St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

Primary Science Quality Marks have been awarded to 200 infant, junior, primary, middle and special schools to celebrate a commitment to excellence in science teaching and learning.  So far, since its national launch in 2010, over 3000 schools across the UK have achieved a prestigious Primary Science Quality Mark.

The Primary School Quality Mark programme ensures effective leadership of science,  enables schools to work together to share good practice and is supported by professional development led by local experts. It encourages teacher autonomy and innovation while at the same time offering a clear framework for development in science subject leadership, teaching and learning. Schools that achieve PSQM demonstrate commitment and expertise in science teaching and leadership.

The Primary Science Quality Mark is led by the University of Hertfordshire, School of Education in collaboration with the Primary Science Teaching Trust.

Jane Turner, PSQM National Director said: “Gaining a Primary Science Quality Mark is a significant achievement for a school.  The profile and quality of science teaching and learning in each awarded school is very high. Children are engaging with great science both in and outside the classroom, developing positive attitudes towards science as well as secure scientific understanding and skills. Science subject leaders, their colleagues, head teachers, children, parents and governors should be very proud.”

This award recognises the achievements schools have in building a sustainable effective workforce. The award consists of an onsite assessment that covers every aspect of employees training and development. Some of the most proactive companies in the UK have met the Investors in People standard. The school first achieved the award in 1994 and have been successful in every re assessment of the award since then. The process allows the school to value its employees and maintain the standards achieved by the pupils.

The aim of Charter Mark is to encourage, enable and reward organisations that are delivering services based on a genuine understanding of the needs and preferences of their customers and communities. The foundation of this tool is the Government’s Customer Service Excellence standard which tests in great depth those areas that research has indicated are a priority for customers, with particular focus on delivery, timeliness, information, professionalism and staff attitude. There is also emphasis placed on developing customer insight, understanding the user’s experience and robust measurement of service satisfaction. The school has maintained the award since 1999.

The Healthy Schools Programme (NHSP) is a joint initiative between DCSF and Department of Health (DH) – which promotes a whole school / whole child approach to health. The Programme has existed since 1999. It is recognised as a key delivery mechanism in the Children’s Plan (DCSF 2007) and in Healthy Weight, healthy Lives (DH 2008) – 21st Century White Paper reference. The school gained the enhanced award in 2007 as recognition of its work in providing pupils with the best possible life chances with an emphasis on their health and well being.

The percentage of pupils participating in at least 2 hours high quality PE and school sport each week is significantly above the national average; and they held a sports day; and they had met or bettered the national average for pupils involved in sports leadership and volunteering (this would not apply to infant schools), or, the percentage of pupils participating in sports clubs linked to their school. The school is very successful with the levels of participation in sport and the quality of the sports curriculum we offer. With over 23 extra curricular activities to choose from pupils have every opportunity.
 

The ICT Mark is the third level of the Next Generation Learning Charter. (Level one being Committed to ICT, and level two being recognised for ICT.) The ICT Mark is a national accreditation scheme which recognises schools for their achievements in reaching a standard of maturity in their use of technology. The school was the first in Hampshire to achieve the award under its latest framework. The award is a reflection of the school’s commitment to providing the pupils with the very best opportunities in the world of technology.

The Primary Quality Mark award was first developed in 1997, with the help of local education authorities and primary schools throughoutEnglandandWales, to provide a framework that would promote, support and celebrate the improvement of literacy and mathematics in schools. It was revised in 2006 following consultation with a significant number of Local Authorities in the Primary Quality Mark Partnership.

The 10 Primary Quality Mark elements are as relevant today for school improvement as they were originally. The fundamental principles of the Primary Quality Mark process, such as the involvement of the whole school community, self review and targeted intervention, have now become central to any school’s improvement agenda, regardless of its context.

The Primary Quality Mark provides a framework for self-evaluation and continuous improvement of the basic skills of all pupils in a school. This includes both those who underachieve and those whose attainment is lower than would be expected of someone of their age. The Award shows our commitment to the development of basic skills and this is reflected by the standards achieved by the pupils in the school.

The NACE Challenge Award Framework is a whole-school self-evaluation tool and process which allows an in depth analysis of provision with exemplification of evidence and action planning to improve.

The Framework consists of ten elements which together describe quality provision. Each Element contains objective criteria and suggested evidence of what constitutes effective practice. It not only gives benchmarks but, with the supporting documents, shows you how to improve.St. Joseph’s is one of only two schools to achieve the award in Hampshire and there are only 137 schools in the country to have met the standard. Our results illustrate the commitment we have to pupils achieving their full potential. Check out our results!

Updated September 2023.