BRANKSOME Heath Junior already seems very different from the middle school it was last term.

The atmosphere has changed since the school took Year Three pupils for the first time in September, losing its Year Seven in the process.

“It’s a different school. It’s a calmer atmosphere,” said head teacher Stuart Fox.

Staff were busy during the summer, preparing both the building and the curriculum for younger pupils.

Year Threes have been given their own play area and parents can bring them right to the classroom door if they want.

Parents overwhelmingly chose to keep in the name when it became a junior school, and the school is proud of its previous achievements.

“A huge majority wanted to keep the Branksome Heath name and I was pleased with that because we worked hard and there are a lot of good traditions we wanted to keep going,” said Mr Fox.

“We’ve built on the foundations that were successful when we were Branksome Heath Middle – all those strengths like the pastoral care and the way we manage behaviour, which have been seen as a success.

“We’ve kept all of those but we are re-modelling the curriculum and remodelling communications.”

The priority is to address areas where Ofsted said the school could improve.

The school wants to see every pupil making as much progress as possible from one half term to the next.

“We’ve got to make sure every child is set targets,” says Mr Fox.

“On the wall, you’ll see children’s names with their writing target and their numeracy target.”

At the same time, parents are being better informed. The school’s website now contains information on how parents can support their children’s education, with links to other useful sites.

“By the end of this year we have to be good in Ofsted terms. Last time we were required to improve so by the end of this year, we have to make sure progress has increased so we we’re seen as at least good, if not better,” Mr Fox added.

As well as working on academic targets, the school continues to offer pupils plenty more, with after school activities and an excellent record in sport and music. This summer, the school moved up six places in Poole libraries’ “league table” of schools taking part in its summer reading challenge.

The school is inviting prospective parents to open mornings on October 9 and 16, 9.45am-11.15am, and an open evening on October 16, 3.30pm-5.15pm.

Just as he advises Year Six parents to look at all the secondary schools they can, Mr Fox urges infant school parents to see which junior school is right for their child.

“We’d be delighted to take parents around and show them what we do at Branksome,” he says.

“We’re proud of what we do. I’m happy to take anyone around at any time.”

See how Branksome Heath Junior - formerly Branksome Heath Middle School - compares with other schools in the area. 

FACTFILE

Branksome Heath Junior School Address: Livingstone Road, Parkstone, Poole BH12 3DX Telephone: 01202 747966.

Headteacher: Stuart Fox.

Age range: 6-10.

Number of pupils: 428.

Latest Ofsted report (for Branksome Heath Middle): Rated as requiring improvement.

Areas identified for action included: improving attainment and accelerating pupils’ progress, with a particular focus on boys’ writing; raising teachers’ expectations of written work; providing more opportunities to develop writing skills in other subjects; and using teachers’ existing strengths to spread good practice across the school.

Ofsted found pupils behaved well and were keen to learn. Their enjoyment of school was reflected in steadily improving attendance. There were good opportunities for visits and after school activities and good provision for music, sport, art and performing arts.

Parents and pupils felt the school was a safe place and provided high quality care and support. Governors were making the leadership and staff much more accountable for progress.