Google Search
Latest News
Read below to find out more about some of the different activities we have been getting up to; from sporting and musical activities, to visitors and 'wow' days. We are looking forward to helping our children 'explore and grow' further in 2025-26.
-
RLT Maths Challenge Day
Thu 22 Mar 2018Four of our year 5/6 children set off to Whissendine on Thursday to take part in the year 5/6 Maths Challenge Day. The children worked alongside other children from RLT schools to solve a range of mathematical problems and challenges. Miss Bevins says that she was very impressed with the children's focus, resilience and concentration in tackling some new ideas.
Congratulations to all those who took part.
-
Mother's Day Tea Party
Fri 09 Mar 2018It was lovely to have a packed hall on Friday afternoon for the Mother's Day Tea party. All of the children came to the hall to share tea, coffee, squash and cake with those mums and relatives who were able to join us. It was lovely to have some aunts and grandmas, as well as mums and dads.
Thank you to all those who bought and made cakes to make the event so special.
-
Austin's Butterfly.... a lesson in resilience, perseverance and improving our work!
Tue 06 Mar 2018On Tuesday afternoon the whole school worked together on a project based on a project developing children's ability to give critique and feedback on work. This project is known to many in education as 'Austin's Butterfly'.
Before we came together as a school, each class was asked to try and draw their own butterfly. They were also shown a picture and asked to recreate it as best as they could. For class 1 this was an owl; for class 2, a wolf; and for class 3, some flowers.
We then met together as a school and watched and talked through the clip of 'Austin's Butterfly' which follows how a child in an American school was encouraged to develop and improve his pictures of a butterfly. We talked about which butterfly was closest to what we had drawn ourselves, and which one we would have been 'happy' with. We also talked about the critique and feedback that Austin was given as he drew each draft, and how this helped him. We also had a real focus on progress - part of our EPIC learning - and how we could see the progress that Austin had made over each draft as he looked and reviewed alongside his friends.
Then it was time to go back to the classrooms, reflect on our own first drafts, and see what we could do. This was not as easy as we thought it would be! We needed to focus on our own resilience and perseverance, making sure that we didn't give up when things got tricky. We also had to work on not being satisfied with 'good enough' and keep persevering to be even better. Persuading the children that this was not about creating a fantastic end product, but was about being able to see the journey through learning was easier said than done! However, it was a good opportunity for the children to reflect on their own and others work and to see what real progress could look like when we don't settle for average.
Below are some photos of the children hard at work. Pictures of some of the progress made will follow shortly.
-
We are officially part of the Rutland Learning Trust!
Thu 01 Mar 2018We are delighted that from Thursday 1st March 2018 we officially became part of the Rutland Learning Trust. Being part of the Rutland Learning Trust means that we are able to work alongside other schools to develop fantastic teaching and learning for the children, whilst retaining those things that we love about our own school and that make it unique.
For the children and parents being part of RLT will make very little difference to what you see at school currently from day to day. We have already been working alongside RLT since November 2016, with the trust providing support and professional development for all staff and helping us to develop our curriculum offer for the children and improve our teaching and learning.
For the staff, we are now employed by RLT, and for the leadership team and governors this now means that we receive our support, advice and guidance from RLT rather than from Rutland County Council. We also have more autonomy over our budget as it comes directly to the school rather than to the local authority.
We are very excited about the changes that have already taken place at school and about plans into the future. Working alongside other local schools as part of RLT is already allowing us to offer our children more opportunities and experiences that would be more limited were we to remain a local authority school. Over the past year we have taken part in joint events for the children including: athletics at Corby Stadium, the Music Festival in the Summer, shared trips and sporting events, sharing in School residential visits, shared swimming and year group development days to name just a few. There are more opportunities planned for the remainder of this academic year. As staff we have been able to work alongside other colleagues to share good practice and take part in shared training opportunities.
We are looking forward to all the exciting things planned for the school and the whole Trust into the future.
-
We are becoming an academy!
Thu 22 Feb 2018Today we received our confirmation letter confirming that, on the 1st March 2018, we will officially become an academy as part of the Rutland Learning Trust.
This has been a long time in waiting! In terms of the day to day running of the school, you should see little difference from what has been happening for the past year, as we have already been working as part of the Trust. We will continue to work with the Trust to develop our curriculum and learning environment, and to ensure that our children get as many different learning opportunities as possible.
A huge thank you to all of our governors, to the Rutland Learning Trust, and to our solicitor who have all been working hard behind the scenes to sort land issues and ensure that our academisation has happened.
-
World Thinking Day
Thu 22 Feb 2018Today people who are part of the Guiding Association at the school came in their uniforms to remember World Thinking Day, the birthday of the Guides. We had Rainbows and Brownies, and even a Guide leader with us today!
We talked about the idea of thinking, which links beautifully with our 'R' for this term - resourcefulness. In assembly Mrs Davis asked, "What does thinking look like?" We then had a long discussion about whether we are actually thinking when we have a 'thinking face', or whether we are thinking about looking like we are thinking!
We also talked about making time in our lives to think. We are all so busy, having time out to think is really important and helps build who we are.
-
The New Library is Coming Together!
Sat 03 Feb 2018Over the past few weeks, staff and their families have been giving up their time to help with the development of our new library.
One Saturday morning was spent with staff and their families decorating the walls a base coat of green, ready for mural designs to be added by the resident artist on staff, Miss Healey. Furniture and books were also sorted.
A huge thank you to Mr Lucas from Whissendine School, who came and boxed in pipes and attached the book cases to the wall, ready for the books to be returned. Mr Lucas was also been responsible for moving the staffroom kitchen and re-plumbing sinks so that we can have a better layout for the school over the October half- term.
Friday evening was spent emptying boxes, putting books onto shelves, arranging furniture and setting out our soft seating. The library is beginning to take shape!
Mrs Davis now needs to consult with Miss Healey over murals, a new table to match the decor needs to be delivered, and then the library will be ready for a grand opening!
Watch this space!
-
RSSP Swimming Gala
Mon 29 Jan 2018A huge well done to Olivia and Bethany who represented the school at the Rutland School Sports Partnership Swimming Gala on Monday. Mrs Gould, who accompanied the girls, was very impressed with how well the girls did in their races and their enthusiasm.
Both girls swam in two events and were excellent ambassadors for the school. Well done.
-
Class 2 and 3 Enrichment
Sun 21 Jan 2018Classes 2 and 3 began their enrichment choices for this term on Friday. This term there are three activities on offer - Team Building, Board Games and Mindfulness colouring.
There was a hum of activity in all three areas. In class 2 for team building with Miss Barker there was lots of noise and excitement at the different games. The children had to work together to solve problems and find solutions. In class 3 with Miss Bevins it was a little quieter, with pairs and small groups sharing different board games and learning different tactics. In the hall it was very quiet! The children (and Mrs Davis!) were all quietly colouring whilst the Brandenburg concertos were played quietly on the sound system. The only sound was the odd comment of admiration as children complimented each other on their choice of colours and the patterns they were producing. There was a small whisper to Mrs Davis from a year 3: 'this is the best enrichment so far!'
We are always open to ideas for other activities we could try, and to any offers of help and expertise in taking a group. Speak to the office if you are interested.
-
We all had a fantastic time (Oh yes we did!)
Thu 11 Jan 2018We have just returned from our whole school pantomime trip to Nottingham, and a fantastic time was had by all.
This year the pantomime was Beauty and the Beast. The children enjoyed interacting with the characters (Oh yes we did!) and laughing at their jokes and antics. There were some amazing special effects, including a moving monster and some 3D pictures. We were glad that it had a happy ending!
After our school pantomime, we always like to compare our own.... Mrs Davis thinks they must have seen some Exton & Greetham Pantos over the years, as she recognised some of the jokes!
As ever the children were beautifully behaved and a credit to the school. Thank you to all the staff and children for such a great trip.
