Starting School

Starting school for the very first time, or changing schools is an important milestone for both you and your child. At Downview Primary School we believe that this should also be a time of great excitement and opportunity.

Because of this, we are firmly committed to ensuring that it is an experience that is as positive as possible; by working together we can and we will make this transition smooth and enjoyable. This smooth transition begins from your very first encounter and we strive to maintain this throughout your long and happy association with us.

At this time of year, we would usually be welcoming families to attend an Open Day and view the school first hand. Sadly, due to the current Covid restrictions, this year we are unfortunately unable to host this so we will prepare and add a wealth of information on this website for parents and offer a safe ‘open day experience’ consisting of:

1. A virtual tour of the school and in particular our Early Years Unit; including presentations from our Headteacher, Mrs Mandy Williams, our Deputy Headteacher, Mrs Faye Hawkins and most importantly from our children.
2. A regularly updated FAQs document on the school’s website. Please email in any questions you have regarding your child joining our school to office@downviewprimary.co.uk or call 01243 820511. These will either be responded to directly or added to the FAQs.

We are hopeful the virtual tour video and FAQs will be available online on our website by 22nd October.

Please do not hesitate to make contact with the school for further information. We look forward to receiving your questions and queries and to your applications to attend our warm and friendly school from September 2021 or earlier if you are moving into the area.

Downview Primary School is an optimistic, happy, friendly and inclusive school. We aim to provide a high quality education for your child, helping them to develop an excitement and enthusiasm for life-long learning and become well rounded both socially and academically.

In February 2019 the school was inspected by Ofsted and given a rating of Good across all areas, with Pupil's Development and Wellbeing graded as Outstanding. We continually work to maintain high standards in our school, which is a converter Academy within our own Multi Academy Trust.

In September 2015 we became a three form entry school. Each year for seven years the school will expand by one year group at a time. To enable this the school underwent a huge transformation with the addition of a new 12 classroom two storey building – the Allen Building- as well as a major refurbishment of the existing school.

As a Rights Respecting School, Downview seeks to put the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child at the heart of our ethos and culture to improve wellbeing and develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential. A rights-respecting school is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted. The whole school community learn about children’s rights by putting then into practice every day.

Downview Primary School promotes the fundamental British values of; democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. These are promoted through such things as; our school council, assemblies, debates, creating our school and class rules, our behaviour policy, visitors to the school, celebrating events in the British calendar and cultural focus days.

We provide a stimulating, rich and relevant curriculum in a teaching and learning environment which is creative, engaging and inspiring. Teaching encourages further investigation and risk taking and by catering for all learning styles, enables the children to learn effectively and independently and reach their full potential. We give our children the opportunity to learn from a wide range of experiences. We recognise that the personal development of children, spiritually, morally, socially and culturally (SMSC) plays a significant part in their ability to learn and achieve. We celebrate our children’s achievements and we aim to promote a culture of consideration and respect for all, along with high, fair expectations of work and behaviour, so that each child is prepared to take their place in society as a confident, active, healthy and responsible citizen.

We believe that it is vital for parents and the school to work in a supportive partnership. Through close, informed collaboration we aim to help your child to succeed as a learner and make the best possible, consistent progress in a setting that is exciting, safe and cheerful and a place in which the children want to be.

If you are interested in finding out more about our school, please ring the office to arrange an appointment. We would love to show you around Downview so you can see all we do and how our children learn in a secure and well-resourced environment. The children, staff, governors and parents are very proud of our welcoming, happy and caring school.

I hope to start a long and successful partnership with you and your child.

Please contact Sarah Clark, our Receptionist, if you wish to visit the school or have any queries.

Mrs. M Williams
Headteacher.