‘Every one shall give of their very best in the love of God’
Dear Parent/Guardian
This has been a particularly busy and hectic academic year, but firstly, I and the Governors would like to thank Mrs Tina Wheelwright for 15 years of dedicated service to the school both as a Teacher and as a Governor; we wish her a long and happy retirement. Another big thank you also to Mrs Rosemary Davies who leaves us after 12 years as a TA and active Governor- we also wish her a long and happy retirement and hope she will enjoy her intended globe trotting. We also said farewell in early July to Mrs Charis Higgs after seven years as an effervescent TA – her sense of humour will be much missed. We wish her well for her new life in Qatar with her family.
Premises
The old Victorian kitchen has been transformed into a new meeting room which is ideal for meetings of up to 8 people and for interviews and private discussions between parents and teachers should they so wish.
The link corridor having been carpetted and new storage cupboards custom made and fitted have greatly improved the first impressions of visitors to the school. It has also provided valuable storage space and made other areas of the school much more tidy. An electronic door release has also been fitted to the front door to enable easier exit from the building.
The First Aid room and disabled toilet has been refurbished and greatly improved,
Fire doors and more smoke detectors throughout the building have been fitted as per Fire Officer recommendations to meet Fire Safety Regulations.
The reception field area is now enlarged and filled with new play equipment . It also boasts a large cover to protect the children from the sun. The Friends kindly provided jumbo pencils and a huge chalk board.
You may have noticed that the whole interior of the building has been enhanced by the splendid work of each year group and their teachers.Every visitor I have seen in school always comments on the excellence of the art work lining the corridors. Well done children and Teachers and a big thank you to Mrs Sarah Reed who oversaw the whole production. Thank you also to Mrs Sarah Purvey who led and supervised the production of the Derry Hill School flowers made from clay, fired in her kiln and “ planted“ outside the Head Teachers Office.
Extra seating on the field has been errected , furniture and climbing frames in the playground installed. Thank you to The Friends who paid for the Traversing Wall and climbing frames for both key stages1 and 2, and also for the purchase of a farewell gift to the Year 6 leavers.
I think you will agree a great many improvements have been made since I last wrote in December 2009.
China
The links with our twin school in China continue with a number of children having pen pals.
Residential Courses
The residential course for year 5 to Braeside was enjoyed by all and the Year 6 residential visit to France was a huge success.
School Development Plan
The introduction in September 2009 of the Superheroes to promote advancement in Numeracy and Literacy has proved to be most effective. The provisional SATS results are much improved on last year.
Strategic Objective 1 is to raise standards of achievement and attainement in writing across the whole school . New writing and reading targets are individualy set term by term. All teachers have been trained and are using AAP (Assessing Pupil Progress) in writing and worksifts. Pupil progress reports show that progress is being made.
Strategic Objective 2 is to raise the Standard of achievement in Mathematics and as in Strategic Objective 1 progress has been identified with individual targets being set term by term.
Strategic Objective 3 is to use the school environment to become better learners. The introduction of Merlin, a computer programme aimed at better communication between Governors, Staff and Pupils is making it’s mark; Arts Mark which I have already commented on under Premises and Special Places (Sensory Garden) have all contributed to this objective.
Strategic Objective 4 is to understand and use the world around us to become better learners. The school has already achieved the Intermediate International Award and comment has also been made on this under China above. Closer ties have also been made between the diverse community groups in the village.
Staff Training – this is a very active area in the school ensuring that staff are trained in innotive programmes enabling them to cascade within school and enable a modern, supportive approach to the Learning of the children.
Teachers have been on the following appropriate courses:
- Levelling Reading/Writing in Years 2 &3
- Assessing Pupil Progress , Talk for Writing, Improving the Church School.
- Planning (Modern Foreign Languages) MFL in the Primary Curriculum
- Wilts Conferences on MFL, Maths, PE & School Sports
- Supporting E safety, ICT Themes, Control of Merlin Training
- From Assessment to Writing : The Journey
- Assessing Pupil Progress; Safeguarding Children Level 3,
- Sound Discovery A Wave 3 Phonics Intervention
- Introduction Family SEAL Training (S ocial and E motional A spects of L earning)
- Improving Reading & Writing through focused guided work Yrs 1 & 2
- Let’s get cooking
- Talk Matters
- Building Bridges Securing Continuity from EYFS to Year 1
- Year 1 Early Literacy Support
Support staff have been on the following appropriate courses
- ICT for Aspiring Higher Level TAs: Aspiring HLTA Training Planning & Teaching
- Behaviour Management for the whole classroom
- Sound Discovery A Wave 3 Phonics Intervention
- Everything you wanted to know about HLTA status
- Paediatric First Aid
- Health & Safety Essentials for Caretakers/Site Managers
- Health & Safety For Heads and Senior Managers
- Financial Benchmarking
- QEs on-line risk assessment ( Safety of children on trips)
- Data Management Demystified
All staff and I have also undergone in-house Merlin training patiently provided by Mr Watkins.
Green Flag-Sensory Garden
The School Council has designed a Sensory Garden which has now been put out to tender and work will be started at the beginning of the next academic year. This will contribute to our Green Flag Award under the ECO schools project. So well done to the School Council and Ms Liddel for bringing this about.
Governors
The Governing Body presently comprises:
Mr Richard French (LA – Chair)
Mr Stephen Horton (Foundation/Vice Chair)
Mr Brian Baker (Foundation)
Mrs Jane Blewitt (Foundation)
Mrs Hayley Cole
Mr Charlie Fadipe (Foundation)
Mrs Pippa Fisk (Parent)
Mrs Margaret Hogarth (Foundation)
Mrs Carol Rigby (Foundation)
Mrs Jackie Strain(Foundation)
Mrs Sheryl Staton (Ex-Officio/Head Teacher)
Mrs Rosemary Davies (Staff)
Mrs Tina Wheelwright (Teaching Staff)
Mrs Joh Alcock (Clerk to the Governors)
The Governing Body welcomed two new Governors in January. Mr Charlie Fadipe (Foundation Governor) and Mrs Hayley Cole (Parent Governor). Now it is farewell not only to Mrs Tina Wheelright and Mrs Rosemary Davies but also to Mrs Jane Blewitt who has been a Governor for 8 years. She has made a considerable input to the Governing body- thank you Jane. It is also farewell to our Clerk, Mrs Joh Alcock who has done a stirling job over the last year – thank you Joh.
The Governors would, once again, like to congratualte and thank Mrs Staton and all members of the school staff for their continued hard work and achievements during the last academic year. We would also like to thank again The Friends and Parent Helpers who do so much in the background to support the school. Thank you all.
Yours sincerely
R A French
Richard French
Chair of Governors