Our Classrooms

INSIDE OUR CLASSROOMS 

Whether they are walking down a corridor, eating in the lunch hall, spending time in the playground or exploring our forest school, the children at Heyford Park School are always learning. The bulk of children’s formal learning takes place in our classrooms at the Officer’s Mess site. We work hard to make sure our classrooms are purposeful, stimulating and supportive learning environments – whatever the age of the learner!  

Each class has an animal-based name chosen by the class teacher; the teacher leads the class supported by a range of additional adults (including Teaching Assistants) who work in a targeted way across a group of classes. In addition to these ‘grown ups’, we are also often helped by volunteer readers, other helpers and external professionals (such as Educational Psychologists, Specialist Teachers etc) who visit us from time-to-time. 

Flamingo

Our children love their classrooms because they are spacious, bright and safe places to learn and work. We place great importance on keeping classrooms well organised and clutter-free creating a purposeful and comfortable learning environment for every child. Following advice from external professionals, we ensure every classroom is as inclusive as we can make it; we carefully follow specialist guidelines to ensure children with sensory needs and autism are not overwhelmed by their classroom environment. 

Every classroom has a visual timetable; this is updated each morning so that everyone knows what will be happening throughout the day. 

Timetable

Our classrooms are great places to learn. Each classroom has specific wall displays for English, Maths, Science and other wider topics. Displays are designed to be engaging and informative; they are always used as a route to reinforce children’s learning. Our displays are designed to be autism-friendly and to be as inclusive as possible. New vocabulary is always displayed – this is particularly important whether you are studying English, science or Spanish. 

Our English displays are used as ‘working walls’ so that children can see how specific topics, knowledge and skills develop over time. Our maths working walls focus on our ‘See It-  Say It –  Solve It’ approach to Maths Mastery which is used across the school. 

English

All of our primary classroom have a Zones of Regulation display which is used alongside our PSHE lessons and other Zones of Regulation activities to help children to learn how to self-regulate, manage their own emotions and maintain good learning behaviour (see the Zones of Regulation page of our website for further details). 

Zones

We want all of our pupils to be self-initiating, confident and independent learners. In each classroom, we display the 5Bs (Brain – Board - Book – Buddy – Boss) to encourage children to self-solve when they become stuck – though adults are always on hand to help! We celebrate life’s challenges as a natural part of learning. To further encourage independent learning, each classroom is equipped with an English Help Desk and a Maths Help Desk. The help desks are full of resources which children independently select to help them learn. Our English Help Desks contain items such as dictionaries, word cards, spelling sheets, Write Like a Ninja books, examples of texts and more. Our Maths Help Desks are packed with practical items such as number lines, bead strings, counters, clocks, hundred squares, measures, cubes; these hands-on resources support children when learning maths.

5Bs

Helpdesk

All our classrooms are equipped with screens which are used in lessons as whiteboards/blackboards; they can also be used for showing PowerPoint and video content as part of a lesson. Classrooms in Key Stage 1 (Reception, Years 1 – 2) have both desk and carpet spaces; younger children sometimes sit on the carpet to listen to the teacher then use their desks when they are writing. As children get older and progress into Key Stage 2 (Years 3 – 6), children have their own larger, allocated desk space in which to work. Desks are placed so that all the children can clearly see the teacher and the board. 

All our pupils have access to a carefully-curated selection of fiction and non-fiction books chosen for specific age-groups and reading abilities. Classrooms have dedicated book/reading areas and many of our year groups also have separate reading and study rooms which are used throughout the school day. 

A hydrated brain is a happy brain - each day, children bring in a fresh bottle of water which they have access to throughout the day. Outside of the classroom, all our pupils have their own personal storage space for coats and lunch boxes. Children in Year 1 – 4 have shared lockers in which they stored their personal items. In Years 5 and 6 children each get an individual cubby in which to put their books and other possessions.

Waterbottles

News

Posted on: 26/08/2022

GCSE RESULTS 2022

BEST EVER GCSE RESULTS! WELL DONE TO THE STUDENTS AND STAFF. 

The staff at Heyford Park School are delighted with the excellent GCSE and BTEC examination results that Heyford students have achieved. These are a reflection of their fantastic commitment and the high-quality teaching they have received.  All our students should be justifiably proud of their efforts through the most challenging of times. We are really proud of the staff and students at Heyford Park School. It is wonderful that their hard work and commitment has been rewarded in this way. 

Headline KS4 figures are as follows: 

  • 29% of grades at Grade 7+ 
  • 62% of students achieved 5+ in English and Maths 
  • 79% of students achieved 4+ in English and Maths    The success at Heyford Park School includes many exceptional individual performances including Chi Ling who achieved five grade 9s, four grade 8s and a distinction, Clorice achieved four grade 9s, five grade 8’s and two grade 7s. Jacob who achieved four grade 9s, four grade 8s, a merit and grade 5. Ben, who achieved six grade 9s, two grade 7s and a distinction. Ellie Ryan who achieved four grade 9s, four grade 8s and a distinction. We are delighted that our students will now be able to move on to their next stage, whether at Sixth Form, apprenticeships or other pathways.  These fantastic results reflect our dedication to nurture students at all levels of ability and reward them for their positive attitudes, hard work and resilience.  Mrs Harris – A year 11 parent said;

    'Thanks so much to all the staff who have taken the time to support Jacob since year 7. The small school ethos has allowed him to thrive and I'm always bowled over by how well the staff know him as an individual. We know how hard you all work and you are very much appreciated'.

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Posted on: 20/07/2022

Heyford Park School celebrates best ever KS2 SATs results

Heyford park student celebrations

As you may be aware, pupils undertake a range of assessments throughout the course of the school year, some of which are statutory. The Department of Education paused these statutory assessments in 2019/20 and 2020/21 before they resumed again this year.

You may have seen some national headlines reporting a ‘disappointing’ fall in attainment compared with before Covid. We are delighted to share with you the overall fantastic news that the Heyford Park School end of Key Stage 2 assessment results (SATS) are our best ever.

This demonstrates the exciting journey that we have been on and is testament not only to the whole staff team, who have been dedicated to improving teaching and learning in the School, but also to the hard work and effort of the children they inspire. We are proud to share some of the headline figures as follows:

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Good Level of Development

73% achieved (71.8% National in 2019)

Year 1 Phonics

88% of children passed (82% National in 2019)

Year 2 Phonics

100% of children passed their retakes

KS1

Reading

81% achieved age related with 45% achieved above

Writing

76% achieved age related expectations with 7% above

Maths

88% achieved age related with 26% achieved above

71% of children achieved age related in reading writing and maths

KS2

Reading

77% achieved age related with 21% achieved above (74% National average)

Writing

77% achieved age related with 18% achieved above (69% National average)

Maths

74% achieved age related with 15% achieved above (71% National average)

64% of children achieved age related in reading, writing and maths (59% National average)

 

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