21st March 2025
21st March 2025
Dear Parents and carers,
Well done to Year 6 this week for completing their mock SATs. They had a mature attitude in approaching these tests and showed some great courage. I would also like to say good luck to our team of 4 vocal ambassadors who are singing in Basingstoke next week. I look forward to hearing about an amazing show!
OFSTED
The OFSTED report has today been made public and I am proud to say that they have rated Clatford as being good in each of their five areas of inspection. I have attached the report to this newsletter.
Some report highlights:
- The school fosters a warm and nurturing environment. It encourages pupils to ‘learn and grow together with love, respect, and courage.’ Pupils feel happy and safe in school.
- Pupils are polite and very well mannered. In lessons they are enthusiastic. Staff nurture this strong learning attitude from early years, setting children up well for future success. The school has high ambitions for all pupils.
- Teachers deliver the curriculum well. They present new content clearly. Pupils are motivated. They work hard, showing a strong desire to learn more. Teachers help pupils to make connections to prior learning. They design learning tasks well and identify pupils’ needs and barriers effectively.
- The checks that teachers carry out on pupils’ learning are particularly effective. Teachers identify specific gaps and barriers in all subjects based on identified key knowledge. They address these gaps and barriers well.
- Pupils’ personal development is a priority. The school provides many opportunities for pupils to develop talents and interests.
When the school was last graded, we were judged as outstanding. This previous judgement was based on a different set of criteria that is now more than a decade out of date. Our new grade is one for everyone to be proud of. It recognises our mission: Clatford children ‘Learn and Grow Together, with Love, Respect and Courage.’
Naturally there are areas for development. Ofsted agreed with us that we have work to do in some key curriculum areas and over the coming weeks the team will put plans in place to address these (namely to develop the written work across all foundation subjects and to focus more on ‘depth of understanding’ instead of a broader approach).
For now, I want to reiterate how proud and thankful I am for all of the Clatford team who work together in support of our children.
Year 3 – Orchestra Unwrapped and Pizza Express
Year 3 went to a performance at the Anvil in Basingstoke this week, and also performed a brilliant song. Miss Finn was very proud and wanted to showcase their talents so I know the class will be performing that song for the school in a worship next week. Year 3 have a very different trip planned next week as they are off to Pizza Express.
PTA Quiz Night
We have a PTA quiz night coming up next week so please see the attached document from the PTA and make sure you reserve your tickets. We’d love to see you.
Parents Meetings and Clubs
Just a reminder that next week we have our parents meetings on Tuesday and Thursday. This has meant that indoor clubs have had to be postponed until the final week of term.
The after school club list for the Summer term will be sent to you this evening. Please look out for the email and follow the links to book any clubs you want for your children.
Chess Tournament
A big well done to everyone who took part in our Chess Club tournament this term. It was great to see this club so well attended and I noted so many children that had massively improved their game over the course of the term. We had two children who won 5 out of the 7 games and as a result became our reigning Chess Club champions.
Bikes and Bunnies
During the last few days of term, Year 6 will be bringing their bikes into school to work with the local Bikeability team in order to improve their bike confidence and safety. Just as they finish this, on the final Friday of term, we will be holding our annual Clatford School Bunny Tail Hunt. For those new to the school, this is a long held school tradition and involves the children working together to find the missing parts of the bunnies tail, which will be scattered on the school field. I shall be praying for some sunshine.
Lent
At school we have been talking to the children about Lent, and about the sorts of things the children can be doing to show kindness in the run up to Easter. I have seen a brilliant amount of Love, Respect and Courage pebbles given out this week as a result. Keep up the good work everyone.
Wishing you all a peaceful weekend,
Mr M Kirk
Dates for your diary
25th and 27th March: Parents Evenings
25th March: YR Trip to Longdown Activity Farm
25th March Y5/Y6 Football Competition
26th March: Y3 Trip to Pizza Express
28th March: PTA Family Quiz Night
3rd – 4th April: Y6 Bikeability
4th April: Bunny Tails
7th April – 21st April: Easter Holiday
22nd April: Return to school, Dolce school dinners begin
29th April: YR Trip to Hillier Gardens
26th May – 30th May: Summer Half Term
3rd June: Y4 Trip to Great Hall & Winchester Cathedral
10th June: Y2 Trip to Living Rainforest
17th June: Class photos
18th June: Y3 Trip to Kew Gardens
19th June: Y6 Leavers Service at Winchester Cathedral
30th June – 2nd July KS2 Play
6th – 9th July: Y6 Residential to Osmington Bay
21st July – 2nd September: Summer Holiday (including 2 INSET days on 21st and 22nd July)
3rd September Inset Day