20 July 2010 - Summer News
 - Our school year ended with the school considerably further forward in its development. We have celebrated a GOOD Ofsted inspection under a more rigorous framework, sustained improvements in standards and established a clear path to improved and sustainable leadership. We have our Governing Body and Diocesan ‘oversight’ to thank for the maintenance of morale, standards and provision at all levels within the school.
- A key feature this year has been the continuing partnership with Emberton School and its welcome extension to working with the staff and children of St Andrew’s CE School. This has born further fruit through a recent three week ‘Take one picture’ project initiated by the National Gallery. It was planned in detail by the staff of our three schools working closely together to provide activities for all age groups across the curriculum. We had a marvelous day at Stowe landscape gardens together exploring landscape and story settings through painting, song and role-play and ‘Forest School’ activities. Mixed teams of pupils from each school spent the day working and playing hard in ‘awesome’ surroundings, making friends, exchanging ideas and inspiring the adults fortunate to share the day with them and their learning. The commendation by two separate Stowe staff commenting on the behaviour and demeanor of all the children was a testament to their love of learning and pride in their achievements.
 - The picture that inspired the project, Tobias & the Angel by Verrochio, shows part of a biblical journey that took its subjects from what is now Iraq to Iran. A three-school workshop here at Sherington was not so ambitious but the children did explore their personal ‘timeline’ journeys (for Year 2 onward to a new school), a mapping activity of the school grounds and some fascinating landscapes and maps in the style of Mondrian. The children’s maturity, social and language skills and tremendous involvement at all levels was once again showing the benefits of partnership and cooperation. A return visit by the Year 2 children of all three schools to St Andrew’s was no less rewarding for all concerned and allowed the children to wish each other well and celebrate their achievements in this phase of their education as it draws to a close and new challenges beckon.
- The Induction days for new children were joyous affairs with the new class seamlessly moving from their Pre-School settings to ‘big school’. Home visits confirmed this angst-free atmosphere among the new cohort (parents included!) and we look forward to the coming year with renewed confidence and enthusiasm.
- Our Sports Evening was smiled upon by the weather as we completed the events between a heavy shower and bright sunshine. All those who took part were awarded a Good Sport sticker but it was the yellow Team who had the eponymous Feasey Cup awarded by Betty F. who kindly kept score.
- At the time of going to ‘press’ we have the good news that once again we have been awarded a Creative Partnership Grant to work explicitly in the arts across all three schools developing cooperation and Community Cohesion through our policy and practice.
- It only remains for us to thank all our children, parents, ‘friends’ and regular helpers and supporters for their support and encouragement in these interesting and challenging times.
- Have a happy and carefree summer. CS
 
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| 3 July 2010
- Nearly 90 children enjoyed a glorious sunny day of high quality sports activities, hosted in the grounds of Sherington CE School. This successful event organised to encompass cooperation, competition and friendship was made possible by specialists Helen Goldbaum & Liz Pattison, both Small School Sports Coordinators. Children from St Andrews and Emberton Schools joined together with Sherington School pupils, to compete in games, unite in a dance routine and enjoy an exciting range of fitness activities. Good fun was had by all and new friendships made.
 
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| 26 June 2010
 
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 19 June 2010
- The fine but variable weather brought several answers to pressing questions. We now know who lives in our new Percy’s Wood; worms, woodlice, beetles, centipedes, earwigs, snails and slugs as well as bank and field voles and wood mice. Along with the fledging of our broods of baby birds and the bee boxes full of busy inhabitants the school grounds have been a beautiful and productive back drop to many learning opportunities and activities.
- The village as a whole was the setting for the first of our summer Geography field-trips when the whole school spent the morning observing and sketching various homes and significant buildings. This coincided with the welcome return of ‘our Lisa’ (Rogers) to the kitchen; we were greeted on our return with freshly made tomato soup and warm herbie scones.
 - Mrs Isabel Grant brought her collection of avian puppets and soft toys to kick-off ‘Early Birds’ week reminding us of the need to be up early and in school on time each day. The prize was not a juicy worm but a fine certificate to be proud of.
- Recorder club under Lydia’s tutelage continues tunefully at lunch time and the after school Parent-sponsored French Club with Marie is always lively and joyful.
- As we enter into the induction programme for September’s intake of children please contact us if you are still looking for a school place for your child. You are always welcome to visit and see us at work and play by arrangement.
 
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 13 June 2010
- Free school milk is available to under-fives under the 'Cool Milk' scheme. Click on the advert for further details and to register.
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 25 May 2010
- Heelands Infant School returned a Community Cohesion visit to Sherington CE School. The day was a productive and enjoyable occasion for all concerned with the children particularly renewing their relationships around our Maypole. All took much home with them in the form of a wider appreciation of children from another school in some very different circumstances.
 - We said goodbye and good luck to Mr Jamie Flegg who successfully completed his BEd 2 school experience with our Reception group. With Percy the Park keeper’s wood planted and an investigation of the mini-beasts living there the children have explored many interesting activities in Literacy, Art and Numeracy with him.
- As we finalise our intake list for September of this year please contact us if you are looking for a school place for your child. You are always welcome to visit and see us at work and play by arrangement.
 
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 8 May 2010
- Sherington CE School is pleased to announce that we have just received the outcome of our recent Ofsted inspection in which we were judged ‘good ‘, the 2nd highest of the four Ofsted ratings defined by Ofsted as: ‘’These are very positive features of a school. A school that is good is serving its pupils well.’’ Within the inspection the area of safeguarding and well-being of the children was graded as outstanding.
- Some quotes from the Inspection underlining the special features of Sherington C of E village school :
‘‘Teaching at Sherington is consistently good and pupils have well-developed learning skills’’
‘’outstanding opportunities to express their ideas verbally mean that pupils are confident and articulate speakers’’
‘’relationships are excellent and pupils learn in an atmosphere where they are all valued and very well known as individuals’’
‘’this is a school where pupils are happy and say that they feel extremely safe‘’
"the school is led and managed well , and staff and governors alike are committed to doing all they can to make the school outstanding’’.
- This outcome provides a great standard for us to carry forward and develop further.
- The full report is available here: official inspection report or from Ofsted's own web site.
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 25 April 2010
- We returned from the Easter break with several questions in mind. Who is living in Percy’s Wood that we planted just before the holiday? An investigation is underway by our Reception children.
How did the world begin? Year 1 will be investigating Creation Stories from countries and cultures around the world. Has the tree we planted in honour of Mrs Tranter realised it is Spring? Year 2 investigated and found the answer in our photo.
- Birdsong, frogs, blossom and buds also bring our May-Pole dancing practice and the return of Mrs Feasey (cheers from our older pupils who remember last year) in teaching mode. We look forward to performing at the village May Day celebrations and sharing our skills with Sherington Pre-School and our friends from Heelands School who are due to return a Community Cohesion visit.
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2 April 2010
- What happened to Christmas? a colleague remarked as we neared the end of term with Easter in sight. But then reviewing the results that our tracking of children’s progress yields we can see that the time was well spent. And then the Inspector dropped in... but, as we write, the official Ofsted report is undergoing quality control and no comment can be made. This will appear later. The post-inspection toasted marshmallows in the classroom under-the-trees were all the sweeter.
- Our Reception group, making steady progress to independent Literacy, have been following Percy the Park Keeper into Spring time stories. Planting our baby trees to start Percy’s Wood next to our classroom under the trees will enlarge the viable habitats for Percy’s smaller friends as well as giving our youngest children something to measure their own growth against.
- Year 1 have been exploring stories from other cultures and the contribution these make to our lives today. Researching the sad story of the Willow Pattern plate they decided to rewrite the ending to allow the lovers to escape from the maze and into various imaginary and new worlds (populated by dinosaurs, undercover leprechauns and having many more surprising adventures).
- Year 2, having made good strides in extra number problem solving, have also been enjoying a box of poetry books left by the school librarian after a book talk. Using one of them we have been able to trace four generations of poet Michael Rosen’s family tree. This began with humorous anecdotes about a two-year old toddler and his nappy then progressed into evidence for oral history and the reasons why some people seek to emigrate and seek sanctuary in our country.
- Children in Years 1 & 2 enjoyed an Art lesson from visiting teacher Mrs Leicester that extended their understanding of flat shapes and tiling patterns by considering the work of M. C. Escher.
- We ended the term with a basket full of Easter creations to take home, a spectacular parade of bonnets (everyone a winner) and traditional egg rolling. Then hot soup to supplement our packed lunches and a regular ‘Open door’ session to share work with our parents.
- Having achieved a greater measure of calm and stability with our Interim Headteacher Ms. Anne Shedden our school community looks forward to the summer term with anticipation and confidence.
- Thanks are due to our Governors, staff and the regular helpers and supporters of Sherington CE School. But our most valuable, delightful and constantly engaging asset are the children who make the whole enterprise meaningful. Well done to you all. Have a happy Easter break.
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15 March 2010
- The term continues to unfold very productively with pupils in all groups well into their stride and making good progress. We welcome Grace Ecclestone into our Reception grouping and hope that she continues to thrive with as many happy smiles as we have seen during her induction period.
- Beatrix Potter Day with Emberton School was a great success with Key Stage 1 children sharing the day, creative activities that the author herself was fond of together with the story of Jemima Puddleduck as our focus for Literacy, friendship and much more. Who would you wish to be your friend, Jemima or the gentlemanly and elegant Mr Fox? Opinions were divided on this (and other matters to do with the eating of duck) so close to our celebrations of Chinese New Year. These were carried out with a healthy vegetable stir-fry with noodles and rice as well as the making of cards and Tiger masks to celebrate the story of the Chinese calendar.
- Our youngest children explored the topic of ‘Friendship’ through play, art, conversation and Literacy while Year 1 got to grips with telling the time and some rather tricky extended arithmetic (such that two bright sparks showed their work to year 2 and were ‘kidnapped’ to continue with the older group’s lesson). Year 2 led the way on Beatrix Potter Day being hot-seated to field questions from our visitors. Along with Year 1 they have also been involved with some busy and productive D&T workshop sessions on the theme of ‘Playgrounds’. Many thanks are due to Mrs Sue Temple for her hands-on involvement in facilitating these activities.
- Our Art work ‘Investigating Materials’ was given a professional boost with the day visit of weaving artist Alana Jolley. Using a contrasting selection of natural and fabricated materials the children worked to a very high standard under her tutelage revisiting and remembering many skills and facts from our Creative Partnership Project of last year.
- While the Spring season brings birds to our nest boxes (Great Tits in the front of the school, Blue tits elsewhere), frog and newts to the pond and baby voles in the long grass it also sparks the beginning of our extended induction period for next years intake. School staff will be visiting Sherington Pre-School to share activities and meet our future pupils.
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School Closures
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16 February 2010
- Sherington CE School bid a second, and no less fond, farewell to one of our most loved and respected of former Headteachers; Mrs Joyce Tranter. Having retired in 1996, and been a regular helper since 2001, Joyce’s personal warmth and love of children has inspired generations of pupils both here in the village and at the schools she taught in previously. In lieu of a tree, (hard to pack in an already full removal lorry) Joyce took garden tokens along with our warmest wishes to Durham and her new rural location. The children looked at the farm on Google Earth? and waved - we didn’t see anyone wave back but we do have hopes. Perhaps she was out helping in the local school that she had already earmarked? A wild Rowan tree will be planted at school and christened ‘Mrs Tranter’.
- Once the new term got fully underway after the snow hiatus all year groups settled to their new topics and are making good enthusiastic progress. Bridging the half-term break will be the (Year of the) Tigers in Reception and Year 1 as they celebrate Chinese New Year. Year 2 similarly completed their Beatrix Potter topic with student Miss Natalie Adam who leaves us not only with an excellent result but our thanks and offer for a return anytime she is passing by.
- Our classrooms are buzzing with the installation of new computers to power the interactive white-boards and the provision of ‘Visualisers’, a digital camera projector, which will add another supportive dimension to our teaching.
- Lunchtime play is enlivened by the appearance of Milton Monkey, a play coach from MK Dons who is teaching us various ways to enjoy exercise, competition and cooperation. A hot lunch addition of herby tomato soup and garlic (school grown) bread ended the half-term.
- We fully expect to be on the lookout for Spring, frogs and newts in the pond, planting vegetables and completing our Robin song survey upon our return after half-term.
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17 January 2010
- With Christmas a recent memory we returned to school full of enthusiasm only to be snowed out after two days. This enforced closure tried the patience of staff, students and parents and it was with renewed enthusiasm (and the kind help of two parents to clear a path into school - thanks again) that we really began to resume work in earnest in the second week.
- Our two students began to take responsibility for their groups of children. Mr Jamie Flegg continues to explore the adventures of Percy the Park Keeper with our Reception children (the story of One Snowy Night proving very apposite). Year 1 are conducting researches of their own using non-fiction information books before moving onto considering Stories from other cultures. Miss Natalie Adam and Year 2 are enjoying the stories of Beatrix Potter greatly assisted by a magnificent collection of resources lent by Natasha whose Grandma had collected them for her before she was born! A workshop with our Emberton partners is planned for the future.
- Snow proved to be an asset as well as a trial as the younger children made sculptures and are exploring the scientific and poetical properties of ice and snow with Mr Flegg.
- Staff and Governors showed a fulsome welcome to our new Interim Headteacher Ms Anne Shedden and we look optimistically forward to a period of stability and development across all aspect of the school.
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School Uniform
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