The School Day

The school opens at 8:40 am. The school bell is rung every morning at 08.45 am to start the day.

Morning Session

08:45 am to 12:00 pm

Afternoon Session

1:00 pm to 3:15 pm

 

Academic Achievement

The school achieves much higher than average key stage SATs results for all major subjects (cohort depending), both against national and local averages. The following elements contribute to this:

  • Class Size: Little Milton School’s class sizes are smaller than found in most primary schools. There are three classes with Nursery and Reception, Years 1, 2 and 3 and 4, 5 and 6 combining. This is reviewed on an annual basis. The annual intake is 12 pupils with a number on roll of approximately 50 to 60.
  • Attendance Standards: Our high attendance figures contribute to the success of our teaching and high standards.
  • Discipline: We encourage and expect good behaviour and mutual respect in the classroom. Children are taught to listen, to work to the best of their abilities, and to use classroom time conscientiously.
  • Recognition and Reward: Our pupils are rewarded for their efforts with a variety of schemes, such as the Good Work Book, where pupils’ achievements are noted in an assembly each week, and Golden Time, where house points earns the right to choose an activity each half term for demonstrating the schools values.
  • IT Capacity: Little Milton School has a well-developed IT resource base including a class set of iPads, Chromebooks and desktops in each classroom.
  • Feedback: A written report is provided at the end of each school year, and parent-teacher meetings are held during the Autumn and Spring term with a short report with next step targets. In years 2 and 6 the end of key stage test results are recorded as part of the end of year reports. Parents are, however, welcome to discuss their child’s progress at any time.
  • Special Needs: The school’s staff to pupil ratio and the small class sizes means we are particularly effective at teaching children with special needs.
  • A coherent use of the National Curriculum: The curriculum is organised to facilitate the development of children at their own individual pace. A range of teaching methods is used including whole class, group work and individual teaching.
  • A united approach to learning: This involves staff, pupils and parents working together.

 

Sport

Little Milton School is resourceful in the breadth and scope of our sports curriculum.

  • The playground is used for a variety of sports activities.
  • In the winter, we travel to our local Sports Centre for swimming lessons and PE. We alternate this with using the local village hall (The Pine Lodge) for indoor sports. In the summer, we walk to the Multi Usage Sports Ground at the village recreation ground for athletics.
  • We hold a traditional sports day, and arrange football and netball matches against other local schools. We also participate in the activities organised by the Wheatley Partnership of 12 schools, which includes a sports day amongst other varied sports training.

Drama

Children gain experience in the performing arts in our Christingle Service, the Harvest Festival, the Ascension Day Service and Maypole Dance. We also aim to put on a regular whole school drama production.

Music

Little Milton School uses external agencies to enrich the musical life of the school, with piano teaching provided and all children in Years 4,5 and 6 learning to read music and to play the ukulele. Choral singing by the children is encouraged at all of our performances and during assemblies.

Faith

We try to ensure that the way we teach the Christian faith is brought alive by the daily life and calendar of the school. St James’ Church is used for our traditional services and our vicar, Revd. Simon Cronk, is a frequent visitor to the school. The value of kindness and compassion is taught through participating in fundraising activities for charities, and we are twinned with a school in South Africa to develop the children’s experience of the world.

Community

Little Milton School is at the heart of its village, participating in the Little Milton fete and contributing to the village newsletter, as well as welcoming members of the community to our services at the Church and annual Maypole Dance.

Extra-Curricular Activities

These include after school and lunchtime activities such as art club, singing club and various other sports. Years 4, 5 and 6 have the opportunity to go on a residential course to try new and challenging activities. We also enjoy a wide range of outings to nature reserves and farms, a pantomime, the Oxfordshire Youth Orchestra at the Sheldonian in Oxford, cooking classes at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, and many more.