What makes us different?
A NURTURING SCHOOL
We have been awarded the National Nurture Schools Award by Nurture UK. To achieve this accreditation, we undertook two years of training and support, followed by an assessment. We are incredibly proud that the principles of nurture are embedded across the school (see picture).
We also have two Nurture groups that run three mornings times a week. These groups support children that need additional support with the Social, Emotional or Mental Health so that they are ready to access the curriculum as they move up the school.
West Witney is clearly a school made of leaders and staff who care deeply for the pupils. There is a wealth of skill, knowledge and commitment, and the result of this is an environment where children feel known, understood, and supported. Nurture UK Assessor
ECO-CLUB
The Eco-Schools programme is an ideal way for schools to embark on a meaningful path towards improving the environment in both the school and the local community while at the same time having a life-long positive impact on the lives of young people and their families. Eco Schools (sponsored by Keep Britain Tidy)
Our West Witney Eco-club is full of very enthusiastic volunteers, from across the school, who wear their eco badges with pride! In 2022-23 we were the South East England scoreboard champions in the Energy Sparks competition.
We aim to meet at least twice every term and plan activities to raise awareness and tackle issues such as litter, recycling, saving energy and looking after the school environment.
We have already given all classrooms thermometers to measure the temperature, put timers on the laptop and Ipad trollies to ensure they are only charged overnight and produced a checklist for monitoring classrooms' use of energy. We award the Eco Trophy at the end of each term to the class that ensures their classroom is an Eco-friendly classroom.
SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD
West Witney participates in the Social Impact Award and was the South East Winning School in 2025. This involves pupils carrying out social action such as volunteering, fundraising and raising awareness. There are 12 categories of social action involved in the Social Impact Award:
WHOLE CLASS MUSIC LESSONS
The national curriculum recommends that children should experience learning an instrument in a group once in their primary school career. At West Witney this happens three times! In Year 4 they learn the recorder, in Year 5 they take part in a class band (all children learn a woodwind instrument) and in Year 6 they learn the ukulele. After learning these instruments, they have the opportunity to perform to an audience.
VOLUNTEER HELPERS
We are extremely lucky to have received the support from a team of local volunteer readers (ARCh) who come along to school each week to listen to our children. We also encourage family members to come into school (once all the relevant safeguarding checks have been made) if they have any special skills they can pass on to the children like helping with outdoor learning, sewing, cooking, maths etc.
PETS AS THERAPY
At West Witney we have weekly visits from Hubble, a Pets As Therapy dog. PAT dogs are specially registered dogs who normally visit in hospitals, hospices, care homes and schools etc and can help to give pupils opportunities to increase their confidence and a sense of well-being. Children love having the opportunity read Hubble a story book, pet and stroke him and take him for a short walk in the school grounds.
SCHOOL COUNCIL
'Promoting British Values and making a difference'
Every year, each class at West Witney votes for their new school councillor; a number of eager pupils across the school prepare and share short speeches and a democratic vote takes place. Then the newly appointed school councillor is invited to meetings in order to share their own ideas and those of their peers.
Over the past five years, school councillors have:
- awarded pen licences (with a little help from class teachers);
- judged talent shows, handwriting, menus and recitation competitions;
- raised awareness of healthy eating, Online Safety, road and fire safety;
- manned stalls at the PTA Fayres;
- participated in Headteacher and teacher interviews
- helped to raise money that goes towards school funds through book fairs and cake sales.
I want to be a school councillor because I want to change people’s lives … I want to raise money for charity. I want to make this school year the best school year ever. I want to make people happy, kind and helpful. School Councillor