IT’S a school that strives to provide an environment where every child can meet their full potential.

At St Winifred’s School, class sizes are kept small to ensure that each pupil is given one-to-one support and an education tailored to their needs.

And by the time they leave Year 6 and head to secondary school they are well on their way to becoming well-rounded, tolerant, responsible youngsters with good communication skills, who are well prepared for the next step in their education.

The private primary school, which is more than 100 years old, is linked to The Gregg School.

As well as being run by the same trust they are based at the secondary school’s former site in Winn Road, central Southampton.

The staff are currently led by Sheri Sellers, who stepped in as temporary head teacher after the former head left her role in October.

Until the school recruits a new permanent head next summer, Sheri, who has been head at The Gregg School for four years, will lead the management teams at both schools.

The links with the secondary school means that primary school children benefit from having specialist teachers from The Gregg School visit for some lessons.

At St Winifred’s, Sheri is joined at the helm by assistant head teachers Natalie Harrison and Matt Pascoe.

Natalie, who leads the early years and Key Stage 1 team, has worked at the school for six years and still holds her role as a reception class teacher.

Both of her children have attended the school.

Keiran has moved on to study at The Gregg School, while Emma is currently in Year 3.

Matt, who is in charge of Key Stage 2, has been at the school for four years. It is also his job to keep parents up to date with regular newsletters.

Sheri said: “When they leave this school they are children that are beyond their years. They communicate at a level that is beyond other primary school children because they communicate with adults many times more than in other schools.

“We have a very exciting future. We’re working really hard to engage our parents and our local community.

“Certainly the parental feedback we have had so far has been extremely positive and the children are happy and settled. The plan is to engage a new head teacher in the forthcoming education year. We can continue with the ethos of what’s already here.”

There are about 90 children currently on the school’s registers and class sizes typically range from six to 16.

Santa's Grotto

STEPPING through the magic wardrobe, St Winifred’s School has its own Narnia and Santa’s grotto.

An unused section of the school has been transformed into a winter wonderland with reindeer stables, a fireplace and a sleeping Father Christmas.

School caretaker Polly Falvey spent three weeks creating the grotto in time for children and their parents to explore after their annual carol service and Christmas fair.

Polly said: “It was a tradition started by the previous caretaker and when I arrived three years ago I felt duty bound.

“My brother had an old wardrobe so I started with that and if you’ve got a wardrobe you’ve got Narnia.

“It’s just grown over the last two years.

“I have already got plans for next year’s.”

Daily Echo:

Pictured are Patrick Berry, Emily Bull, Henry Earl Megan Margereson and Naomi Collymore.

SCIENCE

YOUNGSTERS learned how to use weighing scales in their science lab.

The school aims to provide children with a variety of opportunities to develop their talents and English, maths, science and ICT are at the centre of their curriculum.

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Pictured are Laurence Bailey, Grace Kirk, Alex Bah and Jack Murray-Dryden.

THE PLAYGROUND

CHILDREN took a break from their classroom and went outside to play in their Wendy house at playtime.

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Assistant head teacher Matt Pascoe says:

We are not a big school by any means but as the saying goes, great things come in small packages.

We strive to be at the very heart of our little community and our nativity and Christmas fair spectacular shows the direction we are heading in.

With small classes we provide an intimate environment for learning which is focused very much around traditional learning but with a modern twist. We strive to give our children a well-rounded education with a view to creating independent learners.

With close links to our partner school, The Gregg School, we benefit from an exchange of specialism in teachers and resources, with a view to providing an educational journey that begins here at|St Winifred’s and finishes at The Gregg School; a unique educational opportunity.

These are exciting times at St Winifred’s School. With the introduction of the new curriculum we are currently seeking out new ways and opportunities to inspire our young learners to greatness.

Come and join us on our fantastic educational journey.

Daily Echo:

From left: Assistant head teachers Natalie Harrison and Matt Pascoe with acting head Sheri Sellers.