Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope the week has gone well for you.
We've had a settled week. The focus has been on sustaining our momentum with teaching and learning right until the end of term. I'd like to congratulate all pupils in Year 7-10 for trying their very best in their mocks and end of term assessments. I can't imagine many pupils enjoy exams, but it's vital we capture the learning across the year and, over time, this will inform our groupings, interventions and adaptations which need to be made next year.
We had the first part of our Trust School Improvement Review on Wednesday. The reviewers spent time observing lessons and speaking to pupils about their learning experiences. The feedback I've received is really pleasing. We have the main Improvement Review on Monday 6th July. I look forward to sharing feedback with you in due course.
On Tuesday we held our last Year 5 Taster morning. Once again we were fully booked. It was lovely to meet so many new families as well as welcome siblings of current and past pupils. I would like to thank the Transition Team – Mr Thomas, Mrs Cleaver-Bailey and Mrs Braidley for their brilliance! Also, a huge thanks to our wonderful Year 10 and Year 9 Student Leaders and Year 7 Ambassadors for leading sessions and tours.
Well done to Year 10, who had a really positive day at Andover College today, and I wish them all the best for their Work Experience week next week, two more examples of how strong our careers and guidance curriculum is at Danebury. With over 1 million school leavers not in education, employment or training in the UK, it's vital we expose our pupils to as many different career pathways as possible from Year 7-10. Having career hopes and dreams helps give pupils a sense of purpose, and will motivate them to strive to achieve their personal best academically.
Attendance has not been where we want it this term, despite our best efforts to support pupils and families. Please do ensure you support your child to come into school each day. With only 12 school days left, I've challenged all pupils to be in everyday, days of lost learning will result in attainment gaps opening over time. On that note, I'm aware England are playing at 1am on Monday morning. We expect all pupils in school on Monday and ready to learn. Pupils may wear their PE kits due to the amber heat warning which has been issued today.
I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Have a good weekend
Nicky Goodridge
Head Teacher
