A message from our Headteacher, Chris Wallis

I would like to thank the school community for your very kind words and congratulations on my appointment as Headteacher. I joined Walkley Primary in September 2005, as a Newly Qualified Teacher having completed my Final Block Placement in Y6 at Walkley earlier that year. Having spent my whole career here, I have a great affection for the school and its community. Growing up in S6 and later attending King Edward VII, Walkley’s Secondary School partner, has burgeoned in me a personal connection to the pupils within the school. I have always been passionately aware of this; it is a privilege to work and serve within the community I grew up in. I am delighted to take up the position of Headteacher at this wonderful school having been a member of school leadership and governance since 2015. It is inspiring for me to lead a talented, enthusiastic, conscientious and hard- working staff who are dedicated to promoting and enriching the development of the whole child.

Walkley Primary School is a unique and special place where excellent learning and teaching offers opportunities for pupils and families to excel. Our school encapsulates this through our own warm and individual identity, combining traditional values with a modern bright vision and a rich curriculum deserving its place in the 21^st Century.

Walkley is an energetic and dynamic school, where learning is carried out in a very peaceful, happy, friendly, nurturing and caring manner. At Walkley we are totally committed to the development of your children, to offer them the very best start to their formal education. An education that is rich in learning opportunities and fulfilling relevant experiences, one that influences a lifelong love of learning. We consider our school to be like a second home and aim to instil in children good values and attitudes that will remain with them all their lives – we aim to make these unique and special days memorable, interesting, challenging and fun.

Our motto is Enjoyment, Achievement and Learning for Life. This is a community where we learn the importance of caring about each other, sharing with others, learning to play and communicate, learning to negotiate and compromise. Each person is looked after and is regarded as having the ability to make a strong contribution to the ethos and talents of the whole school.  We develop effective thinkers, encourage creativity, promote life skills within a very positive ‘can do’ culture.  Individuality and uniqueness are celebrated. Praise is the hallmark of our discipline and we hope that each person will be proud to call this ‘Our School’.

We establish a supportive and encouraging partnership between home and school. Every effort will be made by an extremely able and dedicated staff to help the children settle into school within a happy, positive, friendly and mutually supportive environment, enabling us to provide the very best in primary education and the beginning of life-long learning.

Do take a look at our half termly newsletters that showcase the learning taking place in school. it will give you a real insight into the offer for our pupils and families. If you are looking for a place, please telephone to establish if we have any places in that particular year group.

All schools are different and the decision about which one to choose is not easy. We wish you every success in finding the school that best suits your child’s unique and special personality, interests, talents and learning style.

Chris Wallis

Headteacher