WAREHAM St Mary Primary School is busy with smiley, happy children who take a pride in their newly refurbished and rejuvenated technology-led school building on Streche Road.

Deputy headteacher, Robert Wellman, says that the school has undergone a huge transformation two years after it changed from The Lady St Mary First School, but it continues to be a Church of England Voluntary Controlled school.

He said: “We’ve completely gutted and redecorated every room in the school. We have a new IT infrastructure, new walls, heating, carpets and flooring.

“We are very lucky to have a building fit for purpose in the 21st century. It is now bright, cheerful, clean and fresh.”

Mr Wellman said that the school is very happy and that the children and excited and happy to learn, which a host of individual staff bringing together a range of talents.

“We have an imaginative curriculum to make learning fun and interesting for the children.”

“One topic we do is on Wareham itself, as it is a Saxon town and so we like to incorporate the local area into their learning. This town has a lot of heritage and we want the children to learn about it, including the environment and Jurassic Coast.”

He says that the school now has a great number of computer resources, adding: “Our children have been born in the 21st century and so we want to send them out into the world, equipped with independent learning skills that last a lifetime.”

The deputy headteacher said that the school as a whole has celebration assemblies and each class chooses a star of the week for literacy and numeracy, as well as offering house teams for the pupils.

He added: “We try to teach the children that it is all about developing pride in one’s self, one’s learning and each other.”

Factfile

Wareham St Mary Primary School, Streche Road, Wareham, BH20 4PG

Telephone: 01929 552517 Email: office@warehamstmary.dorset.sch.uk

Headteacher: Lin Goldsmith

Number of pupils: 177 Age range: Four to 11

Ofsted report: February 2013 Rating: Good

What it said: “The headteacher, well supported by staff and the governing body, provides very strong leadership.

“As a result, the school has improved well since its last inspection and is well placed to improve further. Good teaching ensures that new skills are effectively taught and well planned lessons provide demanding activities that help pupils to do well.

“Pupils achieve well. Attainment is rising, with the very large majority of pupils on track to reach at least the levels expected for their age by the end of Year 6 and in many cases exceed them, most notably in writing.

“The school’s engagement with parents is especially good. Parents are highly appreciative of staff and support their children’s education exceptionally well.”

What they're saying

LISA Sainsbury, a parent of three children in years three, four, and six, said: “One thing that always makes me smile is the rush from the kids to get in through the school gates every day. The kids are very enthusiastic to be at school and the enrichment programme has improved greatly.”

CLAIRE Burns, an associate governor and parent of a child in year three at the school, said: “The teachers have been very good and there is a lot of camaraderie between the children. They’re very lovely and look after each other well.”

SHERYL Rawlings, Year Three teacher and PE leader, said: “There is a community spirit with a lot of support for the children from the parents. Also the school recently got some sports funding from the government to encourage children that wouldn’t normally participate in sport, to get involved, and create lunch clubs for younger children.”

SARAH Eaton, Year One teacher, said: “There is a really vast support system at the school and a lot of provisions which allow for the children to thrive. I am new to the school and it is wonderful to come here and be made to feel so welcome.”

MICHAELA Barry, aged 10, said: “The school is very friendly and I have settled in very well. My favourite subjects are maths and PE.”

BEN Yarrow, 10, said: “I like everything at the school and my favourite subjects are PE and maths. My favourite teacher is Miss Wyss, who teaches Year Six, she always makes us laugh.”