STOURFIELD Junior School prides itself on the diversity of its academic and social education.

Both are treated equally with the happiness and experiences of children rated as highly as test results.

The Southbourne School has some of the biggest year groups in the borough yet retains a family atmosphere.

Far from being a drawback, the size of the school – some 490 children across four year groups – is attracting more families.

While most children come from within its catchment area in the Southbourne, Tuckton and Littledown area, headteacher Emma Rawson is getting an increasing number of inquiries from elsewhere.

“I recently spoke to a parent who lives in the New Forest and would prefer her child to come to Stourfield for a more diverse social experience than in the small, rural schools,” she said.

The school is in Cranleigh Road and is next door to Stourfield Infants School, from where it inherits most of its pupils.

There are four classes in each year group except Year 4, which has five classes. Children go to a variety of secondary schools when they move on including Twynham and the Grange in Christchurch and Avonbourne, Harewood and the grammar schools in Bournemouth.

The school adopted the international Primary Curriculum five years ago, which is skills-based and hands-on. Topics have an international theme and involve the whole school.

A recent “Travel Show” saw the school turned into an international airport for the day with children checking in with suitcases before starting their learning, ensuring all were engaged in the topic.

Stourfield Junior is a local authority school and has recently become part of the Ocean Learning Partnership, a collaboration of seven schools in Bournemouth.

The aim is to share good practice and specialist teaching across the group.

Children are given responsibility within the school, with two members of each class voted on to the school council by their classmates.

Head boy and girl and their deputies are appointed after a selection process involving interviews with staff and governors.

“Our school is a lively, exciting and vibrant place to learn,” added Miss Rawson. “There is an energy here all the time and the children are happy.”

Factfile:

Stourfield Junior School, Cranleigh Road, Bournemouth, BH6 5JS

Telephone: 01202 424554
Number of pupils: 490
Age range: 7-11
Headteacher: Emma Rawson
Chair of Governors: Gaynor Brown

Ofsted report:
Overall rating: Good

Inspectors said: “A strong leadership team, including the governing body, has established a wide range of strategies to check on the school’s work and to ensure pupils’ good progress.

“Pupils behave well, are courteous and display positive attitudes to their learning. The school also ensures high levels of care and individual support for pupils.”