VIEW FROM THE CLASSROOM
View from the classroom
T
his month, in our popular View from the classroom feature, we speak to Richard
Gower, headteacher at Kingsleigh Primary School in Bournemouth, about the school’s “Happiest Days of Your Life” history project, which aims to tell the story of the school from its founding in 1968 to the present day, and which has involved pupils from the school and students from Bournemouth University.
Tell us about your school Kingsleigh Primary School is a large, successful school in Bournemouth. It has recently expanded from a two-form to a four-form entry Primary, with a £4.9 million extension to go with it. The school currently has 700 pupils on roll (plus pre-
school) and will eventually reach 800 or so by 2020. It serves a diverse catchment with around 30% on free school meals and nearly 40% on Pupil Premium. It has recently had an Ofsted inspection (January 2018) and was graded Good. The school has a good reputation for SEN and family support and also for following a creative curriculum. Recent results at Key Stage 2 have been good with our progress and attainment putting us amongst the top six schools in Bournemouth. We are currently part of the Septenary Trust of schools which is an umbrella trust, so we are still independent; the catchment area of the school was notorious for smuggling in 18th century and that proud, independent spirit still permeates throughout the school and its community!
Where did the idea for "The Happiest Days of Your Life" come from? The idea came from a retiring teacher who found an old brochure for the opening of the Junior school at the back of the cupboard. The official opening was in September 1968. What was remarkable was that whilst a lot had changed; there was plenty that remained the same (even the photo of the hall). We thought it would be a great way to get the community involved in reliving their childhood and to share that information with the current generation of learners.
How does it work? Each year group took an aspect of social history to research from 1968 to the present day; from toys to fashion, from food to technology. Each year group then produced a display to share with parents in the hall where it all started fifty years ago!
How did you get Bournemouth University involved? Martha Searle, a local community support officer, suggested that we contact Dr Cossin at the
16
www.education-today.co.uk
July/August 2018
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
