The Bilingual Primary School

The Love of Learning Through Language

Our vision for the Bilingual Primary School, Brighton & Hove, is to be at the leading edge of bilingual education in the UK

We aim to immerse children in a second language to stimulate and promote dual language communication, and in doing so enrich and expand their academic, cultural and social worlds.

We will do this by:

• offering the opportunity to all children to learn with us through an exciting programme of English and Spanish
• providing the very best of British education through a distinctive enquiry-based curriculum that has two fundamental dimensions- a global perspective and challenge
• underpinning the curriculum and all areas of school life with the principles of curiosity, collaboration, perseverance and autonomy
• situating the teaching and learning within the National Curriculum
• encouraging ambition and confidence in all our children

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to our wonderful school!

The Bilingual Primary School is a growing school with over 490 children on roll from Reception to Y6. By September 2022 we will be at full capacity, with 3 forms of entry in each year group.  We are exceptionally lucky to be housed in a brand new, purpose build school right on the edge of Hove Park with easy access to everything Brighton & Hove has to offer.

We believe children learn best when they feel safe, cared for and listened to. There is a palpable sense of care throughout the school and you can be confident that your child will be known, supported and celebrated as an individual.  Positive partnerships with parents & carers are hugely important and staff will work closely with you to help your child make the most of their primary school years. 

Our aim is for children to be motivated and excited about learning and, after a holiday, to be happy to be back at school. We want to inspire them to have high aspirations for their future, to be successful learners and confident individuals. We want them to take responsibility for their own behaviour and to work with us to challenge themselves to achieve the highest standards. From the very earliest days in school we help children to realise that good learning is often not easy and to grow in their ability to persevere and to work together. 

Hearing, speaking and learning Spanish and equipping our children to become global citizens are central to our school. The governors and staff are totally committed to the ongoing development of our bilingual vision and Spanish and English are used interchangeably throughout the school. All our teaching assistants are native or fluent Spanish speakers, as are about a quarter of our teaching staff, and organisational and social language happens in Spanish. Children from Y1 upwards have Spanish lessons twice a week and make fantastic progress –last year 55% of Year 6 sat GCSE and were awarded Level 4 or above and all the Year 6 children achieved a CFER (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) grade.

We have approximately 92 children who come from bilingual homes, 39 of whom have Spanish spoken in the home and all of their parents & carers are committed to continuing to support their language development.  The majority of other children have English as their first language and are here because their parents & carers want them to have the opportunities that being confident in second language brings.  Seeing these children emerging as Spanish speakers is what makes our school a unique and special place.

The school follows the national curriculum and, as a newer school, we are in the enviable position of being able to build a curriculum that meets our needs and our context rather than being constrained by what we have always done. Our curriculum, launched in September 2016, ensures all children have access to a broad, balanced curriculum and a wide range of teaching and learning techniques. It recognises the global nature of the school and has collaboration, perseverance, curiosity and collaboration as its drivers. Our Spanish curriculum also links directly to this curriculum.

As you walk around the school there is a real ‘buzz’ about learning and lots of talk and activity. Teachers will be happy to welcome you, and the children will be proud to show you their work.

We run a tour for prospective families every half term. Please call the school for the date of our next tour.

We look forward to meeting you

Jo Staveley (Headteacher)

Our vision for the Bilingual Primary School, Brighton & Hove is to be at the leading edge of bilingual education in the UK.

The school aims to immerse children in a second language to stimulate and promote dual language communication, and in doing so enrich and expand their academic, cultural and social worlds.

The governors are pursuing the vision for a fully immersive approach at the school but, while this pioneering approach is being developed, the school runs a structured interim programme – this means that across any school day children will be involved in hearing, speaking, reading and writing Spanish as well as exposed to a wider cultural experience.

La visió de nuestra escuela es ser lideres en la educación bilingüe en el Reino Unido.

La escuela tiene como objetivo sumergir a los niños  en un segundo idioma para poder así estimular y promover la comunicación en ambos idiomas, y al hacerlo enriquecer y expandir su palabras académicas, culturales y sociales.

Los governors persiguen una visión de inmersión total en este aspecto, pero si bien este acercamiento se esta desarrollando, la escuela mantiene un programa provisional estructurado - lo que significa que durante cada día escolar los niños se verán involucrados en escuchar, hablar, leer y escribir en Español, lo que los expondrá también a una experiencia cultural más amplia.

BPS is a member of the Sussex Coast Teaching School Alliance (SCTSA).  Sussex Coast TSA will take a lead role in helping schools across the city and beyond to develop and improve.  In particular working with schools to develop leadership, train new teachers and drive up standards.  For more information please see the link below:

https://www.sussexcoasttsa.co.uk/brighton-hove/primary/sctsa