Welcome to 2024 - We go again

Still climbing...

Happy New Year to all our families, especially to those of you who bravely made it in for the start of term yesterday. A combination of an early start to the term and secondary schools not returning until today meant that yesterday we were down to 86% attendance for our children.

Unfortunately, this is something we are measured on by both the government and the trust. Whilst misunderstandings do happen and people do get ill, we do love seeing your children every day of the school year. Moan over.

So, I am still here - the trust have asked me to stay on as Acting Head until the arrival of the new Headteacher at Easter. Of course I am delighted to do this; nothing has given me greater pleasure than leading this wonderful school and it has been a life-affirming experience for me, in a vocational sense. I have always wanted to be teacher, from a very early age, so being a headteacher is really 'top of the mountain' of me .

There are changes to come this year and there have already been a few changes for this term. Mrs Tillet - our long-time School Business Manager - retired in December with, at her request, the minimum of fuss. That did not mean that we didn't stick her in front of the entire school and ask the children to sing to her. Of course we did. 

This means that I am going to ask you to be patient with our office whilst new staff settle in. They are expert 'jugglers' but even experts occasionally drop the ball. I am sure you will show them the same level compassion as you showed your new 'Headteacher' in September.

Miss Anwar will be reducing her week to 4 days, Mon - Thurs, as she furthers her career via studying for new qualifications. She will be covered on Fridays
by Mrs Cole, an experienced teacher who has joined us from Riverview Juniors. 

I hope the 'magic' I spoke to you about at the start of each Christmas performance last term visited you over the holiday period. It was certainly there in the form of a £300 donation we were able to offer Ellenor Hospice as a result of the collection we held. Alongside the money raised for Save the Children for Christmas Jumper Day, you made sure that magic could be shared.

Here's hoping for more magic this term.