Finchale Primary School
Encyclopedia
Finchale Primary School is a primary school for boys and girls situated in Newton Hall
in County Durham
. The school, which opened in 1971, has approximately 165 pupils on its roll aged four to 11 years. It is currently undergoing a huge £1.5m redevelopment. The headteacher, Sandra Whitton, joined the school in 2006.
, mixed primary school. Children join the Reception class
from 11 different local nurseries. The school has approximately 165 pupils on its roll aged four to 11 years. A small number of pupils, whose parents are studying at Durham University
, come to the school from abroad and have English as an additional language. Some of these pupils return to their country of origin partway through their primary education. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is broadly average and there are more pupils with statements of special educational needs than usual in primary schools. Standards on entry are broadly average.
Most pupils transfer to the nearby Framwellgate School
while some also attend private schools
such as Durham School
or Durham High School for Girls
or other local comprehensive schools. Here most complete GCSEs and A-levels before attending university
.
The school derives its name from the nearby Finchale Priory
a 13th century Benedictine
priory
, the remains of which are situated about two miles from the school by the River Wear
.
, a large housing estate about two miles north of Durham City
. The school is bordered by Canterbury Road to the front, houses on two sides and by the East Coast Main Line to the rear (and Low Newton Junction Nature Reserve beyond that).
The school has two main buildings on two levels linked by a covered stairway. The upper building was opened in 1971 as Durham Finchale County Primary School. The lower building was opened in 1975 as Durham Finchale County Junior School. The two schools amalgamated under one head teacher in January 1996.
Most of the classrooms are semi-open plan and are linked by practical areas or quiet areas. The school benefits from the use of two halls, a library and an ICT suite. The school grounds have three playgrounds, a sensory garden, a tyre playground, a wooden obstacle course and a large playing field. There are many mature trees bordering the campus.
(Years 3 to 6), and the upper building will be demolished.
When completed, the school will have seven classrooms and capacity for 210 pupils. It will include an extension of 58 square metres.
The first phase of the work was completed on time when a brand new kitchen was opened in September 2009 ready for the school to meet its commitment to provide free meals to every child as part of Durham County Council's Eat4Free initiative. On December 11, 2009, the lower building was closed while to allow refurbishment and building work to take place and all pupils moved to the upper building.
follows the requirements of Early Learning Goals and the National Curriculum.
When children start at the school aged four they follow a practical curriculum based on Early Learning Goals. At the age of five, or when the children are ready, they begin to access the National Curriculum which consists of the following subject areas: English, maths, science, design and technology, history, geography, P.E., music, art and ICT (information and communication technology). The children are also taught R.E. as outlined in the Durham Agreed Syllabus.
Although it is not a curriculum requirement, pupils have the opportunity to learn French.
Pupils at Finchale have the opportunity to take lessons in brass
, woodwind
or string
instruments and these are provided by the Durham Schools Music Service. Guitar
tuition is also available and this is organized through a private provider.
All pupils at Finchale Primary School participate in PE for at least two hours a week. The children cover the following activities as outlined in the national curriculum:
Key Stage 1
: gymnastics
, dance
and games skills.
Key Stage 2
: gymnastics, dance, games skills, athletics and swimming
.
All Year 3 pupils attend swimming lessons at the local Aykley Heads swimming pool.
As part of the British Council
's International School Award scheme, Finchale has developed links with Ecole Ramon Elementaire in Soissons
, France
and the following schools in Jordan
: the Abi Huneifah Primary School for Boys, the National Orthodox School
, The Rosary College and the Um Kulthoum Primary School for Girls.
The school has a strong social inclusion policy and staff work to remove barriers to learning for all pupils regardless of ability, race or gender. While schools are often measured solely by their SATs
results, the ethos at Finchale Primary School reflects the fact that the school values the work and progress of all its pupils allowing them to achieve at the best of their ability and feel good about their level of personal success. The school considers social and emotional issues to be as important as academic progress, believing pupils can only learn effectively when they are happy, safe and secure.
The school engages in Brain Gym
activities, teaches in ways that appeal to visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learners and provides every child with a water bottle to ensure they are properly hydrated and able to learn effectively.
The school operates a policy of assertive discipline
which rewards good behaviour and challenges that which breaks a very concise set of rules.
The school has regular visits from theatre groups, story tellers and authors to support work within the school. These have included, among others, The Lions of Zululand, The Kosmic Krew, Kasia Vosloo from the ExpoChef, a Bollywood dance teacher from Kalapremi, children's author Ian Beck
and storyteller Adam Bushnell.
report in May 2007 rated the school as "satisfactory with good features".
Inspectors said:
“Pupils benefit from the school’s sensitive care, support and guidance and their
personal development and well-being are good. Pupils enjoy coming to school[...].”
Inspectors visited Finchale Primary on January 7 and 8 2010, the findings of their inspection are pending.
(Year 6), most Finchale Primary School pupils, by then aged 11, are expected to achieve Level 4 in English, maths and science in their SATs
tests. Many pupils also exceed national expectations and perform consistently better than other schools both locally and nationally at Level 5.
The table below, detailing Finchale Primary School's SATs results for 2009, shows that those pupils who achieve Level 4 or above performed better than average when compared to other schools in the Durham County Council Local Education Authority
as well as all schools across the country.
The table below, detailing Finchale Primary School's SATs results for 2008, shows that those pupils who achieve Level 4 or above performed better than average when compared to other schools in the Durham County Council Local Education Authority
as well as all schools across the country.
The school has had recent notable successes with the girls football team winning the 2008/09 Durham Football Shield and the mixed football team reached the quarter-finals of the 2008/09 County Plate competition. The 2008/09 Year 1 pupils won Best Cheography by a Teacher and Best Costumes at the 2008 Durham City Schools Dance Festival. And the same group of pupils won the Most Emotional Performance award at the 2009 Durham City Schools Gymnastic Festival.
The sports on offer include:
Each pupil will also have the chance to attend a residential trip to an outdoor education centre at least once in their time at the school. The most recent of these was to High Borrans in the Lake District
.
.
Boys must wear charcoal or black trousers
, white polo shirt and a red jumper embossed with the school badge. In the summer, boys may wear charcoal or black shorts.
Girls must wear a charcoal or black skirt
or pinafore dress or trousers with a white polo shirt or blouse
and a red jumper or cardigan
embossed with the school badge. Girls can wear grey, red or white tights. In the summer, girls may wear a red and white checked summer dress with white or grey socks.
Both boys and girls are required to wear black shoes.
For PE, all pupils are asked to wear black shorts with a white school t-shirts
, white socks and trainers.
Autumn term: Monday, 7 September to Friday, 18 December. Half-term: Monday, 26 October to Friday, 30 October.
Spring term: Tuesday, 5 January to Thursday, 1 April. Half-term: Monday, 15 February to Friday, 19 February.
Summer term, Tuesday, 20 April to Friday, 23 July. Half-term: Monday, 31 May to Friday, 4 June.
The school will also close on Friday, December 11; Friday 30th, April and Monday, 3 May.
The above closures include five training days for staff. The dates may not agree with other Durham schools.
Newton Hall
Newton Hall is a large housing estate in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the north of Durham, near Framwellgate Moor and Pity Me, and has the East Coast Main Line running the length of its east boundary...
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. The school, which opened in 1971, has approximately 165 pupils on its roll aged four to 11 years. It is currently undergoing a huge £1.5m redevelopment. The headteacher, Sandra Whitton, joined the school in 2006.
About the school
Finchale Primary School is a non-denominationalNon-denominational Christianity
In Christianity, nondenominational institutions or churches are those not formally aligned with an established denomination, or that remain otherwise officially autonomous. This, however, does not preclude an identifiable standard among such congregations...
, mixed primary school. Children join the Reception class
Reception (school)
Reception or Primary 1 or FS2 is the first year of primary school in the United Kingdom and South Australia. It is preceded by nursery and is followed by Year One in England and Wales or Primary 2 in Northern Ireland and Scotland.Pupils in Reception are usually aged between four and five...
from 11 different local nurseries. The school has approximately 165 pupils on its roll aged four to 11 years. A small number of pupils, whose parents are studying at Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
, come to the school from abroad and have English as an additional language. Some of these pupils return to their country of origin partway through their primary education. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is broadly average and there are more pupils with statements of special educational needs than usual in primary schools. Standards on entry are broadly average.
Most pupils transfer to the nearby Framwellgate School
Framwellgate School Durham
Framwellgate School Durham is a large state Science College, Community School and Sixth Form Centre, in the Framwellgate Moor area of Durham City, County Durham, England. The current Head Teacher is Mrs...
while some also attend private schools
Independent school (UK)
An independent school is a school that is not financed through the taxation system by local or national government and is instead funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and so is not subject to the conditions imposed by...
such as Durham School
Durham School
Durham School, headmaster Martin George , is an independent British day and boarding school for boys and girls in Durham....
or Durham High School for Girls
Durham High School for Girls
Durham High School for Girls is a single-sex independent day school for 3 to 18 year olds in Durham City, United Kingdom.-History and current status:...
or other local comprehensive schools. Here most complete GCSEs and A-levels before attending university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
.
The school derives its name from the nearby Finchale Priory
Finchale Priory
Finchale Priory was a 13th century Benedictine priory. The remains are sited by the River Wear, four miles from Durham. It is a Grade I listed building.-Current Situation:...
a 13th century Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
, the remains of which are situated about two miles from the school by the River Wear
River Wear
The River Wear is located in North East England, rising in the Pennines and flowing eastwards, mostly through County Durham, to the North Sea at Sunderland.-Geology and history:...
.
Campus
Finchale Primary School is situated in extensive grounds off Canterbury Road in Newton HallNewton Hall
Newton Hall is a large housing estate in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the north of Durham, near Framwellgate Moor and Pity Me, and has the East Coast Main Line running the length of its east boundary...
, a large housing estate about two miles north of Durham City
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
. The school is bordered by Canterbury Road to the front, houses on two sides and by the East Coast Main Line to the rear (and Low Newton Junction Nature Reserve beyond that).
The school has two main buildings on two levels linked by a covered stairway. The upper building was opened in 1971 as Durham Finchale County Primary School. The lower building was opened in 1975 as Durham Finchale County Junior School. The two schools amalgamated under one head teacher in January 1996.
Most of the classrooms are semi-open plan and are linked by practical areas or quiet areas. The school benefits from the use of two halls, a library and an ICT suite. The school grounds have three playgrounds, a sensory garden, a tyre playground, a wooden obstacle course and a large playing field. There are many mature trees bordering the campus.
Redevelopment
In July 2009 work began on a major £1.5m redevelopment of the school. When this is completed all the pupils will be housed in the extended lower building, currently occupied by Key Stage 2 pupilsKey Stage 2
Key Stage 2 is the legal term for the four years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6, when pupils are aged between 7 and 11. The term is applied differently in Northern Ireland where it refers to pupils in Year 5, Year 6 and...
(Years 3 to 6), and the upper building will be demolished.
When completed, the school will have seven classrooms and capacity for 210 pupils. It will include an extension of 58 square metres.
The first phase of the work was completed on time when a brand new kitchen was opened in September 2009 ready for the school to meet its commitment to provide free meals to every child as part of Durham County Council's Eat4Free initiative. On December 11, 2009, the lower building was closed while to allow refurbishment and building work to take place and all pupils moved to the upper building.
Curriculum
Finchale Primary provides education for approximately 165 pupils aged between four and 11. The curriculumCurriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
follows the requirements of Early Learning Goals and the National Curriculum.
When children start at the school aged four they follow a practical curriculum based on Early Learning Goals. At the age of five, or when the children are ready, they begin to access the National Curriculum which consists of the following subject areas: English, maths, science, design and technology, history, geography, P.E., music, art and ICT (information and communication technology). The children are also taught R.E. as outlined in the Durham Agreed Syllabus.
Although it is not a curriculum requirement, pupils have the opportunity to learn French.
Pupils at Finchale have the opportunity to take lessons in brass
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
, woodwind
Woodwind instrument
A woodwind instrument is a musical instrument which produces sound when the player blows air against a sharp edge or through a reed, causing the air within its resonator to vibrate...
or string
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
instruments and these are provided by the Durham Schools Music Service. Guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
tuition is also available and this is organized through a private provider.
All pupils at Finchale Primary School participate in PE for at least two hours a week. The children cover the following activities as outlined in the national curriculum:
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 1 is the legal term for the two years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 1 and Year 2, when pupils are aged between 5 and 7. This Key Stage normally covers pupils during infant school, although in some cases this might form part of a first or...
: gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
, dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
and games skills.
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 is the legal term for the four years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6, when pupils are aged between 7 and 11. The term is applied differently in Northern Ireland where it refers to pupils in Year 5, Year 6 and...
: gymnastics, dance, games skills, athletics and swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
.
All Year 3 pupils attend swimming lessons at the local Aykley Heads swimming pool.
As part of the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
's International School Award scheme, Finchale has developed links with Ecole Ramon Elementaire in Soissons
Soissons
Soissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the following schools in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
: the Abi Huneifah Primary School for Boys, the National Orthodox School
National Orthodox School
The National Orthodox School is a school in Amman, Jordan.The National Orthodox School started as a kindergarten in a rented building in Jebel Amman in 1960. Then it was moved to its current premises in Shmeisani in 1965...
, The Rosary College and the Um Kulthoum Primary School for Girls.
The school has a strong social inclusion policy and staff work to remove barriers to learning for all pupils regardless of ability, race or gender. While schools are often measured solely by their SATs
SATS
SATS may refer to:*South African Theological Seminary*Singapore Airport Terminal Services*Small Aircraft Transportation System*Stansted Airport Transit System*The National Curriculum assessment in the UK at ages 11 and 14....
results, the ethos at Finchale Primary School reflects the fact that the school values the work and progress of all its pupils allowing them to achieve at the best of their ability and feel good about their level of personal success. The school considers social and emotional issues to be as important as academic progress, believing pupils can only learn effectively when they are happy, safe and secure.
The school engages in Brain Gym
Brain Gym
The Brain Gym program is based on the concept that learning challenges can be overcome by carrying out certain movements, the use of which will create pathways in the brain...
activities, teaches in ways that appeal to visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learners and provides every child with a water bottle to ensure they are properly hydrated and able to learn effectively.
The school operates a policy of assertive discipline
Assertive discipline
Assertive discipline is an approach to classroom management developed by Lee and Marlene Canter. It involves a high level of teacher control in the class. It is also called the "take-control" approach to teaching, as the teacher controls their classroom in a firm but positive manner...
which rewards good behaviour and challenges that which breaks a very concise set of rules.
The school has regular visits from theatre groups, story tellers and authors to support work within the school. These have included, among others, The Lions of Zululand, The Kosmic Krew, Kasia Vosloo from the ExpoChef, a Bollywood dance teacher from Kalapremi, children's author Ian Beck
Ian Beck
Ian Archibald Beck is an English children's illustrator and author. In addition to his numerous children's books, he is also most famous for his cover illustration on Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album...
and storyteller Adam Bushnell.
Ofsted report
Finchale Primary School's most recent OfstedOfsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
report in May 2007 rated the school as "satisfactory with good features".
Inspectors said:
“Pupils benefit from the school’s sensitive care, support and guidance and their
personal development and well-being are good. Pupils enjoy coming to school[...].”
Inspectors visited Finchale Primary on January 7 and 8 2010, the findings of their inspection are pending.
SATs results
By the end of Key Stage 2Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 is the legal term for the four years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6, when pupils are aged between 7 and 11. The term is applied differently in Northern Ireland where it refers to pupils in Year 5, Year 6 and...
(Year 6), most Finchale Primary School pupils, by then aged 11, are expected to achieve Level 4 in English, maths and science in their SATs
SATS
SATS may refer to:*South African Theological Seminary*Singapore Airport Terminal Services*Small Aircraft Transportation System*Stansted Airport Transit System*The National Curriculum assessment in the UK at ages 11 and 14....
tests. Many pupils also exceed national expectations and perform consistently better than other schools both locally and nationally at Level 5.
The table below, detailing Finchale Primary School's SATs results for 2009, shows that those pupils who achieve Level 4 or above performed better than average when compared to other schools in the Durham County Council Local Education Authority
Local Education Authority
A local education authority is a local authority in England and Wales that has responsibility for education within its jurisdiction...
as well as all schools across the country.
| Subject | Finchale Primary |
LEA Average |
National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 94% | 80% | 80% |
| Maths | 87% | 81% | 79% |
| Science | 97% | 90% | 88% |
The table below, detailing Finchale Primary School's SATs results for 2008, shows that those pupils who achieve Level 4 or above performed better than average when compared to other schools in the Durham County Council Local Education Authority
Local Education Authority
A local education authority is a local authority in England and Wales that has responsibility for education within its jurisdiction...
as well as all schools across the country.
| Subject | Finchale Primary |
LEA Average |
National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 89% | 81% | 81% |
| Maths | 94% | 80% | 79% |
| Science | 100% | 90% | 88% |
Sports
As well as the two hours a week PE that all pupils participate in, Finchale Primary School offers a range of sports, either as regular team sports, or through after-school clubs or coaching sessions.The school has had recent notable successes with the girls football team winning the 2008/09 Durham Football Shield and the mixed football team reached the quarter-finals of the 2008/09 County Plate competition. The 2008/09 Year 1 pupils won Best Cheography by a Teacher and Best Costumes at the 2008 Durham City Schools Dance Festival. And the same group of pupils won the Most Emotional Performance award at the 2009 Durham City Schools Gymnastic Festival.
The sports on offer include:
- Football
- NetballNetballNetball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
- BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
- FencingFencingFencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
- KarateKarateis a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
- SwimmingSwimming (sport)Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
- DanceDanceDance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
- GymnasticsGymnasticsGymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
- LacrosseLacrosseLacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
- BowlsBowlsBowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
- Athletics
Clubs
Pupils have access to after school clubs covering a wide variety of subjects and activities. These include:- CookeryCookingCooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions. Cooks themselves also vary widely in skill and training...
club - SewingSewingSewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era...
club - ChoirChoirA choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
- Board games club
- BookBookA book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
club - LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
club - Science sparks
- RecorderRecorderThe recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
group - SATsSATSSATS may refer to:*South African Theological Seminary*Singapore Airport Terminal Services*Small Aircraft Transportation System*Stansted Airport Transit System*The National Curriculum assessment in the UK at ages 11 and 14....
revision club - Keep fit club
- BollywoodBollywoodBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
dancing. - ICT club
School visits
Every pupil participates in regular visits during each academic year. These have included:- Beamish museumBeamish MuseumBeamish, The North of England Open Air Museum is an open-air museum located at Beamish, near the town of Stanley, County Durham, England. The museum's guiding principle is to preserve an example of everyday life in urban and rural North East England at the climax of industrialisation in the early...
- Bowes MuseumBowes MuseumThe Bowes Museum has a nationally renowned art collection and is situated in the town of Barnard Castle, Teesdale, County Durham, England.The museum contains an El Greco, paintings by Francisco Goya, Canaletto, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, François Boucher and a sizable collection of decorative art,...
- Bede's World
- Durham CathedralDurham CathedralThe Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093...
- Durham Light InfantryDurham Light InfantryThe Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1968. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the militia and rifle volunteers of County Durham...
museum - Eden Camp MuseumEden Camp MuseumEden Camp Modern History Theme Museum is a large Second World War-related museum near Malton in North Yorkshire in England.It occupies a former Second World War prisoner-of-war camp of 33 huts. After the prisoners left, the camp was used for storage and then abandoned. Its grounds then became...
- Blue Reef Aquarium in TynemouthTynemouthTynemouth is a town and a historic borough in Tyne and Wear, England, at the mouth of the River Tyne, between North Shields and Cullercoats . It is administered as part of the borough of North Tyneside, but until 1974 was an independent county borough in its own right...
- Wickham Thorns Outdoor Activity Centre
- University Hospital of North DurhamUniversity Hospital of North DurhamThe University Hospital of North Durham , provides acute services for the north of County Durham, north east England; including Durham, Chester-le-Street and the former district of Derwentside. The hospital is operated by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. The Chief Executive is...
Each pupil will also have the chance to attend a residential trip to an outdoor education centre at least once in their time at the school. The most recent of these was to High Borrans in the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
.
Pupils' successes
Over the last year (and before) pupils at the school have achieved many personal and team successes. These have included:- Girls Football team won the 2008/09 Durham Football Shield.
- Mixed football team reached the quarter-finals of the 2008/09 County Plate competition.
- Won local Forensic Science Challenge 2009.
- All participating pupils achieved British Fencing Bronze Award.
- Basketball team achieved 3rd place in county competition.
- The School Council developed a Pupil Charter.
- Participating pupils were awarded Stage 1 and Stage 2 Safer Cycling Awards.
- 2008/09 Year 1 pupils won Best Cheography by a Teacher and Best Costumes at the 2008 Durham City School Sport Partnership Dance Festival and the Most Emotional Performance award at the 2008 Durham City School Sport Partnership Gymnastic Festival.
- The same set of pupils won the Most Enthusiastic Performance award at the 2009 Durham City School Sport Partnership Gymnastic Festival.
School Awards
- ArtsmarkArtsmarkArtsmark is a national award scheme managed by Arts Council England. The scheme, that is open to all schools in England, recognises schools with a high level of provision in the arts.There are three levels of award:* Artsmark Gold* Artsmark Silver...
Gold Award - National Healthy Schools Award
- Impetus Award
- Dfes School Achievement Award for Excellence
- Anti-Bullying Accreditation
- Sport EnglandSport EnglandSport England is the brand name for the English Sports Council and is a non-departmental public body under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
Active Mark - Financial Management Standard in Schools
- Durham School Success Award
- BectaBectaBecta was a non-departmental public body ] funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, in the UK It was a charity and a company limited by guarantee. In the post-election spending review in May 2010, it was announced that Becta was to be abolished...
ICT Mark - NAACE mark (for ICT)
- International SchoolsInternational School AwardThe International School Award is a British Council accreditation scheme rewarding schools with a notable global element in their curriculum.The scheme began in 1999 and since then, over 1000 International School Awards have been granted....
Intermediate Award - Unicef Rights Respecting AwardRights Respecting Schools AwardThe Rights Respecting School Award is an initiative run by UNICEF UK, which encourages schools to place the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of its ethos and curriculum...
for commitment to Children's Rights
Uniform
Finchale Primary School pupils are obliged to wear a basic school uniformSchool uniform
A school uniform is an outfit—a set of standardized clothes—worn primarily for an educational institution. They are common in primary and secondary schools in various countries . When used, they form the basis of a school's dress code.Traditionally school uniforms have been largely subdued and...
.
Boys must wear charcoal or black trousers
Trousers
Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately...
, white polo shirt and a red jumper embossed with the school badge. In the summer, boys may wear charcoal or black shorts.
Girls must wear a charcoal or black skirt
Skirt
A skirt is a tube- or cone-shaped garment that hangs from the waist and covers all or part of the legs.In the western world, skirts are usually considered women's clothing. However, there are exceptions...
or pinafore dress or trousers with a white polo shirt or blouse
Blouse
A blouse is a loose-fitting upper garment that was formerly worn by workmen, peasants, artists, women and children. It is typically gathered at the waist so that it hangs loosely over the wearer's body. Today, the word most commonly refers to a woman's shirt but can also refer to a man's shirt if...
and a red jumper or cardigan
Cardigan (sweater)
A cardigan is a type of machine- or hand-knitted sweater that ties, buttons or zips down the front; by contrast, a pullover does not open in front but must be "pulled over" the head to be worn. The cardigan was named after James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, a British military commander,...
embossed with the school badge. Girls can wear grey, red or white tights. In the summer, girls may wear a red and white checked summer dress with white or grey socks.
Both boys and girls are required to wear black shoes.
For PE, all pupils are asked to wear black shorts with a white school t-shirts
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
, white socks and trainers.
School terms
There are three terms in the year. For the academic year 2009/10 the dates are:Autumn term: Monday, 7 September to Friday, 18 December. Half-term: Monday, 26 October to Friday, 30 October.
Spring term: Tuesday, 5 January to Thursday, 1 April. Half-term: Monday, 15 February to Friday, 19 February.
Summer term, Tuesday, 20 April to Friday, 23 July. Half-term: Monday, 31 May to Friday, 4 June.
The school will also close on Friday, December 11; Friday 30th, April and Monday, 3 May.
The above closures include five training days for staff. The dates may not agree with other Durham schools.
Canterbury Kids Club
Before and after-school care is provided on the school campus. The Canterbury Kids Club was set up in May 2009 by four of the school's governors. It is a non-profit company and has Ofsted approval. The breakfast club runs from 7.45am to 8.55am and the after school club is run from 3.25pm until 5.55pm. There is a charge for use of the club.Notable alumni
- Professional footballer Tony HackworthTony HackworthAnthony "Tony" Hackworth is an English footballer, an attacking midfielder who plays for Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division team Scarborough Athletic.-Career:...
who started his career with Leeds United. - Musician Lucy Jackson, who has played with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
- Tom Maddison junior karting driver.
- Kat Pomfret the author of Paradise Jazz.