Further information
| Proprietors | Mr & Mrs P Slade Furze Close, Woodbury Common, Exeter EX5 1EX |
| Headmaster | Mr Nigel R Home MA(StAnd) DipEd CertEd |
| School secretary | Fiona Plowman |
| Deputy Head | Mrs Carolyn S Heard MA(ed)BPhilEd BA(Hons)BPhilEd PGDipE AdvDipEd(Child Dev) CertEd |
| Junior Class Teacher | Mrs Emma Leach BA(Hons) PGCE |
| Reception Teacher | Mrs Denise Dyer BEd(Hons) |
| Teaching Assistant | Mrs Gillian Harris (State Reg Physiotherapist) |
| Spanish Teacher | Ms Eleanor Rylance MA(Cantab) PGCE |
| Art Teacher | Mrs J Gail Home DipFineArt |
| Science Teacher | Miss Seana Cummings MSC PGCE |
| Music Teacher | Mrs Daphne Harlock BEd(Hons) DipMusConsultancy |
| Dance Teacher | Heather Dixie AISTD RADTC |
| Piano Teacher | Mrs Rebecca Williamson BSc(Hons) PGCE |
| Guitar/Singing Teacher | Mrs Daphne Harlock BEd(Hons) DipMusConsultancy |
| Brass/Woodwind Teacher | Mrs Vanessa Tyrrell BA(Hons) |
| Speech & Drama Teacher | Mr Gerald Cox RSADip |
| Yoga Teacher | Mrs Karen Green CH Ed DipYoga |
| Tennis Coach | Mr Don Wingate |
| Pupils on Roll | 40 Boys & Girls aged 4 to 12 |
Non-executive Board of Governors:
- Mr Simon de Bendern
- Prof Bob Burden (Emeritus Professor of Education, Exeter University)
- Sir Robin Maxwell-Hyslop
- Mrs R Fane-Trefusis
- Mr Ian Wright BA
School Fees (2007-2008)
Reception to Year 2 - £1575.00 per term
Year 3 to Year 6 - £1650.00 per term
Year 7+ - £1725.00 per term
Parents are invited to pay fees monthly over 12 months, if they wish to do so, at no additional cost.
| Autumn Term 2007 | 11.09.07 - 18.12.07 |
| Half Term | 19.10.07 - 26.10.07 |
| Spring Term 2008 | 08.01.08 - 20.03.08 |
| Half Term | 18.02.08 - 22.02.08 |
| Summer Term 2008 | 15.04.08 - 16.07.08 |
| Half Term | 26.05.08 - 30.05.08 |
| Autumn Term 2008 | 10.09.08 - 18.12.08 |
| Half Term | 24.10.08 - 31.10.08 |
| Session 1 begins | 09:20 |
| Morning break | 11:15 |
| Session 2 begins | 11:45 |
| Lunch break | 13:15 |
| Session 3 begins | 14:30 |
| School ends | 16:00 |
Home work is set 4 evenings per week
School is arranged in 3 teaching groups:
| Class 1 | Mrs Denise Dyer 4+ to 6 year olds |
| Class 2 | Mrs Carolyn Heard/ Mrs Emma Leach 6 to 8+ year olds |
| Class 3 | Mr Nigel Home 8+ to 12+ year olds |
Mrs Gill Harris [Mo] assists the children in classes 2 & 3 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
Children are not moved from one class to another by virtue of their age, but by virtue of their readiness for the next class. In certain circumstances children may spend part of their school day in one class, the other part in another class.
In the key areas of numeracy and literacy children are working individually, with the opportunity to accelerate or, where necessary, to concentrate on areas where they are experiencing difficulties.
The school curriculum includes:
- Arithmetic/Maths (75 minutes each day)
- Literacy (75 minutes each day)
- Science
- French
- Spanish
- Art
- Geography
- History
- PE/Games
- Religious Studies
- Drama*
- Music
*This includes an annual Shakespearian production at the end of each summer term. (This year the production will be Macbeth)
Computer studies are not included in the curriculum. Although some homework may invite the use of computers, it is our belief that at this age it is not desirable to spend part of the school day in front of a computer screen. The emphasis at Bendarroch is upon traditional teaching, involving discussion, listening and the development of interaction between the teachers and the taught. Learning is a shared experience.
Games are of an informal nature and include rounders, badminton, cricket
Swimming lessons are held on alternate Fridays throughout the year at Exmouth Swimming Pool. A qualified instructor from Exmouth Swimming Pool assists with the tuition. Children are taken to Exmouth on the school minibus and with the help of volunteering parents.
Playtime. We regard this as a very important part of the school day when children learn the essential skills of social interaction with each other. Children at Bendarroch enjoy considerable freedom within the school grounds. The grounds and climbing frame are fully utilised by the children for their own games, camp building, tree climbing... Children wishing to remain quietly in their own classroom are free to do so.
Children of Class 1 have their own sanctuary area for their outdoor play, but are free to join the older children in the school grounds if they wish to do so.
There is no staff room - staff are on hand all day.
After-school activities include:
| Tuesday | Badminton with Nigel Home (Village Hall, West Hill) |
| Wednesday | Latin class (Nigel Home) |
| Thursday | Tennis coaching with Mr Don Wingate * |
| Friday | Wind Surfing/Canoeing (Summer Term) * |
Peripatetic lessons during the school day include:
| Monday | Speech & Drama lessons with Mr Gerald Cox leading to LAMDA examinations* Piano lessons with Mrs Beccy Williamson* |
| Tuesday & Friday | Guitar/Keyboard/Singing with Mrs Daphne Harlock |
| Wednesday | Yoga lessons with Mrs Kara Green* |
*There is an additional charge for these activities.
School is open from 08.30 (or very soon afterwards) until 17.30, Monday to Friday.
It is asked that all children should be at school by 09.15.
For security reasons the front door will be locked at 09.20. It will be necessary to ring the door bell to gain entry after that time.
Admission to the School. There is no entrance test. All children wishing to join the school are invited to spend at least a day at the school to give them and the school the opportunity to ascertain whether the school's academic provision is suitable for the child.
If it is deemed that the school can provide the educational needs of a child, no child will be precluded from the school on account of physical disabilities. Every reasonable effort would be made to ensure that the school provides the access and support necessary to accommodate a disabled child, whatever the nature of the disability.
Absence from school. If for any reason a child is not coming in to school, please will parents phone the school as soon as possible after 08.30 to inform the class teacher.
Collection from school. If someone unknown to the school is to collect your children, please will you inform the teacher of this.
No child should wait for his/her parents outside the front of the school. Only when their parents/guardians have arrived should children go out of the gate/front door.
May I particularly draw parents' attention to the situation after school when parents are talking to each other while their children play. Although every effort will be made to ensure the safety of everyone within the school grounds, it becomes the parents' responsibility to supervise their children once they have arrived at school after 16.00 and the children have left their classrooms.
School Uniform. This is now available on-line from Children's Warehouse (www.childrens-warehouse.com) or by telephone - 020 8752 1166.
We ask parents please to:
- Adhere to the school uniform requirements
- Ensure all items of clothing are clearly named
Mufti can be worn to school on alternate Fridays (non-swimming days)
Food in School. Children bring packed lunches to school which may also contain a mid-morning break. Except in emergencies and on special occasions, the school does not undertake to supply food to the children. Water from a cooled water filter is available throughout the day.
All lunchboxes should be airtight and clearly named.
Children eat their lunches, supervised, in either their classroom, the art room or, in fine weather, on the lawn.
Because of the risk to some children of severe allergic reaction, it is asked that no nuts are brought in to school and, as far as is reasonably possible, no food with nut additive is included in lunchboxes.
Parent Contact. It is important that parents keep the school informed of all up-to-date contact addresses, telephone and mobile phone numbers in case it is necessary to contact them during the school day.
Illness. If a child is ill or suffering from any contagious condition (Head lice, scabies, conjunctivitis) please keep him/her at home until the condition has completely cleared and there is no risk of spreading the infection.
Parent Evenings and Reports. All parents will be given at least two opportunities during the course of each year for a formal interview with the class teacher to discuss their child's progress. These parent evenings will be held towards the end of the autumn term and early in the summer term.
However, it must be stressed that parents can speak on a daily basis with the class teachers and that, if required, a formal meeting can be arranged at any mutually agreeable time.
Written reports are not provided as a matter of course but, if requested, an annual written report can be supplied.
Children leaving Bendarroch. Most pupils will leave when they are 11 or 12 years old. Some remain until they are 13. We shall prepare children for the entrance exam to the school of their parents' choice, but can offer no guarantee that any child will pass the exam into any given school. Schools to which children have progressed during the last five years have been:
- Blundells School
- Colyton Grammar School
- Downside School
- Monkton Combe School
- Emmanuel School
- Exeter School
- King's School, Ottery St Mary
- Maynard School
- Milton Abbey School
- Queens College, Taunton
- St Davids College, Wales
- St Margarets School
- Sands School
- Sidmouth College
- Wellington School
View Ofsted's report (June 2005)
Complaints against the School. The headmaster and staff recognise that, despite their best endeavours, some issues may arise that give cause for complaint. The following procedures have been installed to address any complaints that may be made against the school.
1. Initial Step
Complaints may be raised formally or informally and are best addressed to the member of staff most closely involved. The complaint will either be satisfactorily resolved at this level, or passed to the member of staff most likely to be able to reply quickly and authoritatively. It is the school's intention that, unless the issue is too complex, a verbal reply will be issued within three days.
2. Second Step
If the response fails to satisfy the complainant, or where the complaint is renewed, the issue will be passed to the headmaster who, within three further days, will give a verbal reply. This will be followed by a formal reply.
3. Appeal Procedure
Where the response by the headmaster does not support the view of the complainant, the complainant will be asked to submit the complaint in writing to an appeal committee that will be chaired by the headmaster of Exeter School. At their discretion, the complainant may be invited to address the committee. The outcome of that committee's review is final. Its finding will be delivered in writing within two weeks or, where it is a matter of urgency, within five days.
If legal action is threatened against the school or against any of its staff, the provisions of this procedure will be suspended and the matter dealt with through the school's legal representative
Bullying. Every school is subject from time to time to the effects of bullying. Where it is identified, we at Bendarroch shall strive to eradicate it as quickly as possible using the procedures laid down in the School's Anti-Bullying Policy.
This, and other statutory policies are available to be seen at any time by any parent
Sanctions. Bendarroch has a framework of school rules that must be obeyed by all children. The emphasis however, is always upon the development of mutual respect and tolerance and the continual exercise of common sense. If a pupil is behaving or performing badly, is bullying or disrupting the education of other pupils, the following steps will be taken:
The child will be warned to stop offending and a suitable punishment/strategy will be employed. Eg:
- 1. Talking the matter over with the child
- 2 .Talking to other teachers and pupils
- 3. Moving the child's position in the class
- 4 .Sending the child to work in another supervised classroom
- 5 .Removing the child from the classroom for a short period
- 6. Speaking to parents
- 7. Avoided work being completed at a break time
- 8. Removing or restricting play time
In serious cases, further disciplinary action such as temporary suspension from the school may be necessary. This will be done in consultation between the headmaster and the child's parents. Such incidents will be entered in a register of disciplinary offences.
It is the school's preference to motivate pupils by praise and encouragement. The application of sanctions is only pursued where a child continues to fail to observe the required standards of behaviour necessary for the smooth running of the school.
Information set out in this handbook is in recognition of our legal duty to inform parents of the school's methods and practices. It is not intended to replace the close and greatly valued co-operation between the parents and the School.
Bendarroch School is a partnership with the parents for the benefit of the children, and will always remain so. Flexibility and adaptability are words difficult to enshrine within this publication, but they are words central to the ethos of the school - those words, and TRUST.
None of us at Bendarroch ever forgets the trust that is invested in us. We shall always strive our utmost to preserve and deserve that trust.