A place to THRIVE

At Athelstan Primary School, our children are at the very heart of everything we do.

Everyone is an essential part of the Team

We have the Highest expectations of all in our school community

We will build Resilience in our children

Every child will be Inspired by an active and engaging curriculum

We want children to Value their experiences with us

We will Empower children to contribute positively to society

Inclusion

We strive to remove barriers to learning and nurture an equitable, diverse community where every child, regardless of background or starting point, feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.

 

We are proud of our richly diverse school community, celebrating individual differences and fostering a culture of mutual respect, empathy, and kindness.  We hold high expectations for all pupils, ensuring every child receives the tailored support, encouragement, and challenge required to succeed.  Pupils learn to recognise their place as active members of both the school and the wider community, understanding that diversity enriches us all.

Curriculum and Teaching

We endeavour to deliver an ambitious, broad, and enquiry-based curriculum taught by passionate teachers who inspire lifelong learning, deep knowledge acquisition, and creative risk-taking.

Through enquiry-based questioning, pupils explore concepts, acquire rich vocabulary, and build an interconnected knowledge base across all subjects.  We promote imagination, communication, creativity and ingenuity and instill the acceptance of making mistakes as a means of developing resilience.

• Our Core Curriculum design will develop fluent, accurate readers and expressive writers with enriched vocabularies. Pupils will develop a broad range of skills in using and applying mathematical concepts.

• Our Technology Curriculum design aims to foster future scientists, engineers, and digital innovators who use applications effectively and take creative risks in design.

• Our Humanities and Creative Curriculum design will develop complex geographical enquiry, historical reflection and debate, musical commitment, and Spanish-speaking confidence.  We aim to link the study of religion and belief to personal reflections on meaning and purpose.

• Our Community Curriculum design encourages all pupils to take part eagerly in all aspects of PE to achieve exceptionally high levels of physical fitness.

Achievement

We aim to drive academic, creative, sporting, and personal accomplishment, instilling a culture where perseverance and learning from mistakes lead to the highest outcomes.  Pupils will develop strong foundational skills, fluency in reading, and high-level problem-solving abilities in mathematics and across the wider curriculum.  We aim to build resilient learners who embrace challenges and persevere through difficulties. 

Behaviour and Attendance

We aim to cultivate a safe, polite, and encouraging environment where pupils display high standards of conduct, positive attitudes, and eager daily engagement.  Hard work, determination, and positive attitudes are routinely celebrated, motivating children to always be the best version of themselves. We create an engaging school climate where pupils attend eagerly, collaborate respectfully, and take pride in their school environment.

Personal Development

We aim to build confident, healthy, and responsible children equipped with the character, physical well-being, and broader experiences necessary to thrive in modern society.  We challenge our pupils to participate enthusiastically in physical education, build physical fitness, and understand the importance of healthy habits, sportsmanship, and fair play.  Opportunities for extracurricular activities extend pupils' interests and provide new experiences, whereas the range of different pupil responsibilities within school help develop self-reflective, inquisitive individuals who take ownership and responsibility for their learning and are prepared to contribute positively to their local community.

Early Years

Our aim is to provide a safe, stimulating, and play-rich foundation where our youngest learners develop curiosity, communication, and emotional confidence from their very first day.  We have a strong emphasis on early language development, active listening, and a love of stories and exploration through structured and play-based learning.  Pupils are supported to build early independence, manage their emotions and form positive relationships by feeling secure in their school environment. 

Leadership and Governance

We strive to provide clear, ambitious leadership that prioritises safeguarding, invests in continuous staff development, and builds strong partnerships with all stakeholders.  Leaders and governors know the school and its pupils exceptionally well, maintaining an uncompromising drive for excellence across all areas.  Staff are encouraged to take ownership for their own professional development needs and we invest in high-quality training, collaborative learning, and clear career progression pathways in return.  We value the important relationship with parents and carers and aim to provide open and honest communication to support every child’s educational journey.  We actively seek to engage with all members of our community in a positive and supportive manner.

OUR VALUES AND ETHOS

We want our school to be:

• A place where learning is fun and meaningful, and achievement is high.
• A safe and happy place, where everyone is valued and respected.
• Where everyone has gifts and abilities with the opportunity to shine.
• A stimulating, welcoming and attractive learning environment, of which we are proud.