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

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 - parent event

It has been another wonderful week in school, filled with enriching experiences and opportunities for our pupils. Our Year 1 and Year 4 children enjoyed two fantastic educational visits, with Year 1 exploring the Thackray Medical Museum and Year 4 visiting the National Coal Mining Museum. Both trips provided memorable learning experiences that brought classroom topics to life. I was particularly proud of the children, whose behaviour was exemplary throughout and who represented our school superbly.

On Tuesday, we were delighted to host a brilliant Year 2 tennis festival. It was a pleasure to welcome pupils from Horbury Bridge, Highburton and Lepton, as part of our Trust Hub. The children demonstrated great enthusiasm, teamwork and sportsmanship, making it a thoroughly enjoyable event for all involved.

We were also pleased to welcome colleagues from the Local Authority this week to moderate our Year 6 writing. They were incredibly impressed with the quality of the pupils’ work and were fully in agreement with all of our teacher judgements. This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the hard work of both pupils and staff.

It has been lovely to invite so many parents and carers into school this week for a wide range of events. These opportunities to work in partnership with families are incredibly valuable, and we look forward to welcoming our Year 6 parents into school next week for our final event of this series.

Our Year 6 pupils also visited TCA as part of their transition programme. Once again, they were praised for their excellent behaviour, and we are very proud of how positively they are representing our school as they prepare for the next stage of their education.

Looking ahead, next week promises to be just as exciting, with water safety assemblies led by the Canal Trust and sports days taking place across school among the many highlights.

Have a super weekend.

Mr Mitchell

As we approach the end of the academic year, I would like to take the opportunity to recognise and thank two valued members of our teaching team who will be moving on from Overthorpe.

Miss Vaughan will be leaving us to take up a new role at another school, where she will be working for two days a week. We are incredibly grateful for everything she has brought to Overthorpe. Her leadership of music and early years, in particular, has had a hugely positive impact on our children, enriching both the curriculum and wider experiences across the school. Miss Vaughan is a highly committed, flexible and team-focused colleague who consistently gives her best for our pupils. She will be greatly missed, and we wish her every success and happiness in her new role.

We also say a fond farewell to Mr Stone, who will be retiring after an impressive 26 years at Overthorpe. During his time with us, he has shaped the lives of so many children through his skill, dedication and care. Mr Stone is an incredible team player who always goes above and beyond for both the children and the Overthorpe community. His contribution to the school has been significant, and he leaves with our sincere thanks and very best wishes for a long and happy retirement.

We are also delighted to welcome Miss Spicer-Peace to the Overthorpe team. Many of you will already be familiar with her, as she has been a trainee teacher with us this year and has impressed us from the very start. Throughout her time in school, Miss Spicer-Peace has demonstrated professionalism, enthusiasm and a strong commitment to our pupils. She has already built excellent relationships with many children and has quickly become a valued member of staff. Colleagues have also appreciated her positive approach and willingness to contribute fully to wider school life. We have no doubt that she will slot seamlessly into the team in September, and we are very pleased that she will be continuing her journey with us at Overthorpe.

This week in collective worship, we shared the inspiring picture book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. Based on a true story, the book tells the remarkable journey of a young boy living in the African country of Malawi. When a severe drought causes crops to fail and food becomes scarce, William watches his family and neighbours struggle as famine threatens his village. Refusing to give up hope, he turns to books and learning for answers. Using determination, creativity and recycled materials, William builds a wind turbine that generates electricity and helps bring water to the crops, transforming the lives of those around him.

William's story links closely to our Christian values of endurance and trust. Despite facing many challenges, he persevered and trusted that his learning and hard work could help solve a problem that was affecting his whole community. His determination shows that even in difficult circumstances, hope and resilience can lead to positive change.

This half-term, our collective worship theme is Inspirational People. Through a range of true stories, we are encouraging children to explore the lives of ordinary people who have achieved extraordinary things through courage, determination and a belief that they could make a difference. At Overthorpe, we want every child to recognise their own potential and understand that they too can have a positive impact on the world around them, whether that is within our school, their family or the wider community.

Our end of year Summer Fair is just around the corner. Thank you in advance for supporting our non-uniform days and donating sweets and bottles for the occasion.

Any donations of teddies for our teddy tombola stall would also be greatly appreciated.

We are delighted to share some wonderful news with you. Our school has been awarded the Gold Certification for Sports Games, a prestigious recognition of our commitment to excellence in sports, physical education, and student participation in sporting activities.

This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of our students, teachers, coaches, and the unwavering support of our parent community. It highlights our efforts to promote fitness, teamwork, sportsmanship, and a healthy lifestyle among our students.

We are incredibly proud of this milestone and will continue to provide opportunities for our students to excel both academically and in sports.

As part of our history curriculum, children at Overthorpe learn about life in Victorian coal mining communities and the important role mining played in shaping our local area. Towards the end of this unit, pupils study the Combs Colliery Disaster of 1893, one of the most tragic events in Thornhill’s history, when 139 men and boys lost their lives following an explosion at the local mine.

Many of those who died are buried at St Michael and All Angels Church, where a memorial stands in their honour. Their stories help our children develop a deeper understanding of the sacrifices made by previous generations and the impact the disaster had on families and the wider community.

This year marks a significant moment in Thornhill’s history, as a new Combs Colliery Memorial Wheel will be unveiled at Rectory Park. On Saturday 4th July, the anniversary of the disaster, a special memorial service and community gala will take place to commemorate those who lost their lives and celebrate the resilience and heritage of our local community.

Everyone is warmly invited to attend what promises to be a moving and memorable occasion. It will be a wonderful opportunity for families, former mining families, local residents and community groups to come together, reflect on our shared history and honour the legacy of those whose lives helped shape Thornhill. We hope many of our Overthorpe families will be able to support this very special community event.

School website: https://www.overthorpecofe.co.uk/

Email: office@overthorpe.enhanceacad.org.uk

Tel: 01924 325300

Address: Edge Top Road, Dewsbury, WF12 0BH