Dear Parents
Marion Smith |
I would like to extend a warm welcome to you and your children,
particularly those new to the school.
Somerton Middle opened in 1971, as a mixed school for pupils aged 9
to 13.
Set in 8 acres, Somerton boasts extensive sports grounds, high quality,
modern specialist teaching rooms for Science, Design and Technology,
ICT and Art, 10 classrooms, a well stocked library, an assembly hall
and kitchens.
Most of our pupils come from Cowes, while others travel to us from
other parts of the Island.
I believe that all children should be enabled to reach their potential and
over the last years we have had the highest standards in English,
Science and Mathematics.
We enjoy lots of success in sports particularly netball, football and athletics
with individual pupils and teams representing the island on the mainland.
Somerton has a growing reputation for academic excellence and achievement. Over the four years that
your child will spend here, you can expect high quality education together with a commitment to
personal development, citizenship and a partnership which will help your child to learn and succeed.
Somerton is an excellent school and moving forward together we can and will be the best.
Yours sincerely,
Marion Smith
Head Teacher
Beliefs and Values
Our aim is to share a working partnership
between pupils, staff and parents so that we
encourage and challenge everyone to develop to
their full potential.
We value all people in our school and as part of
a family community.
Learning and educating takes place in a creative
and collaborative environment to enable all to
have the opportunity to achieve their very best,
irrespective of background.
We value honesty, courtesy, integrity and a
shared commitment to quality and innovaion.
A caring environment
The well being of each pupil is central to their
happiness and achievement. All pupils have a
class teacher who registers them and is their first
point of contact. Classes are organised in teams
where the Pupil Progress Manager has a
pastoral and academic overview of the pupils.
Rewards for good behaviour - merits and green
slips are highly prized.
Behaviour entries and pink slips are also treated
seriously if a pupil has caused problems for
themselves or others.
Discipline
The school has a Behaviour Management Policy
and an effective Anti-Bullying Policy, which praises
good behaviour whilst poor behaviour and
bullying is challenged and tackled immediately.
As a supplementary part of this pupils are often
counselled when they are experiencing particular
difficulties in their lives which have an impact on
their attitudes to school.
The school promotes positive behaviour
management but when all other avenues are
exhausted, pupils are excluded for serious
breaches of the school’s expectations and
standards. Under a new agreement Kitbridge and
Solent Middle Schools act as partnership schools
for exclusions of more than 5 days. All parents are
therefore required to sign a Home School
Agreement when a pupil enters the school, which
sets out the terms of the partnership between
pupils, parents and Somerton
School Organisation
Key Stage 2: years 5 and 6
At Somerton children are taught a variety of
subjects by Class teachers and specialist
teachers. Class teachers teach their pupils so
that the primary curriculum is extended,
particularly in year 5. Keystage 2 tests (SATS)
take place in May of year 6 in English, Maths
and Science while pupils first learning of a
foreign language (German) starts in year 6.
Key Stage 3: years 7 and 8
Pupils are taught by specialist teachers.
Specialist teaching is now the common approach
and pupils are grouped in most subjects
according to ability and performance, allowing
the full potential of each child to be realised.
Key stage 3
pupils are prepared for end of key
stage tests. If ready, these tests are taken at the
end of year 8. Otherwise pupils sit these tests in
year 9.
Mathematics
A sound grounding in Maths is vital for all pupils.
Learning and teaching recognises the
importance of mental, practical and
investigational maths. At Key Stage 2 6 lessons
of maths are taught each week to raise
confidence and standards across the school.
Somerton maths results show steady
improvement recognising the hard work of pupils
and staff.
English
Literacy is the key element of our English
teaching in years 5 & 6 with one hour per day
dedicated to learning. Children study a number
of fiction texts, poetry, drama and are taught
creative writing skills. In year 8 pupils begin to
study Shakespeare. Our English results have
been excellent with pupils achieving high
standards.
Science
Science is a strength at Somerton where there
are excellent facilities and specialist teachers.
Pupils carry out practical learning in an ambitious
environment and take part in Key Stage 2 and 3
Standard Attainment Tests. Learning
concentrates on raising awareness of the
relevance of Science in pupils lives and as
preparation for life in the 21st century.
Religious Education
R.E. is non-denominational in content and
approach and is concerned with developing an
understanding of religion in all its dimensions.
Parents may of course withdraw their child from
Religious Education if they so wish.
Design and Technology
Pupils are skilled in construction and
presentation. They are encouraged to utilise
these skills to explore and develop design
related tasks. Pupils will exercise and develop
their skills by following through a design concept
that ensures the final product is both aesthetic
and functional.
Food and Textiles links with the subjects Science,
and Art. Its aim is to develop pupils’ attitudes
towards health and nutrition. Needlecraft skills
are developed through the use of textiles and
knowledge of materials.
Personal, Social & Health
Education (PSHE)
All parents belong to this group and they work very hard to support
the pupils in school. Winter and Summer Fayres are their main
fundraising events and this helps pupils and parents work together
for the good of the school. Parents have the chance to express their
views in this forum and your involvement is welcomed.
Music
Music plays an important role in Somerton
Middle School. All children are given the
opportunity to sing and play musical instruments.
The school provides wind, brass, string and
percussion instruction to any pupils who wish to
learn an instrument.
Physical Education
All parents belong to this group and they work very hard to support
the pupils in school. Winter and Summer Fayres are their main
fundraising events and this helps pupils and parents work together
for the good of the school. Parents have the chance to express their
views in this forum and your involvement is welcomed.
Humanities − Geography
and History
Humanities incorporates the subjects History and
Geography. Pupils are encouraged to develop
their enthusiasm for the physical and historical
world through enquiry and research. Historical
sources, field work, map reading and
presentations are all key skills accessed in this
subject.
Art
Every child possesses the ability to be creative.
Somerton pupils work with a variety of media,
including textiles, print, collage and ceramics.
Children learn about art history and art
appreciation and they are encouraged to
embrace a variety of artistic styles. Somerton Art
has won numerous awards both on and off
Island.
German
Pupils begin to learn German in year 6.
Somerton aims to develop pupils’ ability to use
language confidently and effectively. Year 7 and
8 pupils are offered the opportunity to visit
Germany and liaise with German students.
Information
Communication
Technology
ICT skills are taught in Key Stage 2 and Key
Stage 3 and incorporated into all subject areas.
Somerton has a central ICT suite and extended
resources room benefiting from networked
computers. Pupils have access to computers in
all curricular areas. Pupils are taught the skills of
web design, on-line research, and computer
presentations.
Special Needs
All pupils have individual needs and all teachers
are teachers of Special Needs. Somerton meets
the Special Needs Code of Practice and
provides additional support for pupils within the
classroom, in smaller groups, during lunchtime
and after school.
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