Schools recognised for improving student performance

Two schools in East Dorset have been recognised for their work in raising the achievement of students as a result of pupil premium funding.

Wimborne First School has won the primary school category and Cranborne Middle School has won the secondary school category in the Dorset Pupil Premium Awards run by Dorset Council. The winning schools were recognised as having done the most to improve student opportunities and achievements.

The pupil premium grant is additional funding for publicly funded schools in England and provides schools with extra resources to help support disadvantaged children.

Wimborne First School were recognised for offering an individualised approach with a focus on high quality teaching for all pupils and high expectations that children will do well. The school has greatly improved attendance by introducing mindfulness and yoga and also offer wide range of extra-curricular activities such as STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) clubs.

Cranborne Middle School focuses on supporting a good transition into Year 5, strong parent partnership and good networks with other schools to share good practice. The school also focuses on quality teaching for all children and on raising attendance.

Sarah Hartley, Headteacher at Wimborne First School said, “We are very proud to receive this award. We pride ourselves in giving every child in our school a chance to thrive and succeed.  We have an extremely creative staff who, through a variety of interventions such as ‘Mindful Movement’ and ‘Wellies and Waterproofs’, give the children the chance to aspire to be the best they can!

Our aim is to give the children strategies to be in a positive place, ready to learn and be aware of their mindfulness, this in turn raises attainment and attendance in the school.”

Laura Trepess, Year 5 Teacher and Lead Officer for Pupil Premium at Cranborne Middle School said, “Myself and all the staff are thrilled to have won this award. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole staff and governors of our school, putting pupil premium at the heart of everything we do.

“We have had to be innovative in the way we have used our funding, which has involved getting to know our pupils really well, collaborating with other schools, researching and trialling new interventions which are robustly monitored and assessed; and ultimately, continually striving to give our disadvantaged pupils a better chance in life.”

Cllr Andrew Parry, Dorset Council Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Early Help, said:

“There is some great work happening in schools across Dorset to ensure all pupils are given the same opportunities to achieve as well as their peers.

“These awards allow us to recognise just some of this work and, in turn, provide greater opportunity for schools and early years settings to showcase their achievements and share best practice. Thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to the winners.”

Prizes for both schools including training vouchers, free places on a team building day and free music instrument hire for 10 pupils.

Schools and early years settings interested in finding out more about the Dorset Pupil Premium awards or in sharing pupil premium best practice can contact s.peel@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk for more information.