Overthorpe C of E Academy

BELIEVE, ENJOY, ACHIEVE

'Overthorpe is more than a school-

We are the heart of the community.

In our family, we nurture the courage,

And skills to fly higher than the flock,

Whilst always providing a nest,

To come home to.'

TRUST, FRIENDSHIP, ENDURANCE, FORGIVENESS, HOPE

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Headteacher - Mr J Mitchell

Senior Leadership Team - Ms L McCarthy (Deputy Head), Ms L Stott (Assistant Head), Mrs S Wood (SENDCo)

Designated Safeguarding lead - Mrs S Wood

Deputy DSLs - Mr J Mitchell, Ms L Stott, Ms L McCarthy, Mrs A Godfrey

Shading techniques in Chaffinches

What a wonderful week of partnership and learning! It has been fantastic to welcome parents into school for reading sessions in Reception and Key Stage 1—these special moments are a great way for families to get involved and foster a lifelong love of books. Today, our community became even stronger as our PCSO visited, building positive relationships and helping our children understand the value of local connections.

Looking ahead, we are excited to host English leaders from the Trust next week and share our combined English expertise, whilst learning about new developments also. Don’t forget: Year 3 and 4 basketball club continues after school on Thursday, and our Kestrels class will enjoy an exotic animal presentation on Tuesday— it promises to be an experience to remember!

Have a super weekend.

Mr Mitchell

Each Kindness

This week in worship, we shared the powerful picture book Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson. The story follows a young girl who chooses not to show kindness when a new pupil, Maya, joins her school. As the story unfolds, the girl begins to regret her actions and reflects deeply on the missed opportunity to be kind. The book explores important values such as kindness, empathy, inclusion, and reflection. It teaches us that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a ripple effect, spreading far beyond what we may see. Children are encouraged to think about how their words and actions impact others, and how every day presents a new chance to make a positive difference in the world around them. Through Each Kindness, we’ve reflected together on the importance of choosing kindness and making sure everyone feels valued and included.

As many of you will be aware, Overthorpe’s school uniform has remained consistent for a number of years. Any significant changes to our uniform would always involve full consultation with parents, and would be made in line with Department for Education (DfE) guidance for schools, ensuring that our approach remains both fair and affordable for all families.

If you receive any correspondence from adults in school regarding uniform, please be assured it is simply to alert you to aspects of school uniform that may not be in line with the school’s policy.

We are pleased to announce one optional adjustment to our uniform: pupils are now able to wear plain black trainers (without coloured or white markings or soles), as well as traditional black shoes. This means parents may choose to purchase just one pair of plain black trainers for both school and PE, helping to reduce costs and create a more flexible and practical option for families. Of course, if you wish to continue sending your child in all black school shoes, as has been the case for many years, that choice remains entirely up to you.

As always, should any uniform adaptations be needed due to SEND or medical reasons, please contact us so that we can discuss and agree adjustments for your child.

Thank you for supporting a uniform policy that is both inclusive and responsive to the needs of our school community.

As we settle into the term, we’d like to remind parents and carers of our school uniform policy. Wearing the correct uniform helps our pupils feel part of the school community and ensures everyone is dressed safely and appropriately for learning.

Everyday Uniform: