Dear parents and guardians,
Welcome back to everyone at Pilton Bluecoat C of E Academy, and a very Happy New Year to you all. We hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and were able to enjoy special time with family and friends. It has been a joy to welcome the children back this week and see the school full of energy, smiles and enthusiasm for learning.
On Monday, we spent time talking with the children about our vision, Building Learning Power, our school values, and our code of conduct, and why these are so important. The children were incredible in the way they engaged in these discussions. Their thinking, responses and reflections were thoughtful and mature. What has been especially powerful is seeing these ideas lived out through their actions this week.
Across school, we have seen a community that supports one another, children trying their very best in lessons, persevering when learning becomes challenging, and finding ways to succeed even when things feel difficult. There is a real sense of pride in our school, and the children should be extremely proud of themselves.
This pride is also reflected in our attendance, which continues to be above national figures. Importantly, when we look at different groups of pupils, including children with SEND, boys and girls, attendance remains consistently above national averages. This reflects our shared commitment to ensuring children’s needs are met, the strength of our relational approach between school and families, the pastoral support that sits at the heart of our work, and a curriculum that engages, supports and motivates pupils.
With this in mind, it is incredibly important that pupils are in school every day so that they can succeed and become the very best version of themselves.
Before Christmas, our Year 6 children wrote letters to pupils in India, and our Year 5 children made Christmas cards for their friends in Germany. We are delighted that these have now arrived and that responses have been received. The importance of these global links cannot be overstated, they help our pupils feel connected to the wider world and develop a deeper understanding of life beyond their immediate community.
We would also like to say a huge thank you to the Teachers Rock Youth Choir, who visited the school on Thursday and worked with all of our children. The assembly was incredibly powerful, and seeing every pupil singing, smiling and fully engaged was wonderful.
Thank you as well to Qi Qi, who worked with our Year 5 children on Thursday as part of their topic on the Shang Dynasty. Qi Qi spoke to the children about her life in China compared to life here, including her experiences of schooling. She also shared fascinating insights into the Shang Dynasty, exploring myths and legends and what they meant. The children were incredibly curious and inquisitive, asking so many thoughtful questions.
Finally, we recognise that parking can be extremely difficult in the mornings. We would like to remind families that we are able to provide a free parking permit for the local car park. Please contact the school office if you would like further information.
Thank you, as always, for your continued engagement, support and partnership with our school. Together, we truly are Building Brighter Futures.
Kind regards,
Mat Harts
Head of School
