Dixie Locke - Head Teacher Of St Andrew's School

St Andrew?s has always been a very special school. It nestles right next to the Orange Tree in the heart of Totteridge Village and the children have easy access onto the Green. I have been connected with the school for over 30 years; first as a parent and then a teacher.When my children were there, it was very much a village school with the majority of its children living in Totteridge. Many children from the big houses came to St Andrew?s for their infant years but left at seven to go to prep school. This has changed now. If parents want to educate their child in the private sector, the pressure for places is such that they feel they have to start at the preprep stage.

Our intake now is from a much wider area. House prices have risen to such an extent that most young families cannot live in Totteridge, so we can offer places to children in Barnet, Finchley and Mill Hill and the ethnic mix is wide and varied. This year there are 23 different languages spoken. Even so, our parents remain the same. They support the school and the teachers. They are ambitious for their children and have high expectations. They expect their children to sit an entrance exam when they are 11. Nowadays their goal is not the independent sector, but the six local state schools which have exam entry criteria. Places are limited and open to all children in the area. Children do still sit for independent school just in case they are not offered the state school of their choice. Parents start worrying at least two years before the exams and the pressure on the children is enormous. It says much for the staff at St Andrew?s that we are able to keep the children sane and happy through this ordeal as well as preparing them so that we achieve a high pass rate each year. After these children finish their exams they then have to prepare for the Government Statutory Assessment Tests (SATS).As these results are published, they are important for the school, and our pupils are motivated and want to do well. In 2007 we achieved a high number of level 5s in Maths, English and Science which put us 81st in the top 200 best primary schools in the country. Obviously each year group is different and we are always proud of all that our children achieve, but it is good to have national recognition for all our hard work.

Our curriculum is varied and enriched by many extra activities.We make the most of living so close to London and visit theatres, museums and galleries. We organise workshops and visitors. We use our ethnic diversity to widen the delivery of the curriculum with themed days and activities. We encourage the children to be aware of the environment and take responsibility for litter, recycling paper and shoes and to walk to school at least once a week.

Children are happy at St Andrews and form close ties with the school. They come back to see us regularly and remember their school days with real affection. I have been involved with the school long enough to see past pupils enrolling their own children into the Reception Class, wanting them to have the ?good start they had.? On the surface, the school has changed a lot. There are now computers and interactive whiteboards in every classroom. Children have access to the Internet from an early age. But we never forget that we are a church school and our Christian values underpin all we do. We value our links with the church. The vicar takes assembly every Thursday and the whole school walks to Church to celebrate the Christian festivals. We are proud of our excellent pastoral care and the fact that our children are happy and settled at StAndrew?s, achieving their full potential in a secure and caring environment. It really is special. Long may it continue to be so.