Chartridge Combined School

Chartridge Combined School, which opened in January 1969, is located in the village of Chartridge near Chesham.

 

At Chartridge it is the aim of all staff and governors that we:

• Inspire children to be confident, independent, collaborative learners and to foster a life-long love of learning
• Ensure that everyone feels happy, welcome, safe and valued as an individual
• Encourage everyone to have a healthy body and mind
• Nurture responsible citizens who take an active and thoughtful role in the local and global community
• Encourage children to achieve their full potential though a myriad of opportunities and experiences
• Develop open and enquiring minds, creating resilient and curious learners
• Encourage children to appreciate and understand the values of democracy, the rules of law, individual liberty and mutual respect of those with different faiths in modern British global society.

 

More about our School

 

Chartridge is a one form entry school divided into seven classes; Foundation Stage (Reception), Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2), and Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to Year 6). Each class is taught by one class teacher with a learning support assistant. Our maximum admission number for each class is 30. Currently we have 213 children on roll.

The school’s catchment area includes the Parish of Chartridge and the adjacent area of Chesham, north of Penn Avenue. The school is fortunate to have large spacious grounds where children have plenty of opportunities to play, explore and learn. We offer a large number of after-school and lunchtime extra-curricular activities and clubs; ranging from dance to choir club.

The school’s sport provision has been recognised with the Activemark accreditation, the Chiltern District Council ‘Primary School of the Year for Sport’ and a shortlisted nomination for Bucks Sport ‘Sports School of the Year’. We are also proud to continue to maintain our ‘Healthy School’ status.

 

The school day

 

The school begins each day at 8.50am and ends at 3.10pm. From 17th April 2023 school will begin at 8.45am and end at 3.15pm each day.

Morning break is from 10.35-10.50am.

Key Stage One children break for lunch from 12.00-1.00pm.

Key Stage Two children break for lunch from 12.30-1.30pm.

 

Home-School Communication

 

Effective communication between school and home is fundamental in developing an effective partnership with parents.

We hold a termly Parents' Introduction session for each class when the teacher shares important information about the term ahead.  

Newsletters are published monthly and other communications from school are sent home electronically. This reduces paper usage helping us to be environmentally friendly.

Newsletters, letters and lots of other information are also available on this website.

We use a text messaging service, as an efficient method of sending short messages and reminders to parents.

  

Reports and Consultations

 

In the autumn term, parent consultations are arranged for parents to meet their child’s teacher and discuss how they have settled into their new school year.  Parent consultations are also held in the spring term, providing another opportunity to discuss their child's progress.

Towards the end of the summer term, parents receive a written report on their child’s development, along with an opportunity to discuss the content of the report with the class teacher.  At the end of Key Stages 1 and 2, these reports also contain individual attainment levels achieved in the National end of Key Stage assessments.

 

Parents’ Information Evenings

 

Information evenings for parents are held to share relevant information which may include curriculum changes and any other issues which may affect the children or our provision. In the past, information evening topics have included: updates on the English and Maths curriculum, how to help your child at home, how to keep children safe on the internet and information on class residential visits.

All parents of children starting school in Reception class are invited to attend special meetings in the term before they are due to start school.

 

Educational Visits

 

Each class takes part in at least two special visits to a place of interest during the year, bringing class learning to life.  In Year 5 a 3 day outdoor activity residential visit is offered and in Year 6 the children have the opportunity to take part in a field study trip to The Isle of Wight.

 

Child Protection

 

The Governing Body takes seriously its responsibility under section 175 of the Education Act 2002 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; and to work together with other agencies to ensure adequate arrangements within our school to identify, assess, and support those children who are suffering harm.  We recognise that all staff and Governors have a full and active part to play in protecting our pupils from harm, and that the child’s welfare is our paramount concern.

All members of staff believe that our school should provide a safe, caring, positive and stimulating environment that promotes the social, physical and moral development of the individual child.

The school’s Child Protection policy can be found under he Policies section on this website as well as our special page on Child Protection and Safeguarding.  

 

Visitors

 

Visitors can provide a great opportunity for children to learn from someone other than their teacher and we encourage a range of outside visitors to share their expertise and knowledge with the children.  Recently these have included the Drama and Musical Groups, Local Churches, the emergency services and others.

 

Health and Medical Care

 

Should any parents be anxious about a child’s health or any medical matters, e.g. hearing, speech, sight etc., please do not hesitate to contact the school for further advice. We will, of course, discuss any concerns we may have with you regarding your child’s health and welfare.

 

Secondary Transfer Procedure

 

Each autumn term the children in Year 6 sit Buckinghamshire County Council’s Secondary Transfer Tests. The result achieved will determine whether a child is selected for one of the local grammar or upper schools.  Details of this process are shared with all parents in Year 5.

 

School Fund

 

Like many schools, we are grateful for parents donations to the school fund. This is a valuable resource which helps us fund extra items or activities which all children benefit from. The School Fund has recently been used to contribute to the cost of theatre groups and visitors to school, paid for the gates onto the school field, and curtains and blinds throughout the school and funded some educational software that children can use at home.

The suggested minimum amount is £30 per year per pupil, although many parents kindly donate more.  We are always most grateful to receive parent’s donations to the School Fund.  The school is now registered for Gift Aid.  This system enables us to reclaim income tax on all appropriate donations from parents.

We hope you find our website informative. If you would like to find out any more about Chartridge, please do not hesitate to contact us, we would be more than happy to show you around.