Welcome I am proud to welcome you to Charles Darwin Primary and Nursery, where we support our children in achieving their best and provide an exceptional education that lets children thrive. We offer an inspirational curriculum that makes our students want to learn and become lifelong learners. Being the principal of Charles Darwin Primary is a privilege, and an exciting journey to create a school where children are not just taught but where they become ambassadors of their own lifelong learning journey. I believe that all children can achieve with the right teaching, guidance, and nurturing. We set high expectations for our pupils and know that children achieve their best when they are challenged, engaged, and motivated. The school environment supports this vision with brand-new equipment and hands-on learning. We encourage children to discuss their learning and explain their ideas with confidence. Our excellent pastoral support system provides all pupils with a familiar face who is there to listen, challenge, and engage our children in their school day. Each child is part of a house system where they can feel part of a team. This will instil a strong sense of belonging and community. The early years of education are fundamental in a child’s life, and I am proud to provide an exceptional school where our pupils can build the foundation blocks for a successful future. I look forward to meeting you and working together with you to make your child’s future a successful and exciting one. Jo Brown Principal
About our school Charles Darwin Primary is a new primary school for Norwich, which opened in September 2016. We opened with Reception and Year 1 pupils, and will grow year by year, creating a thriving school that will serve children up until the age of 11. Our vision centres on setting our standards high and making sure we meet them. Excellent teaching and learning, combined with a high quality academic curriculum and the highest levels of support and nurture for all students will ensure the highest standards are met. We help our students build independence, character, resilience, leadership skills, and a love of learning. Our culture is focused on promoting excellence, supporting our students in achieving their academic potential, and developing aspirational children with bright futures.
What will my child learn? We believe that maths, reading, and writing should be at the heart of a child’s learning. Our children develop their reading, writing, and number skills every day to ensure a broad foundation for learning. We also offer science, languages, history, geography, philosophy, music, art, drama, computing, and PE. Our approach and facilities encourage play and exploration, allowing students to develop their independence and creativity. Our wide, traditional curriculum is combined with exciting extra-curricular ‘electives’ to give our young people the best possible opportunities. These give children access to a wide range of activities and electives, including drama, art, music, sports, and science. As children grow older, independent study will also be built into the day, meaning that when they go home the focus is on quality family time not homework. Our extended day and flexible approach supports working families but also provide the best opportunities for our children.
Caring for your child Ensuring high standards of teaching is at the heart of our vision and we have high expectations of our staff. Our teachers are qualified primary experts. Alongside our own staff, our links with secondary schools within the Inspiration Trust – particularly Jane Austen College and Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form – will also allow us to offer subject specialist teaching for example in languages, art, science, and music. A special educational needs co-ordinator leads on the support for pupils who have additional learning needs. Personalised learning plans ensure that pupils are always challenged and able to achieve their best. Teachers get to know the children in their class really well as individuals meaning they can provide the best teaching for each child. We take safeguarding extremely seriously, and all staff are subject to enhanced criminal records checks.
Our nursery We believe that our nursery pupils should have the facilities to be able to play and explore. We provide an educational environment that prepares them for not only their next steps within education but also for their future lives. We encourage pupils to build upon the key skills that they will need throughout their lives, primarily social interaction, independence, creativity, physical capability, and communication and language skills. Our nursery setting is an exciting and inspiring environment, helping our children in the first years of their lives. Our dedicated and professional staff are passionate about how children learn, and supporting their development throughout this wonderful phase of their lives. We feel that a strong commitment to learning through play-based activities, facilitated by skilled practitioners, allows our children to be imaginative, yet develop the foundations required to begin school. We want our children to be happy and confident individuals who achieve their very best. Our exploratory learning ethos encourages all children to participate, and feel positive about their successes.
NURSERY
Charles Darwin Primary and Nursery is part of the Inspiration Trust, a not-for-profit charity whose mission is to transform the lives of young people in Norfolk and Suffolk through education. Led by nationally-recognised educator Dame Rachel de Souza, the Trust believes that all children deserve the chance to achieve academic excellence. We also seek to offer the widest range of sporting and cultural opportunities to our young people, and encourage them to play an active role in their school and the wider community. Our family of schools work together to ensure that all pupils have access to the very best teaching expertise, exceptional facilities, and extra-curricular activities that excite and broaden their minds.
Charles Darwin Primary Rose Lane Norwich NR1 1DJ 01603 733166 www.charlesdarwinprimary.org