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I am pleased to provide the following report of school news, events and successes from April 2005.
Pupil numbers have continued to increase. In September the school opened with 80 pupils and is presently 97, which means that for the foreseeable future the school will continue to have four classes. This for us is tremendous news. In January '05 the predicted numbers for September '06 and beyond meant that the school would have had to organise the pupils in three classes to be able to work within the school's funding allocation. The number of children with special needs has grown and we currently have three children who need 1:1 support.
The school remains very popular with local families, and we have maintained the strong support of parents and other local community members, and they continue to be very effective ambassadors for the school! We have pupils who travel to us from Mileham, Beeston Swaffham, Scarning, Castle Acre, Weasenham, Weasenham All Saints and Necton. We are of course the local school for Tittleshall, Longham and Lexham.
KEY STAGE 1 & 2 Results for '05. Happily our results did show an improvement over those obtained in 2004 at Key Stage 2, particularly in English. The Key Stage 1 results were a little lower than the previous year. It must be remembered that at Key Stage 1 each child was worth 10% and at Key Stage 2, 5% approximately. Six children only joined the school in Year 6 and two only weeks before the tests!
Farewells; Mr Mike Oldfield who has been a school governor for many years resigned. The school is grateful for his time and commitment.
Welcomes; Miss. Alana Davies took up her appointment to be the Class 1 teacher in September and Mrs Kirsten Stibbons who had been working voluntarily on Thursday mornings agreed to be the release teacher in Class 1 whilst Miss Davies had her planning, preparation and assessment time. Kirsten is now expecting a second child in August and we wish her well. Mrs Rosie Hanson was appointed to work for two days within the school as a class teacher in Class 4 for two days a week. Rosie is also expecting her second baby in September and we wish her well too. We are about to advertise her position. Mrs. Zeta Wright was awarded a further temporary Classroom Assistant's post and Mrs. Amanda Sheard and Mrs Lay have been appointed as Special Needs Teaching Assistants. Mrs. Sadie Bailey has also had two temporary positions in school during the year to help us by supporting a pupil temporarily and latterly to provide cover for Mrs Surr, whilst she supports the Year 6 Booster group, prior to their end of Key Stage 2 Assessment Tests. In September we welcomed Mr. Karl Dickerson as a P.E Instructor one day a week, enabling the school to give Class Teachers the 10% time awarded for planning, preparation and assessment by the government; known as PPA time. Mrs Dawn Royal was appointed as a cleaner to work alongside Gary Fulcher our caretaker. Mrs Cook, our specialist Music teacher also delivers French across the school. Her time with us one day a week has enabled us to increase the quality of music provision in the school. During the Summer Term '05 and Autumn Term Mr Richardson, a choirmaster and one of our parents supported us in raising the standard of singing by taking two choirs. In September the County Music Service were able to offer us Mrs. Elizabeth Denis, a violin teacher and Mr Mike Fawcett, a keyboard and guitar teacher. Mrs. Wendy Surr and Mrs. Pippa Cook teach the recorder groups. Presently 25% of the pupils are learning to play an instrument.
The school is currently developing relationships with schools in Kenya and France. The Headteacher and Mr Michael Nodes were funded to look at the French Primary Education System during the Spring half term.
The school day has changed in that we now finish teaching at 3.20pm when the bus children leave and the lunch break now starts at 12.30pm. The school day has changed to ensure that at Key Stage 2 the children are taught for the recommended time. Children in Class 3 & 4 do not have had afternoon break.
Every class now has an interactive whiteboard and staff are presently developing their skills in using these as they teach. Mr Michael Nodes, our ICT Coordinator, has been given funding to support teachers in the school.
Events
At Christmas Class 1 & 2 performed a Nativity and Class 3 & 4 performed 'Scrooge'. A Carol Service was held at Church. At the end of the Spring Term the school had a musical concert with all the classes contributing a song and individuals and groups played a range of pieces that they had learnt in their lessons.
Each term the school has decided to have a week where we all focus on a particular topic. The first of these was a Nelson Week which has led to the school being involved in several projects, including the planting of a new wood near Burnham St Thorpe and the creation of a Nelson's Seat in the school grounds with visual artist Nicola Marray Woods. This was funded by Awards for All and Litcham Parish Council and Ford Preservation. We visited the 'Time and Tide' and 'Norfolk Nelson' museums. During the Spring Term our focus was Africa and this term we will all be looking at Food. This spring the Friends organised an Easter Craft session for the whole school, which was a huge success and we are grateful to all the parents who came along and helped us.
Once again we entered the "Yellow Pages" recycling competition and are also presently collecting mobile phones. We shall be collecting clothes too for recycling. Mr Ben Lovesey, a parent built a compost bin for the school. We also have a team of Energy Busters.
During the Summer Term of '05 Classes 2, 3 and 4 went to the Norfolk Show. The whole school went to Houghton Hall for a Cluster Multi Cultural Event and Class 1 went to Houghton Hall for 5 morning sessions to be at their Forest School. We are training Mrs. Alana Davies and developing our grounds to be able to deliver the programme to our children on the school site. Class 2 visited Gressenhall Museum and Pizza Express in King's Lynn. Year 6 took part in a Crucial Crew Event in King's Lynn about how to keep themselves safe. Class 3 & 4 have visited the Material Recycling Facility & Landfill at Costessey. Last term Class 4 had a trip to Swaffham Water Works and Class 1 has been to Swaffham Fire Station. Year 6 pupils visited the Music Room in Litcham.
Years 5 & 6 are to enjoy a residential trip to the Kingswood, Overstrand Conference Centre for two nights and three days in June.
This year we entered two teams of Year 5 & 6 pupils in the local heat of the K'nex Young Engineers challenge.
Several of our gifted mathematicians in Years 5 & 6 join with others in the cluster at Litcham High School every two weeks after school to work on problems.
The Clubs offered through the year have been Film, Netball, Golf and Art. A Premier Soccer coaching session ran last year too. The school has taken part in two Football Tournaments. We entered two teams into the Cluster Event in which there were 12 teams and gained a first and 8th place. At the South Greenhoe Tournament we gained, Best Player of the Tournament and the Fairest Team in the Tournament. Class 2, 3 & 4 each have a term's swimming lessons at the Dereham Pool. Seven girls are to attend a Football Festival held in Watton.
The School Travel Plan successfully earned us a grant of about £5,000 which was spent on ride on vehicles, a shed to house these and a playground road layout. Cycling proficiency will again be offered to children in Year 6. We also run road safety programmes for Class 1.
Visitors to school include Rev. Boston (half termly assemblies) and a representative from Young Carers, a Community Policewoman, the school nurse and Mr Jonathan Bowman of Victory Limited, who came during our Nelson Week.
The pupils have raised money for the following charities Red Nose Day, Jeans for Genes, Trees for Africa, following non-uniform days and £10 for a charity which provides music experiences for children with Special Educational Needs and one which supports children with cancer. We also once again collected sugar for the homeless and contributed gifts of food at our Harvest Festival, celebrated at the Church.
Our Friends have continued to plan a number of events throughout the year, a Beetle Drive, a School Fete and a Disco at the end of each term. They have also supported school functions by providing refreshments. Our school uniform is managed by the Friends and is now offered in a wider range and carries a new logo designed by the children.
Our Playground Angels have continued to watch over the playground for us at break and lunchtime. The School Council has been active and many of their ideas have been put into place. The Council regularly welcomes members of the Governing Body to its meetings and send them their minutes. The present Council is made up of two Playground Angels and two members from each class. It was decided that Council representatives will serve for two terms. They have continued to be involved in the appointment of full time staff and successfully campaigned for School Discos and drinking water being available in classrooms. They have also asked for reading partners in a different class and written to the school governors pointing out improvements that could be made to the building.
Finally the school is hoping to provide a breakfast club; an after school club every night as well a holiday play scheme to further serve its community. A grant to do this has been awarded and Ofsted have agreed that our premises, plans and policies meet with requirements to offer up to 24 places. We are currently advertising for a Play Supervisor and Playworker.
Our committed staff and Governors fully appreciate the continued support of our parents, friends and the Litcham community and beyond for the work of the school outlined in this report; I trust that it will prove informative to members of the Litcham Parish Council and its parishioners.

Yours sincerely, Christine Watts
Headteacher, April 2006