By Gavin Mackintosh And Nikki Greener-
An academy trust set up by veteran Labour politician Frank Field and Tory donor David Ross has announced it is taking on its first primary school.
The Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) – the brainchild of Field, the MP for Birkenhead, and Ross, the millionaire founder of Carphone Warehouse, all chair the New Schools Network.The trust was established after an Independent review on poverty and life chances, which it called the ”Foundation Years”, focusing on the idea of bringing out the best in children, particularly from poor or deprived backgrounds.
The report was based on an assessment of the crucial years from birth to the first days of school experienced by children. It focused on the formative years physiologically, cognitively, socially and emotionally. This is also the period when substantial gaps in school readiness are embedded.
The report also highlighted the important and sometimes overlooked factors of a conducive home learning environment, parental warmth and sensitivity, and parental well-being, as three of the key influences on a child’s outcomes which can be strengthened through well designed interventions.The Eye Of Media.Com heard today that Wilmslow Grange Community Primary School in Handforth, Cheshire is to become its lead school, after the move was approved by the British government.
Wilmslow Grange is rated ‘outstanding’ across the board with around 320 pupils, 8.1 per cent of whom are eligible for free school meals. The school covers a broad curriculum and lays special emphasis on the need for pupils to enjoy learning, and develop academic skills in a manner that gives them pride and discipline.
AWARD WINNING
Wilmsow Grange also has an award winning school choir that reflects its exhilarating coverage of music teaching in which pupils are taught about the subject in both an academic and practical way. Pupils are given informative knowledge about music in ways that also encourage their writing and vocabulary skills, whilst also enjoying the process.
Music has various aspects besides the sound of beautiful melody. It includes an understanding of navigating music industries, sound synthesis using free software, performance masterclass, and Composition workshop. Pupils get to build their language skills, both verbal and written in the process of learning a universally loved subject like music.
The primary school has an orchestra; brass band, steel band and recorder ensemble which come with 50 academic weekly music lessons; and over 20 weekly singing lessons. The school also has a parent and staff choir and an award winning school choir. Another aspect Wilmsow primary school has utilized well in building the education of its pupils is sports through the medium of P.E. Most children have an interest in sports, and this school has used this to raise their academic ability through P.E, as teachers carefully educate pupils on nutrition and various aspects of fitness and its effects on different parts of the body.
MANNERED
Children at the school are very friendly and well mannered, a quality the school believes arises from the exciting learning environment set for them in which they work whilst having fun at the same time.Tom Quinn, chief executive of the trust, said it was “honoured” to welcome Wilmslow Grange.“We look forward to them supporting subsequent schools to offer exciting, high-achieving curricula whilst retaining an inclusive ethos.” Mark Unwin, Wilmslow Grange’s headteacher, said the trust’s “high-expectations and desire for a rich, exciting educational experience for all children accords very closely with our own”.
“We believe that our expertise can assist schools within the trust and promote social justice for the most disadvantaged schools and families in the north west in line with FFET’s vision and we look forward to an exciting next stage of development for Wilmslow Grange.”