Headteacher Blog 2nd February 2024

I often tour our school: visiting all the classrooms; engaging with children in their work; checking on staff deployment (especially when colleagues are off sick); monitoring curriculum; and assessing behaviour and engagement. I did so again this morning and every single class was suitably calm, purposeful and engaged in learning. Inclusion was strong and children’s work looked of a good standard. Having been head here now for nearly 20 years, I can’t recall a time when behaviour and engagement was any better. Where a few children do have SEND around their SEMH needs, they are supported and managed well. There is a fantastic team commitment to inclusion but that doesn’t unduly detract from strong academic work.

It has been a busy week of trips this week with Y1 visiting the art gallery in Leeds and a Y4 class at Murton Park spending the day as Saxon villagers. We have also been finalising plans for Y5 and Y6 residentials later in the year. Trips are an important part of our curriculum offer, and having our own minibuses really supports this. I am particularly grateful to those staff that have qualified as minibus drivers without whom we wouldn’t be ‘out and about’ so much.

This week has also seen the reestablishment of ‘reading buddy’ classes where older children read with younger pupils. Both children benefit: the older children practising reading aloud in an engaging manner, and the younger children enjoying books and having positive older role models. We are also thinking about how we will celebrate next month’s World Book Day. We love reading at Farfield!