An Open Letter from the Head teacher

2 July 08

Dear Parents,

It has been brought to my attention by some parents and children that rumours abound around the village and school at the moment and I would like to take this opportunity to try to put them to rest.

As you know Mr. Hessey IS leaving us at the end of this term. He is moving to a new school locally in order to further his career by gaining experience in a different setting. Mr. Quarton will have completed his teacher training by the end of this term and will be moving on to a permanent job elsewhere.

A number of families in the school are also leaving us for various reasons mainly connected to house moves. Others are moving to the private sector which they feel is more suited to the individual needs of their children and is not a reflection on the standard of education their children have received at Mattersey Primary School .

I firmly believe that the wealth of opportunities and standard of academic education that we offer the children here at Mattersey is second to none locally. Our Year 6 SATs results last year were some of the best in the county and this year looks set to be similar. Our high staff to pupil ratio and the hard work of all the team means that children in our care are given the very best chance of success. In September this standard of teaching and the breadth of opportunities beyond the academic curriculum will continue under my leadership through the hard work of the staff team. Mrs. White and Mrs. Cave will continue will continue to lead the Foundation Stage and KS1 as yet we do not know if Mrs. Tindall will be returning in September but if she doesn't, Mrs. Cousins has already committed to covering all of her teaching hours until she is well enough to return.

In KS2 Mrs. Ridgill will be at the helm! The class will be divided into 2 groups for Numeracy and Literacy daily, the second group being taught by Mrs. Woodwards. Miss Heath will lead a phonics group in KS1 daily, continue with her Special Educational Needs support and otherwise will spend the rest of the week with KS2. I will be escorting the whole school swimming on Tuesday mornings and teaching music, P.E. and art in KS2 two afternoons each week. Mrs. Grayson will continue to teach French to Years 3 – 6 and Mrs. Wilson MacCormack will keep our fantastic tradition of High quality music education alive.

There will be a multi-skills After School Club for KS1, basketball, football and craft club after school for KS2. Fun Club will continue to run an after school gardening club and at lunchtime Mrs. Grayson will continue to run a chess club and we will be starting a new hand-bell ringing group.

Trips are already in the diary to Eden Camp, Gainsborough Old Hall and Hartington Hall in Derbyshire (KS2 Residential) and a visiting artist has been booked to work with the children in school in the term leading up to Christmas.

In December the children will be performing Joseph and his Technicolor Dream coat as a farewell to Mrs. Bell; prior to this the whole school will be going to watch a professional performance of Joseph in Nottingham which will be funded by the Swimathon which the PTFA are currently planning.

We will be having an early parents open day and evening next term, well before October half term so that you can come and see us at work and discuss your child's progress with their teacher. However, as usual, if you have ANY concerns or suggestions prior to this date PLEASE come in and talk to us.

In the meantime we are looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible in school this Friday (4 th July) for our Open Day. Don't forget KS1 and the Foundation Stage will be doing an assembly at 3.00p.m. all about their visit to the deep and KS2 will be presenting work from their Ambleside trip in an assembly on Friday July 11 th at 3.00p.m.

Please find attached to this letter information about our school which may be useful to friends or neighbours whose children do not attend here. Please feel free to display this wherever you are able.

And on a final note I would just like to confirm that THE SCHOOL IS DEFINITELY NOT CLOSING DOWN!

Kind Regards,

Mrs. J. Beech.