Dear Parents and Carers,
Bude Residential
Although the first part of the week has been pretty wet, the Year Sixes on their residential have had a lovely time and the last few days have been pretty glorious. As always happens, they have made some new friends and got to know peers from other schools that they will attend secondary school with in many cases. I have no doubt they are coming back pretty exhausted and ready for a week off! Huge thanks go to Miss Trofa for giving up her Sunday and evenings this week to go with the children. Miss Trofa leading the Bude residential is fairly well set in stone, and although she was not able to attend last year, it is great to have her back this year.
Class Two Trip
I'm glad the weather has turned for Class Two's trip to Okehampton Castle today! They will have had an amazing time seeing first hand a Norman mote and bailey castle - exploring the various rooms and imagining life there nearly a thousand years ago. We'll hear all about it after half term.
Class Three Ancient Egypt Day
Class Three children seemed to be absent on Wednesday and in their place were mummies and pharos! What amazing costumes and what a wonderful day they had learning about aspects of Ancient Egyptian life ... and death - including mummification.
School Curriculum
The Class Two trip and Class Three event - like so many other trips, visitors and 'flagship lessons' - has become well embedded into the two year cycle of our curriculum. We are six years into this now and on the third rotation. We feel that it is super-important to augment the day-to-day classroom work with enrichment activities such as trips and visitors in all subjects. Throughout the course of your child's time at HB, they will most likely have some enrichment activity in all areas of the curriculum. These often do not come cheap and we remain indebted to you all for your continuing support to make these activities possible (both through individual contributions and through donations to PTA). It was gratifying that the Ofsted report picked up on our commitment, saying: These experiences support pupils to engage in sophisticated discussions about ethical issues ... Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities have the opportunity to engage in a wide range of bespoke sporting activities ... Pupils also participate in activities to build their confidence and resilience, such as rock climbing and gymnastics events.
Class Four
Whilst it has been strange not to have the Y6 children in the class this week, it has certainly been good to have the Y4s in the class, finding out what Class Four is like. They have all worked hard and settled in well. I hope that they have enjoyed the taster sessions and will be ready for September.
School Library
A special mention and thanks to Jack and Freddie W who have been in school all week working very hard to revamp the school library. This is no easy job as we have hundreds of fiction and non-fiction books arranged over twenty or more shelves and book cases. Jack in particular has been a driving force behind the organising of the library for nearly two years now and has done a stunning job. He has recently been training up his successors for next year, but I know we will miss his commitment to his Librarian role. Despite not having a great deal of spare space in the old site, I am determined that we will maintain a well stocked library in one of the rooms. Reading is of primary importance for children as they progress through primary education, and it is nearly always something we are looking to embellish: an aspect of reading will certainly be on our School Improvement Plan (SIP) this year.
Continual Development
As I said last week, the inspection report is a point on a journey - not the end of the journey - and we want HB to continue to develop and improve. Over the last few weeks, I have had the privilege to be involved in TEAM reviews of Beaford and Witheridge Academies. These schools are closely aligned to HB, having a very similar structure and on both mornings I was able to learn a lot that will benefit us here. On 9th June, I will be visiting Perry Court Primary in Bristol to look at how they have developed their inclusive practice and I have no doubt our strategy will develop as a result. There is always something to learn!
Swimming
Really well done to all of Class Two who put such effort and skill into improving their swimming this half term. You were a credit to yourselves and the school. After half term (starting on the first day back!), Class Four will have two sessions. Please make sure you have your swimming kit with you. We will be travelling on two minibuses, with Mr Norton and Mrs Pearce driving. Full details of who swims when are included with this letter.
Have a wonderful half term break. School restarts for children on Tuesday 2nd June: Monday is a NPD for report writing by staff.
Rob Norton
Head of School
