The Staff and Governors are committed to the ideal of the school as a Christian community based on mutual love and respect of both persons and property, to provide a secure and happy environment promoting spiritual, intellectual and social development.
Induction Programme
Early in the Summer Term, parents of children due to start at Cathedral School in September are invited to attend an evening meeting to welcome them and to give suggestions of how they can help to prepare their children for the start of school.
During the month of July, the children are invited to make a pre-school visit, initially with their parents. In September, the children make two further pre-school visits and are then integrated into school gradually, in small groups, spending the full day here. By the middle of September, all children are in school on a full time basis.
During this time, every effort is made to ensure that each child is happy and settled and becomes familiar with the everyday routine. Parents are always welcome to discuss any queries or concerns they may have with the class teacher.
Fun Club
This is a club which provides after school care for children within school. The club is held each night in school from 3p.m. until 5.30p.m. Qualified staff care for the children and provide a variety of activities for them to enjoy.
Teaching styles
The range of abilities of the children within a class can be quite large which necessitates a variety of teaching and organisational practices. Sometimes whole class teaching is most appropriate whilst at other times group work or individual assignments may be more beneficial. There is no specialist teaching - all teachers teach all subjects to their classes.
Classroom support
Classroom support is available in the form of both paid Classroom Assistants and volunteers who work under the direction of the Class Teacher. High School Pupils and FE students on work experience are accepted into school.
Homework
Homework is provided for all children. We recognise that parents are the first educators of their children and have a continuing active and supporting role to play in their children's education.
All children are encouraged to take home reading books and parents are asked to listen to their children read as often as possible. Spellings and times tables are also given for homework on a weekly basis. Other homework will be given as the children progress though school to revise and reinforce knowledge and skills learned in school.
The one-to-one support given by parents is essential to encourage and motivate the children to progress at a faster rate.
Extra - curricula activities for ks2
The school seeks to provide as many opportunities as possible, particularly for the older children, to develop skills and interests which are either not pursued in depth or cannot be provided for in the curriculum. Children are invited to join in such activities, which are usually arranged after school. These include eg. a Netball Club, Football Club, Craft Club, Knitting Club, Cooking and a Homework/Computer Club.
There are sporting activities arranged for both boys and girls, and school teams are selected on merit from interested children who wish to represent the school at football, netball, swimming, and athletics for example.
Special educational needs
We believe that all children are entitled to experience the full curriculum and our Special Needs Policy reiterates this. Many children have educational needs, which can be addressed through a normal differentiated curriculum within the classroom. Children who are identified as having Special Educational Needs are placed on School Action and given individual education plans identifying small specific targets. These are reviewed twice yearly (termly for children under 5 years old) and discussed with the child or his/her parents. If the child is making little or no progress on School Action they may be moved to School Action Plus where advice is sought from outside agencies, ie, Educational Psychologist. Children who have made good progress are removed from School Action and their needs addressed through normal classroom differentiation. Mrs. F. Lowe is the named co-ordinator for Special Needs and Mrs. J. Bolton is the named governor.
Children with special needs include pupils with learning, emotional, medical and behavioural difficulties. As a school, every attempt is made to provide a differentiated curriculum for all children, ranging from the least to the most able, in liaison with parents and LEA Support Services.
Sex education
The school works in partnership with parents and helps to support them in the Christian understanding of the dignity and worth of each human person. All that constitutes human life is seen as a gift from God, and human sexuality is such a gift. In the school, education in human sexuality will be placed within the setting both of the child's physical and emotional development and the child's spiritual and moral growth.
The education in human sexuality is not treated as a separate addition to the curriculum. It will take place across the whole age range and seek to meet the need for the children to have appropriate words and understanding of their own body and its development and that of the opposite sex. It will seek to answer questions honestly, when they occur, and in a manner appropriate to the child's age.
It will seek to foster in the children an attitude of respect for themselves and respect for others, and a growing appreciation of the dignity of Christian marriage and life.
In Years 5 and 6, the School Nurse will show a video and talk to the children about issues concerning puberty. There will be separate sessions for the boys and girls and parents will be given the opportunity to view the video beforehand if they so wish.
Parents have a right to withdraw their children from these sessions. The school, however, is not able to provide supervision for pupils withdrawn at these times and parents will be expected to arrange supervision for their child.
The information in this website relates to the 2009/2010 school year and was correct in relation to that year on 02/07/09. It should not be assumed, however, that there will be no change affecting the relevant arrangements in some particular matters either before the start of, or during the school year in question, or in relation to subsequent school years.