Cliffe Woods Primary School
View Road,
Cliffe Woods, Rochester,
ME3 8UJ
Cliffe Woods
Welcome to
Aletheia
Academies Trust
PROUD TO BE
cliffewoods.medway.sch.uk
01634 220 822
admin@cliffewoods.medway.sch.uk
Cliffe Woods
Primary School
Excellence From All
Headteacher Welcome
Karen Connolly
This Prospectus has been put together by the Cliffe
Woods Primary Community with the goal to provide
an understanding of how our school is organised,
and to showcase the exciting opportunities on offer
for all of the children in our care.
All schools have their own distinctive ‘feel’, which
makes each one unique. We believe that the ‘happy
feel’ at Cliffe Woods Primary is to do with our caring,
friendly environment.
Our school continues to evolve in many exciting
ways, ensuring that we constantly deliver enriching
experiences for our pupils. Over the last few years we
have
been
consistently
over-subscribed
with
families wanting a place for their child/children to
start in our Reception classes.
The school was judged as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in
March 2015, this was confirmed in an additional
inspection in September 2016, grading all areas of
the school to be ‘Outstanding.
The Inspection Report commented that:
‘Achievement
is
excellent;
teaching
is
outstanding and leaders and managers,
together
with
the
governors,
are
fully
committed to providing a high standard of
education for all pupils.’
I am extremely proud to lead a team that is
highly committed to providing the very best
opportunities for the children who attend
Cliffe Woods Primary School. Staff, supported
by governors, work hard to deliver a rich and
challenging curriculum, to prepare children
for future education and to help them
acquire the skills and enthusiasm needed to
pursue learning for the rest of their lives.
We look forward to welcoming you to our
school, and to a happy and successful
partnership with all our new children and
families.
Karen Connolly
Head of School
Aletheia
Academies Trust
PROUD TO BE
Cliffe Woods Primary School became part of the Aletheia Academies
Trust in January 2022. As an academy, we are funded directly from the
Government rather than from the Local Authority, Medway Council.
Our school is set in extensive grounds, with a large field,
playground and Woodland Adventure area. During Woodland
Adventure, pupils learn a wide range of skills. Children learn to
become problem solvers, resilient and independent, which are
fundamental skills both in and out of school, giving pupils the
opportunity to reach their potential.
At Cliffe Woods Primary School everything we do revolves around our key drivers:
Opportunity, Diversity, Curiosity and Tenacity. Through these, our children explore
and embrace all the new challenges they meet with confidence and a positive
attitude.
Our aim is for our children to be confident, caring, resilient, curious young adults with
a desire to learn and achieve the best they can in all they do, preparing them for the
future. Our children are wonderful ambassadors, so if you would like to know more
about what makes our school the place that it is, please get in touch and our children
would be delighted to show you around and introduce you to everyone who makes
Cliffe Woods Primary School such a special and incredible place.
Cliffe Woods Primary School is proud to be at the heart of the community.
About Cliffe Woods Primary School
Cliffe
Woods
Primary
School was pleased to
receive a ‘OUTSTANDING’
rating
in
all
areas
of
judgement.
This inspection took place in
March 2015 with a monitoring
visit in 2016
Our Vision and Values
Values are fundamental expressions of what we think and believe. As a school we encourage children
to think about personal and social values, to become aware of and involved in the life and concerns of
their community and society, and so develop their capacity to be active and effective future British
citizens.
Cliffe Woods is committed to Fundamental British Values. We
aim to establish a strong community where all pupils are
encouraged to demonstrate democracy, respect and tolerance
through an inclusive nature regardless of faith, race and culture.
We are kind, caring and
considerate.
Compassion
We always tell the truth, we
are responsible and make
the right choices.
Integrity
We are grateful for what we
have and the opportunities
that we are given.
Thankfulness
We treat everyone how we
would like to be treated and
we take pride in our school
environment.
Respect
We try our very best, learn
from our mistakes and
never give up.
Resilience
Our Vision: ‘Excellence From All’
Our Core Values
Our vision for Cliffe Woods Primary School reflects a passionate commitment to learning and
recognition of the uniqueness of individual learners. It is driven by our desire to offer the best possible
education for our pupils in partnership with parents and the local community.
Cliffe Woods Primary School Will be a Centre:
For learning where high standards are pursued with consistency and enthusiasm
Where individuals are valued and helped to achieve their personal best
Where effective partnerships secure the success of the school
Cliffe Woods Primary School serves its community by working in partnership to provide an education
of the highest quality. As a school we celebrate the diversity of the wider community and are
committed to the principles of inclusion and equality of opportunity.
Through our aims and values we promote and endorse the Government’s aim for every child,
whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to:
Be Healthy
Make a Positive Contribution
Our Aims
Aims reflect our beliefs, values and what we want to achieve as a learning
community. Using our aims, we create targets and objectives for us to achieve;
continuously moving our school forward in an ever-changing world.
Celebrate Success
Nurture
self-esteem
through
the
celebration of children’s achievements.
High Expectations
Set high expectations to enable pupils to
become
effective,
enthusiastic
and
independent learners.
Caring and Supportive
Create a happy, caring and supportive
environment
based
on
a
spirit
of
co-operation between the school and the
local community. Ensure the safety of every
child and promote opportunities to adopt a
healthy and active lifestyle.
Values Centred
Promote British values, and foster positive
attitudes to all people, races, religions and
ways of life.
Dynamic and Innovative
Deliver
a
dynamic
and
innovative
curriculum that challenges, excites and
inspires children to achieve their best.
Accountable at All Levels
Promote collective responsibility for raised
standards and improved pupil outcomes by
ensuring that everyone understands their
role in contributing to the success of the
school.
Community Orientated
Help children develop an understanding
of citizenship and empower them to make
valuable contributions locally and globally.
Engage with the school and wider
community
to
enrich
and
enhance
children’s
achievement
and
personal
development.
Well Organised and Systematic
Embed consistently applied policies and
practices
that
ensure
the
effective
day-to-day running of the school and
support
strategic
leadership
and
management.
Inclusive
Treat children and others fairly, equitably
and with dignity and respect to maintain an
inclusive school culture.
‘Relationships between teachers and pupils
are exceptionally strong. Teachers continually
encourage pupils to take a mature and
sensible approach to learning and pupils
respond well.’ - Ofsted 2015
Our Trust
Cliffe Woods Primary School joined as a member of Aletheia Academies Trust in 2022.
Aletheia Trust’s Vision
Aletheia Academies welcomes those of all faiths, and we are proud of the inclusive nature
and diversity of each cohort. The Trust is motivated by Christian values to embody the
experience of the local community; where all gifts are nurtured, expertise is shared and
results are tailored. All with the vision to produce the best outcome for each and every
individual.
Why Cliffe Woods Joined Aletheia Academies Trust
Cliffe Woods Primary joined Aletheia Academies Trust on 1st January 2022. We were keen to
join a Trust that allowed us to be ‘us’ – to keep our own identity and one that respected our
ethos and values.
Cliffe Woods has benefitted greatly from joining the Trust in a multitude of ways, we feel part
of a bigger family, who are all committed to ensuring that we provide the very best education
for the children were serve.
Transition
As part of Aletheia Academies Trust, we work in partnership with Saint George’s C of E
All-through School. Children who wish to attend Saint George’s Secondary Phase will be
prioritised over certain applicants. To find out more information, please read Saint George’s
Admissions Policy.
The School Day
Cliffe Woods Primary School consists of 14 classes with 2 classes per year group.
In primary schools, there are three key stages:
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Key Stage One (KS1)
Key Stage Two (KS2)
Reception
Years 1 and 2
Years 3 - 6
Ages 4 and 5
Ages 5 to 7
Ages 7 to 11
Timings
8.55
08:55
School begins. However, children
may go into their class rooms at 8:45
12:00 -
13:00
Lunch
15:25
School ends for Foundation Stage
15:30
School ends for Years 1 and 2
15:35
School ends for Years 3, 4, 5 & 6
Absence
If your child is unable to attend school for
any reason, please contact the school office
by 9:30 on the first day of absence to let us
know.
if
your
child
has
sickness
or
diarrhoea, we ask that they don’t return to
school for 48 hours in line with advice from
Public Health England.
Punctuality
The school day begins at 8:55 and we ask
that children arrive promptly to ensure a
positive start to their learning. Children who
arrive late must be brought into the school
by their parent/carer, who will be asked to
give a reason for the lateness and sign in
the child. Any late attendance is recorded
on the end of year school report to parents.
Persistant lateness could result in a fine
from the Local Authority.
Attendance
Regular attendance has a positive impact
on a child reaching their full potential and
brings benefits to their emotional and
social well-being.
Cliffe
Woods’s
expectation
for
pupil’s
attendance is over 96%
Curriculum Overview
The staff of Cliffe Woods Primary School are incredibly passionate about ensuring
that our children have a lively, interesting and fulfilling curriculum which builds on
skills and knowledge. The curriculum of the school is organised so that children are
stimulated, encouraged and challenged to develop their individual potential and
personality to the full.
1. To give pupils appropriate experiences to develop as
confident, responsible citizens
2. To provide a rich ‘cultural capital’
3. To provide a coherent, structured, academic curriculum
that leads to sustained mastery for all and a greater depth
of understanding for those who are capable
Intent
The breadth of our curriculum is designed with three goals:
Our curriculum design is based on evidence from cognitive science; three main
principles underpin it:
1. Learning is most effective with spaced repetition
2. Interleaving helps pupils to discriminate between topics and aids long-term
retention
3. Retrieval of previously learned content is frequent and regular, which increases
both storage and retrieval strength
In addition to the three principles we understand that sustained mastery takes time.
Most of our content is subject specific. Continuous provision, in the form of daily
routines, replaces the teaching of some aspects of the curriculum and, in other
cases, provides retrieval practise for previously learned content.
Implementation
The impact of our curriculum is that by the end of each
milestone, the vast majority of pupils have sustained
mastery of the content; pupils remember a greater majority
and demonstrate confidence. Some pupils have a greater
depth of understanding. We track carefully to ensure pupils
are on track to reach the expectations of our curriculum.
Impact
For more information on our curriculum, please scan here:
Our Curriculum
Phonics: Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised
We believe that all our children can become fluent readers and writers. This is why we
teach reading through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a
systematic and synthetic phonics programme. We start teaching phonics in
Reception and follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised progression,
which ensures children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code,
mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school.
English Reading
We value reading as a crucial life skill. The teaching of reading is at the very core of
our curriculum. It is our intention to ensure that by the end of their primary
education, our pupils can read fluently and with confidence, enabling them to access
all areas of the curriculum and the wider world.
We are committed to providing a broad and diverse range of texts and books from
across the curriculum which are rich in vocabulary. The sharing of stories is central to
our provision throughout the school, so children enjoy both reading and being read
to as part of our daily timetable.
English Writing
It is our intent to provide high-quality learning experiences to develop pupils’
competence in both transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition
(articulating ideas and structuring them in speech and writing). Pupils learn how to
plan, revise and evaluate their writing effectively. They will be able to write down
their ideas fluently, spelling words quickly and accurately by knowing the
relationship between sounds and letters in words. The development of pupils’
composition skills will ensure they can form, articulate and communicate ideas,
organise them coherently, show an awareness of the audience, purpose and context,
and demonstrate an increasingly wide knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. We
aim to encourage pupils to develop fluent, legible and, eventually, speedy
handwriting.
English
The 2014 National Curriculum for Maths aims to ensure that all children:
Become fluent in the fundamentals of Mathematics
2. Able to reason mathematically
3. Can solve problems by applying their Mathematics
4. Can solve problems actively by applying their Mathematics in active maths
lessons.
At Cliffe Woods Primary, these skills are embedded within Maths lessons and
developed consistently over time. We are committed to ensuring that children will
be able to recognise the importance of Maths in the wider world and that they are
also able to use their mathematical skills and knowledge confidently in their lives in
a range of different contexts. We want all children to enjoy Mathematics and to
experience success in the subject, with the ability to reason mathematically. We are
committed to developing children’s curiosity about the subject, as well as an
appreciation of the beauty and power of Mathematics.
Mathematics
1.
Science stimulates and excites pupils’ curiosity about events and things in the world
around them. It also satisfies this curiosity with knowledge. Since science links direct
practical experience with ideas, it can engage learners at many levels.
Scientific method is about developing and evaluating explanations through
experimental evidence and modelling. Teaching and learning in science reflects our
belief that children have a natural sense of awe and wonder in the world around
them.
We aim to provide the children with a science knowledge
base, and encourage them to ask questions, make
predictions and then test these in order to discover more
about the world around them. We hope also to foster
responsible attitudes towards the environment and all living
things.
Science