Firwood Prospectus

FIRWOOD MANOR PREPARATORY School A GEMS SCHOOL

An inspiring education

Our Mission Statement At Firwood Manor, we work alongside parents to inspire academic excellence, creativity and mutual respect. Through the provision of a unique, exciting and happy environment, we give children a soaring belief in themselves as citizens of the 21st Century.

Through high academic standards and diverse opportunities, we provide an outstanding education, underpinned by excellent pastoral care.

Welcome to Firwood Manor Preparatory School, a co-educational and interdenominational day school and nursery for boys and girls aged from two to eleven years. By setting high expectations within a family atmosphere, we help children to achieve excellent academic results, with most of our Year 6 pupils gaining entry to the leading local grammar schools.

Recognising that pupils are all different, we believe that given the right environment a child’s capacity for growth is limitless.

To discover and nurture each pupil’s unique talents, we foster a whole-child approach to learning that encompasses intellectual, physical, social, moral and cultural development. As a result, Firwood Manor is a vibrant and happy school in which achievements of all kinds are celebrated. We are proud that our commitment to providing a wellrounded education has been recognised by the award of Arts Council England’s prestigious Silver Artsmark.

Established in 2002, Firwood Manor benefits from bright and spacious classrooms, enhanced facilities and extensive grounds. Combined with the enthusiasm of our dedicated staff, this wonderful setting helps to nurture a love of learning that enables pupils to progress confidently to the next stage of their education. We warmly invite you to visit the school to experience for yourself its vitality and ethos.

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An unrivalled education

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Creating active learners By harnessing children’s natural curiosity about the world around them, we engage them in dynamic learning.

From joining our nursery in the term in which they turn three until the end of the reception year, our programme is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage. We enhance this curriculum through additional opportunities and specialist teaching in Spanish, music, the performing arts and from reception, swimming. Through imaginative activities in the classroom and outdoors, we make children’s first experiences of education both exciting and fun. We use interactive whiteboards and computers in the classroom, allowing ICT to enhance all aspects of learning.

An integral part of our school family, the nursery provides a happy and safe environment in which our youngest children are encouraged to develop their social, physical and communication skills.

With a key person responsible for their wellbeing and development, children benefit from a sense of security, while parents enjoy continuity in their contact with our well-qualified staff.

As they progress into reception at age four, the emphasis on exploration, participation and expression continues, promoting creativity and confidence.

Small class sizes and experience teachers ensure that firm foundations are laid with a strong emphasis in literacy and numeracy, with work being differentiated in order to provide the right level of challenge for each child.

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Through imaginative activities in the classroom and outdoors, we make children’s first experiences of education both exciting and fun.

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Developing independence As they progress through Firwood Manor, our pupils grow in knowledge and self-assurance, maturing into amiable and responsible young people.

Throughout the Development Stage (Years 1 to 3) and Emergent Stage (Years 4 to 6), pupils are encouraged to develop their problem-solving skills in an increasingly independent and selfdisciplined approach to learning.

Based on the National Curriculum, our programme is enhanced through a wide variety of stimulating learning experiences that build knowledge and encourage each child to understand

what he or she is capable of achieving.

Small class sizes, highly qualified staff and impressive facilities – which includes a science laboratory, art studio, well stocked library, ICT suite, sports hall, playing fields and music room – ensure an exceptionally high standard of education.

This is supported by the subject knowledge and enthusiasm imparted through an increasing level of specialist teaching which allows older pupils to become accustomed to the senior school

approach within the security of their primary setting.

We provide children in Years 5 and 6 with a sound preparation for secondary school entrance examinations, as well as guidance for families regarding school choices. Careful monitoring of progress and regular communication with parents, through written reports, consultations and our weekly newsletter, are fundamental to the success of the school.

Small class sizes, highly qualified staff and outstanding facilities ensure an exceptionally high standard of education.

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A wealth of opportunities Offering a wide range of exciting activities within a caring environment, Firwood Manor provides a truly enriching education.

Recognising the demands on working parents, we offer comprehensive care based on an extended school day from 7.30am to 6.00pm and a popular Holiday Club. We provide well-balanced meals, cooked on site by our award-winning team. Children are encouraged to participate in a variety of after-school clubs as well as supervised study.

Pupils take part in a range of sporting and artistic activities and compete in numerous inter-house and inter-school competitions.

Those with musical ability can enjoy individual tuition from instrument specialists, while all pupils participate in

the many assemblies, plays, concerts and art exhibitions that we stage, to which parents are warmly invited.

Trips to museums, galleries, theatres and sites of geographical or historical interest broaden pupils’ horizons, while visits to the school by individuals and organisations add an extra dimension to learning. Juniors undertake residential weekends at outdoor pursuit centres, where activities such as abseiling, fencing and orienteering enhance their resourcefulness and teamwork. Year 5 and 6 pupils also have the opportunity to enjoy longer visits to France and Spain.

Our house system and regular assemblies give a strong sense of community, while class teachers provide exceptional pastoral care. House points and merit awards inspire hard work, initiative and kindness. The children show compassion for those less fortunate during our annual Fair Trade Fortnight and by enthusiastic fundraising for a variety of causes, supported by the Friends of Firwood Manor. Pupils are encouraged to take positions of responsibility as ‘squaddies,’ pupils who help to organise playground games and care for their peers, as well as serve as school council representatives.

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Our house system and regular assemblies give a strong sense of community, while class teachers provide exceptional pastoral care.

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Excellence in education GEMS Education is the world’s largest private provider of nursery to Year 13 education, with a global network of high-performing schools.

GEMS Education is an international education company that owns and operates high performing schools. It also offers consulting services to both the public and private sectors. For 50 years, GEMS Education has provided excellent education to hundreds of thousands of children around the world.

GEMS has a global network of world class international schools, which provide quality holistic education to more than 100,000 students from 125 countries. It employs over 9,000 education professionals, specialists and staff. GEMS has a world class leadership team, that combines business and education expertise from around the globe.

The GEMS Education school model is unique in the world.

It offers a broad range of curricula with varying fee structures making private education more accessible to the broader community. GEMS Education also supports Governments’ education reform agendas by working with Ministries of Education to lift school performance and improve the standards and expertise in government schools across the globe.

Our core values GEMS schools focus on academic performance and nurturing each pupils character, creativity and all-round capability.

This commitment to developing compassionate, competent and lifelong learners is embedded in our core values, which permeate the life of our schools: World Citizenship Empowering students with a global and local perspective.

Universal Values Accepting that we are all different, while recognising that we are all the same.

Leadership Developing each student’s individuality and discovering his or her potential.

Forward Thinking Developing skills for the future.

The Varkey GEMS Foundation is a not for profit education organisation.

Our aim is to impact one hundred underprivileged children for every student enrolled at a GEMS school.

The Foundation will benefit 10 million children globally.

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Firwood Manor Preparatory School

Broadway Chadderton Oldham OL9 0AD Tel: 0161 620 6570 Email: admin@firwoodmanor.org.uk www.firwoodmanor.org.uk