Mission Statement
Our Philosophy History 7_Benefits
Contact Us Feedback
An Overview
At Abbey School we understand how young
children learn and this makes a real difference to their early development - and their
future lives. We support every aspect of learning, including helping parents to understand how children
develop. Here, children, parents
and school all work together to ensure that we make the most and the best of
each individual talent and aptitude that your child has. By providing
professional and appropriate support in each area of development at every age,
and by working closely with parents, Abbey children
achieve outstanding successes which words are inadequate to describe. More than
this, they are happy to do so and thrive in this atmosphere! You must view
our exceptional standards for yourself, note our remarkable results and see just
how happy the children are to achieve these. If you want your child to benefit
from the best in early education, then we look forward to
your visit. Contact us now using This
Email Link
or telephone 01803-327868.
Abbey School works closely within the guidelines of, and with
regard to all advice from, QCA (The National Quality and Curriculum Assessment
Authority), OfSTED (The Office for Standards in Education), all National Curriculum requirements,
which we also enhance, and
best current educational practice.
We are
not selective in our intake and each year our successes far outshine any expectations.
At Abbey School, we are equally
happy to support those children who work more slowly as we are to extend those
who are quicker learners, accepting all children and educating them in the
fullest sense of the word.
Even though we are a non-selective school, academically
our 10 and 11 year-old children frequently achieve more SATs at
level 5, the average expectation for 14-year-olds, than at level 4, the expected
standard for 11-year-olds. Similarly, our long-term 11+ exam results have
produced more than two and a half times the expected number of grammar school places from our
Year 6 pupils than the national average, our results averaging 53% over the past
five years against the national average of 20%. Furthermore, during the
same time scale Abbey pupils have been awarded several major and minor
scholarships to public schools. Noting these
results, you will understand how justifiably proud we are of our academic record.
Not
all children are academically strong or grammar school candidates and we encourage
each pupil to perform optimally. However, we firmly believe that each child has something special
to offer, and we will find it! An Abbey School education results in the 'gearing upwards' of all
academic achievements, while at the same time pupils enjoy success in music
exams, winning speech and drama festivals, receiving accolades in
swimming, cricket, chess, tennis or anything else they turn their hand to. As committed educators, we provide
a truly dedicated learning environment for all our pupils, one in which your child may achieve
well in all areas of development.
We make the most of all talent and aptitude
Email for an appointment
now on This Link.
The sooner your child joins us, the sooner he or she will begin to benefit from
our proven educational programme, professional expertise and specialist primary
and nursery environment.
Mission Statement
Our Mission is to ensure that all our pupils reach their full
potential in each area of their life, by providing an ever-improving environment
that simultaneously supports their intellectual, creative, physical and moral
endeavours whilst creating challenges that inspire them to excellence.
And how do
we do this?
·
We are
committed to the idea of continuous, incremental improvement in our teaching, in
our learning programme and in our school environment.
·
At Abbey
School, children are the prime focus of all our work.
·
We
offer a well-balanced start in life for each pupil, fostering appropriately the
spiritual, moral and cultural development of each
child.
·
We are
committed to providing an environment that is safe, well resourced, and
conducive to learning.
·
We expect
high standards of work and behaviour, and are committed to quality teaching and
learning.
·
We
acknowledge that working in close co-operation with parents best serves the
needs of our pupils.
·
We recognise
that each child is an individual with varied talents and requirements.
·
We provide
positive learning experiences that encourage strong self-esteem and high
personal expectations.
We
have a proud fifty-year record of inspiring young children, from babies to 11
years, to reach their goals and aspirations. Committed and highly skilled
professionals present our carefully planned and successful academic, physical
and social programmes, designed to meet the needs of children today, as well as
preparing them for the challenges of the 21st century.
Our Philosophy
Abbey School is guided by a well-defined philosophy that
fosters devotion to learning and commitment to excellence.
Abbey School gladly accepts people of all
nationalities and religions into our extended family. We encourage a diversity of viewpoints
and an appreciation of different cultures, as embodied in our motto
‘Individuality Enriches Life’.
Our learning environment cultivates confidence, creativity,
critical thinking and independent inquiry because we believe that the
development of these attributes motivates children to fulfil their personal and
social possibilities.
Abbey School provides children with the opportunities and
the time, to 'find themselves', in whatever area of development and at whatever
level of achievement is appropriate for each individual.
We
work to unfold the potential of the whole person through the quality of educational experience
we offer.
Learning Together
History
Abbey
School was established in 1951 by Miss Phyllis Fletcher, a children’s nanny,
and Miss Joyce Bee, an English teacher, who joined forces in response to the
demand for an independent early-years setting in Torbay. The school grew from
modest beginnings on various sites, settling in St. Marychurch
in 1957.
When
Mrs. Sylvia Greinig became Principal in 1979, there were forty-eight pupils, six
of them in a nursery. Pupil numbers grew steadily throughout the 80’s and by
the mid 90’s, the proliferation of temporary classrooms in the grounds
demanded a major building programme. This was completed in 1996, and on March 14th
1997, the holder of the ancient and traditional parliamentary role of Black Rod,
Admiral Sir. Richard Thomas, with his wife Lady Thomas (formerly Paddy Cullinan, an ex-pupil of Abbey School), opened the
6 new infant classrooms and
the administration area of Swan Wing. This enabled the school’s 250 pupils to
be comfortably accommodated.
The
1990’s also saw the introduction of a pupil computer suite that has underpinned the development of our distinction in this field. At the same time,
the recruitment of staff dedicated to drama has lead to the creation of a strong
drama department where our pupils excel in examinations, festivals, and our much
acclaimed school productions.
We constantly review and improve the facilities we offer
to our pupils and were proud to celebrate the Royal Opening of our new
multi-purpose Jubilee Hall and indoor swimming pool by Her Royal Highness The
Duchess of Gloucester CGVO
on 24th September 2003.
Abbey
School faces the 21st century with a firm sense of the
importance of what has been accomplished in the past and with confidence in what can
be achieved in the future.
7 Benefits of Good Schools
- Children are well rounded by being developed across the learning
spectrum, not just academically
- Children receive high-quality education because they are taught by
practitioners who are specialists in the field, dedicated to the age
group and who inspire excellence
- Children follow a carefully planned educational programme in each
learning area and at each stage of development
- Children have progress monitored sensitively, accurately and regularly
- Children benefit from professionals working closely with parents to
generate challenging yet achievable goals
- Children gain justifiable confidence in their own abilities by
learning to
work towards successful outcomes, both in school work
and extra-curricular activities
- Children develop in an environment where they are respected as
individuals and where they learn to respect the individuality of others
Working to improve our service to parents
We will do all we can to make it easy for you to contact us and receive the information you need.
At Abbey School we are constantly working to improve
the service we offer, and if you have ideas that we can implement to help us
in this endeavour, please contact the General Office by email and let us know on
This Link
or telephone 01803-327868
Contact Us
We would love to hear from you. If you have a query you may
care to telephone us for an immediate response; however, please feel free to
contact us via whichever medium you are most comfortable. We aim to respond to
correspondence and E-mail within two working days.
Address :
Abbey School, St. Marychurch, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 4PR, UK
Telephone/Fax:
44-01803-327868
Email: The Administrator
