IT'S early days for Poole's new £6.8million junior school Ocean Academy.

Open less than two months it has just a trio of year three classes each with 24 children. It is starting out small - but with big aspirations.

The first newly established school in Poole for 22 years and part of the successful Aspirations Academies Trust, which is behind the Outstanding local schools Jewell Academy and Magna Academy - it has a lot to live up to.

Along with the whiff of new books and fresh paint still in the air, is the tangible sense of excitement about the future and the opportunity to cultivate a new school community from scratch.

Principal Ellen Humphries told the Echo: "I have been head five times before at schools up and down the country but this is the first time I have been in right at the beginning. We have been able to think about everything from how children move around the school , to what we want in the school, to what kind of curriculum we have. I have chosen all the staff creating a really strong team of people who are willing to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in.

"We obviously can't compete with established schools with large numbers of staff who have built up massive traditions of drama and music - we are still at the beginning. We are writing out policies and practices and setting our own traditions. We are focussing very much on the children - their needs, their wishes, their aspirations."

Referencing a quote from Dr Russ Quaglia, co-founder and President of the Aspirations Academies Trust, she added: "We want children to dream about their future and give them the skills to achieve that dream. The topic themes we have every year also build into that ethos."

Each year the children's learning will be drawn around the themes of 'belonging', 'heroes', 'curiosity' and 'enterprise'. Staff will set targets at the start of each year - and assess how well they are met at the end. The children will give their feedback through 'My Voice' surveys at points throughout the year.

"There is a lot of democracy already - the children have chosen the names of the classes and the names of the houses - they come up with a lot of good ideas," added Mrs Humphries.

The school takes care to be responsive to the needs of families, including with a half-hour long flexible drop off time in the morning and a later 3.30pm finish to accommodate parents with children at other schools. There is also a breakfast club and afterschool club in all covering from 7.30am to 6pm. After school clubs every day include yoga, magic maths, dance and multi-sports.

The brand new building - which will not be full until year until 2018 - boasts a multi use games area, large hall, a food technology classroom and library, and the children will also soon have use of the school field, woodland walk, netball courts, an outdoor classroom, outdoor performance space and a science garden. The school has been "really well resourced" said Mrs Humphries, with everything from sports equipment to books and computer facilities.

She added: "In five years time I hope we will be part of sporting competitions, we'll have a choir and an orchestra - we want to grow into a school with all those opportunities for children. We are starting very small - but we want to be a presence in Poole and become a school of choice for parents.

"I'd like Ocean Academy to be known as a nurturing, family-orientated school, with aspiration, challenge and high expectations at its heart."