Thakeham First School’s Going Places! New Year, New Site!

Wednesday 1st February


Thakeham First School’s Going Places!  New Year, New Site!

Thakeham First School is looking forward to something of a metamorphosis in the coming months. Our school is one of the last 6 remaining First Schools in West Sussex, which teach children aged 4 to 10 years (Reception to Year 5).

This means a fond farewell to our current school site. Built in 1875, it is Grade II listed and lies within a conservation area. However these factors, along with the limited size of the site, mean the school cannot expand at its current location and instead will re-locate, 1.5 miles down the road, still within the parish of Thakeham. Thakeham Primary School will occupy part of the Rock Road site (currently Rydon Community College) alongside an additional campus of Steyning Grammar School (for Years 7-9).
 
Our school will expand from 3 to 4 classes, still retaining its small family ethos, with an emphasis on nurturing and celebrating each child’s individual skills and talents, but benefiting from much improved facilities and resources. Purpose built classrooms, a new library, cookery room, extensive sports facilities including large field spaces, and the onsite indoor MXT swimming pool hold exciting prospects for our school. We currently offer a wide range of before and after school clubs and recently gained the Silver Sports Mark Award, however the sky will be the limit with access to such resources. Staff and children are looking forward to saying ‘goodbye’ to their Baby Belling oven which has served the school well and ‘hello’ to their brand new cookery room, just perfect for any budding Mary Berry or Jamie Oliver!

Pupil voice is at the heart of our small school and so pupils are being involved in key decisions as part of the re-location via the School Council. Revising the school vision, updating the logo and uniform are just some of the ways pupils are being involved in the process. Children are really looking forward to a bigger playground and better play equipment and will be closely involved with these vital decisions too!

Community is very important to our school and we have worked hard with staff, parents and governors to develop links on a local and global scale. The school’s re-location will enable additional community links to be forged, working together for the benefit of the children.  In partnership with the new development at Abingworth Meadows, pupils at Thakeham Primary School will benefit from an exciting sponsorship link in the year ahead. Changes are afoot with a new site for Thakeham Pre-School too as part of the new housing development.

With the additional space available on site, we are looking forward to providing community facilities such as meeting rooms and hall space before the end of the year. Transition to secondary school of course couldn’t be easier with Steyning Grammar School being just next door! Links are being developed to enhance curriculum provision and opportunities for our children.

Our parents value the care and attention and creative learning opportunities each child has at Thakeham. This will continue to be our focus as we prepare for our move and development. The school has already seen a steady increase in pupil numbers since September as news spreads of our re-location, high quality teaching and focus on developing each child’s full potential. It is an exciting time in the history of the school!
Samantha Norton (Headteacher)