Dear Parents and Carers,
What a week — one that truly seemed to whiz by in the blink of an eye. It has been busy, purposeful and full of moments that made me incredibly proud of our children and staff.
We completed two of our statutory assessments over the past few days. Our Year 4 children undertook the Department for Education’s Multiplication Tables Check — 25 questions with just five seconds to answer each one — and our Year 1 children completed their Phonics Screening Check. I know how hard both pupils and staff have worked to build firm foundations in these important areas and I want to say a heartfelt well done to all involved.
Our Year 5 children also completed their Bikeability this week. They really did battle the weather, yet their spirits and positive attitudes never dipped. I received an email from the lead instructor praising the collective brilliance of our Year 5s and I hope to share more of this with you in next week’s update.
On Tuesday, our Year 3 children shared their learning about how volcanoes are formed in their super assembly. Their creativity shone through in every moment — from song and dance to wonderfully confident acting. It was a joy to watch, and a huge well done goes to them all.
Thursday brought the much anticipated return of our Inter House Choir Competition, last held in 2022. The buzz around school was unmistakable. I often talk about this event during open mornings and showrounds, describing it as the most fiercely competitive house event among staff — and this year certainly lived up to that reputation.
The theme was songs from musicals:
• Leach performed Marmalade from Paddington
• Coln chose Together from High School Musical
• Churn delivered a medley from Matilda
• Windrush sang This Is Me from The Greatest Showman
I had the unenviable task of judging but fortunately was joined by Mr Storer, who teaches brass at our school, and Mr Bunting, Head of Music at High School Leckhampton. It was an incredible afternoon. I was genuinely in awe of what our staff and children produced in just a week of rehearsals — quietly blown away by the talent, teamwork and sheer joy on display.
A huge congratulations to Windrush, who were crowned overall winners with a powerful and heartfelt performance. I hope you enjoy watching the recordings via our school link.
Also on Thursday, we hosted the 24 Challenge after school, competing against teams from Naunton Park, Greatfield Park and Charlton Kings Junior. Ten teams took part across the schools and I’m delighted to share that we placed second, just behind Naunton Park. As many of you know, Mrs Redman organises these events for us and, in her typically dedicated fashion, even baked beautiful number themed biscuits for the teams. It’s another “last” she can tick off as she counts down to her well earned retirement.
Cricket has also featured heavily this week, with events ranging from the Cheltenham College Cricket Competition to the Girls’ Tournament at Hatherley and Reddings Cricket Club. Our children played brilliantly throughout and represented the school superbly. Huge thanks go to Mr Antonious for facilitating these opportunities and to the parents who supported with lifts.
Friday saw our Inter House Frisbee Competition, and my thanks go to Mrs Gaisford for organising it once again. The children battled not only each other but also the wind, which added an extra layer of challenge — though certainly not at the expense of their excitement. We’ll share the results in next week’s bulletin.
Looking ahead, our PTA Motor Show takes place tomorrow, and the weather looks set to hold. It promises to be a fantastic afternoon and I look forward to seeing many of you there.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.
Warmest regards
Georgina Flooks
Headteacher