OUR SCHOOL
Stanley Drapkin Prmary School, Steeple Bumpstead is situated in a village on the Essex and Suffolk border. The village of Steeple Bumpstead has boasted its own school for many hundreds of years. The very first school was housed in the upper floor of The Moot Hall, which is situated at the junction of Finchingfield Road, Church Street and Chapel Street.
For many years children of the village were educated in the building, which is still to be seen on North Street near Claywall Bridge, this was the British School (founded in 1847). A National School was built in Church Street in 1848. This has recently been converted into a private dwelling and pottery. After the First World War the Education Authority took over both schools for the Infants and Juniors respectively. However, neither building proved entirely suitable for their task in a village with a fast growing population.
The present school hall, two classrooms and Headteacher's office were completed in 1972.
In the early 1980s the Education Authority added four junior classrooms, a library, staff room and extra cloakroom facilities.
In 2005 the school changed its name from Steeple Bumpstead Primary School to Stanley Drapkin Primary School, Steeple Bumpstead in honour of its great champion and tireless benefactor Mr Stanley Drapkin, who sadly died in December 2003.
BUILDINGS AND ENVIRONMENT
The present school is now housed in modern, well-equiped buildings. The main building, following the opening of the school's fabulous purpose built Foundation classroom in 2008, is home to all the school's classrooms. Peculiarly, the first time in the school's history that all the children have been under one roof! Each classroom is carpeted and furnished with up to date equipment. Teachers work very hard to create pleasant, stimulating working environments for the children.
The large school hall is equipped for both Physical Education and Music.
The school benefits greatly from its ICT provision, bringing Interactive Boards to all classrooms and a mobile laptop solution to work alongside teacher laptops and classroom PCs. We are very fortunate to have facilities such as these. It is planned to continue developing the range of multi-media opportunites available to the children.
There is also a well resourced library, which provides a quiet, cosy area for children to enjoy their reading.
The building is surrounded by playing areas in an extremely rich environment in terms of educational needs. In 1993 an adventure playground was added with large and small freestanding equipment on a safety surface. These have been updated and added to in recent years, with the smaller of the two palygrounds now boasting a pirate ship paly area! We are constantly seeking ways to improve our outside environment and recently 'quiet areas' have been created as well as a small fenced in pond, allotments for growing vegetables and a greenhouse as well as gardens for flowers.
The school also very lucky to have a heated Swimming Pool, which is used by the children in the warmer months. A qualified Swimming Instructor teaches the children.
THE AIMS OF THE SCHOOL
At Stanley Drapkin Primary School, staff and governors are committed to providing the means by which children can fully develop academically, socially, morally and physically in an inspiring and challenging environment.
We aim to recognise the needs of each individual child and give each child the opportunity to fulfil their potential to the highest possible standard. It is hoped that all pupils will develop the will and the ability to make a positive and constructive contribution to the life of the school and of the Community. When pupils leave the school they should ideally be responsible, self-confident and independent learners.
The school is a caring and supportive community within which every child should feel they have a value and can learn to value others. The children are encouraged to use their initiative, to work as individuals, in groups and as a team and to value the strengths and contributions of others.
We do our very best to create and sustain a happy atmosphere within a stimulating learning environment and a wide range of activities take place inside and outside the classroom. According to their abilities and aptitudes, boys and girls have equal access to the opportunities presented by the breadth and depth of the curriculum.
An interesting and well-planned curriculum is essential for effective learning, as is a well-managed environment in which everyone is made fully aware of behavioural expectations and personal responsibilites. By working as a team we provide a supportive and stimulating environment for learning and teaching.
We believe that education is a partnership between Home and School. Children make the best progress when Home and School work closely together. To promote this aim, Staff endeavour to make individual contact with Parents in order to encourage an easy yet professional relationship between Parents and Staff (see the Home/School Liaison Policy.) The aim of this school is to empower all children to develop towards full membership of the society in which they live and hopefully, through their actions, create a better world.
