Business Details
Your Trusted Church of England Primary School in Clearwell
We are a Church of England Primary School nestled in the heart of Clearwell village within the Forest of Dean. Our unique location allows us to leverage the natural beauty of our surroundings and strong partnerships with local businesses like Clearwell Castle and Clearwell Caves to enrich our pupils' learning experiences. As a small village school, we pride ourselves on fostering a warm, nurturing environment where children develop confidence, independence, and a strong sense of community responsibility. Our dedicated team of educators combines professional expertise with a deep commitment to Christian values, ensuring every child receives personalized attention and challenging opportunities to excel academically and personally. We maintain close ties with St Peters Church and actively integrate our Christian ethos into all aspects of school life. Our recent local authority inspection highlighted our strengths in spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development, which we consider fundamental to our educational approach.We welcome prospective families to explore our school through scheduled open mornings or personalized visits arranged with our administrator. Our leadership team, including Headteacher Mrs Joanne Jones and Administrator Mrs Kirsty Tarry, remains readily available to address parental inquiries and provide comprehensive information about our programs. We ensure accessibility to all families by offering printed materials upon request and maintaining transparent communication channels. Our curriculum extends beyond academic excellence to include robust programs in arts, physical education, modern languages, and spiritual development, all delivered through carefully structured term plans.
Services
Early Years Curriculum
Phonics Support
Religious Education
SEND Provision
Breakfast Club
Sports Programs
Modern Languages
Forest Schools
Parental Engagement
OFSTED-Compliant Education
Highlights and features
- Our Christian ethos underpins all educational activities
- Dedicated staff nurture confident, independent learners
- Strong partnerships with local businesses enhance learning
- Recent inspection praised spiritual and moral development
- Beautiful Forest of Dean location supports outdoor learning
What people say
Nurturing environment
Dedicated staff
Strong community links
Excellent spiritual development
Personalized learning
Services
Early Years Curriculum
Our Early Years Foundation Stage program creates stimulating learning environments for children aged 3-5. Through play-based learning and structured activities, we develop essential literacy, numeracy, and social skills while nurturing curiosity and creativity. The curriculum follows national standards while incorporating local resources for practical, hands-on experiences.
SEND Provision
Catherine Stirrup, our qualified SENCO, provides tailored support for children with special educational needs. We implement individualized learning plans, specialist resources, and regular progress monitoring to ensure every child achieves their potential. Close collaboration with parents and external agencies maintains consistent support across all environments.
Forest Schools
Our Forest Schools program utilizes the Forest of Dean's natural environment for experiential learning. Children engage in practical activities that develop teamwork, problem-solving, and environmental awareness. Qualified instructors lead sessions that align with curriculum objectives while promoting physical development and risk management skills.
Modern Languages
We offer specialist French language instruction for Key Stage 2 pupils. Our program develops speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills through interactive lessons and cultural activities. The curriculum builds vocabulary and communication abilities while introducing pupils to French traditions and customs.
Breakfast Club
Our supervised breakfast club provides a safe, welcoming environment for pupils before school hours. Qualified staff offer nutritious breakfast options and structured activities from 7:45am daily. The service supports working families while ensuring children start their school day in a positive, settled manner.
People
Mrs Joanne Jones
Headteacher
Mrs Jones leads our school with over 15 years' experience in primary education. She champions inclusive learning and community engagement, maintaining strong church-school partnerships. Her leadership focuses on academic excellence and pupil well-being.
Mrs Kirsty Tarry
Administrator
Mrs Tarry manages school operations and parent communications with exceptional organisational skills. She ensures smooth administrative processes while maintaining approachable support for families. Her 10-year tenure guarantees institutional knowledge and continuity.
Catherine Stirrup
SENCO
As SENCO and class teacher, Catherine combines specialist SEND expertise with classroom experience. She develops individual learning strategies and coordinates multi-agency support. Her dual role ensures consistent implementation of special educational needs provision.
Questions
What makes Clearwell C of E Primary School unique?
Our school combines Church of England values with Forest School learning in the Forest of Dean, offering personalized education through small class sizes and strong community partnerships.
How do you support children with special educational needs?
Our qualified SENCO provides tailored support plans, specialist resources, and regular progress reviews while maintaining close parent collaboration and external agency partnerships.
What extracurricular activities are available?
We offer Forest Schools, sports programs, music ensembles, and educational visits to local attractions like Clearwell Castle and Caves throughout the academic year.
How can parents get involved with the school?
Parents participate through open mornings, regular communication with teachers, volunteering opportunities, and attending church-school events and community projects.
What are the school's inspection results?
Our recent SIAMS inspection praised spiritual development, while OFSTED reports highlight effective safeguarding and positive pupil behavior within our nurturing environment.
