Learning Environment and Activities

“What the Hendreds gives to its children is an openness to the world, a creative approach to learning, and a delight in the arts that unlocks the learning across the curriculum.  It prepared me for a life following my love for the arts, becoming a father myself, and having an undeniable empathy for those I meet, both professionally and personally, which has led me to my Senior Manager role in a FTSE 250 company.”  Ex-pupil

A huge amount of care and attention is taken by The Hendreds school staff in developing a safe and dynamic learning environment for all children from 4 through to 11.

All of the teachers help you do the best, whether it’s reading, spelling or maths you need to work on, they’ll be there like a friend.”   Pupil

The range of activities enjoyed by the children is unusually diverse.  Each child is given the opportunity to shine where they excel and to gain confidence where they lack it under the careful guidance and gentle care of the staff.

What the school will do for your child is boost their confidence and help them be involved.  Everyone is kind and caring (pupils and teachers) at The Hendreds, and it is a very welcoming environment.”  Pupil

Every child takes part in some form of sport, almost every day, from judo to gymnastics through to outdoor team sports and swimming.  These activities are all taught by professional PE teachers.

The children are immersed in music from the very start of Reception right the way through the school.  The range of exposure is diverse and engaging, with music workshops, weekly class music sessions and church concerts.  Every child will, at some stage in the school, have violin or cello lessons.

All children are also involved in drama productions throughout their time in the school.  These range from the traditional Nativity play for the younger children to more mature and demanding drama productions and workshops for the older children.

“What’s really good is the way that everyone gets involved instead of the best actors doing the acting or the best singers singing.  Everyone gets a try.” Pupil

The children enjoy their learning environment and come to respect it and the things within it.  They spend as much time outside as possible throughout the year both during play times and teaching time.  There are many class and school outings both locally, for example to see the lambing at the local farm, and further afield, such as to Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford and The O2 Arena in London.

“The Hendreds is fabulous in every way, from its lessons to its trips, from its productions to its breaks.”  Pupil 

 

The Academic Curriculum

“The headteacher has very high expectations for both staff and pupils.  There is a culture of continuous improvement to teaching and learning that secures excellent outcomes for all its pupils.”  OFSTED

The Hendreds School is proud of the enriched curriculum it offers its pupils.  Teaching is based around a core of learning in English and Maths.  Other subjects, including Science, History, Geography, Religious Education, French and Latin, are taught throughout the school and complement these core subjects. 

A thematic approach is taken to much of the learning with a chosen topic being used to explore different areas of many subjects.  This inventive and imaginative approach to the curriculum ensures all children are engaged with and enthused by what they are doing.

All teachers are trained to recognise the abilities of each child and to ensure that, through differentiated teaching, the range of abilities within the class group is catered for and that as a result every child meets its full potential.

“The Headteacher and staff strive to attain the school’s vision for each child to achieve well, academically and socially, regardless of their background or ability.”  Inspection of Anglican School Report

This approach and the teaching environment ensure that children leaving the school are well equipped to go on and succeed in secondary school and later life.

 

Curriculum Plan

The curriculum consists of every aspect of school life from assemblies, acts of worship, traditional lessons through to field trips, an exceptional PE curriculum and RE.

“The personal development of each pupil is at the heart of the school’s workNo opportunity is wasted in the pursuit of this goal.”  OFSTED

We aim to make our curriculum broad and engaging with many subjects, such as art and drama, used to bring our topics alive.  Our approach is to offer many additional experiences such as musical productions, philosophy, Latin and French, learning an instrument, cooking and, for the oldest, building and racing a car!

The topic plan acts as a scaffold for our work but is subject to change depending on a particular class’s strengths, needs and enthusiasms.

Click here for our Three Year Rolling Curriculum Plan

 

Ethos and School Community

Equipped with self-esteem and tolerance, every child will leave The Hendreds well set up for secondary school and life beyond.

It is the aim of the school and at the heart of its ethos that every child leaves with a well-developed and strong sense of self, feeling valued for who they are as well as what they have achieved.

Hendreds children are exposed to a huge variety of different experiences in mixed age groups.  Older children are given increasing responsibility within the school community and take care of younger ones.  At The Hendreds, every child knows every teacher and every teacher knows every child.

“Parents openly talk of the welcoming and nurturing environment where everyone is known, and of the way in which the school community is a family.  They talk about how Christian values make a difference both in and out of school, ‘My son is kinder to his brother since he started school’, and ‘It’s all about putting others before yourself here, it’s the Christian ethos’.  Christian values and the school’s dedication to providing experiences for physical challenges in the curriculum and breaktimes contribute to the SMSC1 of all learners.”  Inspection of Anglican School Report

Through an ongoing dialogue about values and faith, children are reassured in themselves as well as reminded that they are part of a wider community, the school, the village, the church and beyond.  As much as the school embraces the difference in each child, it teaches the children to embrace the world and all its differences with self-respect and tolerance.

“The behaviour in the school is impeccable and firmly rooted in respectful relationships.  Pupils take the responsibility of respecting and helping others very seriously.”  Inspection of Anglican School Report

1 Social, Moral, Spiritual, Cultural