Parkfield Prospectus

Parkfield School

School ProSPectuS

nurture, inspire and enable

www.parkfieldschool.org

Providing choice and unlocking potential Parkfield School will be an outstanding all-through school where students will be nurtured, inspired and enabled in a secure and positive environment. We aim to help them grow into rounded individuals who are prepared for all aspects of life in a challenging and changing global world.

Opening in September 2012, Parkfield School will offer an international curriculum combining the Montessori method and International Primary Curriculum at primary stage and the International Baccalaureate’s Middle Years and Diploma Programmes at secondary.

As an all-through school serving the catchment areas of both Bournemouth and Poole, Parkfield School offers a fresh choice to parents and an excellent educational experience to students that will allow them to realise their potential and become the best they can be.

A fresh approach to learning By keeping class sizes small and focusing on a sense of place and purpose within the school and wider community, we are able to devote more time to students.

In the primary phase we recognise individuality and encourage learning through the Montessori approach, which allows students to discover and explore rather than be told and taught.

We then take the educational experience forward through an internationally focussed secondary curriculum leading to the International Baccalaureate. This provides students with a breadth of subjects and a qualification that opens up whatever life or career journey they seek to take forward.

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Curriculum Parkfield School will be teaching pupils through a combined curriculum of Montessori based education together with the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). These curriculums will be complemented in the secondary phase by the International Baccalaureate (IB) syllabus.

We are currently developing these curriculums by working closely with the Montessori Schools Association and IPC on the primary curriculum and with the International Baccalaureate Organisation in shaping the secondary curriculum.

Primary The Montessori approach to education is based on a deep understanding of how children learn, following their natural development and promoting selfmotivation, independence and creative thinking. It recognises the immense potential in every child and their innate desire to learn through their own activity.

The principle of the International Primary Curriculum is to focus on a combination of academic, personal and international learning for children worldwide, combined with innovative and exciting ways to learn.

At Parkfield School the careful blend of IPC and Montessori will allow us to put children first and obtain outstanding results in social development and academic attainment.

Secondary At Parkfield School we will be utilizing the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) for our pupils aged 11 to 16 and this will flow through to the IB Diploma for ages 16 to 18.

The IB MYP provides a framework of academic challenge that encourages students to embrace and understand the connections between traditional subjects and the real world, and become critical and reflective thinkers.

The IB Diploma takes students forward with a balanced academic programme of study to prepare them for success in higher education and life beyond.

The Diploma is taught over two years and has gained recognition from leading universities around the world.

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Extended school provision To compliment the teaching and learning at Parkfield School we offer an extended school provision. There are a number of initiatives which we believe will be of benefit to our pupils and their families and these include before and after school clubs, booster sessions, holiday activities and family learning.

We recognise the value of learning outside the classroom and will be developing Parkfield School as a learning destination for The Children’s University which will be open to children aged 7 -14 years, offering an exciting and innovative range of learning activities and experiences outside school hours.

Working in collaboration with a range of external providers we will offer a programme of activities which meet the needs of our pupils and the wider community.

A sense of place We believe that in today’s challenging and changing society it is easy for people, especially the young, to become disconnected and disengaged. That’s why at Parkfield School we aim to promote and instil a sense of belonging and purpose that allows students to understand their place and responsibility in their immediate society and also wider world.

Our educational experience will take students outside of and beyond the classroom to offer a range of activities and interactions with their wider community.

Whether through music, arts, sports, or other extra-curricular activities, students will enjoy a truly rounded education and opportunity to perform both as an individual and as part of a team.

Parkfield School

A message from our Principal I am very proud and privileged to have been appointed as Principal of Parkfield School. This is a tremendous opportunity to develop a brand new school in a way that suits the learning needs of your children and also the needs of the parents. It gives us the opportunity to be innovative in our delivery, both of the formal curriculum and the learning opportunities that lie beyond the boundaries of traditional classroom based lessons.

My previous role as Deputy Headteacher in a brand new school in Swindon has given me the experience and knowledge of setting up a school from scratch and this will be invaluable in ensuring that Parkfield has the best possible start.

Parkfield is a unique educational environment. It is a place where we will be committed to raising achievement, raising aspirations and enriching partnerships and through these key principles we will establish a clear focus on student success.

I will ensure a commitment for Parkfield to be fully inclusive, with unique ways to help all students with their learning.

There is no doubt that the successes and achievements of our students will be built upon the partnership between the students, the staff and of course the parents. As a school we will set high standards for everything that we do and I know you will want to support this process as we work towards developing the successful citizens of our future. Through the quality of the teaching and learning, the student support, the investment in the physical environment and commitment to extra-curricular activities we will create the building blocks of success.

As a school, we will recognise the importance of the global dimension and the need to prepare our students with the cross cultural competency skills to take their place in an ever changing global economy. We will develop links with schools and businesses in other countries in order to create opportunities for our students to experience this first hand.

This is an incredibly exciting time for the parents and children of Bournemouth and Poole. It is always a risk to enrol your child in a school that has no history or record of achievement but I have every confidence that this is the start of something really special. I strongly believe that Parkfield will become an outstanding school renowned for high quality education and exceptional care, guidance and support for all its students.

Terry Conaghan Principal Parkfield School Parkfield School