or independent schools.
Our school community is international and a number of children arrive from and leave for other countries in Eastern Europe, South Asia, South America and Australasia. We keep in contact with many of them.
Former pupils visit us on a daily basis. Some to pick up siblings or as parents picking up their children, others to assist with after school clubs and some to help in class, many for work experience.
Ofsted's view of our school
{Colston’s Primary School is a lively, energetic place, where pupils receive a good quality of education} and good pastoral care. The headteacher’s very good leadership is having a significant impact in improving the school's overall effectiveness. By the end of Year 6, pupils’ standards are above average in a good proportion of their work. This is good achievement in relation to their past attainment. The school provides good value for money.
Date of last inspection: 24-May-2004
Ofsted graded our school as good
Inspectors made judgements on a scale: excellent (grade 1); very good (2); good (3); satisfactory (4); unsatisfactory (5); poor (6); very poor (7).
What have we done in response to Ofsted?
In response to "Every Child Matters" we have:
ENJOYING and ACHIEVING:
ensured that teaching and learning fully meets the needs of all pupils
further developed our curriculum to reflect our school community
raised standards in numeracy and literacy
STAY SAFE:
worked in partnership with parents and the Children and Young Peoples Service to
raise levels of attendance
worked in partnership with Childline to help our children be even safer
improved our curriculum for Personal, Health and Social Education
Walking Bus and Safer Routes to School policy
MAKING A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION:
developed School Council responsibilities and Citizenship
increased opportunities for children to join out of school clubs
increased our involvement with charities
BE HEALTHY:
improved outdoor provision for Early Years
two school camps
more physical activity after-school
ECONOMIC WELL-BEING:
improved our marking so children know how to improve their learning
excellent preparation for secondary school
high achievement
More Information
If you would like more information about school policies, including our policies on special educational needs and disability, admissions, finance, school food and our complaints procedure, please contact us:
By telephone: 0117 377 2610
Our website: http://www.colstons-pri.bristol.sch.uk
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