The staff
and pupils enjoyed a well-earned two week break during April as the Easter
Break (which didn’t coincide with Easter this year!) marked an end to the
Spring Term.
The school
had a very intensive end to the Spring Term as we finally received our long anticipated
visit from Ofsted.
I am now absolutely delighted to be able to confirm
that Great Gaddesden CoE VA School is a GOOD
school overall, and an OUTSTANDING
school in terms of Personal Development, Behaviour and Welfare.
Although we recognise that a school is so much more
than an Ofsted report, we are delighted that the hard work and dedication of
Staff and Pupils has been recognised.
We are also especially grateful to our wonderful Head
Teacher Mrs Comer who has helped to drive the school forward and made vast
improvements on our position before her arrival.
The full report is now available on the Ofsted Website
but below are some highlights from the report:
The
head teacher has been uncompromising in her drive to improve the school since
the last inspection. She has gained the confidence of her staff, who fully
support the drive for improvement. As a result, all areas of the school’s work
have improved since the last inspection.
Senior
leaders and governors have created a fully inclusive school where all pupils
are made to feel secure, valued and supported to achieve their best. As a
result, pupils thrive in the school and gain in self-confidence. Pupils leaving
at the end of Year 6 are well prepared for the transfer to a large secondary
school.
Children
in the early years provision make good progress because teachers plan
interesting and challenging activities.
The
school’s work to promote pupils’ personal development and welfare is
outstanding. The pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is
at the heart of the school’s work. Each child is valued for their individuality
by all staff and they encourage all pupils to celebrate their achievements and
persevere where they encounter difficulties. As a result, pupils are happy,
confident and successful learners.
Parents
agree that teaching is good and that they receive valuable information about
their child’s progress.
We are very excited about the future of our school,
and are committed to making Great Gaddesden School even more inspirational for
everyone involved with the school.
You may have noticed our Pupils taking part in the
“Clean for the Queen” campaign at the end of March. Along with other members of
the local community children from Nursery to Year six spent the first part of
the school day litter picking to help clear up the village. The children were
very diligent in thinking about their own safety and considering what litter
was suitable to be picked up They enjoyed a lovely morning outdoors and
hopefully the local area looks better for it.
Years Five and Six
have been learning about the Egyptians and enjoyed an Egyptian Workshop last
month. This including dressing up to support their learning, learning about
measuring the Egyptian way, dancing to Egyptian music and some hands on
experience of mummification!
Years Three and Four
spent their Design and Technology Lessons designing and concocting their own
version of their favourite smoothie. Using the recently purchased new school blenders,
pupils were able to make their own smoothie, and then evaluated it to decide
whether they would do anything differently the next time they made it. The
children enjoyed learning about and testing out the different kinds of fruits
and vegetables which can be used to make a smoothie.
Years One and Two
were focusing on Measurement in their maths lessons last term. On their blog
there are lots of fantastic pictures of them measuring capacity, distance,
length and temperature. They achieved this by measuring liquids in jugs, the
longest distance they could make a toy racing car go, and measuring various
places and pieces of equipment in the school.
I will
leave it to our Early Years Teacher, Miss Ayres to tell you about a highlight
for her class this month.
If you
are looking for a school place please feel free to contact us to make an
appointment to and view our learning.
We also
greatly value volunteers from the local community who can enhance the education
of our pupils either on a regular or one-off basis and so please feel free to
contact us if you would be interesting in sparing some time to volunteer with
us.
From Miss Ayres:
During the last week of the Spring Term
Nursery and Reception enjoyed a very exciting trip to Buckinghamshire Railway
Centre! Our fantastic guide, Peter, spent the day showing us around and
teaching us all about trains. We learnt a lot! We had a ride on an old steam
train and learnt how trains used to work and why they were - and still are - a
very important form of transport. We also rode on a miniature train which was
lots of fun! All the children and adults had a brilliant day. Well done especially
to Holly and Dexter, who won special train driver hats for asking and answering
questions really well. Here are some of the things the children said about our
trip:
I liked the big train. I want to drive
a train when I am big. Josh
My favourite part was the mini-train. I
liked learning lots about trains. Luke
I loved riding the steam train. Mylo
I liked seeing all the trains and going
on the big train. Leo
My favourite was the big steam train.
Rebecca
