Welcome to St. Paul's

As a school we set and expect high standards of pupils and staff alike.  We celebrate success and recognise that a school is much more than a place for formal learning; it is a community of learners.

We are acknowledged as a school that achieves consistently good results in external examinations but we also feel that we offer a special environment where everyone is valued for what they can do.

We have excellent facilities including an eighteen computer network with internet access for all pupils, an environmental area, a butterfly garden, a purpose built area for food technology, a large and well stocked library, a swimming pool and good provision for music and a wide range of sports.

Our classrooms are light and airy with access to outside learning areas and are arranged to allow for whole class and group teaching.

"The Children of St Paul’s Church of England Combined School have a very positive start to their education” - Ofsted June 2003

The original St. Paul's School was completed in 1852.  The Rev'd F.B. Ashley was the driving force behind the project seeking to provide a Christian education for the children of the community.  There were 320 children on roll, though it was probably fortunate that they didn't all attend regularly.  The new school building was built in two phases and was officially opened in October 1974 by the Duchess of Kent, continuing the tradition of providing a high quality of education in a caring Christian environment.

All pupils are taught a broad and balanced curriculum that includes:

Core Subjects:

• Literacy
• Numeracy
• Science
• Information Communication Technology (ICT)

And the following Foundation Subjects:

• Design Technology
• History
• Geography
• Music
• Art
• Physical Education

Additional Subjects:

• Religious education
• PSHE and Citizenship
• French (Year 5 & Year 6)

Pupils are taught all subjects by their class teacher though from time to time teachers will work in other classes in order to maximise the expertise we have in the school.

In Key Stage 1 children study a thematically based programme which will have emphasis on different aspects of the curriculum at different times – thus a topic may have an historical or scientific base but contain aspects of other curriculum areas within it.

In Key Stage 2 pupils are taught by subject. All classes have a structured timetable which includes daily literacy and numeracy, two hours per week for science and the equivalent of one hour per week for all other subjects, though this may be taught in blocked units.

Literacy

Numeracy

Science

ICT

Design Technology

History

Geography

The Arts

Physical Education

Religious Education

Citizenship

Sex Education

Environmental Education

There are a wide variety of clubs and activities at lunchtime and after school. These are mainly for pupils from Year 3 upwards since younger children need a break at the end of the day.

At lunchtime children can participate in choir, orchestra, gymnastics, records and badminton. After school they can take part in football, netball, cricket, drama, environmental studies and computer club.

Children have opportunities to perform throughout the year in music and drama at our Christmas, Spring and Summer concerts, various current events and charitable activities.

All activities and visits are subject to the Buckinghamshire Educational Visits Policy and Guidance. Parents will be notified of a proposed activity or visit and asked if they would make a voluntary contribution to help cover the cost. If sufficient numbers make this viable the activity or visit will proceed. Should there be insufficient numbers the activity or visit will be cancelled. If a teacher feels that the event will contribute significantly to pupils’ learning and wishes to go ahead with it anyway we will use money from the school’s benevolent fund to subsidise the cost so that no child is excluded.

Outside School Hours:
Charges for these will be based on the actual cost of the activity.

Music lessons in school:
Lessons provided by the County string teacher are provided at a reduced ratethough parents are asked to make a contribution. All other music tuition is provided on a private basis and parents are asked to negotiate costs and payments with the teachers directly.