DGAT
The transition to DGAT went smoothly and we joined the Diocese of Gloucester Academies Trust on 1st June. The DGAT team have been very helpful and supportive, and we are able to draw upon a bank of expertise and resources that weren’t previously available to us. We have changed over IT systems and joined other central systems that allow for easy management of pupil data and tracking.
You may have noticed the change of email addresses. Any information sent to the old email addresses will still be delivered but the return address will be a DGAT one.
If you wish to email the main office on the new email address it is:
If you wish to contact the clerk to the governors:
governors@blockley.dgat.org.uk
ParentPay to Arbor
To make the most of economies of scale we will be moving away from ParentPay beginning in September and moving to a new management system called Arbor. Arbor is already being used in school to record pupil details, attendance, meals etc but log in information will be rolled out to parents. Through Arbor you will be able to update your contact details, receive communication from school, pay for items including school trips, meals and wrap around care. Further details regarding this system will be issued in due course. In the meantime, please ensure that you are up to date with payments on ParentPay.
Staff training
Staff have been able to attend training days at the DGAT central offices to learn about new systems, the support on offer to the school and to get the know central team.
End of term tests- EYFS, phonics, MTC
As year 6 pupils are aware KS2 SATs results have been delayed nationally. We have very pleasing results for our EYFS pupils with 73.7% meeting their Early Learning Goals. For the year 4 multiplication check 75% achieved over 20 out of 25. For phonics 100% who took the test passed.
Bikeability and Learn to Ride
Year 5 pupils were able to take part in a Bikeability course at the beginning of the term. Once they had passed the safety session on the playground they were able to go out in small groups to ensure they knew how to navigate the roads safely on a bike.
For the first time, pupils in Key Stage 2 who had not yet mastered the skill of riding a bike were able to learn to do this in school. The playground provided the ideal flat area for this as it can be hard to find a flat area of ground to learn to ride in Blockley!
Well done to all who took part in both courses. All passed their appropriate course.
Year 6 – CCS rounders and athletics
Year 6 pupils travelled to Chipping Campden Secondary School to take part in a rounders and athletics event run by the older students. Other primary schools attended so they were able to compete against each other and get to know other pupils who were going to make the transition to Chipping Campden in September. The pupils who had places in year 7 for September then went into the school to speak with staff to find out about being at secondary school
Secondary transition days
Year 6 pupils have all been able to spend time at their appropriate secondary school. Many attended the two days at Chipping Campden traveling on the school bus for the first time. Others spent time at different secondary schools slightly further afield from Blockley.
Year 6 Gloucester Cathedral
As part of the diocese transition process for year 6 pupils, Gloucester Cathedral hold a number of services to enable year 6 pupils across the county celebrate the end of their time at primary school and look forward the next stage of their education journey. All year 6 pupils attended travelling with year 6 pupils from Temple Guiting school to this annual event.
Three Counties Show
We managed to secure tickets for the whole school to the Three Counties Show this year. With the amazing fundraising efforts of FOS, they were able to support paying for the coach to this event. A wonderful day of learning and experience for the pupils.
Class 3 tennis festival CCS
An area tennis festival was held at Chipping Campden Secondary School. Class 3 attended this event.
CCS Athletics – team and area finals
For this event the requirements were very specific, and the team was selected from mixed gender teams of children from year 3 to year 6. Pupils competed in a variety of athletics events against other schools and did very well with many pupils making it through to the district event, which was held at Cirencester.
Going for Gold results
Every year pupils have the chance to record the highest results in athletics events for their year and have an opportunity to break the school record. Results for this year are as follows:
KS1
High Jump – Seb
Long Jump – Henry
Throwing- Henry
LKS2
High Jump – Lily – New record 110cm
Long Jump – Amelia
Throwing – Rokas
UKS2
High Jump – Rafe
Long Jump – Rafe
Throwing – Ezra
Well done!
Sports Day
A special day of team spirit, sportsmanship, athletic performance and effort. Well done to all the pupils who performed their best on the day, many overcoming nerves.
T20 cricket
We were able to secure a number of tickets to the ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol in June. A selected group of children were able to attend this enrichment visit. It gave the pupils a wonderful opportunity to experience an international sporting event, watching elite athletes in action and be inspired by positive role models in women’s sport.
Class 2 bringing books to life drama day
A community arts organisation, Sparkhouse Creative (a not-for-profit organisation working across rural Cotswold communities to provide accessible, inclusive arts opportunities for young people) visited school to work with Class 2 with their seaside topic. The programme ‘Bringing Books to Life through Drama ‘ was an engaging, curriculum-linked workshop day designed to support literacy, oracy and confidence which was created in partnership with Bath Literacy Festival. Using drama techniques such as role play, storytelling and imaginative exploration, pupils were encouraged to step inside texts or topics, deepening their understanding while supporting a wide range of learning styles. An interesting and informative day for all.
Girls football match against Temple Guiting school
With the first match having been postponed due to the heat, it took place the week after in slightly cooler but still warm conditions. Blockley School and Temple Guiting had an enjoyable but competitive match. In an evenly matched contest Blockley scored the deciding goal to secure a 3-2 victory. Well done Blockley!
Music lessons and peripatetic music for September
Pupils in Key Stage 2 will continue with clarinet lessons in class. Outside of the classroom there are peripatetic music lessons on offer. These are paid for individually and directly by parents but funding options may be available for those with income based free school meals. Currently we are able to offer piano, woodwind and brass lessons but if there was enough interest we could enquire about sourcing a violin or classical guitar teacher. Please contact the office if you are interested in your child learning an instrument (normally from year 3 upwards) and we can put you in touch with the correct teacher.
PC Davies – school beat talk
We are supported in school by the police youth engagement officer. PC Davies attends school a few times a year to speak with the older pupils in school about online safety and drugs.
Year 6 visit to the church
Year 6 pupils visited Blockley Church for a goodbye to primary school event. All the pupils were able to climb to the top of the church tower to see the whole of Blockley from on high!
Mystery at Magpie Manor – KS2 play
If you are a parent of pupils in KS2 able to watch the play, then we are sure you agree it was an excellent production. The pupils performed amazingly and overcame some pre-performance nerves to deliver a fantastic performance.
There was also some amazing artwork produced to decorate the programme. Well done to those, whose artwork was displayed on the final print run.
Local Governing Board
Now that the school is no longer a single academy trust but has joined a multi-academy trust (DGAT) we have a local governing board consisting of 10 governors.
As a committee of the Trust Board, the Local Governing Board (LGB) is the anchor between the school and the wider Trust, ensuring that local knowledge, voice, and insight are reflected in Trust-wide understanding and decision making.
DGAT’s vision is to enable all to flourish — pupils, staff, and the wider community. Local governance plays a vital role in realising this vision; by anchoring the school it serves firmly within both its local context and the strategic framework of the Trust.
Local governors work closely with school leaders to monitor progress, support continuous improvement, and ensure that the curriculum is ambitious, inclusive, and enriching for all learners, with a clear focus on educational excellence.
Additionally local governors work with the school to monitor the effectiveness of strategies to promote diversity, belonging, and inclusion across the whole school community.
The LGB has already met this term and is working within the DGAT scheme of delegation.
Reports to parents
End of term reports to parents have been issued. Please remember to return your comment sheet to confirm receipt.
Class 2 trip to Burnham on Sea
As part of their topic this term, Class 2 went to the seaside. Perfect weather for a day on the beach with an opportunity to look at the features that they have been studying and plenty of time to play on the beach – brilliant sandcastle building and even a ice cream to finish the day!
Class 3 trip to Chedworth Roman Villa
Class 3 have been learning about the Romans so ended the term with a visit to Chedworth Roman Villa. All were able to see first-hand the wonderful mosaics and other Roman structures on display.
Year 6 residential
Year 6 pupils are visiting Boundless Outdoors in the Malvern Hills for their year 6 residential. They are taking part in activities such as tunnels, archery, climbing, low ropes and zip wire.
Move up morning
On the last Thursday morning of the term, pupils will have opportunity to go into their new classrooms for next year.
Year 6 leavers assembly
The final farewell to our year 6 pupils! Parents/carers are invited to the year 6 leavers assembly on Thursday afternoon.
Dinner menu
The menu will remain the same for the start of the year. As the first day of the year for pupils is a Wednesday the main meal on offer will be pizza breads, as per the Monday menu (not roast). The remaining menu will be as standard.
School Dinners – Blockley C of E Primary School
Uniform reminder
If purchasing new items of uniform over the summer, please ensure that these comply with our uniform policy. https://blockleyprimaryschool.co.uk/school-life/uniform/
FOS
Thank you to all of you that have worked together to raise money for the school. Many of our extra-curricular activities would not be able to go ahead without the financial support that FOS provide.
Thank you also to those that have provided practical help with our forest area to ensure that the area is fit for purpose and well maintained. FOS are also spending time looking for grants and sponsorship, so a great deal of work goes on behind the scenes. Thank you for volunteering and for those that support financially.
Start of term 1
Staff will be in school for training on 1st September. School starts for pupils on Wednesday 2nd September.