Carterton & RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton is the UK’s largest RAF station and a key part of the UK’s Defence capability. Its role in global air mobility means that service families living in our community can experience a very different pattern of family life from many others. Parents may be required to deploy for extended periods, work irregular hours, travel at short notice or spend significant time away from home. Families may also relocate regularly as postings change, meaning children can join or leave Gateway with little notice.
At Gateway, we understand the impact that this can have on children and their education. Changes in family circumstances, parental absence and frequent school moves can affect children’s wellbeing, relationships, routines and continuity of learning. We recognise that children may arrive with different experiences of education and that their learning journey may sometimes be disrupted by the demands of military life.
We have a strong commitment to supporting our pupils to make good academic progress and develop the knowledge, skills and learning behaviours they need for their next steps. However, we know that education is about much more than attainment. For our children to thrive, they also need to feel safe, secure, connected and valued.
Our pastoral provision, enrichment opportunities and wider school experiences are therefore an important part of what we offer. We aim to provide stability and consistency when life outside school may be changing, while creating positive experiences, strong relationships and a sense of belonging. We want Gateway to be a place where military children can learn, make friends, develop resilience and simply enjoy being children, whatever is happening around them.
For many of our pupils, we may not be the school they attend for their entire primary education. Our responsibility is to make the time they spend with us meaningful, supporting their academic development while also ensuring they have positive, memorable experiences of school that contribute to their wellbeing and help them move confidently on to their next chapter.