A Voluntary Aided Church of England School
School Lane, High Street, Tilshead
Salisbury, Wiltshire
SP3 4RZ
Head Mistress: Mrs. Diana Bowley
Tel: 01980 620435
On this Page, by clicking on one of these links, you can read the February Newsletter; School Vision; School Inspection Report; Post OfSted Action Plan; PTFA News; Star Pupils; and Events Calendar.
School Newsletter - March 2008
Supporting Others: The school in Basori has received the £500 and has promised to keep the school informed about how the work on the new fence is progressing.
Building Project Group: To help ensure the smooth running of the new extension due to start this summer Douglas Stobie is chairing a group to support us. Along with myself and Douglas, Slike Nerger, Peter Wright and Sam Mellow have agreed to offer their expertise so that the school gets the best possible outcome.
Writing and Book Week - March 3rd to March 7th: All the children have really enjoyed the week's activities. It has been fantastic to see them all enjoying a wide range of books and authors and having fun writing.
Tommy's Toddlers: Re-starting Friday afternoons from 1:30 to 3:00 in Class 3, led by Helen Mockridge. Please tell everyone they are welcome, the more the merrier.
Marketing Group: Many thanks to Siobhan Ridley (parent), Douglas Stobie (governor), Alison Trickey (teacher), Helen Mockridge (nursery and toddlers), Lisa Moneypenny (parent) and Liz Martin (school) who are working hard to raise the profile of the school, ensuring everyone is aware of all the good things Tilshead Village has to offer children from 0 to 11 years old.
Easter: It seems strange to be thinking about Easter already but, as you know, it comes very early this year so we have a long Easter weekend and then a 2-week break from 5th to 20th April. As a result, our Easter Church Service is at 9:15 on Tuesday 18th March. The church will be offering refreshments from 8:50 and you are invited back to school for a drink and hot cross buns after the service. Please make time to attend the service, the children all enjoy performing to a large congregation.
School Vision: I am sure you have all seen our present school vision in the entrance. It is now nearly 3 years old, there have been lots of new children, parents and governors since then. Recently staff and governors spent a morning focussing on the qualities of the school we value and want to promote. We have drawn up a draft vision for children, parents and the wider community to look at and feed back their thoughts before the final version is written. Please take some time read it and feed back any comments so that we can take them into account when drawing up the final version.
Welcome to Henry Barbour who is the new Parent Governor. We now have our full quota of 3 Parent Governors. The other 2 are Paul Atfield and Rob Ridley. There is still a vacancy for a Foundation Governor; if you are, or know anyone, who is interested in joining the governing body, please let Liz (clerk to governors) know.
Congratulations to Sandra Philpotts on gaining Higher Level Teaching Assistant Status. Sandra has been with us over 5 years and in that time she has worked hard at upgrading her skills and qualifications, gaining NVQ 2 and Higher Level teaching status within a year of each other. She has worked tirelessly to gain experience and gather evidence to meet all the criteria requested. Sandra has grown in confidence and her commitment to supporting the children is 101%. Well done Sandra, we are all really proud of you.
Vouchers: The school is collecting "Tesco Computer Vouchers" and "Sainsbury Sports Vouchers". Please encourage friends and family to collect for the school.
School Vision - Interim 2008
At St Thomas à Becket CE (aided) Primary School we all work together within the Christian ethos:
- To continue to provide a caring village school which is integrated into the local community where parents are encouraged to be fully involved in the life of the school.
- To provide an environment which identifies and develops qualities and abilities of each and every individual.
- To support every child's moral and creative development promoting strategies, skills and the confidence to thrive in our changing world.
- To expect high standards of achievement in a vibrant environment in which everyone develops to their full potential.
- To ensure classes are small so that every child knows they are valued and is given opportunities to excel.
- To encourage enthusiasm and enjoyment for learning, while promoting an understanding of appropriate social behaviour.
Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools
We have had a fantastic start to the new year with a very good SIAS inspection. Copies of the Report have been sent to all families. Read the SIAS Report.
School Development and Post Ofsted Action Plans
Full copies are available from the School.
The priorities of the 2008/9 development plan are:
- To raise standards of teaching and learning in writing across the school with particular focus on KS1.
- To continue to improve standards in Numeracy with special focus on years 3 to 5.
- To improve quality of teaching and learning across the curriculum through focussing on a creative curriculum and pupil involvement and understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses.
- To ensure adequate resources and delivery of modern languages at KS2.
- To audit and upgrade resources for delivery of phonics and the implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategies.
- To link staff continual professional development to performance management. All staff to have performance management reviews.
- To raise standards in learning and teaching through development of the learning environment
The priorities of the Post Ofsted Action Plan are:
- Improve achievement and standards in mathematics and science, particularly for pupils of average ability.
- Strengthen the way teachers mark pupils' work, especially in mathematics and science, to lift pupils' expectations and show them how to improve.
- Ensure that strategies put in place to sharpen the role of (i) senior managers, especially subject leaders, and (ii) governors are sustained to bring further improvement.
PTFA News
We have produced our provisional list of fundraising events for 2008/9 (Events Calendar), and are looking forward to getting as many parents as possible involved! The action starts with Easter Bingo on Friday 7th March and we can look forward to (amongst others), a Summer Barn Dance in June, our annual fete in July and an Autumn Auction in October. (Contact Siobhan Ridley or Denise Atfield for more details). We look forward to working together to make this a bumper year for St Thomas à Becket.
Our thanks to Siobhan Ridley and Denise Atfield for Chairing the PTFA. Please support them as they have taken on their new roles with enthusiasm. We really do appreciate the PTFA support and it is one of the great plusses of small schools that we all get involved.
School Uniforms
These can be ordered online from the following website: Getit4school.
Celebrating Success - Star Pupils
FEBRUARY - Week beginning:
4th February 2008
Joshua Buxcey
Lauren JacksonKiera O'Neill
11th February 2008
Charlie MellowHarry BuxceyEmily Withers
25th February 2008
Netty MaclachlanCerian MallabarRichard Lawrence
JANUARY - Week beginning:
14th January 2008
Ella ColesSophia RyallsKayleigh Rogers
21st January 2008
Lily MockridgeMax Player
28th January 2008
Hetty WrightJack RogersOliver Cogbill
Names in the Golden Book:
Well done to the following:
February
Alessandra Barbour, Grace Player, Kyra Player, Charlie Mellow, Luke Haggaty, Alice- Nerger-Jones, Maise Atfield, Cassie Eggleton, Jake Wright(x2), William Ryalls, Amy Moneypenny(x2), Shannon Ridley, Gaby Thompson, Tara Skinner, Kiera O'Neill, Joshua Buxcey.
January
Jake Wright (x2), Gabby Thompson, Tara Skinner, Kyra Player (x2), Jake Atfield, Alessandra Barbour, Charlie Mellow, Ella Coles, Jack Rogers, Jessica Vincent, Hetty Wright, Joshua Buxcey, Iona Wilkinson, Alice Nerger-Jones.
For details of the reasons please look in the Book kept in the main entrance of the School.
EVENTS CALENDAR
| Date | Time | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 18, 2008 | 9.15 a.m. | Easter Service | Church |
| March 18, 2008 | 3.30 - 6.30 p.m. | Parents Evening | School |
| March 26, 2008 | 10.30 a.m. | Tag Rugby | Devizes |
| April 7 - April 18, 2008 | End of Term 4 Break | ||
| April 28, 2008 | 1.00 p.m. | Swimming | Salisbury |
| April 30, 2008 | 9.15 a.m. | Photos Groups | School |
Liz Martin
School Administrator
February 2008
