Goose Green Primary

[Trine]

My son has a place at GG to start in Sept. It was number 6 on our list as we had a few concerns and I was wondering if anyone can set us straight.

The arts are a big priority for us and our children's education. When we visited GG the Creative Development part of their curriculum wasn't sold to us at all. We didn't even know that there was a music room until we got round to reading the 'Welcome Pack.' We want our son to be given as many opportunities to be creative as possible, in addition to Maths & English etc (which was really being pushed on the tour). Can anyone reassure us that this is a creative school?

Many thanks

Trine

[Coach Beth]

I'm a Goose Green parent whose son is in year 1. My partner is a professional jazz musician - he also teaches at Trinity College of Music, Birmingham Conservatory and Wales College of Music. So we are very keen on the arts! We think the standard of music teaching at the school is very high. Rob Parton is a 3 day a week staff member solely responsible for music classes. He has introduced all school singing at Assembly, a choir and instrumental lessons. He is also a professional musician who graduated from Trinity College of Music and he regularly gigs in London.

In terms of art, there is an artist in residence who works with the children. Authors of children's books regularly come into the school.

The school did really need to get the literacy and numeracy levels of the children up. My partner the jazzer says 'you need to know the changes (chords,notes, techniques) in order to improvise and play jazz' - for me it's the same in that children need a certain level of writing and reading in order to then be able to be fully expressive and creative. Personally I think the state system could focus more on creative arts but I'm happy with the balance at GG - for me, it makes a difference having a professional musician on staff.

[hoipolloi]

Hi

I have 2 children at Goose Green and would like to echo what Coach Beth has said. There has certainly been a drive to improve academic results, to great effect (as evidenced by the last set of SATS results) but there is plenty of opportunity and encouragement for the children to be creative. The music teaching is really excellent - my mother in law was head of music at an independent secondary school for 30 years and she has been really impressed with the standard of the music teaching and the amazing performances the children regularly give. This week the year 3 and 4 children have given several performances of a play which I am told was brilliant. Tomorrow evening they are performing it for parents at a special Goose Green theatre night.

By way of a further example the year 1 children went over to Peckham Rye this afternoon with sketchbooks, to draw flowers and wildlife.

I hope that this helps to allay your concerns. Good luck with your decision-making.

HP

[Jessie]

Just to reiterate Coach Beth and HoiPolloi, the school have embraced and encouraged my son's love of storytelling and he's now half way through writing his first book - and he's six!

[Coach Beth]

And it's a very sweet book Jesse ~ my son has been updating me about it as your's has been reading his new bits he has written to their class every morning!!!

[goosemum]

Having just returned from the evening performance of Hoodwinked (Robin Hood the Musical) by Years 3&4 at Goose Green, I can honestly say that I was blown away by the standard of acting and singing. The staff had clearly put a huge amount of time and effort into working with the children. Congratulations one and all!

[Trine]

Thank you all so much for putting our minds at rest; it's such a shame that all of this wasn't sold to us on the tour!

Trine

[Coach Beth]

Well, at the end of the day the tour is only 45min to an hour and there is so much to cover I think! Although after every tour at Goose Green School there is usually an opportunity to chat to current Goose Green parents who are having their coffee mornings at the same time. My recommendation to all parents going into any school is to have a list of questions to ask - if sports are important to you or music or anything make sure you ask about it as whomever is doing the tour might make an assumption that parents aren't interested in this. Or they are trying to fit so much in they might not mention it.

Anyway, this afternoon, there is another opportunity for creativity at the school to shine - it's the Spring Enterprise Fair after school. Each class has been given ?10 by the PTA and given the challenge to take that ?10, buy materials and make something to sell at the fair to make a profit. Last year there were some fantastic offerings - the year six make amazing flower/pebble arrangements in glasses and the year one classes make cute Easter chicks.

[edanna]

Just to resurrect this thread, which I missed before, have you got any thoughts on how the school copes with a range of abilities? Ofsted reports often seem to comment on support given to vulnerable pupils and those with special needs, which of course is really important, but I wish they would also comment on how more able pupils fare.

[mrs.lotte]

This does seem to be a common theme in the Ofsted reports of a number of local schools; one size fits all whether it be teaching to the highest lowest or middle rather than individually targetted. The head really is the best person to ask as to how GG do this.

In my experience (son in Y1 at GG, entered school with speech and language delay and achieving below national average, left reception on national average and now exceeds it) the school stream (quietly but surely) regularly assess and celebrate progress and their targets for attainment are very high - certainly above national average. My son's last teacher informed me that the ethos was to teach up not down and stretch children. All I can say is that I would not have thought that my child would have been one of the more able but the school has brought out the best in him both academically and socially and I will always be grateful for it. My daughter is in the nursery and is learning to read, her teacher informs me that she will be reading before she joins GG reception in September.

[edanna]

Thanks mrs.lotte, it's terrific to read such positive stuff - I'm so pleased for you and your son.

[nubby'smums]

We are concerned about the social side as we are a two-Mum family. Our son has been offered a place in nursery and we're not sure whether to send him. He's never been in any childcare and is very happy at home with his Momma and gets a lot of social development as she is a childminder and he goes to lots of groups. Basically, I don't want our lovely, happy, confident boy to go somewhere and at the age of three have to deal with people saying mean things about his family. Can anyone vouch for the schools inclusivity and dealing with bullying issues?

[Coach Beth]

I believe it is a very inclusive school but I suggest to put your minds at rest, that you ring the school and make an appointment to speak to the assitant headteacher in charge of diversity and inclusion who can tell you more about how LGBT parents/families are welcomed in the school. Bullying is dealt with straightaway by all teachers and Mr. Marcelle is a staff person who is solely dedicated to pastoral care/emotional well-being and works with children around bullying/being bullied. Please do PM me if you want any more information!

[Fuschia]

I think from my experience of my own child, who is now 8, though not at gg, they do not, at a young age, even take much notice of different family models.

I am sure any school worth it's salt will bear this in mind when making mothers and fathers day cards etc

I don't know how my son's school deals with lesbian families but I know they dealt with fathers day sensitively for the little girl whose dad had died

Good idea to communicAte with the school about it