Langley Hall Primary Academy
Our Journey
It all began with a letter
Then came the challenges
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Defining the vision
Finding a site
Renovating the building
Writing the business case
Enrolling pupils
Employing staff
Equipping the school
Writing the curriculum, policies and procedures
Attending meetings, conducting interviews
Getting to opening day
Defining the Vision
At our school we focus on preparing children for life. We do this through
our teachers who make learning imaginative, creative and inspiring. This
motivates children to want to learn and make progress on their learning
journey. We lay down firm foundations by giving numeracy and literacy
a high priority. Art, drama, music, dance and sport also feature highly to
provide every child with the opportunity to find their talents and shine.
We want every child to be a good citizen, a confident communicator
respectful of those whose views are different from ours, discerning and
kindhearted. We want them to challenge themselves and to be highly
motivated to achieve their best, working towards being independent.
Finding a Site
Renovating the Building
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14 Classrooms
Assembly Hall
Playground
Drama Studio
Offices
Toilets
Cloakrooms
Group Rooms
Enrolling Pupils
January 2011
One advert placed in our local newspaper
yielded over 200 responses.
• 14 parent meetings held between January
and April.
• The Mystery School!
• Initially offered 75 places.
• Increased to 150.
• Increased to 182.
• 10% declined places.
• Made new offers to some of those on
the waiting list.
• Upon opening there was a waiting list
of 200 pupils.
Employing Staff
• 4 national adverts.
• Wealth of newly qualified teachers.
• Teachers disaffected with their current
situation.
• No applications from experienced
classroom practitioners.
Equipping the School
• Furniture, fixtures and equipment money is
not ring fenced.
• ICT money is ring fenced.
• Stock order costs.
• The equipment arriving!
Writing the Curriculum, Policies and
Procedures
The Laser Toolkit
System
The 38 key policies, plus many others
Attending Meetings, Conducting
Interviews
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Weekly progress meetings.
Reporting on progress.
Journalists.
Film crews.
Getting to opening day
A Whole School!
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Two Reception classes
One Year 1
One Year 2
One Year 3
One Year 3/4
One Year 5/6
A Complete Package of Services
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Early Bird Club
After School Care Club
Holiday Clubs
20 Specialist Clubs
Cooked Lunches
33 Staff!
What did we learn?
• Keeping in touch with parents was vital. Weekly
newsletters, update meetings, uniform sessions.
• Identify and meet childrens’ specific needs early.
• Leave time to learn how to use technology (film
and radio studio, IWB, intranet, information
screens, sound and light equipment)
What did we learn?
• Appoint staff early and engage them in the
process (beware of disaffected staff)
• Keep calm even when it all seems out of
control.
• Think outside of the box regarding staffing
structure.
End of Year 1 Parent Survey
of the parents who responded to our survey
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said that their children enjoy school.
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100% of the parents said that the teaching is good.
said that they were happy overall with their
• 100%
child’s experience at school.