Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Five Alive October 2014

  Mon 22 Sep 2014

  What a fantastic start we’ve had to the new academic year at Cropthorne. All children (and staff!) arrived back with big smiles on their faces and our new Reception children have settled into school life immediately. In addition, the sun has continued to shine!

   

  This term our emphasis is on history. KS1 are investigating some major, exciting events and visiting Avoncroft Museum of Buildings to whet their appetites. KS2 have started a study of Roman occupation in Britain and they are off to Careleon to visit The National Roman Legion Museum. Later in the term we are planning a major Roman feast but rest assured, dormouse (a favourite delicacy of the time) will not be on the menu!

   

  At Cropthorne we are proud of our charity fund raising – over the last 4 years we have raised approximately £3000 supporting charities at home and abroad. This year we have decided to raise money for ‘The Moldova Project.’

   

  Some of you will remember our lovely Heidi Bailey who taught in Class 1 for a while before leaving to have 2 beautiful baby boys. Since leaving university Heidi has been very involved with projects in Moldova after working at an orphanage for the summer. She has since continued to visit and is off there again on the 12th. As she explains:

  “For those who are not even sure where Moldova is, it’s in Eastern Europe; it’s the poorest country in Europe and surrounded entirely by Romania and Ukraine. The people that I have met out there are amazing, but it suffers hugely from trafficking (an estimated 25,000 women and children a year) and corruption, with around 25% of the population living below the poverty line. I will be visiting some of the poorest families in the rural villages whilst I am there, 27 of whom are currently being sponsored through The Moldova Project (with 4 families waiting). The aim of this project in the long term is to help the families support themselves, whilst in the short term stop them from sending their children into orphanages (more than 4,000 children continue to live in institutions) by providing them with their basic needs, such as toiletries and food.”

  Heidi visited school prior to her trip to present to children and encourage them to contrast their lives and ‘mod-cons’ with Moldovan children. Our pupils were spell bound and keen to help out. Our first major fundraiser will be a ‘Farmer’s Market’ at school to celebrate our Harvest Festival after school on the 23rd September.  We will also be collecting small change during the year so any donations to school will be gratefully received.

   

  If you would like to find out more about the project follow the link themoldovaproject.com

  

• Press Release from Prince Henry’s High School

  Mon 22 Sep 2014

  Seven Vale Schools in Talks to form Multi Academy Trust with Prince Henry’s High School

   

  Seven area schools are hoping to form a Multi Academy Trust with Prince Henry’s during the next academic year.  Prince Henry’s High School, which has received outstanding status from Ofsted since 2006, gained Teaching School status last year and has been an Academy Trust since 2011, has been approached by a number its feeder First Schools and St Egwin’s Middle School.  The schools wish to consolidate their already well-embedded collaborative relationships and to ensure the preservation of the ethos & values of individual schools within the Prince Henry’s pyramid.  All the schools involved have a shared vision to preserve the outstanding ethos and culture that exists; especially in the current educational and financial climate, caused by increasing austerity measures in the education sector.

   

  The schools have begun a four-week consultation period with parents with the view to convert to Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) status at some point in 2015.   The interested schools are: Ashton under Hill First School, Church Lench CE First School, Cropthorne with Charlton CE First School, Harvington CE First School, St Andrew’s CE First School, St Egwin’s CE Middle School and Swan Lane First School.

   

  Dr Tony Evans, Headteacher of Prince Henry’s, said detailed discussion has been going on now for 12 months, and the schools involved were now at a stage where it could be taken forward.   “Having mutually explored options with a number of our feeder schools, the Prince Henry’s governors and leadership agree that the best way to preserve the outstanding nature of our pyramid is to formally work with these schools so that the talented and dedicated staff in our area can continue to teach our children without the fear of outside change being forced upon individual schools in the coming years.  We think it is the best for the future of our schools. By becoming a Multi Academy Trust, we will be able to achieve an economy of scale, particularly at a time when there are considerable and ongoing pressures on budgets.  In addition to this, all of the local schools who convert to the Trust will have a much greater control over their finances.”

   

  He continued “Several of my Governors and I have also met with representatives of the Worcester Diocese and they were impressed with the future proposals. The Trust will ensure that the local ethos of all schools, including the Church Schools remain unchanged”.

   

  The Heads think the move will mean an enhanced level of influence over the experience the children receive as they pass through the local pyramid, along with control over finances, and the ability to competitively buy in better services

   

  Carol Kennedy, Headteacher of St Egwin’s Middle School said: “As schools we have already been working together for a long time, so formalising this close relationship will not be a huge change to our existing working practices. Becoming a Multi Academy Trust will give us more control over the education of our children, as well as preserving the three tier structure – First, Middle and High School – which has served our pyramid so well.”

   

  Sharon Cole, Headteacher of Ashton under Hill First School said “My governing body is very excited about the prospect of working within a Trust as we believe this will lead to better educational provision for the children”.

   

  Graham Walker, Headteacher of Swan Lane First School stated “We see the formation of a Multi Academy Trust as a way of strengthening and formalising the strong links which already exist within our pyramid of schools. This can only be of benefit to our pupils.”

  
  The consultation period has now begun and each school is meeting parents who should check schools’ websites for details.

   

  School governors will look at replies and make a decision about joining the MAT.

   

  Contact: Mrs Zoe Bradley, Head’s PA

  Tel:  01386 765588

  Email:   secretary@princehenrys.worcs.sch.uk

   

  Prince Henry’s High School

  Victoria Avenue

  Evesham

  WR11 4QH

   

  Download a PDF version on the Latest News Documents page.

  

• A Warm welcome to the Summer Term

  Sat 06 Sep 2014

  Dear Parents,

   

  A warm welcome back at the start of this summer term, and how lovely to actually describe it as “warm”! I hope that you have had a great Easter and are now looking forward to the long summer months ahead.

   

  We had a great end to the term. All left buzzing but not keen to repeat our night in Spooksville!! Thank you all for your support; it was lovely to hear your appreciative comments but most importantly to experience the excitement in the children and watch how their confidence built as the term went on.

   

  Of course we are now looking forward to the summer term ahead and a list of dates will follow shortly. In a few weeks we will welcome the beginning of May and the annual Cropthorne Walkabout. This is always a great fund raiser for the village and also for the school, with the added bonus that it isn’t always the same few dipping their hands in their pockets! Please lend your support in whatever way you can to the PTA that weekend. It makes a lot of difference.

   

  Talking about fundraising, we are delighted with the transformation of the former PE shed (peer through the window and take a look!) and are now looking forward to the transference of charity funds to complete the building. It will enhance our intervention strategies and music teaching in the future and should prove invaluable.

   

  As you know I am moving to a 0.8 contract this term. I am confident that this will work well due to the fantastic calibre of the team that is Cropthorne! If I am out Mrs Frances Jones remains in charge but as you know all members of staff operate an ‘Open Door’ policy. Rest assured that I am always around if you need me!

   

  Cropthorne is a lovely place to learn and work and that is due to the absolute commitment that all stakeholders, including our brilliant board of governors give to it. I am very proud to remain at its helm. Let’s have a fabulous summer!