WHEN Townsend Primary School closed in 2008 it left a gaping hole in the local community.

Children from the estate scattered far and wide, making long journeys to several different schools, leaving parents furious.

But the gleaming new Jewell Academy now standing in its place is more than making up for its loss and is going down a treat with families in the area.

Run by the Aspirations Academies Trust, the school opened in September 2013 and last month the pupils moved into state-of-the-art new buildings on the site.

There are currently 130 pupils at the school in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 – by 2018 there will be 420 pupils up to Year 6 on the site.

Principal Claire Addis said the school was a modern, 21st century facility offering parents and children all they could wish for.

“We embrace a lot of the elements of the national curriculum but we are able to tailor it individually to the needs of our children” she said.

“Topics are exciting and relevant. Our Year 1 students have been to Moors Valley Country Park and have had a visit from the Raptor Centre as part of their topic on the Gruffalo.”

Reception children are accommodated in old school buildings, which have been extensively renovated. Other year groups are in spacious new accommodation.

Children are welcome at school from 8am in the Breakfast Club and various extra-curricular activities held every day mean they can stay until 5pm.

Activities on offer include football, karate, tennis, dancing and multi-sports.

Places at the school are allocated according to distance with around half of current pupils living on the Townsend estate and half travelling from other parts of Bournemouth.

The school even lays on minibuses for those who travel from further afield.

“We want to embrace the local community but also become a school of choice for other families around the Bournemouth area” added Ms Addis.

Free hot meals are currently provided for all pupils so the school operates a “no packed lunch policy.”

Studio halls, a large playground, a field and a food tech room all contribute to the environment.

A consultation process is underway for a pre-school on the site. If it goes ahead, it will open in September next year with a qualified teacher at the helm.

The Aspirations Academies Trust also runs Magna Academy, formerly Ashdown Community College, in Canford Heath, Poole.

FACTFILE

Jewell Academy, Jewell Road, Townsend, Bournemouth, BH8 0LT
Telephone: 01202 774830
Email: office@aatjewell.org
Age range: Currently 4-7 Mixed
Principal: Claire Addis
OFSTED: The school is a year old and has yet to be visited by Ofsted