As we reach the end of another busy and fulfilling half term, I am delighted to share some highlights from school life with you. It has been a joyful and productive half term, rich in opportunity and learning. I am immensely proud of the enthusiasm and achievements shown by our pupils and I must say again, it is a privilege to be Head Teacher of such a wonderful school.

Our curriculum has been brought vividly to life through a range of exciting experiences. Year One pupils thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the Naval Museum, while our infant pupils made the most of their adventurous outdoor learning at Whickham Thorns. Meanwhile, Year Three pupils visited the Centre for Life, deepening their curiosity through hands-on scientific exploration. Across the school, History has been especially engaging, with workshops focusing on the Greeks, prehistory and the Vikings: these sessions, from Durham University, inspire great interest and creativity. We were thrilled that our Year Five class were selected to be filmed, during a Geography lesson, to support teacher development and training across England; this is a wonderful testament to the excellent teaching and impressive behaviour for learning within All Saints’. 

We have also been pleased to welcome visitors into school, including Rockpool School, our baby and Nursery parents and our local MP, Luke Akehurst, who spoke with pupils about community and public service. Our class assemblies, led beautifully by Year One, Year Three and Year Four, provided valuable opportunities for children to share their learning and grow in confidence with a further humanities focus on Ancient Egypt, The Romans and the continents.

Beyond the classroom, enrichment opportunities continue to flourish. Pupils have enjoyed a range of clubs, including construction, drawing, football and French. Our football teams have represented the school admirably in competitions, Year Three are enjoying their swimming lessons and Year Five made excellent progress during their Bikeability course. The Fairtrade tuck shop has been a wonderful pupil-led initiative, promoting global awareness and responsibility.

We commend our Year Six pupils for their dedication up to and during SATs week. They approached the assessments with maturity and determination and are wonderful role models for our younger pupils. We ended the half term with a fun summer disco, led by the fantastic Friends of All Saints’.

Looking ahead, we are excited for the fun, excitement and new opportunities that come with the final few weeks of the year, including our eagerly anticipated Year Six camping residential and leavers events, our summer fayre, celebration day, sports day, and much more! If ever you’d like to visit us to witness the excellence of our pupils in person, please do get in touch…you’re always welcome!