Dear Parents,
It has been lovely to see so many of you over the last two evenings for our Parents’ Evenings. There was a real sense of positivity around the school on both nights, and it was wonderful to hear so much encouraging feedback from families. Thank you for taking the time to attend these important meetings and for continuing to strengthen our partnership in supporting your children’s learning and development.
There’s an additional quick question to answer when you get a moment to allow us to get a feel for everyone’s take on the first parents’ evening – thanks for your support on this.
There has been a strong focus on professional learning and school improvement this week. Alongside Mr Antonious and Mr Williams, I attended a conference led by Tom Sherrington on The Inclusive Classroom. The learning centred on the use of formative action to strengthen teaching practices and ensure all pupils are supported to achieve their very best. We are looking forward to sharing this learning with staff and considering how it can further enhance classroom practice across the school.
We also welcomed our School Improvement Partner, Faye Hemming, who met with the senior leadership team to discuss our attainment outcomes from last year. It was a valuable and reflective session, providing an opportunity to explore our strengths, areas for development and, importantly, the rationale behind the school improvement priorities we have set over recent years. It reaffirmed the importance of focusing on the right things at the right time to secure the best possible outcomes for our pupils.
This week marked the final year group’s visit to the Cheltenham Literature Festival, with Year 4 enjoying an inspiring session with the fantastic author Jenny McLachlan, best known for The Land of Roar series. The children were thoroughly engaged and came away full of enthusiasm for reading and writing. Earlier in the festival, our EYFS, Year 1 and Year 2 children were also fortunate enough to attend events and were delighted to receive a wonderful personalised drawing from Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart. Here’s a picture of me with them both and our drawing in the foreground.
In addition, because our school is recognised for its strong reading culture, we were delighted to be invited to host a free author event with Abi Elphinstone. We were pleased to welcome pupils from Greatfield Park to join us for this special occasion. Abi shared her experiences as a writer, explaining where she finds inspiration and how she transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary through storytelling. Children were given a special preview of her new book, Goodnight Silver, ahead of its release later this month, and we have purchased copies for our class libraries so that pupils can enjoy the story for themselves.
On Thursday, our Year 3 and Year 4 classes participated in live lessons from the Royal Opera and Ballet. It was quite a moment to hear opera flowing through the classrooms! Not only does this enrich our music curriculum, but it also provides an opportunity for children to participate in engaging, highly interactive sessions led by expert artists. Through singing, dancing and creative activities, every child is encouraged to take part, explore new experiences and develop their confidence in the arts.
We were also delighted to receive a lovely thank you letter this week from Sarah at the Lakeside Community Project. The accompanying photograph, which you will see included, showcases the incredible donations and contributions made by our school community. It is a wonderful reminder of the difference we can make when we come together to support others. We are incredibly proud of the generosity shown by our children and families and are grateful for the support you continue to give.
With autumn now truly upon us, you may be looking for ways to enjoy the season as a family. Why not take a trip to Barnwood Arboretum this weekend? It is a wonderful free local space to connect with nature, explore the changing colours of the trees and spot some of the wildlife that calls the arboretum home. Sometimes the simplest outdoor experiences can create the most memorable family moments.
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/barnwood-arboretum-lnr
That just leaves me to say, wishing you all a lovely weekend.
Warmest Regards
Georgina Flooks
Headteacher