Diocese of Gloucester Academy Trust (DGAT)
We are looking forward to joining the DGAT family of schools in June when we will benefit from the support of a larger organisation but keep our own unique identity and the transition is progressing as expected.
Schools White Paper
We continue to monitor government changes to the education system to ensure that your children receive the best education we can provide. The Schools White Paper was issued recently and the National Governors Association provide a useful summary, extracts of which are below:
The schools white paper sets out the government’s long-term plan to reform the education system so that high standards and inclusion are better delivered. It responds to challenges facing the sector in key areas such as attainment, disadvantage, SEND and attendance.
The proposals represent the long-term direction of travel; changes and targets will roll out in stages following consultation with the sector.
Overall ambitions for pupils. The government has established national targets to ensure every child is encouraged to achieve their potential. These include:
- Better academic standards: the goal for children to leave secondary school with an average grade of 5 or higher across their GCSEs.
- Halving the disadvantage gap: supporting children from low-income backgrounds to achieve roughly a full grade higher in each GCSE than they do today.
- Recovering learning time through an increase to the national attendance rate, with an ambition to see children attending 20 million more days of school each year from 2028/29.
- Increasing pupils’ sense of belonging at school: by 2029, every school will be expected to monitor children’s sense of belonging and engagement.
The DfE encourages more structured collaboration to promote best practice and resource sharing.
- There is an expectation that all schools will join or form a high-quality multi academy trust (MAT)
World Book Day
Thank you for your support with World Book Day. The pupils and staff had a wonderful day, celebrating reading and sharing their favourite books.
Golden Rules
A reminder to all parents of our school golden rules. These are rules that we expect all in school to abide by at all times.
School Golden Rules
- We are gentle.
- We are kind and helpful.
- We listen.
- We are honest.
- We work hard.
- We look after property.
Interschool oracy
Well done to all those who entered the first heat in school. The three winners went forward to the North Cotswold Heats. All spoke very well on their chosen topic and we are very proud of their oracy skills. A special congratulations to Ludo (KS1) and Ned (LKS2) who won their North Cotswold Heat and now go forward to the county final at the Guildhall, Gloucester in April. Fantastic speaking skills!
Youth Speaks Dreaming
Our year 6 pupils were also able to demonstrate their oracy skills by taking part in school heats to gain a place at the Chipping Campden Youth Speaks competition that we enter every year. This year the topic was ‘dreaming’ with some interesting stories being expressed. Congratulations to Rafe and Marlow who spoke at the event. Well done to Rafe, who came third.
Panathlon
We were able to take a group of 6 children to the Panathlon event at Chipping Campden School, competing against other local primary schools. Our team displayed great skill and sportsmanship and they proudly came away with a gold medal! Fantastic! They will go on to compete in the next level of the competition.
CrossCountry
Following our recent cross-country success pupils were able to compete in the national final at Stoneleigh. Some qualified through the school event and some were able to enter independently. All completed a very gruelling 2.9km course against approximately 200 other peers in each category. A fantastic effort from all who took part – Rafe, Lottie, Amelia, Lily, Rokas and Harley.
Class 3
Class 3 have been learning all about Ancient Egypt. From pharaohs to slaves, from the River Nile to pyramids, and from the gods to the tombs. There’s been lots of fascinating things to discover. Alongside our history lessons, we’ve been reading “Secrets of a Sun King” – a story set in 1922 when Howard Carter found Tutankhamun’s tomb.
We have had fun investigating electricity in science. We’ve used batteries, wires, bulbs, buzzers, motors and switches to make all sorts of electrical circuits. We’ve also learned important safety rules when using electrical appliances in the home.
Our art lessons this term have been a highlight. We have been inspired by Eric Carle – the author and illustrator of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”. We have experimented with paint and creating texture with a variety of tools. Then we cut out shapes to make our pictures of flowers, trees and butterflies.
In the Net
Year 4 pupils were able to learn more about internet safety by watching an interactive play which tackled some of the issues around safe internet use, cyber bullying and prevention of exploitation – giving pupils knowledge of the dangers so that they are aware and can protect themselves and know where to go for help. They travelled to Stow on the Wold Primary School to join with other year 4 groups to watch the performance. This is part of a programme of work supported by Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership.
Knex
Class 4 take part in the Gloucestershire Knex Challenge. There is a half day workshop for the whole class when they work in pairs to complete a given challenge using the building material Knex. The winners of the class then go on to take part in the final competing against other Gloucestershire schools.
Mock SATs
Year 6 pupils have completed a week of mock SATs in preparation for the final tests in May. They now fully understand the exam process and are looking forward to demonstrating their learning in May. SATs take place week beginning 11th May.
Assessments
Pupils throughout the school have had mid-year assessments to identify any gaps in their learning so that teaching can be tailored effectively.
Subject Leader Meetings
Teachers have been meeting up with their contemporaries in the county to share best practise in teaching and ensure that they are fully informed regarding the latest teaching research.
FOS
Thanks to FOS for all the work that goes into running events to raise funds to support the school. Many trips would cost a great deal more, potentially making them unviable, without FOS supporting coach costs that benefit all pupils in school. As well as raising money many of the events combine fundraising with socialising so please do get involved if you can. Thank you also from the Food Bank as FOS continue to support this through regular food collections.
Gloucester Cathedral – class 2
Class 2 went to Gloucester Cathedral to take part in an Easter Workshop. A wonderful setting to learn more about the Christian story.
Open the Book
A team from the local churches continue to support the school by leading collective worship once a week in an interactive play depicting a Bible story. A range of fantastic inventive props are used to deliver a fun and engaging play with pupils participating. This week, while Class 2 heard the Easter story at the Cathedral, pupils in school were able to watch this being acted out.
Phonics meeting
Parents of pupils in year 1 were able to attend a meeting regarding the phonics screening check. This is a national screening check where all pupils in year 1 have their understanding of phonics checked.
Football tournament
Ilmington school are running a football tournament afterschool and we have been invited to take part. A team has been selected from Blockley and we look forward to them representing the school well.
Easter Service
School Easter Service will take place in the church on Friday, 9.15am. Parents/carers are welcome to join us.
Easter Bonnet Parade
Class 1 and 2 will wear their Easter Bonnets with pride on Friday when they have an opportunity to show their creations off to parents. Fingers crossed for a sunny day!
Car Park
A reminder that the car park can be very busy at drop off and pick up times. Please remember to drive carefully at all times and park respectfully so that other cars can easily get out. We all need to work together to keep our children safe.
Sports Day
With a glimmer of warm sun in recent days our thoughts turn to the summer term and events that are due to take place. One of these is sport day and we are planning to run this (weather permitting) on the afternoon of 19th June.
Staff – hello and goodbye
We welcome Guy onto the staff team as a teaching assistant who will mainly be working with the younger pupils.
Next term we also say goodbye to Yuhong. Yuhong has steered the school financially for many years ensuring that we are able to run effectively within our budget, working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the school can run with the resources that it needs. The whole staff team thank her for her hard work and dedication to the school and wish her well with new projects and travel.
Term 5
The school photographers are due to be in school on 16th April for Class group photos and year 6 individual photos.
We look forward to welcoming all pupils back to school on Monday 13th April.