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

To see the latest photos of learning in school please click here

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

Chaffinches - In RE, we were sorting qualities of the Disciples.

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been a lovely week in school, with a calm, positive atmosphere and plenty of super learning taking place across all classes. Yesterday we were pleased to submit our entries for the Trust handwriting competition. The children put a great deal of care and effort into their work, and it was wonderful to see such pride taken in presentation and neatness.

This week also saw the conclusion of our pupil progress meetings. These meetings are an important opportunity for staff to review each child’s learning, celebrate successes and agree the next steps to ensure everyone continues to make strong progress. Thank you to parents for your ongoing support at home, which plays such an important part in this process.

Looking ahead to next week, we are especially excited about the Year 4 learn to ride sessions. These are always a fantastic experience for the children, helping to build confidence, resilience and independence, as well as promoting healthy, active lifestyles.

As ever, thank you for your continued support and encouragement. It is very much appreciated by the whole school community.

Enjoy your weekend and I will see you all next week

Mr Mitchell

As in previous years, we are pleased to welcome all children into school for their breakfast during SATs week.

They will come in through the main office, this will be open for them from 8.10am Monday 11th May until Thursday 14th May.

They will be able to have toast and cereal, with fresh juice to set them up for the tests ahead. It also allows the children to chat with friends before they start, speak to their teacher about any worries, and most importantly make sure that they arrive in good time and in a positive mind set.

Speak Out

In Collective Worship this week, we explored the inspiring book Speak Up! by Nathan Bryon, which beautifully links to our focus on British Values. The story follows a young girl who is passionate about her local library and, when she discovers it is at risk of closing, finds the courage to speak out. By using her voice and encouraging others to join her, she brings the community together to protect something that matters to them. This powerful message reflects the British Value of individual liberty, reminding us that everyone has the right to express their views and stand up for what they believe in. Through this story, we are nurturing our children to understand that their voice matters and that they can make a positive difference in the world when they speak out against injustice. Rooted in our school vision and values, we continue to encourage the children to grow in confidence, courage and compassion—learning that, together, we can build a community where every voice is heard, valued and respected.

As in previous years, we are repeating the Trust wide Attendance Competition for Year 6 leading up to SATs.

As in previous years, the competition will be in two parts:

In each school, the names of all Year 6 pupils who have 100% attendance from Monday 13th April to Friday 15th May will be placed in a prize draw, with names drawn out at the end of SATs week. These pupils will be invited to join winning pupils from other schools on a visit to the Cinema (in Wakefield) to watch a film and enjoy a snacks and a drink on Monday 18th May.

All other Year 6 pupils in each school with 100% attendance for this period will enjoy a celebration on the same day as the cinema visit. As is always the case with 100% rewards strategies, we will make any reasonable adjustments for pupils with medical needs, appointments, valid reasons for absence etc.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our wonderful PTA for their continued generosity and commitment to enriching the life of our school. This academic year, their fundraising efforts have made a significant impact, including funding brand new art resources to support our evolving art curriculum, a memorable visit to the Hepworth Gallery for our Year 6 pupils, and a class set of ukuleles to enhance our music provision. In addition, the PTA have generously funded a two-day artist residency, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to meet a professional artist and take part in mono-printing workshops. These experiences not only provide high-quality resources but also inspire creativity, curiosity and confidence in our pupils. We are incredibly grateful for the PTA’s dedication to supporting our school and helping us to provide such rich and meaningful opportunities for all.

The next PTA event taking place is the Rainbow Raffle on Thursday 21st May. This is a non-uniform day in exchange for a particular coloured treat. Colours will be announced nearer the time.