West Denton Primary School (WDPS) is located in the Outer West of Newcastle Upon Tyne.

WDPS caters for children aged four to eleven years in the primary year groups and there is also a 52 place nursery.  WDPS is at the heart of the community and we feel it is a very special place for all to learn and develop their potential.

Core Values
As a school we believe it is important to create the best environment so that

each child can develop their many talents to the full. The School Council, the Governors the children and the staff created a list of ‘Attitudes to Promote’ and a ‘Learner Profile’ that we all aspire to.  Through our many praise mechanisms like the Friday ‘Achievers Assembly, we reward children who represent the WDPS Core Values which include ‘Empathy’, ‘Respect’ and ‘Commitment’.

The International Primary Curriculum (IPC)
We are delighted to have embedded the IPC in WDPS. The goal of the IPC is for children to focus on a combination of academic, personal and international learning. We want our children to enjoy their learning; develop enquiring minds, develop the personal qualities they need to be good citizens and develop all the skills they will need in order to succeed in life.

Spanish
Year 2 to Year 6 children enjoy Spanish lessons and they have also benefitted from learning from a native student. At WDPS we want our children to become global citizens and learning to communicate in another language is an important aspect of this.

Raising Aspirations Programme (RAP)
All children need to have positive adult role models in order to help them to achieve their full potential. This is why we invite inspirational speakers like UNICEF fund-raiser Paramjeet Singh Bhogal in to school to help children understand that hard work, perseverance and following your dreams can open up maximum choices in all aspects of life.

Life Skills Challenge (LSC)
WDPS is creating a Life Skills Challenge. The children will benefit from a programme of activities which will equip them with skills to cope better in life. The first modules include: WDPS I Can Do It!
WDPS First Aid
WDPS Olympics Challenge
WDPS Resilience

WDPS Cycling
This is a major initiative that we are developing with external partners. We embark on our first 2 day bike ride from WDPS to Stanley towards the end of September.

School Houses
Our School Houses create opportunities for multi-age team work and challenges. Each child belongs to one of the Houses and they can earn points for their House through living out the WDPS Core Values. The children decided on four inspirational North East role models for the names of the Houses: Armstrong, Shearer, Cookson and Collingwood.

Positive Behaviour
In order to reward positive behaviour, attitude and good attendance, the children compete for the ‘Class of the Week Trophy’.  At the end of each term, the winning class chooses a treat that rewards their efforts.

Fundraising
Our children understand the importance of helping others. Being ‘Caring’ and ‘Principled’ are some of the school’s ‘Core Values’ which we seek to promote daily.

The Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF) – Freeman Hospital           
In July 2011 the children of the WDPS School Council decided to raise money for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF) which is based at the Freeman Hospital, here in Newcastle. The School Council organised a sponsored running event around the school field. Also Jim West (School Governor) Neil Jones (Class Teacher) and Mick MingStones (Head Teacher) competed in the 32 km Chevy Chase Race in the Cheviot Hills in order to raise money for CHUF. As a community we raised over £2,500.00.

Remembrance and The Royal British Legion
Ian Proud (School Governor) has raised the WDPS community awareness of the Royal British Legion and how it helps Service people and their families past and present. Ian has worked with children and staff to plan lots of activities including: a Remembrance celebration in school, creating a Garden of Remembrance in the school grounds and placing poppy crosses in Lemington Cemetery and the West Road Cemetery and Crematorium. In November 2011 we raised £1600 for the Poppy Appeal.

Due to the success of their efforts the children decided that they wanted to produce a single to support The Legion. With the help of professional singer Toni Marie Oetting and record producer Compton McDonald, the children recorded their own version of the Faith Hill classic 'There You'll Be' which was released nationwide in June 2012 and is available to download from i-Tunes.  The single was showcased in May 2012 at Newcastle City Hall to the delight of our school family. The children’s single was the official song for the 2012 – 2013 Poppy Appeal.