Awards and Achievements

Basic Skills Quality Mark

We have recently been awarded the Basic Skills Agency Quality Mark for Primary Schools for the fifth time. The Basic Skills Agency is the national development agency for basic skills in England and Wales and is funded by the Government. We were first awarded the Quality Mark in 1998 and we were re-assessed in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. We have now received a special plaque for having held the Quality mark for ten years.

To gain the award we had to meet ten standards and also demonstrate that improvements had been made since the last award including that the attainment of pupils in Literacy and Numeracy had improved. In achieving this award we had to satisy an external assessor. We are delighted with this award as, at Lionel Walden, we have always stressed the importance of developing all children’s basic skills to their highest potential.

Investors In People Award

In December 2004, we gained re-recognition of this award following an external assessment. Investors in People is the nationally recognised quality standard against which organisations of all types assess how they manage their investment in their own people, particularly in their training and development. Our school depends on its people, particularly its staff. The Investors in People standard consists of assessment indicators. Within the school, these 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.

This is the fourth time that the school has been successful. The school was first assessed in 1995, then in January, 1999 and December 2001.

International School Award

We were once again successful in gaining the International School Award during August 2009. This award lasts for three years during which time we continue our international work to help develop and benefit the school community.  This is the third time the school has been successful in gaining this award.  We were first recognised during 2002 and then again in 2006 and 2009.

To gain the award the whole school involved themselves in various activities to learn about many aspects of the international community such as:

  • We had visitors from various countries
  • Held international weeks where lessons were planned to teach the children the difference in climates and habitats of other countries and how it affects lives
  • Carried out activities such as cooking, art work and singing.
  • We collected together a portfolio, which was submitted, along with our application for the award.

We are very proud of the work we have already done, and of the work we continue to do within international education.

Health Promoting Schools

We are were awarded Health Promoting Schools Initiative during 2006. We reviewed our work in Personal, Social and Health Education as well as Citizenship. We have installed water coolers in all of our classrooms and, in October 2004, we joined the Government’s Fruit Scheme which has proved to be very successful with all of Key Stage One having access to one piece of fruit per day. Our accreditation has recently been extended to January 2011.

SEAL

One of our main priorities last academic year was the implementation of the SEAL (Social and Emotioanl Aspects of Learning) programme.  This covered the five broad areas of self-awareness, managing feelings, motivation, empathy and socal skills.  Social, emotonal and behavioural skills underlie almost every aspect of school, home and community life, including effective learning and getting on with other people. We shall be building on this work from September 2009 by focusing on work around values chosen by children and staff. 

GET SET NETWORK - LONDON OLYMPICS 2012

The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has awarded Lionel Walden Primary School a plaque and certificate to acknowledge our involvement in the London 2012 education programme. We have joined schools and colleges across the UK as members of a special London 2012 community - the Get Set Network - and will receive access to exclusive competitions and 2012 Games related opportunities over the coming years.
 
We are delighted to be welcomed as a member of the Get Set Network for our work around the Olympic Values of friendship, excellent and respect and the Paralympic Values of inspiration, courage, determination and courage.