
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
2| BISHOP CORNISH CE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Creativity
Ofsted have recognised our rich
learning environment, shown through
our own shopping mall where Key
Stage 2 children can use role play to
develop specific and real-life maths
skills by using genuine tills and grocery
scales. This can include booking a
holiday, buying a house or groceries,
ordering a cappuccino or even
bartering for lower percentage estate
agent fees. Staff have the flexibility
and most importantly are trusted to
be totally creative and think outside
the box, to not only make children’s
learning fun and enriched but to
develop enquiring minds and to have
stimulating and exciting learning
experiences. Teachers’ experiences are
the same. Our teachers are incredibly
proud of the part they play in every
aspect of our school life. They are
inspired and excited about teaching
and learning, which in turn is infectious
and motivates the children.
Using our outside learning
environment, which includes two
wooded areas, a substantial fire pit,
our yurt – which is an extension of
the classroom and a home with its log
burner, kettle, log basket and resident
bugs – outdoor hammocks, dens and
tunnels, children have a phenomenal
outdoor experience. It doesn’t feel like
you’re in school but on an expedition
with an explorer and survival guru. You
can be an entomologist, a botanist,
a bushman and a forager as well as
an outdoor mathematician, a forest
story-teller, a poet, a historian – the list
is endless.
For example, a recent year 6 history
experience included wood gathering,
to whittle the historical figures of
Tudor England and costume making
from man-made and natural materials
and a re-enactment of how their lives
were entwined together. This inspiring
approach to the curriculum permeates
through everything we do, and the
children are able to live what they are
learning. Because it is stimulating and
motivating, it captures the imagination
of all children irrespective of ability.
We are lucky enough to have had
the resources and support to be
able to develop a school farm. We
love our free-range alpaca Isaac,
chickens, doves and ducks, our five
Anglo-Nubian goats and our many
gorgeous guinea pigs, all cared for by
the children, staff and parents. The
children collect and cook our delicious
free-range eggs as well as learning
essential animal husbandry skills such
shearing an alpaca, clipping goats’
hooves and assisting in vets’ visits. It is
a delight to look out of the windows
towards the Royal Albert Bridge and
see alpacas and goats being raced
across the fields on leads and chickens
on shoulders, listening to stories
around the camp fire. While this is
lots of fun and very educational, it is
also essential to support our extensive
work as a Thrive Approach school,
developing emotional well-being
and strategies that aid the repair of
interruptions in brain development
during childhood.
Our animals are integral
to school life
Staff have the
flexibility and
most
importantly
are trusted to
be totally
creative and
think outside
the box
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