Headmaster's Message
Dear Parents
Welcome back to the Courier following our half term break. I hope you found the time to get together as a family and enjoy each other’s company. I managed a few days in the Yorkshire Dales cycling and hill walking with my family where we were treated to blue skies and freezing temperatures. It was great to get to know a part of the country I have never really visited seriously in the past and to get a taste of a different pace of life.
The two week mid-term break is still a relatively new innovation and we as teaching staff see the clear benefit to the children in terms of levels of engagement and energy over the course of the term. This is the longest term of the year and it gives everyone a chance to recharge their batteries and prepare for the run up to Christmas.
Many thanks to all of you who completed the parental survey. This has given us lots of useful feedback that we can look at in the coming weeks and enables us to gauge your feelings in relation to all aspects of the school’s provision. I was delighted to see that so many of you are very happy with what we do and of course there are always areas we can work on to improve. It was particularly pleasing to read that 98% of parents would recommend us as a school to other parents; positive feedback that is much appreciated. I intend to give some fuller feedback to you before the start of next term when we have had a chance to look in detail at the report and consider how we can address some of the issues raised.
Today in school we shared a quietly observed remembrance service, with readings, prayers and a moving playing of the last post. I know that a number of children will be involved in parades and services over the weekend as well as we mark the 100th anniversary of the ending of the Great War. When working with young children whose understanding of the world is still emerging it is important to get the level of the message right and of course children of different ages will have varying levels of understanding. At the same time it is important for us all to remember and reflect on the suffering and sacrifice of the men and women of the armed forces, on all sides. Many thanks as well to everyone who has contributed to our poppy appeal and collection through the week. The collection pots are close to overflowing!
Enjoy your weekend everybody.
Joe Thackway
