Aims of the School
The school’s aim is to help all its children grow into mature and caring adults. It will provide a safe and secure learning environment in which each child’s abilities will be realized and developed to their fullest potential through the subjects and themes of the National Curriculum, the school’s wider curriculum, its Christian ethos and the development of positive attitudes to learning and life.
In the school’s last Diocesan inspection, the ethos of the school was identified as being `good’. “The positive attitudes to teaching and learning are securely based on the Christian ethos which is present in all the activities of the school. The Christian ethos, which has the support of all members of staff, promotes high standards of work and behaviour and a caring attitude amongst all members of the school community Pupils are happy and secure in school….they are valued as individuals and benefit from the warm family atmosphere, showing care and concern for one another.”(Diocesan Inspection Report 2nd November 2006).
The school will endeavour to provide all children with the moral framework based upon Christian beliefs which will encourage/enable them to take their places as participating adults in our society. They will be encouraged to care as much for others as for themselves and to respect the differences in those who make up the wider community of nations and cultures, as well as those within our own.
About our School
St Francis C.E. (Voluntary Aided) School offers a primary education to children aged 4 - 11. It is provided by its Church Trustees, managed by its Governing Body and maintained by Blackburn Diocese and Blackburn with Darwen County Council. It is situated at the end of Cherry Tree Lane just off Preston Old Road in Cherry Tree.
Our classes are accommodated in comfortable, well equipped classrooms. The present school was built in 1960’s and is still undergoing a scheme of improvements in order to keep the building in good condition. The building houses seven classrooms, an ICT suite and a hall suitable for collective worship, physical education and school meals. The school has a playground and extensive playing fields.
The accommodation allows for 210 pupils and to this end the Governors have set the admission number at 30 pupils for the next academic year. At present we have 208 children on roll.
Class Organisation
St Francis is a one form entry school with seven classes. Your child will be taught alongside other children of his/her own age group. We do not need to mix age groups which gives a distinct advantage to curriculum organisation where it is essential to give every consideration to the individual needs of our children.
At present the internal organisation of the classes is as follows:
Foundation Stage (Ages 4-5) Reception Class
Key Stage 1 (Ages 5-7) Year 1
(Infants) Year 2
Key Stage 2 (Ages 7-11) Year 3
(Juniors) Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Children may also be taught by teachers other than their own class teacher in an attempt to use a teacher’s particular talent - this could be in areas such as PE, games, art, music and modern foreign languages.
The work of the School
The main aim of the school is to provide every child with a stimulating and caring environment where they can develop to their maximum potential. We make every effort to nurture and develop the whole child. The curriculum is balanced and broadly based and aims to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, social, intellectual, physical and aesthetic development of the pupils and helps to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.
We endeavour to help the children develop lively, enquiring minds, the ability to question and argue rationally and to acquire knowledge and skills based on the present which they can apply in the future.
In order to develop these skills and to further the children’s personal, social and moral development, we consider that the children need to have:
· A desire to learn
· Respect for others and their feelings
· Self confidence, independence and a sense of their own worth
· An appreciation of their environment
· Open-mindedness and curiosity
A great deal of work is directed towards building up these positive attitudes in children. In school, we aim to establish an atmosphere where children, teachers and parents, feel secure and happy and where learning takes place at a pace suited to each individual child.
Breakfast Club
St Francis School runs a Breakfast club each morning from 8:15am to 8:45am. All children are welcome to attend, full weeks, part weeks or even specific days at a cost of £1.50 a day. Each morning there is a range of healthy cereal, toast and fruit juice for the children to select. On colder days hot milk is available with the occasional special treat on Fridays!
The Breakfast club is supervised by school support staff. Once the children have had their breakfast, they have a selection of games, magazines and activities to enjoy. If you wish your child to attend Breakfast club please call into school to see Mrs Nicholson and she can arrange everything for you.
After School Club
We do not have our own ‘After School club’ on site, although we do have good links with two out of school providers: Live and Kicking and The Out of School Experience. Information on both providers is available from the school office. | 
