Newsletters

Dear Parents and Carers,

What a year it has been. As I look back over the last twelve months, I feel incredibly proud of everything our children, staff and families have achieved together. Beaford continues to be a school that values both academic excellence and memorable childhood experiences. Whether it has been educational visits, sporting events, performances, workshops or everyday learning in the classroom, the children have embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm and positivity. Thank you for the part you have all played in making this such a successful year.

OPAL

This year has been another remarkable one for our OPAL provision. We are now proud holders of the OPAL Platinum Award for the third consecutive time and, even more excitingly, Beaford has become the first school in the South West to be recognised as an OPAL Vanguard School.

The assessors were particularly impressed by the huge range of play opportunities available, the culture of kindness and cooperation shown by the children, and the commitment of Zenna and the OPAL team to continually developing and improving our playtimes.

This year we have added a new Lego area in the pavilion, installed a slackline and installed a boat which, the children have sanded, painted and restored themselves.

Personal Development

Providing a rich personal development offer remains at the heart of our curriculum. Alongside high-quality teaching of the core subjects, we are committed to giving every child opportunities that go well beyond the statutory curriculum.

This year the children have enjoyed an enormous range of educational visits, workshops, sporting competitions, performances and leadership opportunities. These experiences help children discover new interests, develop confidence, build resilience and learn skills that will stay with them long after they leave primary school.

This commitment to developing the whole child is something shared across all TEAM schools and is a real strength of our trust. It is also something I know many of you value deeply. Primary school should be a place where children master the core skills of reading, writing and mathematics, but it should also be a place full of excitement, curiosity and opportunity. We want every child to leave Beaford not only academically prepared, but confident, kind and willing to embrace new challenges.

Early Years

Our Early Years has continued to thrive this year. We have seen an excellent uptake of places for our two to four-year-olds and remain committed to giving every child the very best possible start to their education.

I regularly spend time in the setting and am always struck by the care and thought that has gone into creating the inviting environment. The role-play areas are always imaginative and engaging, and the EYFS team are constantly looking for ways to improve the provision.

Whenever colleagues from the trust or the local authority visit the school, they consistently comment on the quality of our Early Years environment and the learning opportunities available. Thank you to our wonderful EYFS team for everything you do, and to our parents for your continued support throughout the year.

Inclusion

Beaford continues to be a welcoming school where every child is valued. This year we have continued to strengthen our provision for children with additional needs by making better use of our learning spaces.

Our new outdoor canopy has created another flexible teaching area, while our former storage room has been transformed into a calm and inviting intervention space. These improvements are already having a positive impact, and we look forward to developing this provision even further next year.

Achievement

I am incredibly proud of the children's academic achievements this year. Which can be seen in  the data we are required to publish below. Although school life is about much more than data alone, these outcomes reflect the hard work of the children, the dedication of our staff and the strong partnership we have with parents. 

Academic data should never be the only measure of a successful school, but strong outcomes are an important indicator of excellent teaching, effective systems and children who work hard every day. I am delighted that this year's results show that by sending your children to Beaford they will statistically do better than most schools locally and nationally. Congratulations to the children, staff and families for everything you have accomplished together.

Year 6 Leavers

Finally, I would like to wish our Year 6 children every success as they move on to secondary school.

Yesterday's leavers' assembly was full of mixed emotions for all of us. It is always difficult saying goodbye to a year group that has contributed so much to our school community, but this group has been particularly special. They have filled our school with kindness, laughter and good humour throughout their time at Beaford.

In my fifteen years of teaching, there have been very few year groups that have made me laugh quite so much. They have been wonderful role models for our younger children and fantastic ambassadors for the school. We will miss them greatly.

Good luck as you begin the next chapter of your lives. We are incredibly proud of you all. Please don't be strangers—we always love hearing how our former pupils are getting on.

Next week

On Monday, Otters and Owls will enjoy their Sporty Stars day, spending the day outside taking part in a range of games and activities together.

Tuesday is the children's final day before a very well-deserved summer break.

Thank you once again for all of your support throughout this year. The partnership between home and school is one of Beaford's greatest strengths, and it is a privilege to work with such supportive families.

We wish you all a wonderful summer holiday and look forward to welcoming everyone back in September.

George Myers

Head of School