End of Year newsletter

Dear Parents/Carers,

Once again, we’re here at the brink of the Summer holidays, with children and staff crawling the finish line after a busy year!

I wanted to write a newsletter to mark the end of the year as we really have had some triumphs this year that I’d like to share below, ahead of September when I will be sharing our whole school priorities for 2024-25.

First of all, however, I’d like to thank you for your kindness, support and suggestions this year. The best schools move forward through a strong a partnership between staff and parents and this is what I wish for All Saints.

Key Stage 2 SATs

We are delighted by our year six SATs results and hope the children are similarly proud – they are an excellent set of scores. Here are our SATs results for 2023-24:

In addition, our number of pupils achieving Greater Depth was significant. The national figures for Greater Depth are not yet published, but ours are likely to be significantly above average for GPS, Reading and Maths

GPS Greater Depth: 26%

Reading Greater Depth: 48%

Writing Greater Depth: 7.4%

Maths Greater Depth: 44%

I could not be prouder of our year sixes for these achievements!

Phonics Screening

As you may know, our year ones sit a Phonics Screening Check in Summer to ensure they know their sounds and can confidently blend these sounds to read words. Our results for last year and this year are below, as well as comparisons to National data. This is so pleasing because we have been using Twinkl Phonics/Rhino Readers for two years now, and this is clear evidence that they’re doing the job and helping develop capable readers, ready to make their own book choices.

JTMAT Engagement

This time last year we were on the brink of academisation and unsure of what changes this would bring and how different this would feel. The initial changes took place immediately in the office and were….intense, to say the least. A massive amount of change has been implemented within the office, in order to comply with MAT systems, and I cannot thank the office staff enough for doing this. Without Mrs Tilley, Mrs Jones and Mrs Semple, we simply would not have been able to function this year.

Engagement with the MAT has also had a direct impact on the quality of teaching the classrooms. JTMAT uses a “secondee” system, whereby expert secondees for Maths, English and Early Years come and spend time in school, observing and driving improvement. We have benefited greatly from these experts, with our own staff’s knowledge and skills increasing at the same time. Furthermore, we have benefited from instant expert advice and support in matters relating to SEND, which is invaluable at a time when Local Authority SEND services nationally are almost collapsing due to increased demands.

From parent’s point of view, it may feel as though being part of the MAT hasn’t really had an impact on your child’s daily experience or your own perception of the school. However, for us as staff, the impact has been drastic and it is hard to imagine how we managed without that support.

Technology

I have been very aware this year that our technology is rapidly aging and becoming less effective. This has concerned us as being fluent in the use of ICT is going to be, in reality, a necessary life skill for our children. I am happy to share that we have just taken delivery of a complete set of brand new iPads, complete with cases and charging trolley, that will be used by all children next year to support and enrich their learning. To complement this, Mrs Ridley has planned an exciting and ambitious Computing curriculum for all year groups, to be in place from September. Sitting alongside this, a staff priority for next year is to enrich our existing curriculum through the use of this technology. There are so many enrichment possibilities – QR codes, green screen, book creators, stop motion animation, etc.

Additionally, in Autumn next year we are to receive highly beneficial upgrades from JTMAT to our interactive boards and staff laptops in order to be compatible for the Windows 11 upgrade later in the year. We are really excited about this as high-quality technology is key to creative and exciting lessons.

Renovations

We are continuing our programme of renovation next year, beginning with the Reception classroom over the Summer. This is being completely re-painted and re-floored and we cannot wait for the children to see it. Later in the year, the year three and four classrooms upstairs will undergo the same renovations (goodbye, awful brown carpets!)

We are also planning a significant project for the mobile classroom which we feel will be of great benefit to the school moving forward, but this will be launched in September….

Library

We are extremely excited to that the library project is in its final stages and will be ready for our Grand Opening in September, details of which will be shared upon our return. This week, the cataloguing of the books took place with support from our library software company, and is proving a mammoth task which will be completed over Summer. We cannot wait to invite you in with your child to see our new facility.  

Accuracy of Reporting

We have responded to parental feedback that feedback about children’s attainment and progress was not always specific and clear enough. We have therefore sought to be much more transparent with our communications to parents ahead of parents’ evenings, outlining exactly what you should learn. In reports, we have aimed to specifically advise parents where children are performing in relation to national expectations, as well as share specific scores in recent assessments.

We are pleased with much of our progress this year but very aware we still have much to do. As always, constructive ideas and feedback are welcomed from all parents and carers. It has been an extremely busy year once again, with many changes taking place, but we feel we are in a strong position for September and staff are extremely positive about the year ahead of us.

I wish you all the very best of Summers and hope you and your family have a wonderful and relaxing break.

Finally, several of you have kindly congratulated me on my upcoming wedding this Summer, for which I am very appreciative. When we return in September, I will be using my new name which will be Mrs Fussell. (Don’t worry if you forget, it’s going to take me about six months to remember as well!)

With best wishes,

Miss E. Wilson

Headteacher