Summer Newsletter 4

Dear Parents & Carers

Well our Y6 pupils have survived their SATs! The children were fantastic throughout the week: sensible, calm & collected. They tried their best with each paper & we hope they are rewarded for all their hard work when the results are released later this term.  I’d like to thank the staff in Y6 for all their dedication to the children in their care. Mrs Hughes, Miss Pickford, Ms Taylor & Mrs Rimmer have been wonderful throughout the year (as always). They’ve made sure the children are fully prepared for the tests without narrowing the curriculum to only English & maths – at Woodlands, we feel it is very important that the children study a broad curriculum throughout their last year in primary school. Narrowing the curriculum has a detrimental effect on the children’s overall education. SATs are one way of measuring our pupils progress but, as I said in a letter to the Y6 before the SATs, they are not the only way:

“I wish there was a SAT in working well with others or maybe one that judged how honest you are. It would be great if your ability to look after your friends when they’re having a tough time was given a mark and then sent off to the Department for Education. There should be a SAT that tells people just how well you keep going when things are difficult or one that shows how well you stand up for what you believe in… SATs in reading, grammar & maths just measure a tiny bit of what makes you who you are.”

The Y6 children now have less than 10 weeks left at Woodlands. This time will fly by. Amongst the continuing school work (no, this does not stop after SATs!) there will be sports day, a leavers’ disco, WOODfest II {Y6 Leavers’ show} & PGL – what a time they will have!

Here’s his week’s ‘nudges’ to help you start conversations with your children about their learning…

Nursery

What happened in the Y6 for all story Matisse’s Magical Trail?

{Literacy: ‘Matisse’s Magical Trail’ Tim Hopgood & Sam Boughton}

Reception [Red & Blue]

Explain the life cycle of a frog. How doe sit change from an egg to a tadpole to a frog?

{Understanding the World}

Y1&2 [Green, Yellow & Purple]

Can you tell me about an animal that lives in Northern Europe?

{Geography topic: ‘Northern Europe’}

Y3&4 [3A, 3/4M & 4G]

Why do people say that Canterbury has a ‘rich history’?

{Geography topic: ‘London & the South East of England’}

Y5&6 [5D, 5/6P & 6R]

Who is your favourite character from ‘Holes’? Explain why.

Bonus question: How is the film different to the book?

{English topic ‘Holes’ Louis Sachar}

Nearly there! This week our whole school attendance is 96.9%, a tantalising 0.1% away from our target of 97%. Well done to Purple Class (98.1%), Yellow Class (97.6%), 3/4M (99.3%), 4C (97.7%),  5/6P (99.7%) for breaking the 97% mark. Congratulations to 6R for achieving 100% attendance this week.

We’ve excellent news on the punctuality front too? We had 7 classes who had no late marks this week: Blue Class, Yellow Class, 3G, 3/4M, 4C, 5/6P & 6R. We’ve only had 4 late marks across the whole school. 4 late marks ‘before the register closed’ – that’s before 9.20am & 0 late marks ‘after the register has closed’, that’s after 9.20am.

The Woodlands Calendar Elves have asked to remind you of our upcoming INSET days. The children are not in school on Friday 27th May or Monday 6th June.

Enjoy the weekend.

KD Williams

Headteacher

Last word

Yesterday, I washed the car with my son.

He said, “Dad, can’t you use a sponge like everyone else?”