School Profile - Brayford Primary School
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 2005/2006 Brayford Primary School 
 
 Brayford Primary School
Brayford 
Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 7QJ
Telephone: 01598 710345 
http://www.brayford.ik.org  
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      Children's Service Authority: Devon
      Age Range:5-11
      Number of pupils:36
      Head Teacher:Mrs C Bearman
      Chair of Governors:Mrs F Tyson
 
What have been our successes this year?
Interactive whiteboards have been installed in both classes, plus a screen and 
projector in the dining room.Internet access was installed for the infant room.
PTFA paid for new computers, new printers and spellcheckers.
We have been able to introduce the teaching of French to the junior class.
Sats results were about what was expected.
A new play area for the juniors was installed.
We have resurfaced the tarmac, painted the outside of the building, had new 
carpets and sanded floors in the main building.
Through the PEDPASS scheme children are able to access many sporting events held 
with other schools.
Junior children were able to go on a residential trip.
The schools council has become well established and is very active.
School was awarded Investors in People.
Links with both churches have been continued.

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What are we trying to improve?
We have been working towards an improvement in the writing of the children in 
school, in particular the way in which children respond to prompts they are 
given for specific styles of writing. This is being carefully monitored.
The issue for the school improvement plan for next year will be to look at 
assessments throughout the school. Focus will mainly be on Literacy, Numeracy, 
Science and ICT, but other subjects will also be discussed.
School is working on developing and improving links with Boomerangs Pre-school, 
which feeds children into the school. A grant has been obtained for a member of 
staff from the school and the pre-school to work together on this.
We are also looking to improve facilities for the staff through the posssiblity 
of turning an area in school into a staff room. 
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How have our results changed over time?
As we are a small school we can have very small cohorts of children in each year 
group. Because of this SATS results can be inconsistent from year to year.
Higher attaining children are achieving well in Maths and Science now. This was 
an area addressed following Ofsted feedback.
Maths and Science have consistently done well over time. 
English results fluctuate each year with reading being a strength but writing 
being an area that has needed imput.
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How are we making sure we are meeting the learning needs of individual pupils?
As we have very small classes that are whole key stages it is possible for 
planning to be tailored more to the childs ability rather than their age group.
As children stay in the same classroom for three to four years teachers are able 
to get to know them and their abilities extremely well.
Children are assessed regularly, both formally and informally and targets are 
given so that individuals know what areas they need to work on.
Children with special needs have Individual Education Plans that give each child 
targets to achieve for each term. Parents are encouraged to work on these 
targets also.

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How do we make sure our pupils are healthy, safe and well-supported?
School is about to introduce the Fresh Start menu for the children. We also run 
the fruit and vegetable scheme.
The PTFA have purchased a bike rack so that local children can cycle to school.
There is a well developed PSHE curriculum that tackles issues such as sun care 
and safety.
The infant children do a daily 10 minute fitness routine in the morning, this is 
to be introduced in the junior class.
The buildings committee conduct regular risk assessments and health and saftey 
checks and make sure that policies are up to date.
School is adopting a policy that all adults working with children( even parents) 
are police checked.
The schools council provides opportunities for the children to give feedback, 
this is supported by the governors who have designated a link governor for the 
schools council.

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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 
SchoolLocal Schools (Local Authority)All Schools Back to Top  
What activities are available to pupils?
All children have access to a full curriculum plus French lessons once a week.
After school clubs are actively encouraged and can vary each term or year 
depending on the expertise of the volunteers.
All junior children are encouraged to have recorder lessons once a week.
There is a whole school play every year where all children are given a speaking 
part, encouraging and developing their drama skills.
All children take part in many different events organised with other schools, 
such as music festivals and different sporting events.
All children go swimming during one term each year.
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How are we working with parents and the community?
Each year parents receive a questionaire to complete, this is responded to with 
a letter from the Headteacher outlining results and how issues will be tackled.
The PTFA are invited to send a representative to each governing body meeting to 
report to governors about any issues.
The governors have links with the parish council and send them minutes of 
governor meetings.
School is actively involved in many of the community projects, such as the 
Harvest festival, the flower show, a Christmas Carol Service and any other 
events the village decides to hold.
Parents are welcomed into the school at any time to discuss particular concerns 
they might have about their children.
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What have pupils told us about the school, and what have we done as a result?
The schools council asked for a new junior play area, so they were given the 
opportunity to organise all the work for this themselves. This was installed 
this year.
They then asked if they could fund raise for money for new playground markings. 
One event has already successfully taken place with another being organised. 
When funds become available they will then begin to work on deciding what 
markings they want and can afford.
Children have asked for a new water fountain, this is now in place. They have 
al;so asked for improvements in the toilets and for curtains for the classrooms. 
These issues are currently being looked into by the PTFA and the Buildings 
Committee.
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What do our pupils do after leaving this school?
After leaving this school most of our children move on to South Molton Community 
College. Some move to West Buckland School. However this is dependant on where 
the children come from as we sometimes attract children from other areas such as 
Combe Martin.
We have seen many of our children move on to Higher Education, achieving many 
successes.
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Ofsted's view of our school
The school provides a satisfactory education for its pupils. Children get a good 
start when they join the reception group, and this is developed and extended 
well in Years 1 and 2. The strong family ethos is appropriate in such a very 
small school, and this is why most parents have chosen Brayford for their 
children’s education. Parents are very supportive of the acting headteacher who 
has been in post for much of this term. Standards are above average at the end 
of Year 2 and average at the end of Year 6, but with very few pupils in each 
year group the results are difficult to quantify. Teaching is good, and pupils’ 
achievements are good in the infants and satisfactory in the juniors. That said, 
achievement in lessons is starting to pick up in the juniors because of improved 
teaching, and pupils’ progress has speeded up significantly during the course of 
the term. The school is not meeting its requirements for information and 
communication technology, and this holds back learning in this subject. The 
acting headteacher has guided the school soundly, with the full support of 
governors, but aspects of the school’s management are inadequate. The school 
gives satisfactory value for money.
Date of Last Inspection: 24 November 2003
Ofsted graded our school as satisfactory
Inspectors made judgements on a scale: excellent (grade 1); very good (2); good 
(3); satisfactory (4); unsatisfactory (5); poor (6); very poor (7).
View the Ofsted page for Brayford Primary School Back to Top  
What have we done in response to Ofsted?
Ofsted commented that higher attaining pupils were not achieving in Maths and 
Science. This has since been addressed as is seen by our results from the last 
few years.
ICT provision has seen many changes. Staff have undergone a large amount of 
training designed specifically for their needs after a skills audit was 
completed, computers have been updated, interactive whiteboards installed and 
schemes of work are currently being reviewed. This was all in response to 
comments from our last Ofsted.
The leadership and management of the school was also unsatisfactory. Since then 
there has been a new Headteacher, many new systems have been put into place and 
policies have been reviewed and updated. The governing body have restructured 
its committees to work more effectively and have developed close links with the 
staff to be able to monitor and support more efficiently. 
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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 01598 710345
Our website http://www.brayford.ik.org
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