Visiting Banstead Infants' School on a Friday afternoon may not have been a good idea, but instead of finding classes of sleepy children waiting for the week to end, I found the school buzzing with activity.

Everyone was occupied either playing outside with hoops and skipping ropes, making books about keeping fit or preparing for the end of term assembly and most of all, everyone was enjoying themselves.

The central part of the school's mission statement is the children should aim to always do their best and, from what I saw, every pupil was giving their all.

Headteacher Sue Clinch said: "We try to celebrate all achievements in the school, for being helpful and polite and for effort, not just ones based on the curriculum subjects.

"We also believe it is important to celebrate achievements out of school as well as those in school and children will often bring in swimming certificates or things they have won."

Last year the school, in The Horseshoe, Banstead, was awarded Beacon status by the Government and the teachers now share many of the exemplary teaching practices they have developed with staff in other schools.

Mrs Clinch said: "Beacon school status is quite an accolade and is given to high performing schools with a good Ofsted inspection.

"We don't see ourselves as experts but we share the good practices we have set up here with other schools.

"Our strengths are good teaching and learning methods, our early years division and working with governors."

As well as teaching the full curriculum, the school also focuses on personal, social and health education classes.

Mrs Clinch said: "It is very important the children develop into well rounded individuals."

One of the main skills children in today's world need to learn is how to use a computer.

But Mrs Clinch is adamant the school will not set up a computer suite. She believes computers should be available in the classroom and should in some areas replace pencil and paper. The school has therefore just got its hands on 16 lap tops which can be moved easily from one classroom to another.

Mrs Clinch said: "Children have to learn that computers are part of everyday life. For example, drawing on a computer can be quite hard but if they want to do some work and then come back and edit it then computers are the right tool to use."

July 18, 2002 12:00