Balladen Community Primary School
| Published: 29th April 2007 20:46 |
The school is situated next to open countryside at the edge of Rawtenstall`s Hall Carr Estate.
There are currently 155 pupils aged from 5 - 11 years.
Recent developments include the renovation of pupils` toilets, the provision of an administrative area and a dedicated room for Educational Special Needs.
Balladen has recently been awarded a Children`s Centre, which is at present open within school awaiting the building work to be completed in January.
The school is very keen on ICT and all of the classrooms have interactive white boards. All classes have access to computers and there are 16 laptops which are used on a timetabled basis by all classes. They also have a technician who visits the school.
Outdoor classrooms are available for both key stages.
There are extensive gardens around the school buildings, parts of which have been developed by tree planting and the construction of a pond to provide areas for environmental studies.
The school has it`s own allotment area within the grounds alongside it`s football pitches.
Balladen currently boasts "Healthy School Status."
The new healthy school dinners are cooked on the premises. The children have a choice of main course and dessert, and there is also a salad bar.
Children are encouraged to bring healthy snacks and fruit to school for the morning break.
The school provides a number of additional activities which children may choose depending on their age and interests. These include an art & craft club, gardening club, computer club and homework club, karate club, golf club, netball club, football club and gymnastics club.
Within the school curriculum a minimum of two hours per week is set aside for sports activities, which include PE, football, cricket, handball, rugby and netball.
Another activity which is very popular with pupils is the Karate Club. An instructor visits the school on a regular basis and the children love to practice the finer arts of the sport with him.
The school also has a "Breakfast Club" and an "Out of School Club."
The Breakfast Club is from 7.45am - 8.45am in the dining room. The cost is £1.50p per day which includes breakfast, and everything is overseen by Mrs.Sullivan, who is the school`s Learning Mentor.
The "Out of School Club" is approved and registered with OFSTED and takes place from 3.30pm - 5.30pm in the dining room. The club costs £4 for a session of two hours. Various activities take place and children are given a snack.
Brightly coloured decorations border the pathway from the main gates.
THE WALLS AND CORRIDORS IN THE SCHOOL ARE A MYRIAD OF COLOUR AND DESIGN, MAGNIFICENTLY DECORATED WITH THE CHILDRENS` ART & CRAFT WORK.
The school has even set up it`s own commercial business, a shop called "1st BASE" which is run by year 5 pupils, and comes under the "Every Child Matters" heading.
The shop has a business account with a local supplier and some of the pupils travel with a member of staff to buy goods for the shop. The rest of the school is also involved with the shop in one way or another.
Goods sold include cards made by pupils, craft packs, cakes, buns, toys and artist materials, and there are various other contributions from parents and grandparents.
The shop is open every Thursday from 3.30pm - 4.30pm and not only are children and parents welcome but also local residents are too !
The pupils have decided that 25% of all profits will be donated to Rossendale Hospice.
The school is currently looking at the possibility of also stocking their shop with Fairtrade Goods.
Head Teacher Peter Sumner and his staff are rightly proud of the recent big strides forward that the school has taken on the academic side, and welcome parents and members of the local community to come into the school and view for themselves the new initiatives which are being put into practice.
They also welcome visits from any parents who may be considering a change of school or are looking at schools with a view to their child starting in Reception Class, a Reception Class which OFSTED said was `outstanding'.(Jan.06).
The Childrens` Library
TO VISIT THE SCHOOLS WEBSITE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
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