St James the Great R.C (V.A) Primary & Nursery School

AGM 2000

THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

The Governors continue to be committed to maintaining a good working environment for staff and pupils. Responsibility for this is largely delegated to the Governors Buildings, Health and Safety Committee, which is very ably Chaired by Mr Rossi Gonsalves. This committee meets regularly and deals with all premises issues including Health and Safety checks and liaison with the staff nominated Health and Safety Representative.

The Governors and school continue to be appreciative of the maintenance work and premises tasks undertaken by the school Site Manager, Mr Dodd.

The main project during the past year involved obtaining funding and actioning the work to provide a flat to pitch roof conversion over the original part of the school building. This has been a very successful project and is now almost complete. It will secure a watertight roof for many years to come and has also improved the overall appearance of the school buildings.

Security remains an issue at the forefront of all items relating to the school environment. The Governors are of the view that the introduction of the timed entry locks has significantly improved pupil safety. Better external lighting particularly to the car park area is within the programme, not least because it has been an area of staff concern. We think it is appropriate to keep this issue under review and welcome parental input on this matter. Sadly, out of hours vandalism to the site remains an ongoing problem. Our policy remains to action repairs as a matter of urgency following such incidents in order to maintain site quality.

Other works during the year have included completion works to the music room block, the relaying of uneven paving slabs and the extension of the school’s ICT facilities. Other schools seeking to develop similar provision have visited the ICT suite on a number of occasions.

Last year saw the replacement of the old furniture in our Reception classes and this programme will continue with the replacement of Year One’s furniture this year. We are currently seeking costings to commence external and internal redecoration works along with new carpeting for the Junior and main Reception areas. The Governors hope that the parents will see the results of these works over the next year. It is intended to allow the Friends Association to develop the current Tea Bar area off the main hall to enable its easier use for function purposes. This will necessitate the construction of a chair store. It is proposed to cover the area adjacent to the current PE store and Lower Junior exit for this purpose.

Parents will have noted the consultation currently underway in regard to the development of sporting facilities on the school site. It is pleasing to see these proposals reaching a stage of readiness for submission for consideration for funding from the National Lotteries Sport For All Programme. If successful, this will greatly enhance our facilities and provide further opportunities to strengthen community links. The project would also see the extension of our current hard play areas and the resurfacing of the Infant play area. Parents will be kept informed via school newsletters in regard to these proposals.

The school is also looking to the development of a long-standing project to provide an enclosed garden and pond area on the site for curriculum use.

We remain aware of the lack of covered areas to the school and are also examining the possible development of such provision in the first instance to support the early years curriculum.

The twenty-fifth anniversary of St James the Great School is 8 September 2001. Plans to celebrate this event are at an early stage and one proposal is to develop a permanent chapel area located at the heart of the school, by extending the current medical room area. This would provide a fitting mark to the twenty fifth anniversary celebrations as well as providing a quiet area for individuals and a purpose-built facility for class based services. This would involve the relocation of the current medical room facilities to the music room block, which in many respects is a more appropriate location, as it would make this facility more readily available to pupils from the playground areas.

In noting the larger aspects to the school environment the governors would not wish the work of the school’s excellent team of cleaners to go without recognition and we offer them a special vote of thanks.

It remains the aim of the Buildings Health and Safety Committee to secure the best possible environmental conditions for pupils and staff.