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All about us
Birkenshaw C.E. (C) First and Nursery School is a voluntary controlled school for boys and girls aged 3 – 9 years in Kirklees Local Authority.
The school has existed in its present form since 1995, when Birkenshaw C.E. First School, now known as the Key Stage One building, and Birkenshaw County First School, now known as the Key Stage 2 building, were amalgamated. A Nursery was added when the two schools became one. The school has an extensive and attractive site, which includes a well-established wildlife conservation area and purpose designed play areas.
The Key Stage Two building, which was opened in 1955, comprises four classrooms, an ICT Suite, an Art and Design and Technology Room, a hall, a library, the Headteacher’s and administrative offices and storerooms. The classrooms are self-contained units with their own cloakrooms and toilet facilities and direct access to outside teaching spaces and play areas. The building is home to the children in Years 3 and 4.
The younger children (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2) are based in the Key Stage One building, which dates from the early 1970s. It has six semi open-plan classrooms with shared areas, together with a hall, a library, a small group room, the staffroom, staff workspaces and storage facilities. Our fully refurbished and modernised kitchen is located in this building and the hall becomes the school dining room at lunchtimes.
Our Nursery is housed in its own building, adjacent to the Reception classes.
The school is divided into 11 mixed ability classes. Most classes are made up of a single year group, but because our Published Admission Number of 66 conflicts with the Government’s requirement that children in Reception and Years 1 and 2 should be taught in classes of no more than 30, it is sometimes necessary to have some mixed age classes at the lower end of school. This year there is one mixed Year 2/Year 1 class. Children in mixed age classes follow the Learning Objectives appropriate to their year group.
We have a large and friendly staff team. Our children are a pleasure to teach and our SATs results in July 2009 were outstanding. We have a strong environmental focus and have achieved the Eco Schools Green Flag Award. We also hold ActiveMark, Investors in Pupils and Investor in People status and are working towards the Healthy Schools Award. Modern Foreign Languages are taught from Nursery to Year 4 and we are committed to enriching the curriculum - theme days and weeks are a regular feature of school life, as are visits by theatre groups and professional artists and musicians. We have a tradition of fundraising for charities through various fun events. A wide range of extra-curricular clubs are on offer to the children and in addition we have our own Breakfast and After School Clubs.
Come and see for yourself what we have to offer! We hold termly Open Mornings and details of these can be obtained by telephoning the office on 01274 335400. We look forward to meeting you.
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