Prospectus
The ethos of the school is based on our values... Resilience Empathy Self-Awareness Positivity Excellence Communication Teamwork
WELCOME On behalf of the children, staff and governors, I am delighted to welcome you to Middleton Primary School. I am very proud to have been the Headteacher of this wonderful school since 2015. Middleton really is a very special place to be. We were so delighted that Ofsted graded Middleton as Outstanding in every area in 2017, and as Outstanding once again in every area in 2023. Personal development and very high expectations of behaviour are at the heart of what we believe helps children to grow and flourish into active, responsible citizens. We are an inclusive school and place great importance on knowing each and every one of our pupils really well.
Middleton’s success has placed the school at the top of the Milton Keynes primary league tables and in the top hundred schools in the country for the percentage of pupils reaching the expected standard at the end of Key Stage 2. We are very proud of this achievement because it means our children have the tools they need to succeed in the next stage of their education. We are all honoured to be part of the Middleton family and welcome visitors to our school, so that learning can be seen in action.
Mrs Rachel Roberts Headteacher
Children, families, staff and governors work in close partnership to create enriching learning opportunities in all areas of the curriculum and our co-curriculum offer compliments this. Our aim is to encourage children to develop the skills they need for later life, with a very strong focus on pupils embedding learning from the breadth of the curriculum into their long-term memory. We track our children’s progress very carefully and make sure everyone knows what the next steps for learning are.
Middleton Primary School
3
EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE We offer an exciting, purposeful and stimulating learning environment in our Early Years Foundation Stage. We aim to provide every child with a truly amazing start to their education and deliver a curriculum that is rich with real-life experiences. It is carefully planned and sequenced to ensure children have multiple opportunities to learn more, remember more and do more. We want to inspire a love of ‘Learning for Life’ to ensure future success for all of our children throughout their time at Middleton and beyond. We meet the needs of pupils with a challenging and interesting environment, which encourages them to become independent learners. Through a comprehensive transition programme, we build supportive partnerships with families, which enables all children to have a successful start to their education. We want pupils to feel happy, safe and to love coming to school. We want parents to know that we strive for the absolute best quality of education and we actively encourage communication with staff if questions or concerns arise.
Provision for children in the early years is exceptional. Leaders ensure that children get off to a strong start with their learning Ofsted 2023
4
Middleton Primary School
Middleton Primary School
5
Leaders have established a highly ambitious curriculum Ofsted 2023
CURRICULUM
6
At Middleton, we aim to ‘Embed’ knowledge and skills into children’s long term memory, to ‘Enrich’ children’s Cultural Capital by opening their eyes to the best that society has to offer and to ‘Excite’ them through engaging lessons and experiences. The curriculum provides children with the key skills and knowledge they need to progress with their education in secondary school and to equip them well for everyday life.
The curriculum includes English; Mathematics; Science; Relationships; Health and Sex Education; Physical Education; Religious Education; History; Geography; Computing; French; Art; Music and Design Technology.
All subjects are taught discreetly at Middleton, ensuring that the children receive a broad and balanced curriculum, with opportunities to excel. We want to develop writers; scientists; engineers; artists and musicians.
In specialist subjects, such as PE, French and Music, we employ expert teachers to further enhance the curriculum.
Middleton Primary School
CO-CURRICULUM The co-curriculum is an integral part of the education we offer. It embeds skills learnt in the classroom, develops self-esteem and teamwork, as well as encourages the building of friendships, enriches and deepens knowledge and taps into unknown potential. At Middleton, we believe that participation in activities that compliment the curriculum play a central role in children’s healthy development. It helps to enhance citizenship, as well as general educational success, allowing our children to build a tool kit for life beyond the school gates and in modern Britain.
Middleton Primary School
7
Teachers have very strong subject knowledge. They present new information to pupils clearly and check their understanding frequently Ofsted 2023
8
Middleton Primary School
TEACHING AND LEARNING Our primary purpose is to enhance the quality of children’s learning through the effective and efficient delivery of the curriculum. We want all our children to have a lifelong thirst for learning. We offer a personalised educational experience for every child, which encourages children to take responsibility for their learning and to feel safe, secure and valued. Teachers strive to provide an environment which encourages active learning; investigation; creativity; challenge and achievement; attainment and progress in all areas of development. Learning behaviours are taught throughout the whole school, which gives the children the character, confidence and life skills to enable them to succeed in all areas of the curriculum.
Middleton Primary School
9
BEHAVIOUR AND ATTITUDES We believe that children learn best in a happy, safe and caring environment and that it is the responsibility of all staff, pupils, parents and governors to promote this. Every child is important, and everyone has the right to feel safe at all times. Middleton’s values mean that we listen to each other and we are ready to learn, we treat each other with respect and we choose appropriate behaviour at all times. We focus on positive behaviour management approaches, underpinned by restorative justice principles and practices. We use positive incentives to reward children who make the right choices, such as being chosen as ‘Pupil of the Week’ or by being invited to attend the weekly ‘Ready, Respectful and Safe Tea Party’.
10
Middleton Primary School
Pupils’ behaviour is exceptional Ofsted 2023
Middleton Primary School
11
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT At Middleton, we develop responsible, respectful, and active citizens. Through our Values Curriculum and our Relationship, Health and Sex Education we enable our pupils’ characters to develop, giving each of them the qualities they will need to flourish in society. Our whole school Commando Joe’s initiative, alongside our carefully planned residential visits program, develops pupils’ confidence and resilience and provides them with a tool kit that they can use for life outside of primary school. Our children understand the importance of their own mental health. We promote equality of opportunity through everything we do and say. Our pupils are fully prepared for the next stage of their education.
12
Middleton Primary School
WRAPAROUND CHILDCARE The successful Early Birds Breakfast Club offers a nutritional breakfast and a chance to participate in fun educational activities. The club provides a calm and orderly start to the day for pupils and is available from 7:30am. Our popular After School Care Club offers pupils from all year groups numerous activities to get involved with, along with a provision of snacks and refreshments. The club runs from the end of the school day until 6:00pm.
Pupils are happy and feel safe Ofsted 2023
Middleton Primary School
13
Noon Layer Drive Middleton Milton Keynes MK10 9EN
Parents recognise the many strengths of the school and one, whose comment was representative of many, stated that the school is ‘joyful’ Parent, Ofsted 2023
Tel: 01908 604851 Email: office@middletonschool.org Website: middletonschool.org
Middleton Primary School is part of Kingsbridge Educational Trust