School focus: Chase Terrace Primary School

A Burntwood school which is more than 100 years old is keeping the best education traditions, but teaching a modern curriculum, says the headteacher.

Gordon McBurnie says Chase Terrace Primary, in Rugeley Road, is larger than the average primary.

It has more than 400 pupils.

Mr McBurnie said that the school was lucky to have great facilities such as a large field and two ICT suites.

He said: "The school is over 100 years old having been built in the early 1900s, but teaches a modern skills-based creative curriculum.

"Children learn to read from the moment they begin in nursery," he said. "They receive daily lessons in phonics (the study of letters and sounds) until the end of year two by which time most have a good understanding of reading."

This term most of the children are studying topics about the local environment.

Mr McBurnie added: "With Lichfield's and Burntwood's rich heritage, there is much to learn about. The children particularly enjoy the summer term when the good weather means they can get outside more for sports. The local primary schools work well together and compete against each other in sports tournaments.

"With only a few weeks until the end of term, the Year 6 children are feeling a mixture of excitement and uncertainty as they will soon move on to their high school. Most go to the Technology College and some even return every now and then to see how their old teachers are doing."

For more on Chase Terrace, see www.chaseterrace-primary.staffs.sch.uk