Dear Parents,
What a week it has been — sunshine, showers, wind and everything in between — but as always, it hasn’t stopped us.
I began the week with a Governing Board meeting. It is always a pleasure to share with governors the ongoing work linked to school improvement: recent LA visits, our teaching and learning reviews and the next steps we are taking. Governors play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of the school and the level of challenge and support they provide ensures we continue to make the right decisions for our community.
As I mentioned in my previous update, we are £40,000 down on last year’s budget due to a change in the funding formula. I have started to explore additional ways we can raise money, particularly through lettings. We currently hire the hall two evenings a week and have a regular weekend letting on the first of each month. If you know of — or would like to suggest — an organisation that may be interested in using our spaces, please do get in touch at admin@wardenhill.gloucs.sch.uk. Thank you for your support with this.
Tuesday evening was our PTA meeting, with much of the focus on the upcoming Motor Show on 13th June. It is shaping up to be a fantastic event, with some very exciting exhibits already confirmed…no spoilers but an incredible car from a film ‘Back’ in years gone by, will be making an appearance in the ‘Future’…
PTA Summer Fayre and Motor Show
Year 5 enjoyed a brilliant trip to the Bristol Zoo Project yesterday. Their learning centred on the impact of deforestation and how removing one part of a food web affects the entire chain. Staff from both school and the centre commented on how exemplary our children’s behaviour and engagement were — something we are always proud to hear.
I’m also delighted to share some wonderful pupil achievements:
Emily (Y3) has achieved her Grade 1 Ballet and Grade 1 Modern Dance certificates and performed in four group dances at the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts. Her team earned three first places and one third place in the under-10s categories — an incredible accomplishment after a year of hard work.
Olivia (Y5) took part in the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts and was awarded a bronze medal for piano — a fantastic achievement.
Linkang (Y6) competed in the piano classes at the same festival, winning the trophy for the under-11 category and securing third place in the under-13s. A remarkable result and very well deserved.
Pupils’ Success
It has also been wonderful to see the Year 1 DT curriculum in action this week. The children have been designing and then making their own Healthy Breakfast Pots in the practical studio. This curriculum is so important in helping children learn to follow a process, think reflectively and develop early critical thinking skills. The level of engagement, concentration and pride they showed was brilliant — a real celebration of hands on learning and a fabulous healthy tasty snack at the end!
Yesterday marked the end of SATs for our Year 6 pupils. Their attitude throughout the week has been outstanding. Our message has always been: do your best and be proud of what you achieve. The whole Y6 team — and I — are incredibly proud of them. It was straight onto the Y6 leavers play and there’s a real buzz from them – which is lovely to see. I can’t quite believe we are at this stage of the year again!
Today is an important and busy day with KS2 teacher interviews. I always look forward to these days, though I admit I get a little nervous too. Choosing the right people for our school is such a significant decision, and with over 40 applications, we know we have some exceptional candidates to meet.
We finish the day with our much-loved Colour Run. I can’t wait — the smiles, the laughter, and the clouds of colour, always make it a magical event.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.
Warmest regards
Georgina Flooks
Headteacher