Working in Partnership
As a school we believe it is vital to work in partnership with other schools, educational & community providers. These links support the pupils’ learning as part of the curriculum, in its widest sense, and staff development through learning with, from and on behalf of others.
Locally we work in partnership with other schools as follows:
- Central Worthing Locality – this comprises Heene Primary; St. Mary’s Primary; Thomas A Becket Infants; Vale Primary; Bohunt; & Worthing High schools. As well as working closely to ensure the best possible transition for pupils if/when they move between the schools, the schools work together on a number of collaborative projects – in 2018/19 these include:
Attendance Support Worker
Newly Qualified Teacher training & development
Headteacher network meetings
Cross-school moderation
- Worthing Locality – in combination with the East Worthing Locality the Central Worthing schools combine to moderate expectations, standards, & judgements across the three core subjects (English (reading & writing); Maths; & Science)
- Worthing Schools’ Sports Association – the school takes a leading role in this with the PE & Community Sport Development Leader and the Headteacher both on the Association’s Steering Group. As well as participating in many whole-Worthing events & competitions, the school also takes a lead in organising and running a number of these (including ‘Time to Dance’)
- Worthing School Business Managers / Bursars network
- Millais Teaching Schools Alliance
- Working in Partnership to further enrich provision for High Attaining Pupils - Higher Attaining leaders across the Worthing locality work together to provide enrichment activities throughout the year for the higher attaining children in their schools. Thomas A Becket Junior school have attended (and hosted) various activities during the past year including: maths and ICT days, poetry mornings, art and Ultimate Frisbee afternoons and an interschool challenge day; these activities enable the children to work with their peers from a variety of local schools, as well as using and developing their skills and expertise in specific areas. Pupils also work in partnership with children from many schools in the area, hosted by Davison High School, discussing and working on books they have been reading. Pupils also work in partnership with Worthing library to research local soldiers who fought in WW1. In addition, pupils have the opportunity to attend Saturday courses, offered through the e-PD website (to which the school subscribes). Recent examples include where the children were able to make a Victorian Christmas wreath and clock-making at Fishbourne Roman Palace.
A number of the staff also share their expertise to support & develop others – these include:
John Gadd (Headteacher) – Treasurer of the West Sussex Primary Headteachers’ Association; Vice-president of NAHT (West Sussex Branch)
Kim Noble (Science Subject Leader) – accredited STEM Leading Teacher & Primary Science Lead Teacher on behalf of the Millais Teaching School Alliance
James Garner (Assistant Headteacher) – Specialist Leader in Education (SLE)
Ben Cornford (ICT/Computing Subject Leader) – CEOP Ambassador (supporting e-safety in schools) and Microsoft Certified Educator
Emily Thoms (Class Teacher) – Forest & Beach Schools’ Leader
Michelle Mayes – Forest Schools’ Leader
Karen Butcher (English Interventions Assistant) – ASPIRE tutor and assessor for LSA 'Supporting Teaching & Learning in Schools' courses
As a school we also make the most of others to help us evaluate our practice, and these include Ofsted / HMI / National Leader of Education (NLE); Local Authority officers; & other Headteachers and Senior Leaders. The SLT is also currently working with other senior leaders in West Sussex Junior schools (in partnership with the Local Authority), focusing on common issues.
We work in partnership with external moderators and other schools to check and validate our assessment judgements.
Our school’s Eco-work as an Ambassador School involves supporting other schools (& providers) as they develop their Eco- and FairTrade provision, while the school plays an integral role in the local EYE (Eco, Young & Engaged) Project established by Tim Loughton MP.