School

Welcome from the Head Teacher

On behalf of the children, staff and governors, I would like to welcome you to Queen Victoria Primary School. We hope you find our website clear, informative and easy to navigate. It is designed to give you a flavour of the vibrant life of our school, the work of our pupils and the quality education we strive to deliver.

Our school may be large but is very friendly and feels like an extended family. We are lucky to have a large site with green spaces that we can enjoy. There is a purpose built Early Years unit that houses our youngest children from Nursery through to Reception. 

The main school building was opened in 1896, so we have been part of Sedgley for well over 100 years. Additional classrooms have been added to accommodate our three form entry school.

Being the Head Teacher of Queen Vic School is fantastic, it is such a privilege to be the leader of this school taking it through its next exciting chapter. I am fully committed to the community of Queen Vic and strive to ensure that the school serves our local children and their families well.

While it is my priority that the education your child receives here with us will enable them to achieve their academic potential and progress confidently into the next phase of their education, it is also part of my vision that all our children are filled with positive experiences, that they are aware of the endless possibilities that await them and that they are nurtured in order to develop within them, a confidence to embrace whatever comes their way.  I want to ensure that every Queen Vic Pioneer has the skills and values to contribute fully in their community, becoming an excellent citizen in our 21st century world.

All of my staff share this vision and recognise children as unique individuals with specific talents and needs.  They work tirelessly to provide a varied and engaging curriculum and a positive school experience. Our classrooms are full of activity, creativity and learning, we want to make Queen Vic a special place indeed for children.

If you would like to know more about our school, you are very welcome to come and visit.  The children of Queen Vic would love to talk to you and show you around.

About Us

All about our school

Queen Victoria Primary School has been on this site for over 100 years. The main building was opened in 1897 and through the years there have been a number of extensions built.  Until 1937 children stayed at the school beyond the age of 11, the opening of Dormston in that year meant Queen Vic became a primary school.

Many of our children’s parents and grandparents came here – they are many stories to tell!

Our school is at the heart of Sedgley and we really value our place in the local community.

The school is three form entry with the youngest children joining our Nursery provisions before moving into Reception.

We are lucky to have a large building with lots of space for our children. A lovely field is in the centre of our grounds and links our Early Years department with main school.

Queen Vic Pioneers

Everyone who attends our school becomes a Queen Vic Pioneer. A Pioneer is an explorer, a trailblazer, someone who is curious and wants to discover the world.

Together we have identified these 7 traits of a pioneer which each year group adopt.

Everything we do at Queen Vic is underpinned by these traits. They are woven into our behaviour, curriculum and policies to ensure they are the foundations to all we do. 

We want you to become the best version of yourself whilst you at our school and discover the talents you never knew you had! 

Improving Chances

We work to help children and families to improve their chances, through the Nurture Programme, the Aspire Days, Open Lesson days, the Fantastic Finishes, Parent Workshops, Family Learning, Family Outings, Holiday Clubs, Before and After School Clubs, Advice Clinics, and numerous other activities and ventures. Children in school are encouraged to take part in the joys of learning in all shapes and forms; indeed, the Research teams are looking at how the vital signs for children “thriving” at school can be developed. We want to keep alive the “natural state of the child - play”; it’s a child’s job to do this. There are many studies that say that creativity, and divergent thinking is knocked out of a child as they get older - is our education system doing this? We want our children to be alive to the arts, sport, companionship, nurture, imagination, curiosity, compassion, awareness of the world around them, the world of work, knowledge and understanding, communication, the wonders of technology and how they can support us - we could go on and on!!

Safeguarding

Our Safeguarding Statement

Queen Victoria Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy which can be viewed here.

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies, when there are concerns about a child's welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child's welfare.

We actively support the Government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism. 

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs C Rindl (Headteacher).  Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are:

• Mrs K Walker (Deputy Head)

• Mrs M Hall (Deputy Head)

• Mrs J Reece (Assistant Head)

• Mrs R Stringer (Nursery Phase Leader)

• Mrs D Davies (Head of Nurture)

• Mrs S Farmer (Family Support)

• Mrs H Elwell (Pastoral Lead)

• Miss T Donet (Cover Supervisor)

• Mrs S Harper (HLTA)

• Mrs C Halford (Attendance Officer)

The Governor with responsibility for safeguarding in our school in Mrs L Ward. 

The Dudley Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) can be contacted on 0300 555 0050 or out of hours on 0300 555 8574, email MASH_Referrals@dudley.gov.uk. 

Photographs and Videos

Whilst lots of parents and carers really enjoy seeing photos and videos of their children’s school life we are very mindful of our duty of care towards all our pupils. We take the issue of safeguarding very seriously and this includes the use of photographic and video images.

Any photographs or videos taken by parents, carers and relatives at school productions, sports days or other events are for the enjoyment of individual families. They must not be used in any way that could potentially place a child at risk. This would include publishing images in any form of print or on the internet including social networking sites. This is emphasised before concerts and shows etc. and where practical a record of parents and relatives taking photographs or videos is made.

We understand that in exceptional circumstances a parent or carer may not wish their child to be photographed or videoed in this way.  If this is the case, then please contact the Head Teacher to discuss how this can be best achieved.

Occasionally, the local press will be invited to take photographs of school events and special achievements.  We like to use photographs of our children on our website, in school documents, for parent information meetings, newsletters and on our display screens around the school.  Your child’s photo will only be used for this purpose if you have signed allowing us to do so.

Our School Vision and Aims

Queen Victoria staff work together as a professional team within a stimulating environment to raise pupil’s attainment whilst meeting the needs and talents of our children so that they grow in confidence and independence.  

To achieve this, we aim to:

• Make Queen Vic a stimulating, safe and happy environment

• Provide opportunities for our children to enjoy their childhood

• Appreciate the background and skills of our children and prepare them for life in a changing mixed society.

• Teach our children to care about their local environment and that of the wider world

• Influence our children’s moral development, teach right from wrong and foster a sense of personal responsibility and self-discipline, whilst considering the needs and feelings of others   

• Develop literate and numerate children with both a positive attitude to learning and Pioneer characteristics.

• Value all our children equally and help them all reach their potentials. 

• Involve and encourage our parents and carers to develop their skills and involve them in their child’s life at Queen Vic

Together we are preparing our children for School, Dudley , Britain and beyond.

Meet the Team

Come and meet our staff, who are always ready to listen and help our families.

Meet the Governors

Role of the Governing Body

The Governing Body at Queen Victoria Primary School plays a key role in helping oversee the strategic direction of the school and works in partnership with the Head Teacher and Senior Management Team. The main aim of a Governing Body is to ensure the delivery of a high standard of education for all pupils in its care.

The Governing Body has two main roles:

Strategic

The Governing Body sets the general direction of the school, looking at how it should best develop and improve. This is done by reviewing and agreeing policies, setting targets and priorities and monitoring and reviewing aims and objectives. Strategic thinking is not always linked with the curriculum and it does not mean just responding to weakness.

Accountability

The school is a business and its stakeholders are the learners. The Governing Body has a professional attitude and uses its collective skills to benefit t the learners. It gathers views, ask questions and decides what is best for the school and the children. The Governing Body is answerable to the parents and the wider community.

We meet once a term for a Full Governing Body.

Our Governing Body comprises of:

• Mrs C Rindl - Head Teacher

• Reverend Sam Hagerman - Chair of Governors

• Mrs Sara Morris - Vice Chair

• Miss Paula Shackell

• Mrs Emily Hughes

• Miss Nichola Stokes

Please click on the link below to read our Governor Profiles.

If you would like to find out more about the role of governing bodies please click on the link below to the NGA Website:

http://www.nga.org.uk/Home.aspx

Mrs C Rindl - Head Teacher

Term of Office 01/08/2022 – 01/08/2025

Sits on the following committees: – Pay – Finance

Sam Hagerman - Chair of Governors

Term of Office 13/10/2021 - 12/10/2025

Sits on the following committees: – Finance

Paula Shackell - Staff Governor

Term of Office 13/10/2021 - 12/10/2025

Sits on LGB meeting

Emily Hughes - Staff Governor

Term of Office 01/07/2023 - 30/06/2027

Sits on LGB meeting

Sara Morris - Vice Chair/Co-Opted Governor

Term of Office - 06/07/2022 - 05/07/2025

Sits on LGB meeting

Miss Nichola Stokes - Parent Governor

10/10/2023 - 09/10/2027

Sits on LGB meeting

A Register of Business Interest for staff and governors has been completed and is held on site. A copy may be obtained from the School Business Manager upon request.

If you have any questions about our governing body please contact us

Academic Data

Here is our most recent academic data.

Whilst we are pleased with many aspects of this data, as a school we do not stand still but strive to ensure that all our children reach their academic potential. These are the results for July 2023.

Our Policies

Our Procedures

Ofsted

For further information about our school performance, please find below our most recent Ofsted report and relevant information from the Department for Education Performance Tables.

Special Education Needs

At Queen Victoria we believe an inclusive approach is paramount to the success of all.

All children with SEND will be inclusively educated at their individual level of need.

This may include children with:

• Leaning difficulties or disabilities

• Medical needs

• Physical difficulties or disabilities

• Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

• Children with Sensory Impairments

• Children with Social or Emotional difficulties such as ADHD

• Children affected by Trauma or Attachments disorders

Comprehensive policies and procedures are in place to support and protect children in school. These can be found either on the school web site, or by requesting a hard copy from reception in the school office. All polices are available to parents and carers by request.

These policies include:

• SEND policy

• Safeguarding

• Equality

• Pupil Premium

• Medical Care Needs

• Moving and Handling

• Behaviour

• Anti-Bullying Policy

• Compliments and Complaints Procedures

Pupil Premium 

The pupil premium is additional funding given to schools so that they can support their disadvantaged pupils and close the attainment gap between them and their peers. It was introduced in April 2011 and is allocated to schools to work with pupils who have been registered for free school meals (FSM) at any point in the last six years.

Looked after children including those that have ceased to be looked after, and those of service personnel also attract funding.

At Queen Victoria Primary School we use the Pupil Premium funding in a variety of ways to improve outcomes for all children who are eligible. Through carefully planned intervention we develop:

• pupils to reach their full academic potential and attain their very best

• pupils to grow socially and holistically through a wide range of curricular and extra-curricular opportunities

If your child does not have Free School Meals, but may be eligible because of your family’s income level, please contact the school’s office (in confidence) to register them. Even if you do not wish them to have the meals, this would mean the school could still claim Pupil Premium funding that may be used to help your child. 

Pupil premium allocation for 2023-24 academic year £290,765.

Please read the information below which gives details of our Pupil Premium Grant and how we allocate the funding.

Click here

Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2023-24

Pupil Premuim Strategy Statement 2022-23

Sports Premium

At Queen Victoria, we recognise the contribution of PE to the health and well-being of the children. We believe that an innovative, varied PE curriculum and extracurricular opportunities have a positive influence on the concentration, attitude and academic achievement of all of our children.

Sport is an excellent role model for learning and behaviour. Athletes all have goals broken down into achievable steps, they know these can be achieved combining the right mental attitude, fitness, diet and physical skills, they can all visualise their goal, they all have passion, they use their coach/mentor well, they all have a fantastically positive attitude towards mistakes – they call them “practice!” and they all achieve by doing.

Sport increases self-esteem and motivation. It contributes to the pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. It develops teamwork, resilience, problem solving, making connections, forward thinking, risk taking, reflection, evaluation – in fact all of the characteristics of being a Queen Vic Pioneer!

Queen Vic Academic Year 2022-23

Sports Premium £20,460.00

Benchmarking Financial Information

Benchmarking is the process of comparing your school’s spending with similar schools and schools with similar challenges.

Recovery Premium

Children and young people across the country have experienced unprecedented disruption to their education because of coronavirus (COVID-19). Those from the most vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds will be among those hardest hit. As a school we do have the flexibility to use the new streams of funding in the best way to meet the needs of our children and their current circumstances.

For the academic year 2020-21 schools received a Catch Up Premium, that was £80 per child and to be used by schools to support children with lost learning Our impact report for this can be viewed below.

From September 2021 a new stream of funding has been introduced – Recovery Premium, an additional amount of money that builds on a school’s pupil premium funding.

Which pupils will attract funding? 

The same pupils who receive pupil premium funding: 

• Pupils eligible for free schools meals (FSM)

• Pupils who've been eligible for FSM at any point in the last 6 years

• Looked-after children (LAC)

• Post-LAC

Each eligible pupil in mainstream education will receive £145.

Combined with this a new ring-fenced grant for all state-funded schools and academy trusts with pupils eligible for pupil premium has been introduced. This is called the School-Led Tutoring Grant. 

The grant should be used to fund locally sourced tutoring provision for disadvantaged pupils, for example by: 

• Using existing teachers and TAs

• Bringing in private tutors or returning teachers

The School-Led Tutoring Grant should run for 15 hours and focus on English or Maths. Children should be in groups of ideally 3. These sessions can take place before, during or after school to suit. Our school must fund 25% of the costs of any tutoring.

Queen Vic Academic Year 2021-22

Recovery Premium £24,360

School-Led Tutoring Grant £19,845

Covid Catch Up Plan and Impact for 2020-21

Adverse Weather Arrangements

On extreme weather days the double gates by Dormston will not be opened.  All access for Years 1 - 6 will be via the front of the school on Bilston Street. Early Years (Nursery and Reception) will only be able to gain access via School Street. 

Members of staff will be outside directing you to the appropriate door. You will be notified by text in the morning if we are going to put the Adverse Weather procedures into force. Please take care coming up or down Bilston Street and the alleyway, as sometimes it is not gritted by Dudley Council, and tends to get extremely slippy. If your child is late, you need to come into school with your child to register them with the school office. We will endeavor to keep the school open at all times as far as possible.  If the school needs to close due to any type of emergency or extreme weather then we will text parents as near to 7am as we can, to let you know if we are closing the school. During the day we will endeavor to make the rest of the site safe in order for children to be collected from their normal door.  However, we will notify you should this differ. Please ensure your Groupcall account is up to date with your mobile phone number to enable us to communicate any information to you. If you need any help with this, please contact the school office.  Alternatively, please listen to announcements made on local radio stations e.g. BBC West Midlands, Heart FM and Free Radio.   Please also check our website for updates.

You can download our adverse weather policy here