OUR SCHOOL: Brennands Endowed, Slaidburn is a thriving village school set in the picturesque Hodder Valley.
Although an endowed school, we are also one of the four Lancashire aided schools in the Bradford Diocese. We have two classes, one for each key stage offering a true, extended family atmosphere.
Whole school outings are extremely enjoyable as older pupils look after younger ones. Our aim is to equip our pupils with all the necessary knowledge and skills for "life long learning."
Our junior pupils are taught in small groups (12 maximum) for three days a week in both science and maths. We offer clarinet, guitar and recorder lessons in addition to a lunch time French club.
We have recently installed a special soft play area for our Foundation stage, a stage that broadens the experience of the under-fives.
PRESENT PUPILS: We have 36 pupils aged from four to 11.
HISTORY LESSON: The school was endowed in 1717 by John Brennand of Pain Hill Farm, Slaidburn. It was originally a grammar school for boys. The original building was two storeys with the upper floor being removed in 1866. Two classrooms were added in the late 60s. A mezzanine floor in the hall to create office and staff facilities was added in 1999.
STAR PUPILS: All our pupils are stars, both past and present.
OUT AND ABOUT: The Friends of Slaidburn School raise money to fund travel costs in order to enrich the curriculum. Recently we travelled to the Lowry at Salford Quays to see a performance of Johnny Ball's "Tales of Maths and Legends" and view the Lowry galleries. Our Year 5 and 6 pupils annually spend a residential week either at Wimmarleigh Hall, Garstang or at a venue in the Lake District. In the summer you can see almost every junior pupil on the village bowling green at an after school club. The football club meets at school every Saturday morning. All our pupils have swimming lessons for 15 weeks each year and in the summer pupils can be seen playing Kwik cricket and rounders.
You may see our Maypole dance team at the annual May Queen festival in Slaidburn or at the popular Slaidburn Steam Rally. All pupils enter art, craft and food technology classes at the local Hodder Valley Show.
SOMETHING TO BRAG ABOUT: One of the highlights of village life is the annual school Christmas production. Pupils regularly have their poems chosen for inclusion in the Poetry Now competition, which publishes books annually. One of our pupils recently won a digital camera for himself and a computer for the school in a school computer competition.
Another pupil won the national prize for his Farm Safety poster. This resulted in a group of pupils being invited to studios in Manchester to take part in a TV advert, as well as winning a brand new computer for school. We choose a charity to support each year and have chosen the air ambulance this year.
WHAT ABOUT THE PARENTS: Many of our governors are parents who play an active supportive role in the life of the school.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH A £100,000 WINDFALL?: Increase the hours of present part-time staff to enable Years 3 and 4 to be taught separately to years 5 and 6 for maths and English every day of the week and to have full-time classroom support assistants.
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