We are a high achieving school. In 2019 94% of our seven year olds (Year 2s) reached the expected level in Reading, compared to 76% nationally. 54% of our Year 2s achieved the higher standard in Reading, compared to just 26% nationally. We stretch our children.

Our Writing results are also impressive. Last year, 94% of our Year 2s also reached the expected level in writing, compared to 65% nationally.

Following a focus on Maths, 40% of our Year 2s reached the higher standard, making us one of the 20% highest achieving schools in the country.

Our Year 1 children scored very highly in annual phonic screening test (the only national test for Year 1) with 90% reaching the expected level, compared to 81% nationally.

School Vision

Everything we do in school is driven by our Christian Vision. As a Church of England School we place Christian beliefs and values at the heart of everything we do. New Reception children internalise the vision from their first few weeks in school and grow in their understanding of faith and God’s love as they progress into Year 1 and Year 2. Every person in our school family is important, not just as a pupil, parent, volunteer or member of staff, but as a unique and precious individual within God’s creation. We want all our children to flourish in the nurturing and inspiring environment created at Farncombe School.

We are a school driven by a deeply embedded and theologically rooted vision based on ‘Let all you do be done in Love’ (1 Corinthians 16:14)

Value: Compassion 

We have chosen Compassion as one of our focus values as it links so clearly to the action implied in our school vision of ‘Let all you do be done in love’. Children are taught that compassion is not just feeling sympathy, but taking action as well. This is loving your neighbour as well as loving God.

The value is compassion is revisited through the year, as children raise money and awareness for charitable causes and also look after each other in school in a caring and nurturing way.

Our call and response for Compassion:

God’s love is for Everyone.

We know we are His children.

Value: Endurance 

We focus on Endurance in the dark days of January, when God’s strength can feel particularly necessary! Children reflect on resolutions for the new year and how it can be tempting to sit back in class and let others do the hard work. We learn about inspiring figures from the past and present, noting how they didn’t give up until they had reached their goals.

Our Call and Response for this value is as follows:

God is with us wherever we go.

His love is with us forever.

Value: Friendship

Friends are incredibly important as children grow up. As part of this value we consider how to be a good friend and how to encourage each other. Friendship is a key concept in the Christian framework with Jesus being criticised for being a ‘friend of sinners’.

Jesus tells stories about a heavenly banquet to which all are invited. The barriers between people are broken down in a loving community based around God.

True friendship allows each person to grow, to become themselves. This ensures that the unique individuality of each person is recognised, echoing the value placed by God on the preciousness of each person.

Songs like ‘What a Friend we Have in Jesus’ remind us of the relationship which is at the heart of Christian believing.

Our call and response for Friendship is used daily in assemblies in Autumn:

God has given us a new day.

We will help each other to enjoy it.

As a successful and well established school with extremely low levels of staff turnover, we are a sought after organisation for volunteers, trainees and students. We have strong links with Guildford and Godalming Colleges, often hosting students studying Early Education or Childcare. Each year ex-pupils return to complete work experience from Broadwater, Rodborough and Guildford County School.

We have several volunteers who visit on a weekly basis, hearing individual children read and supporting group work. If you would like to join this merry band, please speak to the school office. All volunteers will be asked to complete a DSB safeguarding check.

As part of the Godalming Learning Partnership, we work closely with local schools. From September 2019 we have partnered with Winchester University to provide 10 initial teacher training (ITT) places for local graduates across Godalming Schools. One of the first group of trainees is now one of our brilliant teachers!