Dear Parents and Carers,

I am not sure I can ever remember such a hot week! Or certainly not in this country, which really isn't built for staying productive when the mercury hits 37°C. Thank you all so much for bearing with us as we navigated the high temperatures, and for keeping up to date with our adjusted arrangements and safety guidance. We are incredibly proud of how well the children adapted to the heat this week and the changes which came with that. As we look after the children in these extreme temperatures, it is a powerful reminder of how our climate is changing and why it is so important that we teach our young people to respect and care for our planet. I am grateful to see that next week is looking much more comfortable for sports week and I look forward to seeing many of you there. 

Away from the heat, we have some fantastic news to share this week regarding our Year One Phonics Screening Check and Year Four Multiplication Check results. In Phonics, I am delighted to share that 86% of our Year One children passed their screening test. This represents a 10% increase from last year and sets a new record high for the school, well ahead of last year’s national average of 80%. The importance of reading cannot be understated, and I am thrilled that such a high proportion of our children are now perfectly set up for the next stage of their education. For those who did not pass, our intensive intervention planning for Year Two is already underway to give them the absolute best chance of success next year.

In Year Four, we also saw a substantial increase in the number of children scoring full marks on their multiplication check. This improved outcome is a direct result of the relentless dedication to multiplication assessments throughout the school year, and I salute all the families who have spent their evenings and weekends chanting times tables and supporting the use of Times Tables Rock Stars at home. A sound knowledge of multiplication tables is truly priceless when it comes to success in mathematics, and the correlation between knowing your times tables and achieving what is considered a 'pass' at GCSE Maths is stark. Thank you all for your continued support in making these achievements possible and also thank you to the staff team, who have worked so hard to secure the best possible outcomes for the children. 

This week, our children experienced the exciting moment of finding out who their new teachers and support staff will be for the upcoming academic year. Despite the warm weather, we successfully ran our traditional 'Move-Up Day' sessions, which are always an eagerly anticipated event for pupils and staff alike. To ensure a seamless handover, our teaching teams will begin their detailed transition meetings next week. These sessions are crucial for passing on vital insights regarding each child’s academic progress, learning styles, and individual needs so we can hit the ground running in September.

In last week’s newsletter, I promised to share more information regarding the new faces joining our staffing list. While full introductions will take place when they officially start with us in September, I am delighted to welcome Ms. Ashwood, Mrs. O’Brien, and Miss Bedwell to our community. They each bring fantastic expertise, a passion for education, and a strong desire to contribute to our school. I am confident they will be wonderful additions to our already talented team.

Have a wonderful weekend, and let’s hope the England team brings a bit more excitement to our Saturday night!  

Mr Bostock

Headteacher