Dear Parents and Carers
As the Headteacher, I am delighted to be able to welcome you to the website of Southdale Church of England Junior School.
We are a 7-11, Church of England school, in the heart of Ossett, in Wakefield, Yorkshire. We cater for 360 pupils, supported by a combined staff of over 50 adults. Together this team forms the Southdale Community.
My philosophy for education is one which allows staff and children alike, to be the best they can be. I believe that all children can succeed and every child has the right to an education which unlocks their full potential, by instilling in them a thirst to learn. Here at Southdale, we hold a strong child-centred approach to teaching where consistency, praise, yet challenge are key to success. Working together, our aim is for every child to achieve their full potential in their academic, creative, personal, physical, moral and spiritual development.
Within the context of Christian belief and practice, our school has developed a set of core values which will continue to underpin all the work we do. These values will have a huge impact as your child develops. They help to deepen the positive values and in doing so, help each child consider the implications of their choices in relation to themselves, the communities from which they are part and the wider world. This is why our school motto and our overall aim is to ‘shine like stars in the universe’ which we refer to this as the ‘Southdale Sparkle’.
I know how vital working in partnership with parents really is, in order for children to find school a positive and rewarding experience. I strongly believe achievement and enjoyment go hand in hand to ensure each child’s excellent progress. I hope you will support our high expectations in all areas.
If there’s one thing I can absolutely promise, is that we will make mistakes, we won’t get everything right, but we’ll try our very best every single day for the wonderful children of Southdale. I would like to thank you personally for your continued commitment and support towards the staff and pupils of this school. I look forward to working with you and encourage you as parents to become involved in your child’s learning. If you have any questions or want to visit our school for the first time, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Yours faithfully,
Headteacher
