Weekly Bulletin 24th October 2025
Headteacher’s Message
Many thanks to all of you who attended parents’ consultation appointments in order to speak with your child’s class teacher earlier this week. Regular contact between home and school is vital in ensuring that we are able to work in partnership to support the progress and development of your children. If you wish to discuss anything more with your child’s class teacher, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the school office to book an appointment. The staff look forward to working with you over the coming term and implementing the strategies and approaches discussed at parents’ evening.
As half term draws to a close, I extend our thanks to parents for working with us for the mutual benefit of your children. I wish you a restful half term break and I look forward to your continued support next half term.
Each week I want to include a ‘snapshot’ of some of the things that the children are doing in school. For example, news from our ECO team, Worship group, V.I.P. (Very International People) and SNAG (School Nutrition Action Group). This week our focus is on the work of our new School Council and an update is shared below.
Best wishes
Mr Rumbles
School Council
Hello. We are Martha and Alma, the Chairperson and Secretary of the School Council. After feedback from the Parent Survey, we have been asked to choose a local charity to support throughout the year. In our School Council meetings, we have discussed different charities we could support. As Chairperson and Secretary, we have chosen CHUF-Children’s Heart Unit Fund. CHUF is based in the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. We have chosen this charity because it is very close to Martha’s heart. She was born with a serious injury in her heart and has supported CHUF since she was 5 months old. Alma believes this is a good idea because we are supporting a good cause. We will be writing to CHUF to find out about any fundraising efforts we can be involved with and what our donations will be used for. We will update you when they have got back to us.
Reception Café – Wednesday 19th November – 1pm-3pm
On Wednesday 19th November parents and carers of children in Reception are invited to come into school to explore a range of activities and games linked to the skills your child is learning in school, which will help you support with their development and homework. This will be a valuable session which everyone can enjoy.
SEN Review Meetings
SEN Review meetings will take place on Monday 10th November to Wednesday 12th November. This is an opportunity for parents to have a more in-depth conversation about their child’s progress and review their SEN Support Plan targets with the class teacher. Due to the increasing number of appointments required, we will use the same platform as Parent Consultation Meetings for booking and meetings will take place online. Meeting slots will last up to 20 minutes and appointments are available at: 3:40pm, 4:00pm, 4:20pm and 4:40pm Monday to Wednesday. Please note, if you have already had a separate meeting with your child’s class teacher just before half term, there is no need to attend a further meeting. The link for booking the meetings will be sent out during the week beginning 3rd November. If you are unable to attend those days or have any problems, please contact the school office.
Poppy appeal
This year we will be supporting the Royal British Legion Poppy appeal. There will be an opportunity for children to purchase a poppy for a small donation during the week beginning 3rd November.
PE
The children are required to wear their PE kit on the day they have PE. Please note: there may be ad-hoc PE days for which you will be informed via letter or SMS text message. Please see class PE days for this half-term below:
| Reception | Wednesday |
| Year 1 | Thursday & Friday |
| Year 2 | Wednesday & Friday |
| Year 3 | Monday & Tuesday |
| Year 4 | Monday & Thursday |
| Year 5 | Monday & Wednesday |
| Year 6 | Tuesday & Friday |
Year 5 will go Swimming this half-term.
Diary Dates
For a full list of school holiday dates please see the school website.
Monday 3rd November – School re-opens after half term holiday
Monday 10th November – Wednesday 13th November – SEND Parents’ Consultation Evening
Tuesday 11th November – Remembrance Service – 9.05am at School – all welcome
Wednesday 12th November – Y1 Trip to Beamish
Tuesday 18th November – Y3 Trip to Iskcon Temple
Wednesday 19th November – Y4 Trip to Durham University
Wednesday 19th November – Reception Café
Thursday 20th November – Y5 Class Assembly – 9.05am
Friday 28th November – Advent Eucharist – 9.05am – all welcome
Thursday 4th December – Reception Nativity – 9.10am
Wednesday 10th December – KS1 Christmas Performance – 9.05am
Wednesday 10th December – Christmas Lunch
Monday 15th December – KS2 Christmas Singalong – 2.45pm
Friday 19th December – Christmas Community Worship – 9.05am
Wednesday 7th January 2026 – Friday 9th January 2026 – Y6 Trip to Robinwood
Tuesday 10th March 2026 – Y5 Murton Park Trip
Thursday 12th March – Y2 Trip to Shildon Science Museum
Monday 30th March – Reception visit from Zoolab
Monday 11th May-Thursday 14th May 2026 – KS2 SATs
Monday 22nd June 2026 – Sports Day – 1.15pm onwards
Friday 3rd – Monday 6th July 2026 – France Residential for Y5/6
Wild Church
10.00 pm Sat 1st November ST. MARY’S CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAYRE: Church Hall
5.00 pm – 7.00 FRI 28th Nov. CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL:
Sat 20th Dec 5.30 pm CAROLS AROUND THE TREE with NATIVITY: Shincliffe Green
(In church if the weather is poor) Afterwards: Mince pies in the Church Hall
Starting School – Will your child turn 5 between 1 September 2026 and 31 August 2027?
Applications open 1 September 2025 and close midnight 15 January 2026.
If so, you need to complete an application online to tell us which school you would like your child to attend from September 2026.
Visit www.durham.gov.uk/primaryschoolplaces where you can access a useful guide to help with your application. The easiest way to apply is online, if you are unable to apply online, paper application forms are available on request.
You still need to apply even if your child attends the nursery unit attached to the school, or already has a sibling at the school. You will also need to apply for a place in Year 3 in a junior school for an older child.
For more information please contact School Places and Admissions Team www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions
Tel: 03000 265896
YEAR 6 PARENTS – Application for a Secondary School Place – September 2026
As you will be aware, your child is due to transfer to secondary school in September next year. The application process will open on 1 September 2025. You will need to read the School Admissions online guidance for parents which is located on the School Admissions web page. This contains essential information that will help you in making your child’s application. The guidance is available on our website www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions You must only complete one application and this must be to the Local Authority to which you pay your council tax (i.e. Home Local Authority).
If you live in County Durham, you need to complete an application to tell us which school you want your child to attend. You should list up to 3 school preferences and applying for just 1 school Does Not improve your chances of gaining a place at that school. You can apply for any school/academy in County Durham or in another Local Authority area.
Please apply on-line at www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions When you apply on-line you will receive an acknowledgement and you will receive an email on 2 March 2026 containing a link to obtain your offer of a school place from the Document Download Portal. Please save your log-in details.
Please note that school places are allocated according to specific criteria which are different depending upon which school you apply for your child to attend. One criterion is “nearest school”. If you wish to know your nearest school, please contact us.
If your child’s offer of a school place is for an oversubscribed school (i.e. where there are more applications for a school than places available) we will offer your child a school place based on the child’s/parent’s address. We may request information on the child’s/parent’s address when we offer a school place and the onus will be on you to prove your address if asked.
If you do not wish to apply on-line, you can contact the School Admissions Team by email or telephone to request a form. Email: schooladmissions@durham.gov.uk or telephone
03000 265 896. Your application must be received by us at the address below by the closing date. We strongly advise you to return the application form to us by “Royal Mail Signed for™” or “Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed”. If you complete a paper application form you will receive a letter to inform you of the school place offered to your child on the 2 March 2026.
Please note for both on-line applications and paper application forms, you will be required to read the disclaimer and sign/tick the box to agree that the information you provide on the application form is complete and correct otherwise the offer of a school place will be withdrawn.
The closing date for receipt for on-line/paper application forms is 31 October 2025.
Yours sincerely,
School Places and Admissions Team.
School Vision and 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 endurance this half term and worship will be led by Mr Rumbles, Fr. Peter, Mrs Matthews, Fr. Bill and our Key Stage Two pupils.
Further information on the value of endurance:
Endurance – is recognition that life is sometimes difficult and painful, and that it is important not to give up in the face of adversity.
Jesus endured rejection, abuse and the cross, and his followers are warned that they may well have to share that pain as persecution took hold. Discipleship is depicted as ‘taking up the cross daily’ and following in Jesus’ footsteps (Luke 9:23).
We would like our children to continue their reflection and experience at home.
Some things to think about:
- How do we give pupils a better appreciation of the difficult situations that many people in the world have to endure and of the courage and resilience they show in the face of them?
- How do you help pupils understand that some things are worth working for even though they do not bring immediate results? How do we develop patience?
- What encourages and inspires you to persevere through difficult times in life?
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.
October Half Term Fun at the Oriental Museum
If you are looking for some half term fun this October, then check out our FREE programme of family activities. This half term you can help make a fantasy film poster and decorate your own glass jar to take home, inspired by a beautiful Korean jar on display.
Activities are generally suitable for families with children aged 5 – 11 years.
For further information, visit our website.
