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Colston's Lower School, Bristol

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Colston's Lower School details

Address:
Colston's Lower School
Park Road, Stapleton, Bristol BS16 1BA
Telephone:
0117 965 5297
Fax:
0117 958 5652
Email:
schooladmin@ colstons.bristol.sch.uk
Website:
www.colstons.bristol.sch.uk/ m-lower/index.html
Authority:
Bristol
Admissions:
Selective
Gender of entry:
Mixed
Age range:
3-11
Number of students:
232
Affiliation:
IAPS, HMC, SHMIS
Last inspection:
March 2003. Read the full inspection report.

Find a school:

ISC accredited

General information

Headteacher: Caroline Aspden, appointed in September 2003.

Staff: 21 (men 5, women 16).

Background: Colston?s Lower School is ideally situated in Stapleton village, which is within the city of Bristol. It is one mile from Junction two of the M32. In addition to its own specialist facilities for science, ICT, music, design and technology, art and games, the lower school has full use of facilities at the neighbouring upper school including 32 acres of playing fields. The majority of pupils move from the lower to the upper school. They work in small classes on a broad curriculum that extends beyond the requirements of the national curriculum, incorporating the full range of academic subjects together with French, design and technology, ICT, art and music. Music and drama flourish in the lower school, with choirs and an orchestra, regular concerts, school plays and a performing arts competition. In addition to physical education lessons there are two afternoons of junior sport each week. The boys principally play rugby, hockey, and cricket and the girls play hockey, netball and rounders. Also available are soccer, squash, tennis, swimming, athletics and badminton. Pupils take part in a wide range of clubs and activities, and are able to stay on at the school under supervision at the end of each day for pre or after-care. Numerous holiday activities are offered including ski trips, canal boat trips, summer camps and other adventure pursuits. The school aims to provide a first class education for every boy and girl in its care, endeavouring to develop the talents of them all to the full.

Approach to discipline: Praise and reward are encouraged, and pupils receive credits and merits for good work, behaviour and attitudes. Debits and sanctions are administered where necessary, as children may learn from their mistakes. Discipline is firm, fair and forgiving..

Uniform: The nursery uniform is gold and navy with no blazer required. Otherwise children wear a distinctive striped blazer with a house tie. Uniform regulation strictly enforced.

Special needs: Support is provided for children in class, and there is also a learning support teacher to provide individual lessons if required.

Inspection: March 2003: 'Colston?s Lower School is a good school with some very good features. It has many strengths, notably the high standards pupils achieve in many subjects. Pupils receive a high proportion of good and very good teaching. Pupils? attitudes are very good, as are the relationships in the school and the provision made for pupils? personal development. Children receive a good start to their education in the foundation stage and for older pupils the provision of extra curricular activities is very good. Areas for improvement include the redefinition of the roles and responsibilities of governors, senior managers and curriculum leaders as well as the upgrading of the unsatisfactory library provision.'

Secondary schools: Colston's School.

Boys' age range: 3 to 11.

Girls' age range: 3 to 11.

Before-school care: From 08.15.

After-school care: Until 17.30.

Factors taken into account other than academic ability: A wide range of criteria including behaviour, school reference, ability in extra-curricular activities and personality.

Selection procedures: Entrance assessments for year three and above.

Day pupils: 232.

Average class size (Year 5): 15.

All teachers hold teaching qualifications?: Y.

Teachers with degrees: 20.

Specialist teachers used: Yes. The strong junior (year three and above) curriculum is mainly delivered by specialists both for national curriculum and extra subjects.

Subjects taught in addition to national curriculum: French, PHSE and games.

Sports offered: Main sports for boys: rugby, hockey, cricket.Main sports for girls: hockey, netball, rounders.Other sports: swimming, athletics, tennis, badminton, football, table tennis, squash and gymnastics.

On-site sports facilities: The lower and upper schools share exceptional facilities on 32-acres of playing fields. A continuous programme of improvement has recently provided a floodlit Astroturf pitch and newly refurbished floodlit tennis and netball courts. Lower school pupils also have use of a sports hall and heated outdoor swimming pool.

Off-site sports facilities: Facilities for all sports on 32-acre site shared with upper school.

Percentage receiving instrumental tuition (Year 5): 50%.

Daily act of collective worship?: Y.

Pupils sit SATs?: Y.

SATs results provided by QCA-approved body?: Y.

Common entrance?: Y.

Major scholarships won: Merchants' Scholarship.

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