Dogsthorpe Junior School

Dogsthorpe Junior School has a fast growing school population and is about to be over-subscribed. We are fortunate to have children from around 20 different countries in our school and we enjoy excellent relationships with their families. We are a Full Service Extended school in partnership with our Infant School with whom we enjoy a good relationship. Our extended provision includes childcare from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 52 weeks of the year as well as a wide range of sporting and arts related holiday clubs for children. Children can also attend after school clubs every night of the week in term time. Adult, family and community learning is also hosted on the school site. The school site is also used in the evenings and weekends by other organisations such as football clubs and martial arts groups. We work very closely with a range of other agencies to support children and their families at home.

Our teachers enjoy very generous PPA time as well as leadership and management release time. All science and music lessons are taught by specialist teachers and we also employ a part time teacher to cover NQT and leadership release, HLTA’s cover any additional release time that is required.

There is a heavy investment in professional development for all our staff and we currently have one member of staff on the Fast Track programme. Other members of staff are on middle management courses. We have also supported staff through NPQH, Masters degrees and Teaching Degrees. We are also a placement school for PGCE and B.Ed students and about to become a Partner School for the Graduate Training Programme.

We are fortunate to have two leading teachers on our staff – one leading in maths and the other in drama. Learning mentors work with vulnerable children every day in a purpose built nurture room. They also carry out other invaluable work that helps children overcome their barriers to learning.

The school has worked hard to develop its own creative curriculum that is designed to meet the learning needs of our children. Oracy and role play underpin learning in our school and we have devised some fantastic themes to engage our children and develop them as learners. We have also spent a great deal of time, effort and money developing the outdoor learning environment of the school in partnership with children, parents and the wider community. Most recently we have created an outdoor classroom with Breathing Space money.