Weekly Bulletin 21st March 2025
Headteacher’s Message
I thank all of you who took the time to respond to our recent parental survey (it was the highest response we’ve ever had). The views of our parents are vitally important to us and the information gathered from the surveys will enable us to continue to work successfully with parents and carers for the benefit of your children. It is by working in partnership that we can fulfil our Ethos Statement to encourage all to ‘use their gifts and talents’ and ‘develop the highest levels of academic achievement and personal well-being within a loving Christian context’.
The results of the survey were overwhelmingly positive, with over 94% of responses in all whole school categories either strongly agreeing or agreeing with the statements. This is testament to the strong partnership between home and school. It is heartening to see that the efforts and dedication of the staff combined with strong parental support is bearing much fruit.
A number of issues were raised in the survey and we respond to these below:
The School supports my child’s wider personal development. The ‘strongly agree’ responses were lower in this category than in others. There are many areas that we are working on across school that will help with the personal development of your child. These include our Christian values which so far this year have included; creativity, wisdom, hope and humility and they are used as the basis for our work to support pupils’ character development. As well as this, we have developed the children’s knowledge of British Values, where we have looked at Democracy and Rule of Law especially through our School Council. We have also worked closely with Nathan Beadle, who works for County Durham Sport, to encourage children to be more active, try new activities and have a positive mindset. Children have had the opportunity to celebrate the Lunar New Year as well as think about how they connect with one another during Mental Health week and understand each other better through Neurodiversity week. The children will also have the opportunity to work with Adam Bushnell, storyteller, talking about how to write stories, how to be an author and a possible career path in writing. We have also sought to ensure there are a range of opportunities provided to stretch and develop pupils’ skills and talents. This includes sports provision (specialist coaches), enrichment PE days, leadership opportunities, educational visits and residential visits.
The school lets me know how my child is doing. The ‘strongly agree’ responses were lower in this category than in others. Some parents indicated that they would like to be more regularly informed about their child’s progress. Government guidelines indicate that schools should provide a written report to parents on a yearly basis. In addition to this we provide a termly report to summarise pupil progress and inform the discussion at the subsequent parents’ evening. Children who need additional support are identified by staff and placed on the SEN register and details of their targets are shared with parents at termly SEN meetings. If at any time a parent has a concern regarding their child’s progress, then teachers are more than willing to meet with parents. Please make an appointment to see your child’s class teacher.
My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school. The ‘strongly agree’ and ‘agree’ responses were higher in this category than in previous years however a number of comments were made regarding the range of clubs offered especially ‘non-sport clubs’. We greatly value the current range of after school activities that we provide and the notable impact they have on both the depth and breadth of the educational experience we offer and pupils’ social, moral, spiritual and cultural development. In response to the feedback we have arranged to run ECO club, French Club and Den Building in the Summer Term as well as continuing to offer a range of sporting clubs to the whole school.
I would like the school to continue to offer both In-Person and Online Parents’ Consultation Evenings. The majority of parents prefer face-to-face parent consultations but, for some working parents, it is good to have the option of an online appointment. We will continue to offer both types of appointments but we will look at ways to increase the number of appointments available so that all can be accommodated.
Where there were further additional written comments that followed a theme, I have responded to these:
- Regarding access to school menus from Chartwells, school will upload the menus to the school website. If you are unable to access this then contact the school office and they will provide you with a paper copy of the menu.
- A small number of parents expressed concerns around our SEND provision and how to access support. We work closely with the Local Authority, Educational Psychology Service and outside agencies to access assessment for pupils and support and training for adults in school. In the past year we have held Emotional Wellbeing Clinics, Cognition and Learning Clinics, SEND surgeries with staff, THRIVE Training, Working Memory Training and Adaptive Teaching training. As well as this, Durham’s Local Offer also has information regarding support and guidance for parents/carers and children. If you need any more information or support for your child please do speak with their class teacher or with Mrs Richardson our SENCO.
- Some parents also commented on school participation in awareness days (such as World Book Day) and how we decide which charity events we are involved with. As a school we have always consulted with the School Council and at their meetings have talked through which charities they wish to support, particularly focusing on local charities. So far this year we have we have supported Durham Foodbank, St Cuthbert’s Hospice as well as the NSPCC for our Number Day event. In the next academic year, we will continue to work with the School Council especially with regards to participation in National Events such as World Book Day and then share the events they have chosen to participate in with the whole school community.
At Shincliffe we aim to work in partnership with parents for the benefit and well-being of your children. If parents are concerned about any matter then please do make an appointment and I will be more than happy to meet with you.
Many thanks for your continued support.
Best wishes
Mr Rumbles
Reading Café
Just a reminder that the Scholastic Book Fair will be in the School Hall next week from 2:45pm. Come along and share some stories, browse the books and have a coffee!
Reception and Year 1 Reading Café – Wednesday 26th March
Year 2 & 3 Reading Café – Thursday 27th March
Years 4, 5, & 6 Reading Café – Friday 28th March
Driving and parking around school
As you know, it is very important to us to continually try to reduce congestion near school and to promote a safe and healthy environment for our pupils, staff, parents and local residents. Maintaining good relationships with our neighbours is vitally important for our school. I would, therefore, remind you to be considerate when parking and not to block our neighbours’ driveways/access at any time or to block pavements.
For safety reasons, do not use the staff car park for pick-up and drop-off. Please drive with extreme caution and care if you do need to access Beal Walk. Beal Walk and surrounding roads do not have pavements and are often used by our children, so it is dangerous to drive whilst people are walking to and from school.
We thank you for your co-operation in this matter.
Packed Lunches
In order to ensure that packed lunches are suitably healthy and meet the guidelines set by Durham County Council, parents are reminded that they should not contain any of the following:
- Fizzy / sugary drinks in cartons, bottles or cans
- Chocolate-coated products / sweets / confectionary
- Chocolate spread as a filling for sandwiches
- Chewing gum
- Sugared / toffee and salted popcorn
Please also remember that we are a nut-free school- your supporting in keeping all children safe is appreciated.
Wild Church – SPRING TERM 2025 (All welcome, All age, Ecumenical)
Sun 30th March 9.30 am. Mothering Sunday Holy Communion with Children’s activity
Sat 5th April: Wild Church: SHINCLIFFE SPRING WATCH (NATURE in Lent) 4.00 p.m. Snowdrops, frogs, blackthorn, bees…Meet outside church. Activities: refreshments, (lent pancakes), making a toad house and bee bombs to take home, bulb and blossom identification, habitat prayer book, fire pit and mallows followed by a short service.
Sun 4th May 9.30 am Holy Communion with Children’s Activity
Young leaders arrive 3.30 p.m.
Diary Dates
For a full list of school holiday dates please see the school website.
Tuesday 25th March – Author visit – Adam Bushnell
Wednesday 26th – 28th March – Reading Café
Thursday 3rd April – Y3 and Y4 assembly – 9.05am
Thursday 3rd April – FOSS Easter Fair
Monday 7th April – Easter Eucharist – 9.05am – All welcome
Monday 7th April – Reception Zoolab Visit
Friday 11th April – School closes for Easter holidays
Monday 28th April – School re-opens
Thursday 1st May – School Closure – Polling Station
Monday 5th May – School closed for May bank holiday
WC Monday 12th May – Y6 SATS week
Monday 23rd June – Sports Day – 1.15pm onwards
Tuesday 15th July at 2.45pm – Y6 Leavers’ Assembly – Y6 Parents Welcome
Friday 18th July at 10am – Y6 Leavers’ Service at St Mary’s Y6 Parents Welcome – refreshments served afterwards by St Mary’s parishioners
Friday 18th July – School closes for Summer holiday
Wednesday 3rd September – School re-opens for Academic year 2025-26
Christian Values
Our school vision is rooted in Jesus’ promise in John 10 v 10, that he has ‘come that you may have life – life in all its fullness.’ To help us understand and live out this vision we look at certain Christian values which, as a school community, we believe are important.
We are exploring the value of humility and worship will be led by Mr Rumbles, Mrs Matthews, Fr. Bill, Fr. Peter and the pupils.
Some further information on this half term’s value:
Humility has a central place in Christ’s teaching. It is contrasted with pride.
Jesus taught his followers that if they wished to enter the Kingdom of Heaven they must be like children. Jesus is challenging people to become like those who have no legal or social standing, to become like servants. Throughout his teaching, Jesus uses a series of images and examples to encourage his disciples to ‘take the lower place’, or ‘to wash each other’s feet.’
If you would like to receive a copy of the Weekly Bulletin by e-mail please e-mail the school. Shincliffece@durhamlearning.net The Weekly Bulletins from previous weeks can be found in the parents’ section of the website.
