We welcomed the opportunity during our SIAMs (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) to showcase the work that staff and pupils have been engaged in to ensure that our school vision is embedded within all aspects of school life allowing us all to flourish. Following a thorough inspection, we were very pleased with our SIAMs grade of Good and the positive key findings highlighted. As a school we always strive to improve and will continue to work on the development areas mentioned in our report.
Staff continue to provide an enriched, broad and balanced curriculum and we hope your children continue to be inspired by the rich learning opportunities that have been available this term.
Class 1
Class 1 learning has involved using a selection of outdoor materials in their outside area. With bark, wood, sand and water providing opportunities for the pupils to investigate mathematical concepts and science. They will continue learning how the world works with the opportunity to plant potatoes next term.
They have studied space as a cross curricular theme, with some wonderful patterned space designs using marbling and have learnt about Neil Armstrong and Mae C Jemison as space travelers. Their Talk for Writing sessions have produced some inspired writing.
Pupils were able to showcase their work during their sharing assembly this term. They were all able to stand up in front of parents and carers to demonstrate what they had been learning in class and lead the session.
Parents have had other opportunities to be involved with Class 1 including an opportunity to meet Miss Diamond who will be the class teacher while Mrs Jones is on maternity leave. Miss Diamond has been able to come into school a number of times this term to get to know the children and learn what stage they are at with their learning to ensure a smooth transition.
We wish Mrs Jones all the best with the arrival of the new baby and her maternity leave and we will welcome Miss Diamond to the team straight after the holiday.
Class 2
Year 1 children wrote amazing poetry which has been published in the Poetry Stars creative Sparks Book. Well done!
Year 2 children have been enthralled by the story of Plop who is afraid of the dark, they have explored many different aspects of the dark and been inspired to write their own stories. They also studied the text – The Day the Crayons Quit, which helped pupils look at their emotions and understand how to deal with situations to ensure that they don’t become overwhelming and effect our mental health.
Class 2 have welcomed Revd Canon Dana Delap to the school to consider the question ‘Who do Christians say created the world?’ Thought provoking discussion were had amongst the class. They are now considering the story of Noah’s Ark, a theme that they have looked at previously during the Open the Book assemblies.
Class 3
As part of class 3 settlement work for geography Class 3 walked around Blockley to look at the settlement characteristics and why people settled in this area.
Andy Goldsworthy has inspired the pupils art work with some wonderful creations.
In the last week of term the pupils went to Gloucester to visit a Mosque, consolidating their learning on ‘How do festivals and worship show what matters to a Muslim?’ Earlier on in the term they ate food associated with Islamic festivals.
Maths has involved the use of many practical resources to embed their learning of the mathematical concepts. Maths work can be continued at home with everyday objects, adding up prices in shops or practicing times tables in the car.
Class 4
Space has been a theme in Class 4 as well. Cosmic by Frank Cottrell-Boyce has provided a base for their learning. This text has inspired the pupils imaginations with their writing, with fantastic poetry written and many interesting facts have been discovered. Pupils have written poems which are displayed in school.
Tasty creations were taken home last week. Healthy layered salads were made by the pupils in clear jars to illustrate their work. Thought went into the food types used, colours, taste combinations and design, then the practical chopping, grating and layering occurred. A great variety of foods were used from pasta, carrot and red pepper to halloumi, sweet potato and feta cheese.
The Anglo Saxons/Vikings topic is proving very popular with pupils very engaged in bring the past to life and understanding how it may feel to be living during that time.
Class 5
Class 5 have been studying the Highway Man by Alfred Noyes. This narrative poem was used as their stimulus for written diary entries from the perspective of different characters. These have been written out on old style paper and displayed alongside the illustrations inspired by Charles Keeping. He illustrated the Highwayman using positive and negative imagery to reflect scenes from the poem. Pupils have used a range of pencils, white crayons and etching to create their own versions.
Pupils have enjoyed investigating where their clothing originated from, how far it has travelled and the route it may have taken. Using their own clothing it was amazing to see the journey it had made, the impact that may have had on the planet and how global events have effected this trade.
Music
Class 3 and 4 are enjoying whole class clarinet lessons through Gloucestershire Music. Thank you to the Friends of the School for funding this. Each child has a clarinet for the duration of the 10 week course and they learn with a dedicated clarinet teacher. Great sounds are emerging from the classrooms. Peripatetic music lessons are available if pupils are interested in continuing this skill. We currently have woodwind, brass and piano teachers available. We are looking into violin and may be able to source guitar if there is enough interest. If your child is interested in playing any of these instruments and you haven’t been in touch with a peripatetic teacher, please contact the school office and we can put you in touch with the correct teacher.
Mental Health Week
Each class marked Mental Health Week with various different activities in class. Examples from Key Stage Two are listed below.
Class 5 worked around the theme of connection, one of the 5 identified ways of supporting mental well-being. This culminated in the filling of a personalized matchbox at the end of the week with memory prompts of things that make them happy, examples included passport sized photos of those they love, friendship bracelet from a good friend, seashell or pebble from holiday or special place, dried leaf/flower or twig from an outside space that they like to be in.
In classes 3 and 4 pupils took part in a series of challenges designed and created by Taskmaster Education in collaboration with Place2Be. Each day, the children were given a task centered around the skills of creativity, teamwork and problem solving. These tasks aim to build self-confidence, self-esteem and resilience. The children had a chance to consider their own wellbeing as well as giving them strategies to look after it, in a fun and thought-provoking way. One of the tasks included the making of a rainbow which are now displayed in school.
Parent Support Group
We are pleased to enable our parent support group to meet in school. This is run by our Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator in conjunction with our Parent Support Advisor. Our parent support advisor is always available to offer support and signposting to parents. She can be contacted on psa@bourton.school
Internet Safety
Pupils learnt about internet safety this week. It is important that we all work together to keep our children safe online in this ever-changing online world. An important source of information to help keep our children safe online can be found on the National Crime Agency’s CEOP Education team site Think U Know. Here you can find an education programme tailored to the age of your child and information for parents/carers. https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/
Swimming Lessons
We are continuing with our swimming lessons at Kingham Hill School. Currently class 3 are swimming but later in the year in will be the turn of classes 2 and 1.
Knex Challenge
Class 4 participated in the Knex Challenge. A great STEM activity with pairs of pupils competing against each other to win a place in the final. The final will be held in May for the well deserved winners.
Dogs Trust
The Dogs Trust have been into school this term to teach the pupils how to behave safely around dogs. The whole school had an assembly together and then each class participated in a workshop. They also learnt how to be responsible dog owners if they were ever in the position to own a dog or currently have a family pet.
Sharing Assembly
Class 3, 4 and reception pupils were all able to lead an assembly this term, practice their skills of performing in front of an audience and demonstrate the work they have been completing in class.
Parents Evening
Reception parents have already had an opportunity to meet with Mrs Jones prior to her maternity leave. All other parents will be able to meet with their child’s class on the 7th and 8th March.
Blockley Church
The next All Age Family Worship will be on Sunday 5th March, where we will be investigating LENT and burying Alleluias. Come along and find out why. The Service starts with breakfast 9.30am to 10.30am.
We wish you all a restful February break and look forward to seeing all pupils in school on Monday 27th February.