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

Magpies - We have started our ukelele journey practicing A-F

Despite it being a four-day week, there has still been a great deal going on in school. Attendance has been strong this week, which is excellent to see, and many children have been recognised with individual and class rewards for their effort, behaviour and attitudes to learning.

Year 2 enjoyed a trip to Sheffield Butterfly House today and had a lovely time. The children were a credit to the school and returned full of excitement about everything they had seen. Our Year 6 pupils took part in a Trust-wide virtual assembly this week as they prepare for their SATs next week. We would like to wish them all the very best of luck. They have worked incredibly hard throughout the year and should be very proud of their efforts.

SATs will take place for Year 6 pupils next week, and to support them we will be running a breakfast club from Monday to Thursday. All Year 6 pupils are encouraged to attend so they can start each day calmly and positively.

Have a super weekend.

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.

Two Monsters

In our class collective worship this week, the children explored the story Two Monsters by David McKee. The story follows two monsters who live on opposite sides of a mountain. Because they each see the world differently, they begin to argue about whether the sun is rising or setting. As their disagreement grows, the monsters become angry and stubborn, refusing to listen to one another’s point of view. However, after the mountain is eventually broken apart, they are finally able to see what the other monster could see all along. The story gently teaches children that people can experience and understand the world in different ways, and that listening with kindness and respect helps us to live peacefully together.

This linked beautifully to our British Values focus this half-term, particularly tolerance and mutual respect. Through the story, the children reflected on the importance of valuing different opinions, showing understanding towards others and recognising that disagreement does not need to lead to unkindness or conflict. At Overthorpe, we are proud to nurture children who understand what it means to be part of a caring community — both within our school family and the wider world. We encourage our pupils to celebrate the rich diversity within our country, learning that every person is unique, valued and worthy of respect. In living out our Christian vision and values, we help children to build the compassion, understanding and courage needed to “fly higher than the flock”, whilst always ensuring that everyone feels they belong within our nest together.

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.