Amberley West Sussex

An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Direct link to Amberley School site www.amberleyschool.co.uk

Amberley C. of E. First School - An Overview  

Amberley’s school, with some 41 pupils, nestles at the foot of the South Downs, just off the B2139.

The original building, opened on the site in 1874, was replaced in the 1960s and given a complete makeover in 1993. Set in beautiful and extensive grounds, it comprises three modern and well-equipped classrooms, each with their own toilets and cloakrooms, a shared hall with PE apparatus, and small music and library areas. There is a heated outdoor swimming pool, adventure trail, a pets enclosure, all-weather and field playgrounds, and a play area for the youngest children. Computer workstations are part of each classroom and all children, from the earliest age, have access and instruction in their use.

As a Church of England Voluntary Controlled School, it has religious education with an appreciation of all faiths added to the usual National Curriculum subjects. Pupils and their parents are expected to contribute to the school community for the development of the children to lead rewarding lives and to become responsible citizens. This participation helps in creating a warm and caring family atmosphere for staff and pupils alike to work in.

Head teacher, Pat Fuller (or by the end of 2004 Michelle Clifford), is supported by three class teachers, a learning support teacher, and four classroom support staff. This small but professional and dedicated team combine to deliver the highest standards. In particular, the school prides itself on the interest and expertise in the arts across the staff.

The co-educational school takes children from 4 to 10 years, when, typically, they go on to Rydon Intermediary School in Storrington, and then to Steyning or Billingshurst. As Amberley Parish has less than 300 households and is at the edge of an educational administrative zone created by the natural boundaries of the South Downs and River Arun, it has a small catchment area, which means the school has room for more pupils. If you would like to consider rural schooling for your child in a peaceful but stimulating atmosphere, where concern for the individual child is a priority, contact the head teacher.

Aims:

• To provide a rich and stimulating environment and a feeling of security and shared purpose
• To encourage each child to fully develop the basic skills in numeracy, literacy and oracy, and to use these effectively
• To develop new skills and a thirst for learning
• To develop autonomy, adaptability and an enquiring mind and the ability to question and argue independently and rationally
• To prepare the children for living and working together, both on their own and co-operatively, with respect and tolerance for other races and religions
• To encourage children to develop appreciation and sensitivity through careful observation and thought.

Amberley school does well.
Excellent results of 100% in maths and very high results in reading and writing were achieved in the Key Stage 1 2004 examinations.  All able children attained very good level 3 results as expected.   Due to the small size of the school only a few children sat the tests and detailed results have not been published as it would be possible to identify the performance of individual children.

We are also pleased with the Ofsted report on an inspection in January 2004. A summary of the main inspection judgements are:

AMBERLEY FIRST CE SCHOOL

OFSTED January 2004:  Summary of the Main Inspection Judgements

In a new inspection system introduced in September 2003, OFSTED make judgements on a scale: excellent (grade 1); very good (2);  good (3); satisfactory (4); unsatisfactory (5); poor (6); very poor (7);   where (4) is the norm and extremes rarely used

	Grade
The overall effectiveness of the school	4
How inclusive the school is	2
How the school’s effectiveness has changed since its last inspection	4
Value for money provided by the school	4
Overall standards achieved	4
Pupils’ achievement	4
Pupils’ attitudes, values and other personal qualities	3
Attendance	4
Attitudes	3
Behaviour, including the extent of exclusions	3
Pupils’spiritual, moral, social and cultural development	3
The quality of education provided by the school	4
The quality of teaching	4
How well pupils learn	4
The quality of assessment	5
How well the curriculum meets pupils needs	4
Enrichment of the curriculum, including out-of-school activities	4
Accommodation and resources	4
Pupils’ care, welfare, health and safety	4
Support, advice and guidance for pupils	4
How well the school seeks and acts on pupils’ views	4
The effectiveness of the school’s links with parents	3
The quality of the school’s links with the community	3
The school’s links with other schools and colleges	3
The leadership and management of the school	4
The governance of the school	5
The leadership of the headteacher	2
The leadership of other key staff	4
The effectiveness of management	4

“Pupils are overwhelmingly positive about the school.  They enjoy life and find lessons fun. Their contemporaries are friendly and teachers are fair and listen to their ideas.  Most feel they have to work hard and that teachers trust them.  Their self-esteem is high and those selected for interview chatted confidently.” (paragraph 12)

Summary of teaching observed during the inspection in 10 lessons

Excellent	V. good	Good	Satisfactory	Unsatisfactory	Poor	V.  Poor
1	1	2	6	0	0	0

Inspection report number 260568

Amberley C of E School
School Road
Amberley, West Sussex BN18 9NB

Tel: 01798 831 612
Fax: 01798 831 030
e-mail: office@amberley.w-sussex.sch.uk

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