The words you are searching are inside this book. To get more targeted content, please make full-text search by clicking here.
Discover the best professional documents and content resources in AnyFlip Document Base.
Search
Published by contact, 2019-05-23 10:52:24

Runnymede Prospectus

Runnymede Prospectus

Runnymede St Edward’s
Preparatory School

Prospectus

Welcome to Runnymede St Edward’s School

Inspire, challenge and support through faith

Introduction

Runnymede St Edward's is an Independent Catholic Preparatory School for boys and girls
aged 3-11 years, welcoming children of all faiths. We love to welcome visitors to our school,
so they can experience the happy, inclusive and vibrant community atmosphere that pupils
benefit so greatly from.
Runnymede has a long tradition of providing an outstanding all-round education. We have
high expectations of our pupils, in terms of both performance and conduct. We are
extremely proud of our ongoing academic excellence and our sporting and musical
achievements.
We know that children learn best when they are stimulated by an exciting and challenging
curriculum which motivates them to learn. We actively encourage children to be inquisitive
about the world around them and we celebrate every child’s success.
We aim to nurture a life-long love of learning by building confidence, independence and
resilience, in a rich and stimulating environment in which ideas and enthusiasm flourish. We
work hard with our children to help them achieve their full potential.
The school is built on the tradition of our founders, the Congregation of Christian Brothers.
Based on their vision, Runnymede is a place in which individuals can develop fully,
contributing as happy and caring members of the school community. Children’s unique
talents are valued, and they learn to live as well-mannered, self-disciplined and confident
individuals. We are proud to be the Choir School for junior Choristers of the Metropolitan
Cathedral of Christ The King in Liverpool.

Welcome from the Head

A warm welcome from all of us at Runnymede. This prospectus is designed to give you
a flavour of the Runnymede ethos, and introduce you to some of the features that make
Runnymede so special.

The very best way to appreciate what Runnymede has to offer is to come and visit;
during a tour of our school visitors can experience first hand the happy, inclusive and
vibrant community atmosphere that pupils benefit so greatly from.

Here at Runnymede we know that young children learn best when they are stimulated
by an exciting and challenging curriculum which motivates them to learn. We actively
encourage children to be inquisitive about the world around them and we celebrate
every child’s success. We aim to nurture a life-long love of learning by building
confidence, independence and resilience, in a rich and stimulating environment in which
ideas and enthusiasm flourish.

We have high expectations of our pupils, in terms of both performance and conduct.
This is reflected in our academic excellence, our excellent Secondary Transfer record,
and in pupils’ engagement in their own learning and development. We look forward to
working with your child and helping them to achieve their full potential.

With best wishes

Mr Bradley Slater
Head Teacher

School Aims

The following aims have been compiled through consultation with the staff and
Governors of the school. The statements after each aim outline some of the strategies
employed to achieve them.

Faith

To encourage and foster the spiritual growth of all and to make prayer an
integral and enjoyable experience in our daily life through:

 The reflection of our Christian values and work in the spirit of Blessed Edmund Rice
 Considering the needs of all through daily prayer
 Regular Collective Worship celebrations
 Prep 6 Edmund Rice Group
 Providing a calm and sensitive atmosphere where members of the Runnymede

community can find support for their fears or anxieties
 Celebrating different cultural festivals/other faiths
 Preparation and celebration of the Sacraments
 Weekly focus on code of conduct

Opportunities for learning and growth

To provide opportunities that broaden, enrich and extend the skills,
talents and values of each member of the school community through:

 The provision of a broad, balanced and challenging curriculum
 An emphasis on literacy and numeracy skills as the basis of all learning
 Celebrating differences
 Offering a wide range of extra-curricular activities through sport, music, drama and

quiz
 Interaction with children from other schools both locally and nationally
 Stimulating enquiring minds through investigative activities
 Supporting children in developing self-esteem and potential

“The pupils’ personal qualities are
excellent and are fostered by the
outstanding quality of the school’s
pastoral care.”
Independent Schools Inspectorate: June
2010

Relationships

To provide a safe, caring and
welcoming environment within
which all are treated with respect,
courtesy and kindness through:

 Using the role of the house system and code of conduct to develop team work, fair
play and friendship through a wide range of activities inside and outside the
classroom

 Focusing on positive actions and praising good behaviour through a range of
awards, including merits, team points, stickers and certificates

 Encouraging an atmosphere of openness and understanding
 Upholding British Values and encouraging respect for all
 Using the school council to set an example of respect and care and to exchange

ideas and opinions within the school community

School and wider community

To foster a spirit of co-operation and friendship between home, school
and the wider community through:

 Encouraging parents to be involved in school activities and visits
 Involving our school family and the wider community in Collective Worship and

celebrations
 Regular parent/teacher meetings
 Encouraging children to support charitable causes
 The promotion of parental involvement in attending meetings, events and

performances
 Developing citizenship through liaison with the emergency services and other

groups
 Support of PSA activities
 Maintaining links with other primary and secondary schools
 Developing citizenship through liaison with police, fire and health professionals

“Pupils have a strong
cultural awareness.
[Their] social awareness is
excellent.”

ISI: June 2010

The Edmund Rice Family

Edmund Rice (1762-1844) was the founder of the
Christian Brothers. He was born in Callan, County
Kilkenny, Ireland. As a young man he came to the
bustling port city of Waterford and worked in his
uncle’s business. He was talented and energetic and
soon became a very wealthy man. In 1785 he fell in
love and married Mary Elliot. However, his happiness
was shattered with the tragic death of his wife just
four years later. Mary died in childbirth and Edmund
was left with a handicapped daughter.

This shattering experience was to mark a decisive
turning point in Edmund’s life. He spent more and
more time in prayer and in helping the great numbers
of people in Waterford who suffered poverty and
injustice. In 1802 he set up a free school for poor
young people. Having provided for his daughter,
Mary, who was cared for by his family, he left his
comfortable house and lived over the school.

Influenced by the work of Nano Nagle and the
Presentation Sisters, he gathered around him a group of men, forming a religious
community of Brothers dedicated to ‘raising up the poor’. Today he is honoured as the
Founder of both the Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers. Many others
were attracted by his vision and generosity, and the educational mission of the
Brothers spread throughout Ireland and to many parts of the world. All followers of
Edmund Rice are committed to education as liberation.

The Christian Brothers’ Schools

The way of education begun by Edmund Rice expressed both sides of his character.
Compassion for the children in his care and the fervour of his own personal
commitment to Christ described his fundamental attitude, but it was balanced by the
practical acumen of a shrewd man of business. Edmund not only had a vision of
transformation for the poor boys of his own town, but he wanted to make it a
concrete and lasting reality.

Christian Brothers’ schools today are challenged by the story of Edmund as they seek
to live out gospel values in the competitive climate of today’s educational world.

The Choir School for The Liverpool
Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King

Runnymede is the choir school for junior boy choristers of Liverpool Metropolitan
Cathedral. We are extremely proud of our musical heritage, and of our long standing
association with Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.
Being a chorister is a unique experience for a child, allowing them to develop social, musical
and academic skills to an extraordinary level on a daily basis. Besides receiving training
during daily choir practice, choristers are given individual singing lessons and learn to play at
least one instrument.
The choir of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral is one of the finest in the UK, appearing
regularly on the BBC, touring internationally and singing on a daily basis in the Cathedral.
All boy choristers begin their education at Runnymede St Edward’s School before moving
into St Edwards College for their secondary education. Auditions for boys aged 6-9 take
place in early 2016 for entry in September 2016.
From Prep 5, girls have the opportunity to audition for the Metropolitan Cathedral Girls’
Choir.
With rehearsals and cathedral services taking place in addition to schoolwork, the demand
on the time of choristers is considerable, but the rewards are significant. Many former
choristers have succeeded in careers as professional musicians.

For information on choristerships, please contact
[email protected] / 0151 708 7283.

Quality education in a warm,
nurturing environment

“Pupils’ success in academic work, sport and
music is due largely to their very positive
attitudes to learning, the opportunities
provided by the curriculum and the good quality
of teaching they receive.
Their behaviour is excellent and they enjoy high
quality relationships amongst themselves and
with teachers and other staff.”

ISI: June 2010

Runnymede offers a broad and balanced
education in a welcoming, caring Christian
environment, successfully preparing
pupils for selective and non-selective
secondary education, and for life.
The school includes the Preschool, Infant
Department and Junior Department, all of
which occupy spacious and well equipped
buildings in and around ‘Runnymede’, a
former Victorian mansion house.

“The numerous opportunities to celebrate
pupils’ successes enable the development
of their self-esteem and confidence,
alongside the school's spiritual ethos”

ISI: June 2010

Admissions

The Head Teacher is assisted by a team of dedicated professionals who are committed to
the welfare, education and development of children in their care, ensuring the continued
success of the school.

Prior to entering Runnymede, potential pupils are invited to attend an assessment where
they are skilfully assessed by our staff.

Feedback on the assessment is given to parents by the Head Teacher. Depending on the
results of the assessment, along with the most recent school report from the child’s
current school (where appropriate), an offer of a place may be made.

Although Runnymede St Edward’s School
is a Catholic school, pupils from other
faiths are welcomed.

The school is sympathetic to other faiths
and pupils are encouraged to celebrate
diversity. The school follows the
“Archdiocesan” religious education
scheme which includes studies of other
faiths.

“The quality of the pupils’ personal
development is excellent. Pupils are
friendly, polite and courteous. Their
personal development is clearly a
priority of the school.”

ISI: June 2010

For more information, to book a tour of our school, or to book an
assessment for your child, please contact our admissions team on:

0151 281 2300 or email [email protected]

Pastoral care

Runnymede prides itself on its long tradition of outstanding behaviour and high
standards of appearance amongst pupils. This continues to be achieved through
sensitive and proactive pastoral care during this crucial stage of children’s physical,
emotional, social and educational development.

Children are encouraged to develop a strong set of values, morals and code of conduct,
and are guided in this by way of a wide variety of experiences and opportunities,
alongside traditional classroom learning.

“Pupils are highly considerate of
one another and understand well

the need to help those less
fortunate than themselves”

ISI: June 2010

Opportunities for all

At Runnymede we have a clear Equal Opportunities policy. We seek to provide
opportunities for all individuals to reach their potential and value themselves and their
place in society irrespective of gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs, socio-economic
background or ability range.

All children are encouraged to participate
fully in a challenging and varied
curriculum to ensure that their potential
is fully explored. Emphasis is placed on
positive attitude, hard work and effort, all
of which are recognised and rewarded.

Children develop a strong work ethic and
high levels of resilience during their time
at Runnymede, which prepares them for
the rigours of secondary education and
for the many and varied challenges they
will face throughout life.

Strong relationship with parents

The support of parents is fundamental to the continued success of Runnymede. Parents
are regularly informed about their child’s development and progress through reports and
parents’ meetings. A regular newsletter keeps parents up to date with life at
Runnymede, and regular use of ‘Parentmail’ means information can be shared with
parents in an efficient and timely manner.

Families are encouraged to attend special Collective Worships, concerts and plays, and
are always welcome at sporting fixtures both at Runnymede and at other schools with
whom Runnymede teams compete.

The Head Teacher and staff consistently aim to enhance the role played by parents in the
life of the school. A clear sense of trust, shared responsibility and mutual support exists
between school and home, which strengthens the support children receive and ensures
they gain the most from their years at Runnymede.

“The school has an excellent and
constructive relationship with
parents. The school is
characterised by a community feel
and everyone—pupils, parents and
staff—is encouraged to feel that it
is ‘our school’.”
ISI: June 2010

“Runnymede is a small, happy and friendly school. My daughters have grown
into such confident and capable girls because of the Runnymede
environment. Seeing them happy and being supported to be their best is
wonderful.”

Mum to two girls in Reception and Prep 2.

Secondary Transfer

Education at Runnymede St Edward's Preparatory School prepares children for
selective and non-selective secondary education, and both children and parents are
fully supported throughout the application process to ensure a successful transition.
Our focus is to provide children with an exceptional standard of education to enable
them to make the most appropriate choices regarding their Secondary Education.
Runnymede St Edward's provides children with a solid foundation upon which to
continue their education at the secondary school of their choice. Parents are
encouraged to apply to a number of secondary schools and are fully supported by the
school during this transition process.
Our pupils are consistently offered places at a variety of top secondary schools
including The Bluecoat School, Belvedere, St Hilda’s, King David, St Edward’s College,
Merchant Taylors Boys, Merchant Taylors Girls and St Mary’s College. Many children
are offered places based on their academic, sporting or musical abilities.

“The school is successful in fulfilling its aim of enabling pupils to achieve their full
potential”
ISI June 2010

“My son was encouraged to reach the upper limits of his
potential at Runnymede. His thirst for learning was
nurtured by the brilliant staff at Runnymede, and he is now
thriving at Bluecoat.”
Mum to T, now in Year 7 at Bluecoat.

Religious Education at Runnymede

“Into your hands Lord, we put each day all that we do and all that we say.”

Children’s Mission

Religious Education (RE) at Runnymede is based on the
national scheme ‘Come and See.’ Religious Education
recognises and enables a dialogue at many levels. There are
three main questions that are to be answered by all the
children from Preschool to Prep 6:

Where do I come from?
Who am I?
Why am I here?

RE is taught in discrete lessons, but also permeates the whole life and ethos of the school.
The whole school explores the same theme but from different aspects, through year group
topics on a one-year cycle. This enables the children to celebrate their new experiences and
understanding together, whatever their age.

Collective Worship

Collective Worship is an important
aspect of Religious Education. Each day
the children take part in a Collective
Worship, whether it is in small groups
in class, in year groups or in
department groups.

Collective Worship is an ideal
opportunity to celebrate. Celebrations
are an essential part of life for people
of every age and faith. Collective
Worships consist of varying elements
such as gathering and greeting, listening, reflecting, responding through community praise,
especially in song, prayer and of course the children’s own work and ideas.

For one week of the Autumn term we spend our RE time looking at Judaism and in the
Spring term we look at Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism to give the children an
experience and understanding of another faith, which is so important in our multi-cultural
society.

The Edmund Rice Group meets weekly for reflection and how to respond to the life and
inspiration of Blessed Edmund. The group leads the school in charity work and seeks to keep
the example of Edmund alive in our school.

Curriculum

Our approach is designed to help pupils:

 Enjoy a happy and secure learning environment where they are valued
 Develop lively, enquiring minds where they question rather than merely accept
 Acquire knowledge and understanding which will equip them for future challenges
 Obtain skills that they can transfer to other subjects or situations

Preschool “The quality of provision is
outstanding”
We know that starting Preschool is a
major event in the lives of young ISI: June 2010
children and we are committed to
making the experience a happy one. The educational focus is on
The children in our care benefit from structured play but includes the key
Outstanding Foundation Stage first steps in reading, writing,
education, excellent facilities, and numeracy and ICT, as well as laying
care from a warm and nurturing team the foundations for other areas of
of dedicated staff. learning. Right from this early stage,
we recognise the vital part which the
Our specialist Preschool staff are highly Preschool plays in preparing girls and
experienced in helping children to settle boys for the learning to come.
and always work in close partnership with
parents. Nursery is a bright, inviting, busy Children in the Preschool enjoy being
and exciting place to be, with both a well- part of the wider Runnymede
equipped indoor space and an excellent community and take part in school
outdoor area. assemblies, plays and many other
activities.

Reception

Reception is an exciting place to be! We aim to provide
the highest quality education for children, which
expands their imagination and inspires creativity.

We offer a broad and carefully planned curriculum,
closely linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Highly experienced staff provide a caring and nurturing
environment, where high expectations are set in terms
of educational and personal goals. We celebrate each
child’s individual achievements, with a strong emphasis
on Christian values and respect for others.

“Staff recognise the unique Each morning follows a structured timetable
qualities of each child and show an focusing on letters and sounds, reading and
excellent understanding of how to writing and number work. During the
meet their individual needs” afternoon, children’s understanding of the
world is developed through well-planned
ISI: June 2010 themes which encompass the children’s own
interests.

Reception children are given homework
twice a week. Homework is very important
as it supports and enhances the curriculum
and develops a strong work ethic. We have
very strong home-school links as the school
and home are in partnership, ensuring the
very best for each child.

Every child in Reception learns and develops
exceptionally well. They become independent,
confident and happy learners thus ensuring
that they have the necessary skills for the next
stage of their learning journey. Here are some
comments from our wonderful children:

“I feel happy and welcomed”

“I’m excited to come to school”

“My heart feels happy”

Key Stage 1 and 2

Key Stage 1: Prep 1—2
Key Stage 2: Prep 3—6

Pupils follow a common curriculum in the following subjects based on National
Curriculum guidelines and parents are provided with a termly brochure detailing work
to be covered:

 Religious Education “I had never really considered private
 English education before until I realised the costs at
 Maths Runnymede were similar to previous
 Science childcare so I went along to visit. Once we
 Geography met the teaching team and pupils there was
 History no question that this is where our
 Computing and ICT daughters should be.”
 Music
 Art Mum to O in Reception.
 French
 Spanish
 Design and Technology
 PSHE & C
 PE and Games

“Pupils of all abilities are provided
with experiences in linguistic,
mathematical, scientific,
technological, human and social,
physical, and aesthetic and creative
education.”

ISI June 2010

Challenge, Inspire, Support

The Runnymede curriculum is tailored to
the needs of pupils and their future
aspirations. We seek to challenge, inspire
and support children to perform to the
best of their ability, instilling a strong
work ethic and a belief that success
comes from hard work, effort and
resilience.

While the National Curriculum is a useful
starting point, our highly qualified class
and subject teachers adapt and enhance
their programmes of study to support all children to achieve their potential. Classes are
small and therefore a very individual approach can be offered to every child.

In Prep 5 and 6 the children are placed in sets for English and Maths. During Prep 5 and 6
we work closely with children whose choice of Secondary school is dependent on passing
an entrance exam to provide them with the skills and experience needed to secure their
choice of secondary education.

A structured reading scheme is in operation in each class offering a variety of reading
materials. Our reading programme is delivered by the class teacher, supported by the
child’s parents and volunteer parents who come into our school and listen to the children
read on a weekly basis.

High standards of presentation in school work is a key focus for all our children, and
excellent examples of this can be seen displayed throughout the school.

“Pupils have a particularly good
grasp of mathematics, where their
progress is enhanced as a result of
the setting arrangements according

to ability”
ISI: June 2010

Music

Music is an extremely important part of
life at Runnymede. Our main objectives
are for children to enjoy and appreciate
music and for them to become
confident as performers. Every
opportunity is taken to achieve these
aims through a broad curriculum based
on singing, instrumental activity,
listening and discussion, creativity and
movement.

Every child receives specialist teaching,
beginning with one weekly session in the Preschool, rising to two lessons per week plus
Hymn Practice from Reception onwards.

Children also experience music in other aspects of the curriculum with teaching and
support staff. From Prep 3 onwards, children have the opportunity to take up
instrumental and vocal tuition with our team of highly experienced peripatetic teachers.

In addition to curricular music, Runnymede has a Choir and Orchestra, as well as a
Woodwind ensemble and a Guitar group which are led by instrumental teachers, all of
which rehearse and perform throughout the year.

Music permeates school life
at Runnymede, providing
the best environment for
children to discover how it
enriches our lives and to
grow in confidence and skill
as listeners, composers and
performers.

Sport

We have a strong traditional of sporting
excellence at Runnymede. This is in no small part
due to the fantastic facilities we have, in
partnership with St Edward’s College. Children
take part in (with seasonal variations):

Swimming, football, rugby, netball, hockey, cross
country, short tennis, kwik cricket, athletics,
gymnastics, team games (e.g. dodgeball),
volleyball, judo*, kayaking*

Physical Education plays an important part in the curriculum for all year groups. We have a
specialist sports coach who works with children from Reception upwards on a weekly basis,
to build up skills and confidence in a variety of sporting activities. In this way, children’s
sporting skills and confidence are developed, leading to opportunities to take part in sporting
competition and festivals with other schools. Involvement in sporting activities both inside
and outside of the school environment is a valuable experience and an opportunity which we
extend to as many children as possible.

All year round, children from Reception upward have a weekly
swimming lesson with a specialist swimming coach. As all our
children make excellent progress with their swimming, we are able
to field extremely strong teams each year for the Liverpool Primary
Schools Swimming Gala, winning both KS1 and KS2 competitions on
a regular basis.

Runnymede enjoys extraordinary levels of success at cross country.
Both our boys and girls teams compete in the Liverpool Primary
Running league races, regularly placing in the top 3 out of small
schools in the city of Liverpool.

Our specialist rugby coach works with boys in junior year groups, starting with tag rugby and
development of skills in Prep 3 and 4, moving on to full contact rugby in Prep 5 and 6.

Children regularly take part in competitive sports
against other schools, including Catholic Schools
and Liverpool Schools Athletics, AJIS and CB
(Christian Brothers) football, rugby, hockey,
cricket, netball, athletics and cross country.

*Extra curricular club with specialist coach external to
Runnymede, incurs extra cost

Facilities

Our excellent facilities include:

 All-weather playing surface *
 Large sports fields *
 Large sports hall *
 Indoor 25-metre swimming pool *
 ICT suite
 Music Department with a suite of practice rooms for

peripatetic tuition
 Specialist teachers for music, French and ICT
 Children can opt to participate in specialist Drama

classes
 Beautiful and extensive grounds, including outdoor

classroom

* shared facilities with St Edward’s College

Extra Curricular Activities

Extra Curricular clubs take place at lunchtime and after school. Details of the full range
of activities can be found on our website.

 Rugby  English Speaking Board
 Football  Orchestra
 Netball  Choir
 Hockey  Peripatetic Music Tuition
 Cross Country  Clay Club
 Kwik Cricket  Drama
 Judo  Computer Club
 Dance  Stamp Club
 Swimming  Chess Club
 Kayaking  Craft Club

Residential Activities & Educational Visits

A wide range of our children’s learning takes place
beyond the classroom and during the course of the
year all classes will be involved in school trips. Our
trips are educational and enhance children’s
understanding and engagement with learning.

Each year group takes part in 3 educational visits
per year. Some examples of these trips include: a
Roman Experience at Chester, drama and art
workshops at The Lowry, orchestral concerts at the
Philharmonic Hall , Liverpool Museum and
Christmas panto.

In addition to these trips, Prep 5 takes part in a 3 day residential trip to Dobroyd Castle in
Todmorden and Prep 6 takes part in a 5 day residential trip to Patterdale in the Lake District.
These trips focus on outdoor pursuits, team building and problem solving, confidence
building and development of social awareness.

During these trips, children are encouraged to try new things, challenge themselves and feel
proud of their achievements. We find that the confidence developed by taking part in these

activities is profound and lasting.

We also have a number of specialist companies
who are invited into the school to give workshops
and performances, all of which are aimed at
supporting specific areas of the curriculum.

“Regular trips and contributions from
visitors to the school significantly
enhance learning”

ISI June 2010

The Head Teacher of Runnymede is a member of the Independent Associates of Preparatory
Schools through which the school is accredited by the Independent School’s Council.
Runnymede is also a member of the Association of Junior Independent Schools, the Catholic
Independent Schools Conference, and an associate member of the Choir Schools
Association.

Runnymede St Edward’s Preparatory School

North Drive
Sandfield Park

West Derby
Liverpool
L12 1LE

0151 281 2300

[email protected]
www.runnymede-school.org.uk


Click to View FlipBook Version