STAFF at Turlin Moor Community School have worked hard to ensure children have a place to achieve their potential, both academically and personally.

Teachers not only focus on basic skills, such as literacy and numeracy, but they work hard with pupils on a range of curriculum topics.

Acting headteacher Sue Eden, who highly praised the team she has at Turlin Moor, explained how ‘inspiration’ is the ethos of what they set out to achieve at the school.

For every topic covered in the classroom, the children learn how to investigate further, she exp-lained.

She said: “They have a key question at the beginning and they have to answer that question by the end, and these topics have real-life elements.

“For example, last year we had a design and technology topic about running a restaurant, so the children all went to Le Bateau, Ashley Cross, and had a three-course meal, before honing their own cookery skills in lessons.

“As this subject came to an end, the youngsters hosted their own three-course banquet for staff after school.”

How did the menu go down? “It was delicious,” said Mrs Eden.

And it is clear that being part of the local community, getting out and using local resources, is championed at Turlin Moor Community School.

“We are very fortunate as we have the station around the corner and our own minibus,” explained Mrs Eden.

“So you’ll see our children out and about a lot. Our children are always well received and sup-ported locally.”

However, closer to home the school has invested in its own wildlife garden – which boasts an outdoor kitchen, an amphitheatre and even a reconstructed World War Two Anderson bomb shelter, purely for school projects of course.

And Turlin Moor Community School’s teachers and pupils are encouraged to maintain its strong links with other local schools, churches, Bournemouth University and even local artists.

Mrs Eden said: “We are focused on making sure we have as many learning experiences as possible.

“The other thing that is quite exciting is each class has a ‘ten things to do’ list.”

These are tailored to each class, so the younger ones might have something as simple as go for a long walk or have a story read by starlight.

Other aspirations on the list have included visiting a science museum and even create a superhero.

“We’ve also invested heavily in our ICT,” explained Mrs Eden.

Most classes can utilise iPads during lessons – meaning for these youngsters, unlike many of their parents, using this modern technology to enhance education will be second nature.

“Our staff are very carefully chosen and trained and we will make sure the children have the best experience they can at school and that they achieve what they should be achieving.

“We like to think we are very inspirational here, and our parents are fabulous, coming in to help us with reading and support.

“Our parent events are always very well attended.”

FACTFILE
Turlin Moor Community School, Turlin Road, Hamworthy, Poole.
Telephone: 01202 685 459
Email: <&bh"mailto:turlinmoorcommunityschool@poole.gov.uk">turlinmoorcommunityschool@poole.gov.uk<&eh>
Headteacher (acting) Mrs Sue Eden
Age range: 5-12, mixed
Number of classes: 12
Number of pupils: 286
Latest Ofsted report: “Overall rating: Good.
“Teaching and learning are good with some outstanding lessons being seen. Attention to ensuring pupils have a range of activities, many of them practical, helps to meet their individual needs.
“The curriculum provides very good support of the delivery of basic skills across the school.”

 

Why we love our school

PARENT and school volunteer Tracey Collins said: “I live locally, on Turlin Moor, and run the school’s netball club. I moved here five or six years ago and when my eldest daughter came here I was so happy, she came on leaps and bounds. It’s such a friendly place and the teachers really worked with the parents to help the children. The teachers really push the children to better themselves to do the best they can, whether in school or out.”

DEPUTY headteacher (acting) Paula Davies said: “I came here as a newly qualified teacher, and the fact I am here 14 years later and am the acting deputy head says it all really. I am so passionate about this school and the area.
“This school always offers new challenges, new directions to go in, new curriculums, new experiences. It never sits back and waits for something to come to it, it goes striving to make itself better.”

TEACHER Sophie Isteed said: “We put the children first here, rather than other concerns.
“I want my children to feel they can succeed and they do.”