Dear Parents and Carers,
Parent Consultation Meetings
Thank you if you managed to come to school last week to discuss with your child’s class teacher, the progress that your child is making in their learning and development. I hope that you received much positive feedback about your child. If you are a parent of a child in any of the classes from Reception through to Year 6 and were unable to meet with your child’s class teacher, please don’t hesitate to make an appointment via the school office to meet with them. The nursery parent consultation meetings will be held within the next few weeks, before Christmas.
Parent Governor Election Result
We are delighted to announce the result of the recent parent governor election. Paul French, father of a child in Year 3, was duly elected to be your parent representative. We look forward to working alongside Paul as a member of our governing board as we forge ahead and strategically plan for the future of our wonderful school.
Ofsted Visit
You will know that we have recently had another Ofsted inspection. This has come in quick succession, following our previous inspection in March of this year. Ofsted visited our school on Wednesday 9th November and converted what was then a Monitoring visit into a full Section 5 inspection from Wednesday afternoon through to the end of the day on Thursday. They again reviewed in detail all areas of our school’s provision and practice. As soon as I am able to do so, I will let you know the outcome of the inspection and email you a copy of the inspection report.
Parent and Children’s Survey Findings
Fortuitously, and in advance of the inspection notification, we had organised for parents and children to complete a survey, specifically focusing on safeguarding at our school. This was duly completed, with the results being overwhelmingly positive about what children say about their experiences at our school as well as what our parents think. Whilst we are humbled and grateful by findings which report that almost 100% of children feel safe (with parents believing this too), we will however fully take on board comments about what children and parents think we can do better to ever improve our school. One parent for example said: ‘there might be discipline (in school) but that is not the same as educating them about behaviour’. We will continue to focus on further educating our children about behaving appropriately and to be ever more respectful of people, irrespective of difference.
Coffee Mornings
I apologise that I had to postpone my School Progress Coffee Morning for a second time last week (owing to Ofsted). I have since rescheduled this for 9.15am next week on Thursday 24th November at our Church Lane site. Do please come along to learn all about our school priority areas for improvement and what we have achieved so far this term.
Christmas events are almost upon is!
The festive season is almost in full swing. It kicks off in style at St Mary’s next week Thursday when Years 3 & 4 visit Hackney Empire for what has now become an annual fun event at St Mary’s. They will be seeing Mother Goose in Pantomime, an event that the Parents and Schools Association have been able to heavily subsidise. Our thanks to all of you for supporting school PSA events to allow for experiences like this to happen. Years 5 & 6 will be visiting Hackney Empire next week Friday, whilst Church Lane children will have the joy of experiencing a visiting pantomime production in school on Thursday 8th December, also courtesy of the PSA.
Extra Bank-Holiday – Monday 8th May
Owing to King Charles’ Coronation on Monday 8th May, this is now a Bank Holiday. The school calendar for the year has been updated to reflect this.
Wishing you a restful weekend,
Calvin Henry
Headteacher
