Making the Grade - Extended schools
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Grange First Centre, Grange First School, Gosforth, Newcastle.
How many pupils? The school has 202 pupils aged between three and nine.
What extended activities does it offer? Grange First School benefits from a purpose-built centre designed to house a range of extended services. Professional footballer and old boy Alan Shearer officially opened the centre in March 2008. The centre currently accommodates a carer and toddler club that meets three mornings per week, an out-of-school club, adult education classes, local ward meetings, baby gymnastics classes and family learning services.
How does the centre help the wider community? The centre is also home to the Grange Community Association, which is a community group that met in a Portakabin on the school site for more than 30 years before the extended services centre opened.
Who does it work with? The centre works with the local authority, local community groups, voluntary organisations and private companies.
How is the centre funded? The school has a lettings policy and charges users either a community or commercial letting fee. This revenue pays for the running costs. The centre can be hired for one-off events including birthday parties and art shows.
