Springvale School serves the whole of the eastern side of Penistone with many parents from outlying villages choosing to send their children here. Altogether there are approximately 200 children in full time education accomodated in 7 classrooms and there are 50 part time Nursery children from 3 to 5 years of age. At the age of 11 the majority of children go on to Penistone Grammar School with whom we have very close links. By this time children have a sound academic grounding complemented by good social skills and self-awareness.
Our school has a rich history of achievement dating back to 1909 when the original Victorian building was a mixed age school. From 1959 it became a County Junior and Infant school. Between 1974 and 1993 it was run by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. Since the Local Management of Schools Scheme came in to force in 1993 the schools own Governors have been responsible for our school budget.
Marking a new era in our history is the new purpose built school developed under the Private Funding Initiative and located on what used to be the play area of the old school. The impressive grounds and main entrance are continued through the building which is built to a very high standard taking pupils of Springvale through to the 21st century. Features include modern classrooms each with their own interactive whiteboard, local countryside views from the classrooms, an ICT suite equipped with 16 desktop computers, a mobile computer suite fitted with 16 laptop computers, a separate library, a community room which parents use, small group rooms and a multi purpose hall. Our award winning Nursery built in 1998 is now an integral part of the whole school and along with the Reception class form a purpose built Foundation Stage Unit.
The whole school, including the landscaping, will be complete by July 2008, providing us with external facilities such as an environmental area, multi purpose games area and a grassed football pitch.
We believe Springvale School is now offering the best education possible with the resources and facilities available. We have a pupil admission limit of 30 children per year which enables us to teach a year group in each class.
