Dear parents, carers and friends,
A Happy New Year to you all if I haven’t yet had the chance to say it to you in person. Already, the school is full of vibrant and exciting displays of your children’s excellent work.
Our attendance for term 2 was slightly disappointing, especially after how good it was in term 1, and it’s a worry that we still have not had a single class manage 100% for an entire week (we’ve had a few go very close, but they have been let down by lateness).
Term 1
Overall attendance - 94.9%
Number of pupils with 100% - 93
Term 2
Overall attendance - 91.4%
Number of pupils with 100% - 59
Mrs Coleman’s class were the best attenders in term 2, and we have 35 pupils still on 100% for the entire year (4 families with 2 or more children have 100% for all children). Our attendance is much better than it has ever been, but if we can get to nearly 95% in term 1, why can’t we do it all the time?
One big factor is people who are late! School starts at 8.55 – it is your job to get the children here before this time. In order to promote positive attendance, the governors have asked me to present them with a list of pupils who persistently (more than once a week) arrive after 8.55, and it is their intention to take action.
The standard of uniform has also dropped slightly, especially in key stage 2. Hoodies, sports tops and clothes not in school colours are not good enough. I have never insisted on children wearing clothes with the school badge, but I do insist on the correct colours – blue is not in our school uniform. Uniform should be observed at all times. Again, we will be speaking with the families involved, and, in key stage 2, talking directly to the pupils. If there is a problem, please come and see us, and we will do everything we can to help.
At the end of this month / the start of February, we will be holding literacy evenings for pupils throughout the school, to show you how you can help your children with their reading at home, and what we will do in school. There will be more details about this closer to the time. Please try and attend the meetings for your child, as this will be of enormous benefit to your child and to the school in its push to improve standards. 2011 was a great year for the school, and we plan to do even better in 2012. We hope we can rely on your support.
Yours faithfully
Zak Willis
Headteacher