A BRIEF HISTORY OF BARWELL C of E JUNIOR SCHOOL
The school is built on the main High Street in the centre of Barwell, close to
the 13th Century Parish Church of St. Mary. It was founded in the Victorian
period, the oldest parts of the building dating back to 1872.
The name of the village, Barwell, is thought to have origins in Anglo-Saxon times, when boars
roamed in the nearby forests, hence our crest, which was designed by children at the school.
In the 1950’s the original Victorian building was extended to include a reception area and
offices, together with two classrooms to cater for the ever-growing local population. Further
development during the 1970’s resulted in the addition of a hall, and kitchen facilities.
As the school population continued to expand, children were accommodated in
mobile classrooms, until the turn of the century when huge capital
expenditure enabled a permanent extension to be added to the main
building. The final phase of the new build programme was completed in
summer 2000.
We are rightly proud of the facilities that our school offers. As well as
ten permanent classrooms each containing internet linked and
networked ICT facilities, we have a fully equipped and networked
computer suite, four mobile wireless ICT stations, a new library
and a dedicated Special Educational Needs teaching area. The
Music Room and the Hall have been redecorated this year. The recent additions of a new
internal PE store and a re-modelled children’s cookery area enhance learning opportunities
for all children Up to date school administration and reception areas and a refurbished staff
room complete our indoor facilities.
The children who attend the school are mostly from the village, but some are brought by free
school bus from the adjoining village of Stapleton.
Barwell Infants School is nearby and it is from here that the majority of children transfer at the
age of seven. When they are eleven, they usually attend Heathfield High School in Earl
Shilton for three years before moving on to William Bradford Community College for at least a
further two years.
THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS
The school, first built in 1872, has benefited over the years from a
number of additions, expanding the original building into the extensive
facilities and grounds, which we now enjoy.
There are three classrooms in the original Victorian
building. An extension completed during the mid 20th
century houses offices, hall, kitchen and a community
room. A further extension was completed in summer 2000, providing six
classrooms, a fully networked ICT suite and a library.
Internal renovation during 2002 - 2006 has resulted in the provision of up to date
administration and reception facilities in the central area of the school. Access between the
old and new areas of the school has been improved, we have re-modelled a storage area to
provide a children’s kitchen and food preparation area. A new internal PE store has been built
and classrooms and the hall have been refurbished. ICT facilities have been upgraded. All
classrooms have an interactive whiteboard and all teachers have a school laptop.
The spacious hall is in regular use for assemblies, PE, school meals and after-school
activities. Local groups, e.g. Keep Fit and Karate Club also use the school hall in the
evenings. Adult education groups use our Community Room each day.
Other rooms include:
Headteacher's Office
Deputy Headteacher’s Office
Bursar’s Office
Inclusion Leader’s Office
Reception Office
Outer and inner reception areas
Premises Officer's room
Reprographics / Resources room
Staff room
Kitchen
Small teaching bases
Children’ Kitchen
Art area
Medical Room
Double mobile classroom (used for music provision and FoBS
Nearly New shop)
Use of classrooms depends on the number of children in school in each academic year.
The current number on roll supports the daily use of nine classrooms, together with the
ICT suite and the music room.
Flower beds and shrubberies, many planted and maintained by pupils, create a cheerful
and friendly surround to the school buildings. The children benefit from the use of two
separate playgrounds, both with shade facilities.
We are very fortunate that our site also houses one of the largest
fields in the county, enabling a variety of activities to take place on site, including
our annual sports afternoon to which parents and friends are warmly invited.
A MAP OF BARWELL CE JUNIOR SCHOOL
FRONT YARD
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Grps
Store
HLTA
Kitchen
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RESOURCES
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PLAYGROUND
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RECEPTION ENTRANCE
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SHOP
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Boilers
HLTA HLTAs’ Base
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Headteacher’s Office
DHT
Deputy Headteacher’s Office
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Bursar’s Office
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School Office
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Reception
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Medical Room
PO
Premises Officer’s Room
PE
PE Store
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Stock Cupboards
INC
Inclusion Leader’s office
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Staff Room
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Toilets
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Community
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HALL
MUSIC
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KITCHEN
UPPER
PLAYGROUND
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April 2007 (not to scale)