About Hazeldene

Introduction
Admission and Transfer
School Handbook
Ofsted

Introduction

Hazeldene Lower School is situated in a very pleasant residential area of Bedford but is close to the town’s major road systems. The school grounds are spacious and pleasant and have been further enhanced by a major planting scheme to mark the millennium. A conservation/pond area and a heated outdoor swimming pool are valuable resources which we exploit to the full.

The school has a fine academic reputation, with excellent relationships between all in the school community.

Our academic standards are complemented by the excellence of our provision for music and sport. It is possible for the children to learn a wide range of instruments, including strings, woodwind and brass.

We are involved in a wide range of sporting activities, many of them outside normal school hours. These sports include football, hockey, netball, tag rugby, gymnastics and tennis. Most members of staff have recently undergone an intensive games teaching course.

Another great strength of the school is the quality of its relationships with the whole school community, including children, parents and governors. Our Ofsted Report states: "The school gives a high priority to spiritual, moral, social and cultural development." There are high expectations of social and moral behaviour and standards are excellent. The school is a very safe, orderly and caring community which encourages openness, honesty and concern for others. Staff, parents and children all work together to produce a peaceful atmosphere and pupils are courteous and considerate to others..... Behaviour throughout the school is excellent........ the pupils’ behaviour contributes to effective learning and good standards of achievement. ......... Parental involvement in the school is impressive and a well supported Parent Teacher Association helps to promote and reinforce good standards."

We welcome visits from prospective parents and are pleased to highlight the strengths of our school. Please feel free to contact us to arrange an appointment.

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Admission Arrangements and Transfer (including enrolment procedures)

ADMISSION CRITERIA:

Places will be allocated in the following order of priority:

1.   All ‘looked-after’ children
2.   Pupils living in the catchment area with siblings at the school
3.   Other pupils living in the catchment area
4.   ‘Very exceptional’ medical grounds
5.   Other siblings
6.   Any other children

Notes

1. In any situation where the application of the above criteria results in a situation where there are more children with an equal right to admission to the school than the number of available places, the distance from the school will be measured in a straight line using a computerised mapping system.   The distance will be measured from the pupil’s home to a central point on the school site determined by the Governing Body of the school.   Priority is not given within each criterion to children who meet other criteria.

1. Overriding priority will be given by the LA to the admission of pupils who have a Statement of Special Educational Needs which names the school.   Priority may also be given to the admission of ‘hard to place’ pupils, e.g. excluded pupils, normally in accordance with any protocols which have been agreed with groups of schools.

1. Parents applying for a place at the catchment area school during the normal admissions round will be offered a place.   However, if a pupil moves into the catchment area outside the normal admissions round (or after the allocation process has been completed), there will be no guarantee of a place at the catchment area school if this would mean exceeding the admission number at the school.   In such cases, the designated school for the pupil will be the nearest LA maintained school to the pupil’s home address which caters for pupils of the same age.

At Hazeldene we have the benefit of a Reception Unit which caters for children in their 4+ year.

4+ children are those whose fourth birthday falls before the preceding 31st August.   Children become statutory school age at the start of the term following their fifth birthday.

Children are admitted to a Reception class in September on a part-time basis and attend on a full-time basis for some time before they reach statutory school age.  

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