About The School

Please read a letter from our Chair of Governors and a letter from the The Director of Education 

Please read a copy of our latest Ofsted report

Ethos and Values

Most visitors to Lympne CE Primary School comment on how welcoming it feels - and this is no accident.  The ethos of the school has been carefully nurtured over many years – it is welcoming, friendly, caring, and inclusive,  built on strong Christian values.  What makes it work well is that these values are fully embraced by a stable teaching team who are free to express them in their own styles in their classrooms.  
Pupils, when asked what is special about their school by the Ofsted inspector a few weeks ago said:
‘Everyone listens’; ‘Staff are caring, they look after you’; ‘I feel safe here – I can ask anyone if I have a problem’. 

In a safe environment like this learning is interesting and fun!  So the ethos is the cradle of the good education that the school provides.  Quoting from the recent Ofsted report  (November 2016):

‘You and your team have maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection (in 2012). Leadership, including governance, is strong at senior and middle leadership level. Parents and staff are fulsome in their praise of ……. all aspects of the school. Parents say that their children have settled into their new classes and are doing well. Staff are proud to be a part of the school and enjoy working here. The culture and ethos of the school are very positive and underpinned by strong, shared values.’

Pupils are part of this inclusiveness. They elect a member from each class to a School Council, a Spiritual Council and a Charities Committee and these gatherings express views and make suggestions on their respective topics.  Last year the School Council felt the books in the school library were a bit old and went on to develop a scheme where parents were asked to sponsor a new book, substantially re-stocking the library; the Spiritual Council ensures that all classes understand the school values and they contribute to and lead weekly worship; the Charity Committee selects the charities to support – this year Children in Need, Sports for Schools and Remembrance day – and organise the fundraising activities.  Staff always listen and always respond.

The school has 212 pupils on roll, operates in a low deprivation area but deals well with children with special needs.  It retains its village feel though the widening catchment area has broadened the village community!  The school was built 8 years ago to replace the one destroyed by fire and is well equipped, including a full size hall and excellent playground facilities.  The school has popular and well attended breakfast and after school clubs.

Parents and Community

A very strong PTFA organises a number of annual events including Easter, Summer and Christmas Fairs to which the children contribute and which are always well attended by parents and the local community.  The PTFA is flexible and generous in supporting the school financially with projects.  

The school also works closely with Lympne Church – the Rector conducts weekly worship at the school and pupils visit the school quite frequently.  The children join the local Royal Air Force Association, for example, for its annual church service and then bring the Association back to school for tea.  We are very conscious of the support we receive from our community, including from several generations of former pupils and teachers, and we do all we can to foster those relationships.

Our Partnerships

Our collaboration with the Hythe Hub of six primaries and one secondary school is very important to us and will be a great asset to the new Headteacher. The Hub is an informal but strong collaboration and support network for headteachers, chairs of governors and now deputy heads. It brings a growing list of practical benefits such as lesson moderation, book scrutiny, staff and governor training, allows secondments and staff development and co-mentoring opportunities.  The Hub also bids to the LA for funds for projects, this year including Talk for Writing, maths consultancy and resilience and well-being training.  In future we plan to examine the possibilities for joint purchasing, building on the purchasing power of the large secondary school.