At Glenfrome, we teach children to be independent, confident learners, using ‘learning powers’ to help them achieve. They know how to challenge themselves, what to do if they get ‘stuck’, and that making mistakes is a brilliant way to learn.
Our exciting outdoor spaces are our secret weapon – one of the things that makes us unique. As well as extensive grounds, we are within walking distance of Purdown, Snuff Mills and Eastville Park, and make good use of these spaces to enhance the children’s learning.
A Forest School
Our Forest School programme gives all children access to the local woods, to explore and be curious about the environment. Learning is hands-on and child-led, improving spatial awareness, motor development and team work. High adult:child ratios mean that children can safely experience exciting activities like climbing trees or lighting fires.
Confident performers
We are proud of our children’s musical talent and currently offer music tuition in recorder, violin, drumming, singing and guitar.
Stimulating visits
Recent visits include an Egyptian workshop at the Bristol Museum; We the Curious to study the Solar System; Bristol Zoo to explore habitats and mini beasts; and The Red Lodge to experience Tudor life.
Interesting visitors
We regularly welcome visitors into school to engage and inspire us all, from African drummers to theatre groups, Indian dancers to Community Support Officers and Firefighters; we aim to give children both aspirational and inspirational experiences.
The Mastery-learning model
This forms the basis of our approach to teaching the National curriculum (implemented in 2014). This allows us to spend more time going into depth about a subject instead of rushing through the objectives. Previously Primary Schools had too many objectives to cover. This meant that some children were left with large gaps in subject knowledge because the concept they had just learnt was not consolidated.
At Glenfrome we focus on ensuring that children have an absolutely solid, concrete understanding of subject knowledge and skills. We have the confidence to take learning at a steadier and deeper pace, ensuring that no child is left behind, as well as providing deeper and richer experiences for children who are working above the national expectation for their age.
Mastery-led learning means that no child is taught content from the year group above them. Instead they will spend time becoming really confident with the objectives for their age, applying and being creative with new knowledge and skills in multiple ways.
Teachers and Teaching Assistants will use pre-teaching sessions in the morning and catch-up sessions in the afternoon to do this in order for us to quickly close the gaps and ensure that your child can learn the objectives for their year group.
