About Our School

The bell tower, as shown in the above logo, is still a feature of the building and the original bell is now on display in the school foyer.

Linked to the school is a Pre-School Group and an Out of School Club (The Lions’ Den). There is also an active School Association that organises many fund raising and social events during the year.

Building/Grounds

The Lionel Walden School is situated in the Northern Area of the County of Cambridgeshire in the Fenland village of Doddington. The school was built in 1877. Substantial developments to the school buildings took place in 1992-3 and these included a hall, kitchen, two new offices, two classrooms and a staffroom plus alterations to the existing facilities. More recently a further two classrooms were added in 1998 and an annexe including a fully equipped ICT suite in 2003. The school has eight permanent classrooms.

Organization

There are 232 pupils on roll organized into 8 classes. There are mixed age groups in some of the classes. The class sizes in September 2005 should be 30 or less. There are approximately 45 children in the pre-school playgroup, which is attached to the school.

Staffing

From September, 2005 there will be 10 full-time equivalent permanent teachers, including the Head and Deputy. There are two Management Allowance holders. The teaching staff are very well supported by a team of Teaching Assistants which numbers 14 in total. Staff meetings are held weekly on Mondays. Specialist music teachers provide weekly instruction in violin, cello, flute and clarinet.

Parental Involvement

The parents are encouraged to visit and help in school regularly. There is at least one parents’ ‘event’ per term including Open Evenings/Afternoons, displays of work etc. The School Association organizes fundraising activities and provides much-needed funds for the school.

Swimming

Swimming is currently available for all children, except the Reception/Year 1 classes, on a rota basis of six sessions per child. Voluntary contributions are invited to offset the cost of transport to and from the Chatteris pool.

Investors in People

In December 1995 the school was recognized as an Investor in People. Lionel Walden was the first primary school in Cambridgeshire to achieve this award which is the national standard for effective investment in people. It is the nationally recognized quality standard against which organizations of all type assess how they manage their investment in their own people, particularly in their training and development.

Our school depends on people, particularly its staff. The way its people perform is a major factor in the school’s success.

The Investors in People Standard consists of principles supported by assessment indicators. Within the school, these indicators required:

• The Head and Governors to make it known, throughout the school, that they are committed to developing all the staff to enable them to achieve the priorities set out within the School Development Plan.
• The school to regularly review the training and development needs of all the staff.
• The school to take action to train and develop individuals on recruitment and through their employment.
• The school to evaluate its investment in training and development, to assess achievement and improve future effectiveness.