P a c k w o o d  N e w s

NEW SPORTS/ART/CDT COMPLEX – opened October 2007 A wonderful new facility opened at Packwood, on time, at the start of the second half of the Autumn Term 2007. Containing a sports hall (4 badminton court size), an Art Room, a CDT room, a computer suite, two recreational rooms (table tennis, table football etc), and 2 new changing rooms, the building will provide the Packwood children, and staff, with many exciting new opportunities.     The Sports Hall is equipped for badminton, indoor tennis, volleyball, indoor hockey and soccer, basketball, netball, cricket nets, gymnastics and trampolining. It is used for PE lessons, as well as for fencing, judo and ballroom dancing. Dividing curtains enable several activities to take place at the same time, and a gallery provides spectators with an excellent view. The Art Room is triple the size of its predecessor, and is equipped with new pottery kilns and an interactive white board. Large picture windows provide plenty of natural light and look across the adjacent playing fields to the beautiful views of the Shropshire hills beyond.     The CDT space is again larger that the room it replaces, and new equipment allows the children to work in plastics. The adjacent computer suite enables the children to design their projects using the most up to date programmes. The machinery that is potentially hazardous can be protected behind screens so that children are able to work in the room whilst unsupervised in free-time.  And the recreational spaces, which can also be converted to excellent examination rooms, are also used in free time for table tennis, pool etc. The building has undoubtedly exceeded expectations, and to have added so many new facilities under one roof has saved space, time and money. To quote virtually everyone who first steps into the building: “Wow!”.
Packwood Haugh Cricket Dinner On Monday 13th November ex England cricketers David Lloyd and Paul Allott were at Packwood Haugh School, as guests of honour at a cricket dinner. The dinner was attended by parents and friends of Packwood and was held to support the school’s first overseas sports tour. The 1st XI cricket squad will travel to South Africa in March next year as guests of the Western Province Cricket Association.  They will play a variety of Western Province teams and also donate cricket kit to local clubs. As well as providing  outstanding after dinner speeches the former players gave good advice to the boys about touring in South Africa and cricket in general. Needless to say the Ashes series in Australia was one of the main topics of conversation! Star auction prize at the dinner was a day in the Sky commentary box at a future test match. Gallery
Packwood Haugh’s most junior department has received a very good report from OFSTED after a recent inspection.
	The OFSTED inspector visited the Foundation Stage class in Packwood Acorns early in 2005 and in the report she says that the school “offers high quality provision overall which helps children make very good progress towards the early learning goals”.   On teaching the report says “Teaching is very good. Staff have a very good understanding of the Foundation Stage and how children develop and learn. Formal plans are effective and work in practice. Structured activities engage children and hold their interest and their individual stages of development are accommodated well. Children benefit from access to specialist teachers in lessons such as physical education, music, information technology and French. In addition, the outdoor area, theatre and school grounds are valuable resources which are used well.”
The relationship with parents also drew praise; “Partnership with parents is very good. Detailed information is available to parents about the school and the pre-preparatory department. Regular reports, daily verbal feedback and parents meetings ensure that parents are informed about their child's progress and systems are in place so that they can be involved in their child's learning. Positive comments have been received from parents about the educational provision.” The inspector also praised the development of the children in several categories, for instance on Creative Development the report says “Children use their imagination within a wide variety of structured and free choice activities. They enjoy role play, dance and music and use available resources imaginatively to extend their play and learning. Children have access to a wide range of materials in free choice and structured activities so that they can explore texture, form and shape and respond, using their senses, to what is happening around them. They express and communicate their ideas and thoughts through their creativity.”  The outcome of the inspection states that the provision (of education) was of “high quality”. Mrs Elizabeth Crawley, the head of Packwood Acorns and who also teaches the Foundation Stage said "I am delighted with the OFSTED report which points up all that is on offer to the children in Packwood Acorns. I was especially pleased that the Inspector picked up on the happiness and motivation of the children; we place a lot of emphasis on providing young children with the happy and stimulating environment they need in order to become active learners, and it is gratifying that this report reflects that."

New Theatre
	The Theatre was completed in August 2003 and has been in use since September. It provides us with an impressive, attractive, purpose-built building. State-of-the-art sound, lighting and LCD projection technology support the on-stage speakers/performers, and the auditorium benefits from tailor-made acoustic panelling, full black-out, and air conditioning.
Additional features include:    ·        Entrance lobby commanding fantastic views across the playing fields ·        Cushioned, tiered seating for 224 adults or 273 children, ·        Control gallery for sound, lighting and screen projection, ·        Display area in lobby for children’s art and CDT, ·        Cast changing rooms converted from adjacent lawn mower space, ·        Stage, equally suitable for music and drama, and large enough for activities such as table tennis and dance, ·        Landscaped terrace for match teas etc.	The following events take place in the theatre:  School Plays Musical Concerts Orchestra/Ensemble Practice Visiting Speakers Drama Workshops School Assemblies Daily Worship Open Day Presentations Elocution Prize Film projection Sixes Music Competition School Debates Christmas Pantomime Dance

 

Packwood Acorns Offer More Space to Grow

Packwood Haugh in Ruyton-XI-Towns is re-naming the junior part of the school. From September 2001, the Pre-Preparatory department will be known as "Packwood Acorns", and the all-round education that it offers to children from 4 to 7 years old is expanded to include a comprehensive after-school programme. Recent developments have included an adventure playground, and the continuing expansion of the after-school clubs. From 4 years old, the children enjoy professional coaching in judo, golf and short tennis, and other clubs are planned. These exciting new opportunities have been taken up enthusiastically by the children and complement the music and games already taken by expert specialist staff from the main preparatory school. To mark the change of name and expansion of opportunity a specially commissioned woodland mural (by London muralist Amy Dawson) has been painted in the Acorns' foyer.

Head of the Pre-Prep, Mrs Elizabeth Crawley, said: "We aim to be as flexible as possible. If parents wish, their children can go home at 3.30 in the afternoon as usual, but if they would like the children to stay a little longer for one of the activities, we are very happy to look after them." "Parents with a child in Packwood Acorns and another in the main Preparatory school will find the new arrangement particularly helpful, since pick-up times can now coincide. And the school also runs minibuses every day to and from Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Ellesmere and Wem." Packwood's Pre-Prep has recently been highly praised by the Independent Schools' Inspectorate, who reported that "the quality of learning and behaviour is excellent" and that "the children engage happily in all the activities provided". According to an even more recent Ofsted report, the Packwood Haugh Pre-Prep provides "enthusiastic, effective teaching 2, the "children's personal, social and emotional development is excellent" and the children "clearly enjoy coming to school and are very eager to learn". Packwood Haugh is situated midway between Shrewsbury and Oswestry in the village of Ruyton-XI-Towns. Further information about Packwood Haugh School (Prep and Acorns) can be obtained from the Headmaster or by visiting the school website at www.packwood-haugh.co.uk.
High standards and happiness at Packwood Haugh School
Headmaster Nigel Westlake	Independent Schools Inspectorate Report Packwood Haugh Preparatory School is "a very good school, with many strengths", "the pupils are happy", and there are "high standards of achievement across a broad spectrum of academic, creative and performing arts, and sporting activities", according to independent school inspectors. The Independent Schools' Inspectorate has just released its report on Packwood Haugh School in Ruyton-XI-Towns. Packwood Haugh is an independent, co-educational, day and boarding preparatory school for 4 -13 year olds, and it was inspected in February 2000. The Main Findings of the seven strong team are:
"Packwood Haugh is a very good school with many strengths and with a very high level of support from its parents. The headmaster, members of the governing body and senior management provide good leadership, clear direction and effective management. Standards of achievement are generally good and often very good. The behaviour of the pupils is excellent. Pupils are friendly, well motivated and work hard. Teaching is generally good or very good and the dedicated and committed teaching and non-teaching staff provide effectively for the education, care and welfare of the pupils. The school provides a varied programme of extra-curricular activities. Relationships among pupils, and between staff and pupils are very supportive. Pupils are happy and they speak highly of their life in the school and as boarders. The school fully reflects its stated values and aims." The inspection team also observed that "the school has a positive ethos and a very friendly atmosphere; these are major factors in the excellent personal and social development of pupils. This is a happy and supportive community, much enhanced by the high quality of personal relationships." Furthermore: "throughout the school the pupils reach standards that are well beyond those that are commensurate with their age and abilities." The one weakness identified by the inspectors was that there needed to be "a clear relationship between the departmental planning and the school's strategic planning. " Headmaster, Mr Nigel Westlake, said that he was delighted with the overwhelmingly positive nature of the report. "To be under such close scrutiny for a whole week is always daunting, but the children were their normal cheerful selves and the inspection team was very fair. For many years Packwood has been widely regarded as an excellent school, but it is obviously re-assuring that an independent report has recognised its many strengths. The experienced team was also full of sensible advice, a good deal of which we have already been able to put into effect. With other exciting developments in the pipeline, Packwood Haugh can look forward to its future with great confidence." The Independent Schools' Inspectorate conducts inspections of independent schools on a 6 year cycle, and this system enjoys the full support of the Ofsted and the DfEE. Regular inspection ensures not only that parents can have confidence in independent schools, but also that the schools themselves continue to improve.