Improving communication skills

About the school

This large junior school is on the outskirts of Sandwell and has 360 pupils on roll. About two-thirds of pupils are from Indian or Pakistani backgrounds, and about one-third are eligible for free school meals. Almost a quarter of pupils are on the school's special educational needs register. National curriculum test results are above average for mathematics (74% of pupils at level 4 and above) and slightly below for reading (62%) and writing (61%).

The school believes that a child's complete development is important and values all subjects within the curriculum to ensure a balanced education. While recognising that national curriculum tests are important, it believes that they are not the only standard by which schools should be measured. Its view is that a holistic approach to education, with links between all areas of the curriculum, gives pupils the best possible understanding of the world in which they live.

The school has Artsmark Gold and believes strongly in giving all pupils a wide range of creative opportunities. The aims for the arts are integral to the school's approach to education.

Arts in the school

The main aims of the school's arts policy are:

• To ensure that every pupil receives a wide range of quality arts experiences in and out of taught time.
• To raise the skills levels of all pupils participating in arts activities.
• To enhance the confidence and self-esteem of all pupils by involvement in the arts.
• To enhance the pupils' appreciation of the diverse cultures within the school and local community through the arts.
• To create an understanding and appreciation of the arts that will last a lifetime.

Each arts subject has its own policy and set of plans and has a discrete slot in the curriculum of approximately one hour. Throughout the year the school aims to have a cross-curricular topic with the arts at its core, for which it usually funds the use of artists and/or visits to places of interest.

Peripatetic staff visit the school to teach a range of instruments, including violin, cello, Asian instruments and dance. There is also a wide range of extra-curricular arts clubs, including guitar (beginner and advanced), keyboard (beginner and advanced), recorder, orchestra, choir, Asian dance (L/S, U/S), jazz dance, art, drama and newspaper. In most cases, these clubs are open to any pupil who shows commitment and enthusiasm. All are well attended and some even have a waiting list.

Pupils are given frequent opportunities to perform or display their work to both peers and adults, including their parents. The school also organises family film nights, concerts and plays, to encourage parents to bring their children back into school.

All staff are committed to the school's approach and are involved in clubs and extra activities, giving their time freely. Experts like actors and artists-in-residence are regularly brought into school to share in the planning and delivery of different activities. The school's resources are fairly good: there is ample space and it has excellent relationships with the library and museum services (they supplement school resources for specific projects).