Headteacher blog 30th September 2022

I upset a few children this week. We are running four competitive football teams this year, and I ran two lunchtime trials for Y6. Nearly 30 children attended and I needed to whittle things down to a team of 9 (and a sub) and another 7 children for a squad for the season to attend lunchtime practices. I hope that those that haven’t been chosen still enjoy playing football at break times and at home. Some sporting events will be mass participation, inclusive events, but we typically pick our strongest teams for the league and cup games.

We have also been getting together a cross-country team for the first Saturday morning event tomorrow at Middleton Park: whoever wants to run and can get there is very welcome! After this afternoon’s rain, maybe the conditions will start to resemble the mud that we associate with this character-building event. Post the COVID break, we have struggled to get a high level of engagement from upper KS2, but the Year 3 and Year 4 runners seem keen. Some children have been practising at lunchtimes, following one of two new marked courses around our super grounds, but the huge races of 150-odd children are a shock to many. Thanks to the Chair of Governors Ruth Fain and Deputy Head Dan Hemming for accompanying the children to the event this weekend. Good luck!