School Prospectus
Skinners’ Kent Primary School Vision and Values
Pride in Our Success
We take pride in our success and to achieve this we are setting high standards with clear expectations. We focus on encouragement, underpinned by good discipline. Staff, pupils and parents work together to ensure that pride in our success means:
Pride in Our Success
We take pride in our success and to achieve this we are setting high standards with clear expectations. We focus on encouragement, underpinned by good discipline. Staff, pupils and parents work together to ensure that pride in our success means:
- Pride in our work
- Pride in our behaviour and attitude
- Pride in our attendance and punctuality
- Pride in our uniform and the way we look
- Pride in our commitment to learning and achievement
- Pride in our contribution to our SKPS community
About the School
Skinners’ Kent Primary School opened on 3 September 2015 in temporary accommodation at Skinners’ Kent Academy, in a separate building fitted out to provide excellent facilities with own access.
In September 2016, the school relocated to a purpose built school at The Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3GS. The facilities here provide generous spaces for rich learning and personal development. They include a new school building with a sports hall, an all-weather pitch, playgrounds, games courts and parkland play area. The school is a few minutes’ walk from the new Knights Wood housing development.
The school is sponsored by the Skinners’ School Foundation and led and managed predominantly by the Skinners’ Kent Academy, with the support of The Skinners’ School.
The school opened in September 2015 with 30 places in Reception, and 15 places in Year One. In September 2016 we welcomed a new reception class of 30 pupils and additional pupils for our Year 2 class. There is, in place, a phased programme of growth to a capacity of 210 pupils across seven classes, the school growing from the bottom upwards.
Skinners’ Kent Academy is an IB World School, currently offering MYP IB and IBCP (Middle Years Programme, International Baccalaureate and International Baccalaureate Career related Programme). Skinners’ Kent Primary School works alongside Skinners’ Kent Academy to provide an all through IB ethos by delivering the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). The Academy also provides support and specialist facilities to the Primary School.
Oakley School leads a satellite class offering inclusive provision for pupils with special educational needs, with a focus on children with autism. The unit is based within the building and grounds of Skinners’ Kent Primary School as a specialist provision to support and enable pupils to be integrated into mainstream classes and to receive the support and encouragement that they need to progress and thrive.
About International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme
Curriculum
Skinners’ Kent Primary School offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage and the National Curriculum for England. This serves to provide families in the area with an all-through, inclusive and non-selective IB education in the Tunbridge Wells area.
The IB PYP is a highly regarded, international curriculum offered in schools around the world. This network of schools provides many opportunities for connecting with learners from different countries, cultures and contexts.
Schools wishing to offer the International Baccalaureate Programmes must undergo a rigorous authorisation process to ensure international standards are met.
What is the IB Primary Years Programme?
The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) is a curriculum framework designed for students aged 3 to 12yrs. It focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside. It is defined by six interconnected, transdisciplinary
themes of global significance, explored through units of inquiry using knowledge and skills derived from 6 subject themes.
Children learn to make connections between and within their learning in a way in which all aspects of the curriculum are valued and nurtured. They see the links between subject disciplines and understand their place in their family, their locality, their home country and the wider world.
Transdisciplinary Themes
Subject Themes
IB Learner Profile
The PYP Programme aims to develop internationally-minded people who recognise everyone’s common humanity. By sharing responsibility for the planet, everyone can help to create a better, more peaceful world. PYP learners strive to be:
Inquirers—their natural curiosity has been nurtured and they actively enjoy learning
Thinkers—they exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to solving complex problems
Communicators—they receive and express ideas and information confidently in more than one language
Risk-takers—they approach unfamiliar situations without anxiety and have the confidence to explore new ideas
Knowledgeable—they have explored themes that have global significance and have acquired a critical mass of knowledge
Principled—they have a sound grasp of the principles of moral reasoning and have acquired integrity, honesty and a sense of justice
Caring—they show sensitivity towards the needs and feelings of others, and have a sense of personal commitment to helping others
Open-minded—they respect the values of other individuals and cultures and seek to consider a range of points of view
Well-balanced—they understand the importance of physical and mental balance and personal well-being
Reflective—they give thoughtful consideration to their own learning by constructively analysing their personal strengths and weaknesses.
A rich, exciting and truly international programme
Within the units of inquiry, children are taught all literacy and numeracy skills appropriate to their age as well as a science programme based on discussion, prediction, investigation and practical experimentation. Class teachers oversee the teaching of the core curriculum in order to maintain the high standards of literacy and numeracy within the school. Specialist teachers support the teaching of a new language, Drama, ICT and PE, ensuring that these areas are integrated into the unit of inquiry providing local, national and global awareness and encouraging intercultural understanding.
Skinners’ Kent Primary School opened on 3 September 2015 in temporary accommodation at Skinners’ Kent Academy, in a separate building fitted out to provide excellent facilities with own access.
In September 2016, the school relocated to a purpose built school at The Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3GS. The facilities here provide generous spaces for rich learning and personal development. They include a new school building with a sports hall, an all-weather pitch, playgrounds, games courts and parkland play area. The school is a few minutes’ walk from the new Knights Wood housing development.
The school is sponsored by the Skinners’ School Foundation and led and managed predominantly by the Skinners’ Kent Academy, with the support of The Skinners’ School.
The school opened in September 2015 with 30 places in Reception, and 15 places in Year One. In September 2016 we welcomed a new reception class of 30 pupils and additional pupils for our Year 2 class. There is, in place, a phased programme of growth to a capacity of 210 pupils across seven classes, the school growing from the bottom upwards.
Skinners’ Kent Academy is an IB World School, currently offering MYP IB and IBCP (Middle Years Programme, International Baccalaureate and International Baccalaureate Career related Programme). Skinners’ Kent Primary School works alongside Skinners’ Kent Academy to provide an all through IB ethos by delivering the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). The Academy also provides support and specialist facilities to the Primary School.
Oakley School leads a satellite class offering inclusive provision for pupils with special educational needs, with a focus on children with autism. The unit is based within the building and grounds of Skinners’ Kent Primary School as a specialist provision to support and enable pupils to be integrated into mainstream classes and to receive the support and encouragement that they need to progress and thrive.
About International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme
Curriculum
Skinners’ Kent Primary School offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage and the National Curriculum for England. This serves to provide families in the area with an all-through, inclusive and non-selective IB education in the Tunbridge Wells area.
The IB PYP is a highly regarded, international curriculum offered in schools around the world. This network of schools provides many opportunities for connecting with learners from different countries, cultures and contexts.
Schools wishing to offer the International Baccalaureate Programmes must undergo a rigorous authorisation process to ensure international standards are met.
What is the IB Primary Years Programme?
The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) is a curriculum framework designed for students aged 3 to 12yrs. It focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside. It is defined by six interconnected, transdisciplinary
themes of global significance, explored through units of inquiry using knowledge and skills derived from 6 subject themes.
Children learn to make connections between and within their learning in a way in which all aspects of the curriculum are valued and nurtured. They see the links between subject disciplines and understand their place in their family, their locality, their home country and the wider world.
Transdisciplinary Themes
- Who we are
- Where we are in place and time
- How we express ourselves
- How the world works
- How we organise ourselves
- Sharing the planet
Subject Themes
- Language
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Physical, Social and Personal Education
- The Arts
IB Learner Profile
The PYP Programme aims to develop internationally-minded people who recognise everyone’s common humanity. By sharing responsibility for the planet, everyone can help to create a better, more peaceful world. PYP learners strive to be:
Inquirers—their natural curiosity has been nurtured and they actively enjoy learning
Thinkers—they exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to solving complex problems
Communicators—they receive and express ideas and information confidently in more than one language
Risk-takers—they approach unfamiliar situations without anxiety and have the confidence to explore new ideas
Knowledgeable—they have explored themes that have global significance and have acquired a critical mass of knowledge
Principled—they have a sound grasp of the principles of moral reasoning and have acquired integrity, honesty and a sense of justice
Caring—they show sensitivity towards the needs and feelings of others, and have a sense of personal commitment to helping others
Open-minded—they respect the values of other individuals and cultures and seek to consider a range of points of view
Well-balanced—they understand the importance of physical and mental balance and personal well-being
Reflective—they give thoughtful consideration to their own learning by constructively analysing their personal strengths and weaknesses.
A rich, exciting and truly international programme
Within the units of inquiry, children are taught all literacy and numeracy skills appropriate to their age as well as a science programme based on discussion, prediction, investigation and practical experimentation. Class teachers oversee the teaching of the core curriculum in order to maintain the high standards of literacy and numeracy within the school. Specialist teachers support the teaching of a new language, Drama, ICT and PE, ensuring that these areas are integrated into the unit of inquiry providing local, national and global awareness and encouraging intercultural understanding.
Our inclusive environment offers active participation and high aspirations for all to create a whole school ethos in which our pupils, staff and parents thrive and flourish.
