Holme Community School
Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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New School Year Letter
Fri 20 Sep 2019Dear Parents,
I hope you’ve had a fantastic summer. It was brilliant to see the children coming into school this morning; they looked smart in their uniforms and ready to learn. We’ve missed them!
I’d like to welcome our new reception class, and their families to our school. I’d also like to welcome Amelia who has started in year two, and our new nursery children Arthur and Isla. We hope that the children love their time at Holme and that they’ll be very happy here.
We also welcome some new staff:
Miss Knight – Year 1 Teacher
Mr Smith – Year 5/6 Teacher
Miss Halhead – Apprentice Teaching Assistant
Mrs Walling – Teaching Assistant
Mrs Tordoff – Orian’s Kitchen Team Member
Congratulations to Mrs Shepherd (Miss Newby) who was married over the summer. Mrs Shepherd has also been appointed as a School Improvement Leader and school manager. In short, Mrs Shepherd will take on additional responsibilities in the school and deputise for me in my absence.
As you’d expect there have been a number of changes over the summer holidays. Our aim is to build on the school’s many strengths and to ensure that it is a happy place for children (and staff) to thrive and achieve their full potential. As ever, your support is hugely appreciated. Please see a number of important updates and reminders below.
Value of the Half Term: Our value for this half term is independence. We want the children to take control of their learning and develop important life skills to enable them to succeed. You can help by encouraging the children to carry their own bags, check they have the right equipment for school and encourage them to take responsibility.
PE Kits: We ask that PE kits come into school on a Monday and that they are taken home on a Friday to be washed. Please note that a little bit of rain won’t stop us doing PE outside – Cumbrian children are built of strong stuff!
Work Day: Huge thanks to all the parents and children who supported our work day last Sunday. The school is looking fantastic and their work saved us hundreds of pounds. We have plans for another one in the near future and want to create an outdoor classroom/campfire circle behind the Year 5 and 6 classroom. Special thanks to Steven Duckett for cutting down our rotten tree and doing a range of ‘odd-jobs’ for us.
Meet the Teacher: At the start of the school year, we’d like to invite parents to come and look round school, meet your child’s teacher and find out about their plans for the year. Please join us after-school on Monday 9th September. Staff will be available until 4.30pm.
Breakfast and After-School Club: During the summer we relocated our out of hours provision to the school hall. Therefore, we’d like to ask that you children are dropped off and collected from the side door which leads to the playground (opposite the photocopier)
SENCO: Miss Titterington has now taken on the role of school special educational needs coordinator. This is an area that Miss Titterington is really passionate about and we know she will do a wonderful job.
Westmorland County Show: We will not be attending the Westmorland Show this year. We have decided to keep this event as a key stage two trip, which they will go on every other year. However, I recognise the importance of this event to the local community and many of our families. As a result, I will authorise absence for any children who wish to go to the Westmorland show with their families. I would ask that you do complete the holiday request form to notify us. This can be found on the school website.
Clubs and Music Lessons: Clubs start this week, and music lessons start next week.
Lunchshop: Thank you to parents for your patience whilst this new system is being set up. It worked brilliantly today. Thanks especially to Miss Kennedy and Mrs Littlefair for setting the system up and dealing with the ‘challenges’.
Scopay Accounts: Please remember to keep regular checks your Scopay account as well as Lunchshop, as all other balances will still need to be paid on that system. Please settle any outstanding dinner balances from July as quickly as possible, so we can transfer dinners smoothly to Lunchshop. Any dinner credits from July have been transferred to other balances owing.
Safeguarding: There are a whole multitude of ways that we work to keep your children safe in school. From vetting procedures for staff to site security and staff training – it is our first priority. Should you have any concerns about a child or about the behaviour of an adult, then please contact either myself or Mrs Shepherd- the schools designated senior leads for safeguarding.
I look forward to working with you in the year ahead. I can be found most mornings at the front of school and should you wish to speak to me in more depth, please contact the school office and they will arrange an appointment as soon as possible.
Thank you for your continuing support, and here is to a brilliant year at Holme.
Craig Dewar-Willox
Acting Headteacher
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Times Table Rockstars!
Mon 22 Apr 2019Last week, Miss Newby launched our latest school improvement initiative: Times Tables Rockstars! This is an online games platform that supports the development of times table knowledge.
For children in Years 2 to 6 this is a ridiculously exciting way to learn times tables. Already we've seen improvements, with children challenging each other to times-tables battles and having competitions between year groups.
You can access the site here: https://ttrockstars.com/
All the children have their own login details. We're going to be running a club for those children who don't always have access to technology at home- so that everyone has the opportunity to take part in the fun.
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Letter from the Acting Headteacher
Tue 05 Feb 2019Dear Parents/Carers,
I am delighted to be appointed as Acting Headteacher of Holme Community School. Over the past two and a half years, as Deputy Head, I have grown to love this school. I care deeply about each of our wonderful children and our dedicated staff team - I am determined to ensure that everyone in our school succeeds in a supportive environment routed in the values of care, co-operation, integrity and respect.
My philosophy for education is simple: that children learn better when they are happy. As Acting Headteacher I will ensure that we put the best interests of every child at the heart of all our decisions, and that we will work tirelessly to ensure that every child is nurtured and challenged to achieve their true potential and pursue their dreams.
Whilst you will all know me, I felt it would be beneficial to outline my experience. I have taught at large and small schools across Lancashire and now Cumbria, teaching a range of year groups. I have held leadership and management roles across a range of areas including teaching and learning, curriculum and behaviour. I was appointed as a Specialist Leader of Education in 2016 and have been involved in supporting other schools, particularly with raising standards in English and supporting the development of middle leadership.
I am Local Authority Moderator and I am currently a member of the Executive Steering Group for Ripley Teaching School Alliance, involved in the delivery of a new teacher training course for aspiring primary school teachers.
Outside of education, I have worked as an Independent Child Safeguarding Consultant for Save the Children UK, and currently serve on The UK Scouts Safeguarding Committee - with responsibility for policy development and the training of 100,000 adult volunteers across the UK.
I live in Lancaster and got married in August. I love walking, skiing, reading, travelling and spending time with my ever-increasing number of nieces, nephews and god-children.
As ever, thank you for your support and for the trust you place in us - to care for and educate your child. I hope that we can work together to make Holme Community School an even happier and more successful school than before. Should you have any questions, concerns or things to celebrate, then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Craig Dewar-Willox
Acting Headteacher
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Letter from the Chair of Governors
Tue 05 Feb 2019Dear Parents/Carers,
Following the recent good Ofsted outcome for the school and having celebrated her 60th birthday last month, Mrs Anderson has decided to have a well-deserved rest and take retirement with effect from the end of January. I’m sure you will join us in thanking Mrs Anderson for all her hard work and dedication to the school and in wishing her a very happy retirement.
The Governing Body met yesterday and agreed to appoint Mr Dewar-Willox as Acting Headteacher until the end of the 2019/2020 academic year, at which time the role will be filled on a permanent basis following the usual recruitment process. I’m sure you will agree that in the meantime the school will be in very capable and enthusiastic hands!
Until the end of the current academic year Mr Dewar-Willox will continue as class teacher for years 5 and 6, and will assume responsibility for teaching maths to this year group. To support him, a qualified teacher will be joining us 1.5 days a week to support the teaching of foundation subjects. Mr Dewar-Willox will confirm this appointment this week. He will also be available on Friday after school to speak to parents of children in year 5 and 6 about how the new arrangements will work and address any concern that you may have.
We understand that any period of change can be unsettling for both parents and children and we would like to reassure you that we are working with all staff to ensure stability and consistency for the school both in the short and long-term. As always, our key focus and priority is the welfare and education of our children.
If you have any concerns at all please do not hesitate to speak to either Mr Dewar-Willox or myself.
Yours sincerely
Mrs C. Starrs
Chair of Governors
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OFSTED Report
Mon 28 Jan 2019Our school was inspected by Ofsted on the 10th January 2019.
Please find attached a letter from our headteacher and chair of governors aswell as a copy of the report:
Letter from the headteacher and chair of governors.
We are delighted that the school has many successes that we can celebrate.
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Train to Teach at HCS
Wed 03 Oct 2018Train to Teach at This School
Holme Community School is a key partner in the Ripley TSA SCITT, a school-centred teacher training provider, and you can train to teach here from September 2019.
This highly successful teacher training programme, graded Outstanding by Ofsted, is designed and delivered by primary school leaders in Lancashire and Cumbria. Our vision is to develop outstanding teachers with the skills and knowledge needed by our schools now and in the future.
We are now recruiting trainee Primary teachers for September 2019
For more information, contact Mr Dewar-Willox or visit:
visit us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (Ripley ITT)
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Changes to our homework policy
Thu 19 Apr 2018In response to feedback from the parent survey, as a school we have decided to re-visit our policy for setting homework. A copy of the new homework policy can be found on the school website, in the policies section.
However, I did want to bring your attention to the key changes, which will be implemented tomorrow.
We will be introducing weekly learning logs. The aim of this is:
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To give parents a summary of what their child has been learning in class within the week
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To give children a framework in which they can evaluate their learning through homework tasks
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To give parents a chance to give feedback on areas of the homework that children enjoyed or found tricky
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To give children individual targets focussed on number facts, times tables, mathematical facts, spelling, vocabulary and phonics (appropriate to their own stage in development)
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To give additional, optional homework for children who may want additional challenges to reinforce their learning in Key Stage Two
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Children in Key Stage Two will also write their own personal target for the following week after discussion with their teacher
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To provide a consistent approach to homework throughout the school.
From tomorrow all homework will be set on a Friday, and due in the following Wednesday. All homework will be completed in one book- the learning log- to show progress over time.
All homework, which is handed in on time, will be acknowledged by the teacher with a brief comment in the teacher comment box on the learning log sheet. Parents are also encouraged to comment on their child’s homework.
Year 6 will continue with the format that they have been using already for the rest of this academic year and therefore these changes do not apply to them.
Finally, all children are actively encouraged to complete their homework, and will be rewarded, with house points, for doing so. However, we know many of our children lead busy and active lives outside of school and their lives are enriched by a range of extra-curricular activities and clubs, as such we appreciate that sometimes the children may struggle to complete all their homework. There will be no sanction for this.
As ever, should you have any questions, queries or feedback then please do not hesitate to get in touch.
With best wishes,
Craig Dewar
Deputy Headteacher
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Holme in Top 1% of Schools in England for Reading
Tue 13 Mar 2018We've received a rather nice letter from the Minister of State for School Standards, Nick Gibb.
It's official - Holme Community School is in the top 1% of schools in England for achievement in reading in key stage two.
We are absolutely delighted to be recognised and it is a testament to the hard work of parents, teachers and above all the children. Well done everyone...
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Parent Survey 2017
Mon 18 Dec 2017The results of the parent survey, which we conducted in November, can now be found in the parent's area of this website.
Many thanks to everyone who contributed.
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What a week!
Fri 17 Nov 2017Another busy week has flown by, but this one has been even busier than normal.
On Tuesday, we were visited by a rather large yellow bear, Pudsey, and he was hugely impressed by the money we raised from our sponsored silence, and from our giant picture of Pudsey, made from pennies. We made a total of £1316.25! Well done everyone.
On Wednesday, children from Ruskin Class travelled to Dallam to compete in a tag-rugby competition and did brilliantly well. They came first in their group!
Friday wasn't a quiet day either, as we were joined by a Indian dancer, or taught the children some Hindu stories through dance. It's safe to say that we are well and truly ready for the weekend...
See you on Monday!
