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Key Information

Key Information about our school

On this page you will find key information about our school covering:

School Development Plan

At Great Bardfield Primary School, we are dedicated to continuous improvement, ensuring that our school provides the best possible education and opportunities for every child. Our School Development Plan outlines our key priorities for the academic year, focusing on raising achievement, enhancing teaching and learning, and fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

Our Governors are fundamental in monitoring and evaluating our progress, ensuring that our improvement strategies are effectively implemented and have a positive impact on our pupils. Through regular reviews and collaboration with staff, parents, and the wider school community, they help to drive excellence and maintain high standards across all areas of school life.

School Development Summary

Key Strengths include a committed staff team with strong leadership and governance, embedded inclusion, safeguarding and wellbeing, a values-led curriculum supporting character and personal development, high attendance and positive behaviour culture, and strong partnerships with families, the community and local schools.

Priority development areas for 2025/26 focus on inclusion, curriculum and teaching, and achievement. The school is improving communication with families of pupils with additional needs and strengthening transition to KS3 through the STAY project, parent feedback, a consistent communication strategy and SEND coffee mornings. The new English curriculum is being embedded with a focus on writing, supported by targeted interventions, staff CPD and consistent monitoring to ensure progression, stamina, accuracy and independence. Targeted support, data analysis and high-quality modelling are helping to raise attainment in English, narrow gaps for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, and ensure outcomes meet or exceed national expectations.

To learn more about our current improvement priorities and initiatives, please click the link below.

SDP One Page Summary 2025-2026

 

Pupil Premium

At Great Bardfield Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that every child thrives in their learning. Pupil Premium is additional funding provided by the government to support disadvantaged students, helping to close the attainment gap between them and their peers. This funding is used to provide targeted support, resources, and enrichment opportunities, ensuring all pupils have access to high-quality education and the tools they need to succeed.

To learn more about how we allocate our Pupil Premium funding and the impact it has, please read the report below.

School Prospectus

The school prospectus contains an overview of school life.

Sports Premium Funding

For the academic year 2025-2026, the Government has continued to provide primary schools with a PE and Sports Premium funding. This funding is intended to promote increased participation and competition and to widen sporting opportunities in primary schools. Great Bardfield Primary school has been allocated an amount of £17, 070 for the year 2025-26.

Schools should use the PE and sport premium funding to:

  • support all children and young people to live healthy, active lives
  • make participation in PE and school sport easier
  • make sure all children can achieve and thrive through increased physical activity and sport, no matter their background or ability
  • improve children’s health, wellbeing, personal development and academic attainment
  • embed the foundations of positive and enjoyable participation in regular physical activity.

The funding enables schools to:

  • increase confidence, knowledge and skills of all staff in teaching PE and sporting activities
  • increase engagement of all pupils in regular physical activity and sporting activities
  • raise the profile of PE and sport across the school, to support whole school improvement
  • offer a broader and more equal experience of a range of sports and physical activities to all pupils
  • increase participation in competitive sport

 

At Great Bardfield Primary School, we use the PE and Sport Premium to:

  1. Increase confidence, knowledge and skills of all staff in teaching PE and sport
  • A PE specialist works alongside teachers to model high-quality practice and support lesson delivery
  • Staff receive ongoing professional development through coaching, shared practice and training
  • Teachers are increasingly confident in delivering a broader and higher-quality PE curriculum independently

Impact: Teaching quality has improved and good practice is sustained across the school.

  1. Engage all pupils in regular physical activity
  • Physical activity is embedded throughout the school day, including active playtimes and lunchtime provision
  • A wide range of clubs is offered before, during and after school
  • Targeted support is provided to encourage participation from less active pupils

Impact: Participation in physical activity has increased across all year groups and engagement continues to rise year on year.

  1. Raise the profile of PE and sport across the school as a tool for whole-school improvement
  • PE and sport are valued as a core part of school life
  • Physical activity is increasingly linked to wider curriculum areas
  • Pupils are encouraged to develop positive attitudes to health, wellbeing and teamwork

Impact: PE has a higher profile across the school and pupils demonstrate positive attitudes towards physical activity.

  1. Broaden the experience of all pupils by offering a range of sports and physical activities
  • Pupils access a wide and varied PE curriculum supported by specialist teaching
  • Extra-curricular clubs broaden opportunities beyond timetabled PE
  • Specialist swimming instruction, including top-up and targeted sessions, supports early success in this key life skill (see below)

Impact: Pupils experience a wider range of sports and activities and develop confidence across multiple disciplines.

  1. Increase pupil participation in competitive sport
  • Pupils take part in local competitions, festivals and inter-school events
  • Inter-house competitions are held regularly to encourage inclusive participation
  • Competitive opportunities are accessible to all pupils, regardless of ability

Impact: Participation in competitive sport has increased and pupils demonstrate enthusiasm, resilience and teamwork.

Sustainability

  • Staff upskilling ensures improvements are embedded and sustained
  • Investment in high-quality equipment supports long-term curriculum development
  • Provision remains flexible and responsive to the needs of pupils and competition opportunities

 

Meeting national curriculum requirements for swimming and water safety (20/07/2025)

Percentage of our current Year 6 cohort who can swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres: 95%

Percentage of our current Year 6 cohort who can use a range of strokes effectively [for example, front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke: 95%

Percentage of our current Year 6 cohort who can perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations: 95%

Take a look at how we intend to spend out Sports Premium Grant last year:

Our Commitment to Climate Action

At Great Bardfield Primary School, we are dedicated to nurturing not only the minds of our pupils but also a sustainable future. Our Climate Action Plan outlines how we are taking meaningful steps to address climate change and protect our environment.

Having a structured plan allows us to:

  • Foster understanding and confidence in climate action among staff and pupils.
  • Build a school culture that prioritises sustainability.
  • Improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance biodiversity on our grounds.
  • Equip our learners with the knowledge and skills to make positive environmental choices now and in the future.
  • Work collaboratively with other schools and the wider community to share best practices.

Our Climate Action Plan is structured around four key pillars: adaptation and resilience, biodiversity and nature, climate education and green skills, and decarbonisation and net zero.

By taking a holistic, strategic approach, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint, preparing for the impacts of climate change, and inspiring the next generation to lead with sustainability in mind.

Climate Plan here

 

Ofsted Information

      School Performance Tables

      Please follow this link to the DfE Performance tables website.

      GDPR

      This section of our website provides our Privacy Notices along with information about the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)