Banwell is extraordinary because of many things….
The commitment and dedication of the team at Banwell genuinely brings the whole school to life every day. Staff work hard to encourage and develop each pupil, as an individual, with opportunities both in and out of the classroom that help them to be the best that they can be. Banwell is an inclusive school where we all have, and develop, a strong sense of responsibility, participation, cooperation and tolerance as part of a community where every child and adult feels valued. We care for our children and their families and work together to break down any barriers to learning and provide support to make school a positive and valuable experience. We aim for all children to leave our school more curious than when they arrived.
Our children bring so much energy and positivity to all areas of school life. They inspire our staff with their resilience and determination to tackle all the challenges life throws at them. Children are nurtured in a family atmosphere in a school that is enhanced by our wider sense of community between home, school, the village and the wider world. Our community is very strong. You will often see us out and about, singing at the church, visiting areas of local interest, contributing art to the village etc
A village school provides a lovely environment for pupils, staff and the whole family to engage in positive learning experiences both in and beyond the classroom. Many of our children are able to walk the distance to school and meet friends along the way.
Our bespoke curriculum (a set of subjects and standards) is challenging and ambitious, promoting passion and resilience. We endeavour to provide rich and first-hand learning opportunities that will take children beyond their everyday experiences. In turn, children will develop a strong work ethic and interpersonal skills as well as becoming independent, creative and critical thinkers.
It is our hope that children leave Banwell with a sense of belonging to a tight-knit community where they have had the confidence and skills to make decisions, reflect upon their choices and make connections. Our children will be well-equipped and prepared to continue their learning journey within a dynamic, diverse and ever-changing world.
We are a small school with large, amazing grounds in where our children can learn, grow and play in a green, fresh and clean environment. The youngest of our children in Reception class have their own play areas which means that they get to play freely with their own age groups whilst they learn all about being in school.
On-site, we have a large playing field, climbing wall, outdoor gym equipment and a forest school area. Located on the edge of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in North Somerset means that we have access to an incredible amount of natural resources, on our doorstep that we access regularly in order to bring our learning to life. We are really lucky to have woods, caves, rivers, churches and archaeological sites all within walking distance for all of our children to safely explore.
As a part of Extend Learning Academies Network (ELAN) we work very closely together with our other schools across the area. Because of this we have access to large sports, cultural and arts events. Working together, our teachers can consistently broaden their skills in foundation subjects such as art, music and sports/PE. We access larger sports, cultural and arts events meaning the children of Banwell (and beyond), have more aspirational experiences and meet other children and people from all walks of life. As a trust we have shared goals and vision – we know where we want to be, and we support each other the best we can to get there.
