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

Sparrows - We used tone and shade to create faces

It has been a terrific week in school, with a real sense of focus and positivity across all classes. As we approach the KS2 SATs, our Year 6 pupils continue to work incredibly hard, showing determination and maturity as they make every lesson count. We are very proud of the effort they are putting in.

This week also saw our Year 4 Learn to Ride sessions, which were a resounding success. Pupils thoroughly enjoyed the experience and gained valuable confidence and skills. With the recent spell of sunny weather, it has been wonderful to see children making the most of the playtime activities and resources, supporting both their enjoyment and wellbeing.

Please note that next week is a four-day week due to the bank holiday on Monday, but rest assured we will be cramming as much learning as possible into those four days.

Have a lovely extended 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.

The Only Way is Badger

In our collective worship this week, we have been reflecting on the story The Only Way is Badger, a thought-provoking and gentle tale that helps children explore what happens when we forget to value one another.

In the story, Badger becomes convinced that everyone should look, think and live exactly like him. At first, the other animals try to change who they are to fit in, but this leads to exclusion, sadness and a world that loses its colour and joy. One by one, the animals are pushed away until Badger finds himself alone, realising that a world without difference is not a happy one at all. In a moment of humility, Badger recognises his mistake, seeks out his friends and says sorry, understanding that “friends are” far more important than being the same .

This story offers a powerful message for our children. It reminds us that God created each of us uniquely, and that our differences are not something to fear, but something to celebrate. When we show tolerance and mutual respect, we create a community where everyone feels valued and able to flourish. It also speaks deeply to individual liberty—the freedom to be ourselves, without pressure to conform to someone else’s idea of “right.” Importantly, the story models the courage it takes to reflect, take responsibility and say sorry. In doing so, it reflects our Christian values of forgiveness, humility and restoration—showing that relationships can be healed when we choose kindness and honesty.

At Overthorpe, we continue to nurture a community where every child is encouraged to “fly higher than the flock,” not by being the same, but by embracing who they are, whilst building a nest together—one rooted in love, respect and belonging for all.

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.