Stanmore Post - 8 October 2021
Dear Parents/ Carers,
As we are a Hampshire Local Authority School our ongoing improvement work is evaluated on a regular basis. We work closely with the Hampshire Inspector and Advisory service to ensure that the Quality of Education is strong throughout the school. Our monitoring visit on Monday included three Local Authority inspectors who spent the day talking to leaders in detail about the school improvements that we shared with parents at the meeting last week. They visited classes evaluating the curriculum work and the behaviour and attitudes of the children. It was a pleasure to share our work and the outcome of the visit was positive. In particular, they commented on the excellent learning behaviour of the children. As you will be aware, we are overdue an OFSTED inspection as a result of the Pandemic. Opportunities for an external perspective of the how well the school is progressing is both helpful and positive. As soon as we are notified by OFSTED that they intend to visit we will let you know, it could happen at any time during this academic year.
Earlier this week we were proud to receive a tree as part of the 'Plant a tree for the Jubilee' initiative. Throughout the county seventy trees will be planted creating the Queen's Green Canopy (QGC) for her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee. The QGC Celebration Trees initiative aims to highlight the educational aspects of trees and the significance of giving young people access to nature, encouraging wider engagement with the QGC across the school curriculum. Our School Eco Council were invited to join the Mayor of Winchester and the Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire for the ceremonial planting.
We celebrated National Poetry Day on Monday 4th October with a visit from Winchesters 'Poet on the High Street.' Johnny Seagrave. As part of Winchester Poetry Festival, Johnny was commissioned to celebrate the city and reconnect people with the place following the Pandemic. He worked with each class to create a poem that explored their home city and their imagination. Our poetry will be part of an online book of poems to be published soon.
Our 'Beyond the Beat' Year 3 and 4 music programme is continuing to go well. Parents are invited to watch a lesson being delivered by Hampshire Music Staff in order to help support children at home. This will take place in the hall on Wednesday 13th October starting at 4pm. You are welcome to come round to the hall after school.
On Monday please remember that children need to wear a yellow item or accessory for 'Hello Yellow' day, supporting Young Minds. Our House Captains will be on the gate with buckets on Monday morning if you would like to make a donation to this charity.
Best wishes,
Sharon Taylor