1. Education in Wales

2. Wales is divided into 22 Local Authorities Oakfield Primary School is in the Local Authority of Cardiff, the capitol city of Wales Cardiff Local Authority is responsible for 110 primary schools (3 – 11 years), 20 secondary schools (11 – 18 years) and three Special Schools Schools in Wales are much smaller than schools in China

3. Phases of Education Education in the U.K. can be seen in six phases Phase 1: Early Years (3 – 5 years) Phase 2: Key Stage 1 (5 – 7 years) Phase 3: Key Stage 2 (7 – 11 years) Phase 4: Key Stage 3 (11 – 14 years) Phase 5: Key Stage 4 (14 – 16 years) Phase 6: Academic/Vocational Post 16 education (16 – 18 years) at school or college Phase 7: University Education Phases 1 – 5 are compulsory

4. Oakfield Primary School CardiffWales

5. Oakfield Primary School is situated on the eastern outskirts of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales

6. Oakfield Primary School built in 1979 to serve the community of St. Mellons It currently has 330 full time pupils aged 5 – 11 years of age and 116 pupils aged 3 – 5 years 23% of the pupils have special educational needs

7. Curriculum Pupils in Phases 1 and 2 follow the Foundation Phase which covers seven areas of learning Emphasis is placed on developing children’s skills across all the seven areas of learning. There are expected standards of children’s performance.

8. Language, literacy and communication skills these skills will be developed through talking, signing, communicating and listening. Children will be encouraged to communicate their needs, feelings and thoughts and retell their experiences Mathematical development children will use numbers in their daily activities and develop a range of flexible methods for working mentally with numbers. They will then move onto using more formal methods of working and recording when they are developmentally ready.

9. Knowledge and Understanding of the world Children will be given experiences that increase their curiosity about the world around them and to begin to understand past events, people and places, livings things and the work people do. Creative development This area of learning focuses on developing imagination and creativity. Their natural curiosity and disposition to learn is stimulated by everyday sensory experiences

10. Physical development enthusiasm and energy for movement is continually promoted through helping children to use their bodies effectively. Spatial awareness, balance, control and co-ordination is encouraged to develop motor and manipulative skills Personal and social development, Well- Being and Cultural Diversity. this area of learning focuses on children learning about themselves, their relationships with other children and adults. Welsh Language development Welsh Language skills are developed through communicating in a range of enjoyable, practical planned activities and using a range of stimuli that build on children’s previous knowledge and experiences.

11. New Curriculum Pupils in Phase 3 (7 – 11 years) are taught through the New Curriculum the new curriculum contains eleven curriculum areas English; mathematics; science; geography; art; music; design technology; history; Welsh information technology; physical education schools are also expected to cover religious education, ESDGC (Educational Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship), PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) and Problem Solving the emphasis with teaching and learning is placed on learning and developing skills in order to enable pupils to access knowledge

12. Teaching English, mathematics and Welsh are generally taught as discrete subjects the remainder of the curriculum areas are taught through ‘Contexts for Learning’ ‘Contexts for Learning’ are themes into which the progression of skills and delivery of knowledge is carefully planned by the teachers thorough and conscientious planning along with high quality teaching is required to ensure pupils achieve

13. Assessment Pupils educational progress is carefully monitored in a number of ways teachers planning is closely monitored by the Senior Management Team to ensure high quality lessons are prepared (monitoring) pupils’ books are monitored by teachers responsible for each subject area pupils explain the work they have completed to parents, teachers and fellow pupils at the end of each term

14. each teacher is expected to evaluate their lessons and use the information to ensure that future lessons reinforce any areas of development and provide differentiated learning activities according to the abilities and needs of the pupils (planning, lesson evaluation/ differentiation) each pupils’ progress in English and mathematics is carefully tracked by the Senior Management Team standardised tests in reading, English and mathematics are administered at the end of every school year summative teacher assessments are undertaken at the end of each Key Stage

15. Learning Opportunities a wide range of extra-curricular activities e.g. dance, soccer, choir, eco club, rugby, Welsh etc

16. School Council The School Council is made up of an elected committee of eight pupils. Two pupils represent each class from children aged between 7 and 11 years old. The School council meets once a month for approximately 1 hour. They discuss issues raised by other children, think of ways to improve the school, hold fundraising events and take part in new initiatives. They meet with the community police, school nurse and other professionals. The School Council provides an opportunity for pupils to have a say in the decisions made within the school

17. Eco schools committee Eco-schools is an environmental management system for the school that enables schools to become more sustainable. The Eco-schools programme is holistic.It works by involving the whole school-pupils, teachers, non- teaching staff and governors –together with members of the local community-parents, the local authority, the media and local organisations and businesses. The 7 elements the Eco-schools programme follows are-Litter, Waste minimisation, Energy, Water, Transport, Healthy Eating and School Grounds. The school has a committee, made up of teaching, on teaching staff and pupils. They make an Action Plan that covers the 7 elements and are responsible for the delivery of that Action Plan. The school currently has just received the Platinum Award, the highest Award for Eco-Schools. You can see more on our school website just follow the link!

18. Parent Teacher Association The schools tries to encourage parents to help within the school. They listen to children read, help teacher with daily actvities in the classroom. The parent teacher Association has been very successful in organising events e.g. Summer Fayre, Bingo nights, to help raise money for the school. They purchase and sell fruit to the children at break times to encourage our Healthy eating campaign

19. Residential courses for outdoor learning

20. Further Learning Opportunities  school visits linked to Foundation Phase learning and Contexts for Learning to farms, castles, museums, science laboratories etc.  School visitors e.g. scientists, theatre groups, musicians, storytellers, police officers, doctors etc

21. School Achievements Wales Quality Award winners for the past three years (gold) National School Curriculum Award International Schools Award National Eco Schools Award (platinum) National Basic Skills Award National Investors in People Award National ICT Award National Arts Mark Award (gold) National Sports Mark Award