Families prepare to join Hunsley Primary

Families in Brough and across the local area are getting set to join Hunsley Primary, after receiving their offer of a place at the school on 16th April 2015. 30 places were available for the first reception class at the school, which will open on the South Hunsley School site in September 2015, and the school allocated all places on the national primary offer day.

Excitement is building amongst families and South Hunsley’s staff and students as the opening day for the new school draws nearer. Lucy Hudson, Head of Hunsley Primary has been delighted by the response from parents to the opening of the new school.

“I have been thrilled by the positive response from parents applying for places at Hunsley Primary and their enthusiasm for our vision for the school. The families I have met are really excited that Hunsley Primary is so closely connected to South Hunsley and they are really pleased that we have planned to open with only one reception class so their child can get a lot of individual and personal attention and will have access to older children through our local academy partnership with Swanland School and our special relationship with South Hunsley.”

South Hunsley’s secondary staff with primary training will be regular visitors, supporting the primary pupils specifically on developing scientific and mathematical skills. South Hunsley’s sixth form students are also really keen to work with the primary and sixth form students are already signing up as supportive maths and reading volunteers as part of their community contribution work. This includes Tom Ashbridge and Beatrice Wood who will be in sixth form next year and are interested in passing on their Maths expertise to Hunsley Primary pupils.

Tom said: “I can remember being a primary pupil myself. I was at Swanland Primary and we always had people coming into school to help with our learning. It feels right that I can pay something back and help younger pupils myself now. I really love Maths and it would be great to show primary children how interesting Maths can be.”

Beatrice said: “I would like a career in medicine when I’m older because I want to help people. Having a Maths qualifications will be really important to make sure I can achieve this. Maths is a really fascinating subject which helps you to think logically and develop problem solving skills and it would be great to volunteer at Hunsley Primary. It means I get to help people and pass on my passion for Maths at the same time!”

Chris Abbott, Executive Principal at Hunsley Trust has also made a commitment that Hunsley Primary’s pupils will have access to some of East Yorkshire’s very best primary leaders in education, with collaborative working arrangements established with two local Ofsted Outstanding primary schools – Swanland Primary School and Hook Primary School.

“We have promised our parents that opening Hunsley Primary with just one reception class really will be a win win situation for the pupils. We realise it is very important to parents that their children have access to older role models and parents seem to agree that we have created a good blend that offers their children a gentler transition from pre-school to school. Hunsley Primary pupils will get plenty of dedicated time alone as a reception class in their own distinct, separate and safe reception-only school building, as well as, taking part in organised activities with older primary pupils from partner schools thanks to the unique arrangements we have put in place.”

Chris Huscroft, executive headteacher at Swanland Primary School, said: “I am really looking forward to working collaboratively with Hunsley Primary and the Hunsley Trust leadership team to help them successfully launch a new local primary. We’ll be working very closely together in Hunsley Primary’s early days to establish a partnership that will involve teachers and children working together across the schools.

“Swanland School already works closely with South Hunsley School and we are delighted to be able to extend this arrangement to Hunsley Primary, a school that shares our values for high standards in education. We’ll work in a long term partnership with the new school to continue to maximise local opportunities to deliver an outstanding education for the children and families living in the Swanland and Brough areas.”