FROM the giant animal print walls, to the Mariachi music playing in the hall, there is an obvious vibrancy about Pokesdown Community Primary School.

Built around a double height library known as the 'well of learning', with windows all around offering glimpses outside and into classrooms, the school is flooded with daylight - and seems filled with energy as well.

One of Bournemouth's best performing primary schools with an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, its results speak for themselves - but behind them is a carefully thought out and creative approach to learning.

Jo Barton, who took on the headship this term having been deputy and then acting head teacher, said children follow a "challenging and thoughtful integrated curriculum" which is "very carefully planned to engage them."

Instead of breaking learning down into subject areas, the children at Pokesdown take on a series of projects. Each starts with a 'hook' to inspire the children, and ends with an 'outcome' where they share their learning with others, sometimes parents or other children.

"It makes the learning purposeful and it's motivating for them - they want it to be their best," added Miss Barton.

The school received the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom silver award this year, has Beach Schools accreditation and staff are working towards forest schools accreditation too.

This emphasis on 'learning outside of the classroom' means school on the beach once a fortnight for reception children, and frequent excursions around the locality which "make the curriculum relevant to children's daily lives," explained Miss Barton. School trips, such as a sleep over at the Sealife Centre in Exeter and an activity week on the Isle of Wight, are also annual fixtures.

As a specialist arts and media school Pokesdown also boasts specially trained staff and equipment to support this area of learning. The children even have their own podcast room where they broadcast to fellow pupils - and some of the school's near neighbours - every lunch and break time.

And new for this term are the four school houses, named after explorers, and the opportunity to win house points and take part in inter-house competitions. "That's been really motivating. There's a real sense of excitement about who won the most house points every week," added Miss Barton.

Based on six learning values - thinking, independence, collaboration, spirituality, creativity and emotional intelligence - Pokesdown seeks to help children "have confidence to strive for excellence", according to its mission statement.

Miss Barton said independence is fostered from reception onwards so "children learn to take decisions about their learning and what the next steps need to be so they are not always being directed by adults."

"Our partnership with parents is also absolutely key," she added. "We are a community school and very much part of the community."

Factfile

Address: Pokesdown Community Primary School, Livingstone Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH5 2AS

Telephone: 01202 428982

Email: office@pokesdowncommunity.co.uk

Type of school: This is a primary school which serves the area of Pokesdown and parts of Southbourne. It is a two form entry school catering for children aged from four to 11.

Number of pupils: The school can accommodate 15 classrooms and 450 children in total.

The last Ofsted report published in March 2013 rated the school as Outstanding.

The Inspectors said students made “outstanding progress” by the end of Year Six and standards were “well above national average.” The report praised “outstanding teaching” and said pupils’ behaviour was “exemplary.”