Specialist Teacher for Complex Communication Needs Specialist Resourced Provision

West Moors Middle School is a friendly school of 300 pupils aged 9-13, with three classes in each year group. Situated in the pleasant village setting of West Moors much of the area to the north and west of the village is open heathland. The village is less than 10 miles from Bournemouth, Poole, Wimborne, Ringwood and Christchurch. We serve a wide and diverse catchment area, with children coming from the county border near Ringwood, the rural area around Three Legged Cross, as well as Ferndown and West Moors village itself.   Our school is part of the thriving new East Dorset Education Partnership, which comprises 31 schools in the Ferndown and Wimborne areas.

The school has undergone a number of significant changes in the past five years.  In response to falling rolls we carried out a significant review of the staffing structure and a remodelling of the teaching and support workforce.  We now have arrived at a more streamlined model which meets the needs of our 3-form entry school.  We now have 16.5 FTE teachers supported by a large team of well-qualified teaching assistants, and two full time cover supervisors.  The school’s current School Development Plan leads with the priority to sustain our recent improvements in teaching and learning. 

The school is housed in purpose-built accommodation, which opened in 1977, with a new block added in 1996.  There are four designated year ‘areas’ with classrooms for each tutor group. There are also a number of specialist areas: - two science laboratories, a Design Technology room, Food Technology room, Art room, two recently upgraded computer suites, a music studio, multi-purpose hall/dining area/gym, specialist rooms for SEN and support teaching,  a new library, a TV studio and a radio broadcast system. There is a large school field with appropriate sports and environmental areas.  The school has its own canteen serving a range of break and lunchtime meals.  Recent building programmes have improved the staff and administrative areas of the school, including a new staffroom and base for SEN/Inclusion  We also have a complete TV studio and a radio broadcast system. Interactive whiteboards have been installed in every classroom.  The Food Technology Area and the Music Studio have been refurbished, and this summer we have upgraded our library. In addition we have provided facilities for Extended Schools childcare, have a vast range of after school clubs and have improved accessibility for people with disabilities.  

The school has a supportive Parent/Teacher/Friend Association, which organises many activities and events, and is involved in the wider community life of the school.  Likewise, the Governors play an important part in establishing the successful ethos of the school.  The school was awarded Healthy Schools status in July 2007.  In 2008 the School was awarded Sportsmark and FA Charter status.

The opening sentence of our October 2007 Ofsted inspection report states, “West Moors Middle School is a good and rapidly improving school.  It is clear that most parents share this view.”  The report goes on to say, “The cohesion and sense of purpose of the school’s leaders and of the staff as a whole are palpable.  They are a major factor influencing the rapid progress of the school, and giving it the capacity to improve further in the years ahead.”  

West Middle School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and regularly reviews its policies and procedures for Child Protection.  Part of our practice is to follow up this important issue in our request for references and to undertake a criminal record check via the CRB. Likewise, any interview for a post at the school will include questions about safeguarding children.