I find it difficult to believe a year has passed. However, when I look back over the course of the year, I am extremely proud of what has been achieved in the course of this year, and write to you for the last time this year, even more proud to be the Head of Badock’s Wood Primary School.
Before I conclude with our achievements, I will need to put some actual news in this newsletter. As you know, school closes for the year at 3.20 tomorrow, Friday 22nd July. School reopens for pupils on Monday 5th September. The Inset days for the next academic year are as follows:
Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd September 2011
Tuesday 3rd January 2012
Friday 30th March 2012
Monday 11th June 2012
Breakfast club will continue to run next year. However, the Governing Body have arranged that the club will be run by WISH, with Miss Fitzgerald working there each morning. However, for the club to run successfully, we will require a number of volunteers to assist, and we still require the financial support of families coming to buy their breakfasts. More details will follow in September, but please come along on the 5th September as normal. (Another letter, with menus and prices, is to be circulated).
As you will have read last week, we have a number of staff leaving us. Miss Parnell, Mr Scaiff and Mr Greirson are all moving to pastures new, and we wish them the very best of luck. Mrs Woollacott and Mrs Rich leave the school after many years work for which we offer them enormous thanks. Mr Chris Lambert is also leaving us to work with children in another school. May I take this opportunity to thank each of these colleagues for the work and dedication to the school, and their personal contributions to our amazing journey this year.
And what a journey it has been. Last September, I challenged the staff to reach some highly ambitious targets. Surely, that is what Aspire – Achieve – Enjoy is all about? We knew we would face not one but two visits from OfSTED, and that we had to make significant improvements in many areas. We also shared a school improvement plan which was extremely ambitious in its scope, to the point where some outsiders thought we would not achieve it.
Little did they know…
This year, the school has enjoyed the following successes.
• The best key stage 2 results ever, including maths outcomes in line with the national average;
• Key Stage 1 results all up by an average of 25%;
• Achievement in reading and maths has significantly improved in all year groups, and our average point score (APS – the national average is 3) was 4.17
• Our best attendance for the 11 years of records kept by Education Welfare;
• Not one but two highly complimentary OfSTED reports, including the school’s crowing achievement – the removal of the Notice to Improve category; in addition to this, teaching and learning, progress and leadership were all rated as “Good” or better;
• The school was recognized as an Investor in People organization;
• The school was awarded the Financial Management in Schools standard;
• The school was awarded the Every Child a Reader standard.
Not bad eh? And we completed the entire school improvement plan. And three key stage plans. And a literacy and numeracy plan.
Of course, these lofty ambitions are never realized without the hard work and commitment of dedicated staff. Furthermore, our highly supportive governors, who were also graded as “Good” in our OfSTED inspection, have been invaluable in pushing us all to strive for better outcomes. Finally, nothing at all would be possible without the positive, determined attitudes of our learners who turn up every day with the sole intention of learning. To each and every one of you, may I say two things.
1. Thank you very, very much. You may never know how important your contribution was.
2. We’re aiming even higher next year. And thank you again.
Have a wonderful, calm, safe, relaxing summer, whatever the weather, and I look forward to seeing you all again on September 5th (or sooner!).
Zak Willis
Friday, 15 July 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)