About Our School

The bell tower, as shown in the above logo, is still a feature of the building and the original bell is now on display in the school foyer.

Click here for information about Lionel Walden    

Click here for New Intake Presentation 2011

Click here for information about our Annexe and Early Years Play Area

Linked to the school is a Pre-School Group and an Out of School Club (The Lions’ Den). There is also an active School Association that organises many fund raising and social events during the year.

Building/Grounds

The Lionel Walden School is situated in the Northern Area of the County of Cambridgeshire in the Fenland village of Doddington. The school was built in 1877. Substantial developments to the school buildings took place in 1992-3 and these included a hall, kitchen, two new offices, two classrooms and a staffroom plus alterations to the existing facilities. More recently a further two classrooms were added in 1998 and an annexe including a fully equipped ICT suite in 2003. The school has eight permanent classrooms.

Organization

There are 239 pupils on roll organized into 8 classes. There are mixed age groups in some of the classes. The class sizes within Key Stage 1 should be 30 or less. There are approximately 36 children in the pre-school playgroup, which is attached to the school.

Staffing

From September, 2011 there will be 12 teachers, including the Head and Deputy. There are three Management Allowance holders. The teaching staff are well supported by a team of Teaching Assistants which numbers 18 in total. Staff meetings are held weekly on Mondays. Specialist music teachers provide weekly instruction in various instruments.

Parental Involvement

The parents are encouraged to visit and help in school regularly. There is at least one parents’ ‘event’ per term including Open Evenings/Afternoons, displays of work etc. The School Association organizes fundraising activities and provides much-needed funds for the school.

Swimming

Swimming is currently available for all children, except the Reception/Year 1 classes, on a rota basis of six sessions per child. Voluntary contributions are invited to offset the cost of transport to and from the Chatteris pool.

Investors in People

In December 1995 the school was recognized as an Investor in People. Lionel Walden was the first primary school in Cambridgeshire to achieve this award which is the national standard for effective investment in people. It is the nationally recognized quality standard against which organizations of all type assess how they manage their investment in their own people, particularly in their training and development.

Our school depends on people, particularly its staff. The way its people perform is a major factor in the school’s success.

The Investors in People Standard consists of principles supported by assessment indicators. Within the school, these indicators required: -

  • The Head and Governors to make it known, throughout the school, that they are committed to developing all the staff to enable them to achieve the priorities set out within the School Development Plan.
  • The school to regularly review the training and development needs of all the staff.
  • The school to take action to train and develop individuals on recruitment and through their employment.
  • The school to evaluate its investment in training and development, to assess achievement and improve future effectiveness.

In order to achieve the Standard, the school had to successfully meet each of the specified indicators in an independent assessment.

Further to this the school was re-assessed in January 1999, December 2001 and again more in December, 2004. We were successful in meeting the Standard and continue to be recognized as an Investor in People.

Induction for New Staff

The Lionel Walden School makes a commitment to all staff regarding training and development. In turn each employee is expected to have a commitment to his or her own personal development.

Each employee has an agreed job description and annual appraisal. All new employees will have the benefit of an induction process, including a mentor to help them in their first weeks/months at work here. All new employees have an induction programme.

The induction process for a teacher includes: -

  • Regular support/visits from a mentor with feedback.
  • Opportunities to visit other classes to look at good practice.
  • Access to relevant in-service training.

Basic Skills Quality Mark/International Education

In October 1998 the school was successful in gaining the Basic Skills Quality Mark for Primary Schools. This award was given to Lionel Walden School by the Basic Skills Agency for high standards in the teaching and learning of Literacy and Numeracy throughout the school. We have since been successfully re-assessed in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. In 2006 and again in 2009 we successfully maintained our award in International Education. In 2006, we were given an award for the Health Promoting Schools Initiative.