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Newsletters

June 2025

  • Newsletter July Week Three

    Published 27/06/25

    Dear Families,

     

    After a very busy week, we’ve finally reached the end of another super year.  This year has been successful in so many ways.   The children have been successful with not just academic work but with sporting activities too.  We’ve had many trips, visitors and special events which have allowed the children to learn more and experience more.

     

    A huge thank you to all of our families for your ongoing support.  It’s always such a privilege working with you to support the children on their learning journey.  Your support and involvement always makes such a positive difference.  Your kind words, encouragement, and trust have been truly appreciated. Whether it was helping with homework, attending school events, or simply having a chat at the beginning or end of the day, your support has meant so much.

    A special thank you also for the thoughtful gifts and cards—your generosity and kindness are genuinely appreciated. It’s lovely to feel so valued and to know that the work we do is making a difference.

    Today we say ‘Goodbye’ to our wonderful Year 6 children.  There have been lots of emotions over the last few days.  I am proud to know that they will leave Friarswood with the knowledge that they can achieve anything they set their hearts and minds to.  They have been such a truly amazing class, and we will miss them a great deal.  

    Today we say ‘Congratulations’ to Miss Johnson who is getting married in the summer holidays.  She will become Mrs Salisbury.  We wish them lots of love and happiness.

    We also say ‘Goodbye’ to Miss Smith today.  Miss Smith has covered maternity leave in Year 4 for the last two years.  She has shown so much dedication and has supported the school in so many ways.  We wish her all the best for the next stage of her career.

    I wish you and your family a restful, joyful summer break. I hope the holidays are filled with sunshine, fun, and happy memories.  I look forward to seeing you back at school on Tuesday 2nd September.

    Take care and stay safe.

    Mrs Wilmer and the Friarswood team

    Upcoming Dates
     

    Last Day 18.07.25 School closes for the summer holidays.
    School Inset Day  01.09.25 Teacher Training Day 
    School Opens  02.09.25 Welcome to the Autumn term.
    Read More
  • Newsletter July Week Two

    Published 27/06/25

    Dear Families,

    The penultimate week of the school year has certainly been busy.  Lots of exciting activities have taken place.

     

    Year 5 & 6 Careers Fair
    Yesterday, we held our annual careers fair.  It was so interesting and exciting for the children (and the staff).  We had a range of volunteers, from a variety of work places, being interviewed by the children.  We had an entrepreneur who supports businesses from setting up to making millions!  We had a fireman, policeman, a funeral care team, a motor trader, a mine surveyor, a building team representative, Keele student union, a manager from Fuchs lubricants, an auditor, and we had our wonderful Ms Master who was interviewed about being a seamstress.

    The children learnt a great deal about the skills needed for employment as well as qualifications and the journey for these people.  

    A massive thank you to Mrs McConvey who organised this event.  If you would like to be involved in next year’s careers fair, please do get in touch.

     

    Colour Run
    This was a huge success again.  The children absolutely love this annual event.  We even had children with multicoloured hair in school yesterday.  Thank you to Ms Cooper for organising this event.

     

    Year 6 SATs results
    On Tuesday, we found out the children’s results.  WOW!  93% of our children achieved the expected or greater depth levels, showing just how strong our teaching team is.  From the moment the children come to Friarswood until the end of Year 6, we are proud to say that our teaching and the children’s learning is clearly very successful.

    Well done to all of the children for their amazing results.  Every single child has shone.

     

    Safeguarding
    On Wednesday, Ms Hartley and myself attended a safeguarding conference.  It was very informative with some quite hard-hitting facts.  I just want to share with you some of the online safety data which is quite scary.

    Only 2 in 5 parents use parental controls on their child’s devices.

    1 in 10 nine year olds have seen pornography online.

    Roblox is classed as a predator’s dream.

    What’s App in primary schools is the main cause of child on child abuse and bullying.

    My question to you is - Do you know what your child is up to on their / your device?

    I thought the last point was very pertinent as some of our older children use What’s App groups.  The fall out, every year, due to comments being made and parents unaware of these comments, is a major concern in school.   Not only do children get upset and emotionally hurt, so do their parents.

     

    Please do keep an eye on your child - especially during the holidays.

     

    Reports
    Today, you will receive your child’s end-of-year report.  As always, I had so much pleasure reading through them.  I was bursting with pride for each and every child.  You will be too when you read your child’s report.

    If you would like to speak to your teacher about the report, please make an appointment with them between 3:30 and 4:30pm on Wednesday.

     

    Have a lovely weekend everyone.

    Take care and stay safe.

    Mrs Wilmer

    Upcoming Dates
     

    Year 6 Leavers assembly 16.7.25
    2 pm
    Parents of our Year 6 leavers are invited to join us.
    Celebration of Learning  16.7.25 
    3.30 pm
    Parents are welcomed into classrooms to see what wonderful learning has happened this year.
    Last Day 18.07.25 School closes for the summer holidays.
    School Inset Day  01.09.25 Teacher Training Day 
    School Opens  02.09.25 Welcome to the Autumn term.
    Read More
  • Newsletter July Week One

    Published 27/06/25

    Dear Families,

    What a thoroughly exciting week it’s been for KS2.  They have performed twice this week in their Summer show and what a spectacular performance it was!

    Their singing, acting and enthusiasm was outstanding.  We had some solo singers who were so brave and who sang beautifully.  We had a member of year 6 who was in charge of all the music and slides.  It takes a very dedicated person to do this job due to the pressure to get it right - and he did this perfectly! And we even had a fabulously drunk Miss Hannigan!

    I am so proud of all of the children.  A huge well done to all of them.  A big thank you to the parents for their support and a massive thank you to all of the staff for their time and effort to ensure that this show was so successful.

     

    Swimming Gala
    On Tuesday, a group of Year 5 and 6 children took part in the Newcastle schools swimming gala.  There was a lot of cheering and clapping and some very close races.  Friarswood won lots of medals for first or second place.  We came back with a trophy too for coming overall second - by one point.  So close!!

    A huge well done to the swimming team and their champions - Ava, Nora, Jack F, Henry, Jack A, Michael, Ben, Alice, Sofia, Freddie and their champions Bella, Grace and Arthur.

     

    Move - up morning
    All of the children have visited their new class.  They’ve been shown where to go in the mornings from September, where they will leave and, most importantly, where their new toilets are!  Year 6 have had their transition days to high school.  Over the next couple of weeks, the children will have more opportunities to meet their new teachers.  If you have any concerns, please just let me or the teacher know.

     

    Year 3 teacher
    On Monday, we are interviewing for the Year 3 teacher.  There were some very strong applicants.  Hopefully, by Monday afternoon, I’ll be able to let you know who will be our newest member of the team.  Once we have recruited, the new teacher will come into school to meet the class and to get to know Friarswood.

     

    Mrs Dean
    Some of you may have spotted Mrs Dean this week.  She is back at work on a phased return.  At the moment, Mrs Dean is working in the afternoons.  She’s updating herself on the many events that have happened since Autumn. 

     

    Year 3 swimming
    Unfortunately,  Chesterton has cancelled the last swimming dates.  This means that there will be no more swimming for these children now.  

    I do want to just say that this is the first class ever that we have had all of the children swimming, without armbands, by December time.  The class are confident in the water and know how to float on the top of the water if they were to fall in.  The vast majority of the class can swim 25 metres , which is the National Curriculum KS2 requirement (to be reached by the end of KS2).  The few children who can not do this yet can certainly swim at least 15 metres.  Myself and Mrs Dickens are so proud of all of the children.

     

    Career’s Fair
    Next Thursday, Year 5 & 6 will be taking part in a career’s fair.  We have held this for the last two years, and it’s invaluable for the children.  They get to ask questions and learn about jobs which they may not have heard about before.  Even if they have heard about them, they get the opportunity to ask questions about the skills needed for the job.  

    If any of you would like to take part in this, please contact myself or Mrs McConvey.

    (This could be for this year or for next year)

     

    End of year reports
    The end-of-year reports will be coming out next Friday.  I hope you will be as proud of your child as I am.  It was such a pleasure reading through them.  

    Along with the reports will be your child’s attendance certificate.   Any attendance under 95% is a concern due to the amount of learning time your child has missed.  Anything under 90% will be monitored by both the school and the Education Welfare Officer, as such poor attendance really does have a massive impact on your child’s learning and therefore their life chances.  Teachers do not have the time to help your child to catch up with missed learning as they have the rest of the class to teach.  If your child’s attendance is low, please try to work with us next year to improve this.

     

    Parking on Abbots Way
    Unfortunately, we’re starting to have more and more complaints about parking on the yellow lines and parking dangerously.  Please park safely.  No one wants anything awful to happen to any of our children and families.

    Please can I ask all parents to ensure their child has their seat belt fastened before driving.  Failure to do so is against the law, not to mention very dangerous.  

     

    Online Safety Information 

    For Parents - Moving to Secondary School

    For many children, the move from primary to school has many 'firsts', including digital firsts. Internet Matters have a wonderful guide for parents to help with that transition from primary to secondary school, all digital and online related.

    You can find the guide HERE.


     

    Have a lovely weekend everyone.

    Take care and stay safe.

    Mrs Wilmer

     

    Upcoming Dates
     

    Keele University visit  08.07.25 Year 5 and Year 6
    Colour Run 09.07.25 Everyone to come in PE kits please.
    Career Fair 10.07.25 Year 5 and Year 6
    Year 6 Leavers assembly 16.7.25
    2 pm
    Parents of our Year 6 leavers are invited to join us.
    Celebration of Learning  16.7.25 
    3.30 pm
    Parents are welcomed into classrooms to see what wonderful learning has happened this year.
    Last Day 18.07.25 School closes for the summer holidays.
    Read More
  • Newsletter - June Week Four

    Published 13/06/25

    Dear Families,

     

    We hope you’re all coming to the Summer Fair later.  We’ve ordered the sunshine, so it should be a great evening.

    Year 2 Trip
    Year 2 had a fantastic trip on Wednesday to Middleport Pottery.  They learnt a great deal about the factory and the clay as well as walking inside and around the bottle oven.  There were some super print designs made along with some wonderful barge bucket designs.  I just want to say how proud I was of all the children.  They were focused, asked some great questions and worked really well together.  The lady who ran the workshop thanked me for taking such lovely children to visit.

     

    Reminder about Holidays next year
    October half-term will be a 2 week half-term from Monday 20th October to Friday 31st October.

    Summer holidays (2026) will start on Friday 24th July to Tuesday 1st September.

    Bee Active will be running a sports club at school in the first week of the October half-term.  If you didn’t get a chance to complete the form, please don’t worry.  They will send out communication to you in September so that you can officially book your child in.

     

    Biscuit Competition
    The catering company (Midshires) is running a biscuit competition.  The details are on Dojo.  Create a summer-decorated biscuit.  All biscuits should be brought into school on Monday 7th July.  Unfortunately, I have been asked to judge these along with Sarah the cook - which means lots of tasting!  Happy baking everyone.

     

    Mrs Dean
    Mrs Dean will be starting back at work next week, on Wednesday.  She will be on a phased return for the next few weeks and then back full time after the summer holidays.

    Mrs Kumar will still be in the office every morning. 

     

    Have a lovely weekend.

    Take and stay safe.

    Mrs Wilmer

     

    Upcoming Dates
     

    Summer Fayre 27.06.25 After school 
    Move up morning  03.07.25 All classes will move up to their next year group to have the morning with their new teachers. 
    Summer Show - Annie

    2.7.25 5pm

    4.7.25 1:30pm

    Send ticket orders to Mrs Hughes in a named envelope. £5 each
    Keele University visit  08.07.25 Year 5 and Year 6
     Colour Run  09.07.25 Everyone to come in PE kits please. 
    Career Fair 10.07.25 Year 5 and Year 6
    Year 6 Leavers assembly 16.7.25
    2 pm
    Parents of our Year 6 leavers are invited to join us.
    Celebration of Learning  16.7.25 
    3.30 pm
    Parents are welcomed into classrooms to see what wonderful learning has happened this year.
    Last Day 18.07.25 School closes for the summer holidays.
    Read More
  • Newsletter - June Week Three

    Published 13/06/25

    Dear Families,

    We’ve certainly had a hot week.  Thanks for sending everyone in with sun-cream, hats and water bottles.

     

    INSETs for 2025 - 2026
    Along with the holidays, we have got some staff training days booked in.  On these days the school and Small & Tall will be closed.  You may have seen the dates on the website, but if not, here they are:

    Monday 1 September

    Monday 10 November

    Monday 1 June

    Friday 24 July

    Monday 27 July

     

    Small & Tall price increase
    Due to a rise in costs, from September, the prices will increase to:

    Mornings - £5.95

    After school - £9.85

     

    Mrs Dean
    This week, we had a visit from Mrs Dean who will be coming back to work part way through July.  It was lovely to see her and the children were very excited about seeing her too.  She will start back to work for a few hours each day and then build up to her usual hours.  I’ll keep you posted to the actual dates.  Mrs Kumar will be with us until the end of this term.

     

    Mrs Rafferty
    Mrs Rafferty has been selected to become a Primary Director of English for the Trust for 12 months.  This means that although her maternity leave is about to finish, she won’t be coming back to Friarswood in September.  The job advert is out and interviews are soon.  I will keep you informed about who will be teaching Year 3 next year.

     

    PTA - bring a bottle
    Thank you to everyone who took part in this today.  We have got some lovely prizes now for the tombola.


     

    Have a lovely weekend in the sunshine.

    Take and stay safe.

    Mrs Wilmer

     

    Upcoming Dates
     

    Year 2 trip 25.06.25 Middleport Pottery
    Church visit  26.06.25 Reception and Year 1
    Stay and Play 

    26.06.25 
    3:30 -4 pm

    New starters for September in our Early Years classes.
    Summer Fayre 27.06.25 After school 
    Move up morning  03.07.25 All classes will move up to their next year group to have the morning with their new teachers. 
    Summer Show - Annie

    2.7.25 5pm

    4.7.25 1:30pm

    Send ticket orders to Mrs Hughes in a named envelope. £5 each
    Keele University visit  08.07.25 Year 5 and Year 6
    Career Fair 10.07.25 Year 5 and Year 6
    Colour Run  11.7.25 Everyone to come in PE kits please.
    Year 6 Leavers assembly 16.7.25
    2 pm
    Parents of our Year 6 leavers are invited to join us.
    Celebration of Learning  16.7.25 
    3.30 pm
    Parents are welcomed into classrooms to see what wonderful learning has happened this year.
    Last Day 18.07.25 School closes for the summer holidays.
    Read More
  • Newsletter - June Week Two

    Published 13/06/25

    Dear Families,

     

    Yesterday, we had an Academy Review by the Trust.  I’m thrilled to say that it went extremely well.  Trust colleagues observed lessons, spoke to children and to staff and looked through books.  

    The children were great.  They were so complimentary about Friarswood.  Every child they spoke to said how much they love coming to school and how much they care for the staff as well as the staff caring for them.  One child said ‘We have a bond!’  The culture of Friarswood was evident everywhere they went.

    They were impressed with the teaching and learning and gave some suggestions for us to try.  The phonics and early years were classed as exceptional.

    A huge thank you to everyone for making Friarswood such a special place to learn.

     

    Uniform shop
    It’s coming up to that time of year when we start to think about uniforms for next year, which is always expensive.  Please remember our uniform shop.  Over the next few Fridays, we will have the uniform under the veranda.  There are so many jumpers, cardigans, trousers, skirts etc.  Feel free to take whatever you need.  It could save you a lot of money.

     

    Have a great weekend everyone.

    Take care and stay safe.

    Mrs Wilmer

     

    Upcoming Dates
     

    New parent's meeting

    19.06.25
    6 pm

    For all new parents with children starting Reception and Nursery in September. 
    Year 2 trip 25.06.25 Middleport Pottery
    Church visit  26.06.25 Reception and Year 1
    Stay and Play 

    26.06.25 
    3:30 -4 pm

    New starters for September in our Early Years classes.
    Summer Fayre 27.06.25 After school 
    Move up morning  03.07.25 All classes will move up to their next year group to have the morning with their new teachers. 
    Summer Show - Annie

    2.7.25 5pm

    4.7.25 1:30pm

    Send ticket orders to Mrs Hughes in a named envelope. £5 each
    Keele University visit  08.07.25 Year 5 and Year 6
    Colour Run  09.7.25 Everyone to come in PE kits please.
    Career Fair 10.07.25 Year 5 and Year 6
    Year 6 Leavers assembly 16.7.25
    2 pm
    Parents of our Year 6 leavers are invited to join us.
    Celebration of Learning  16.7.25 
    3.30 pm
    Parents are welcomed into classrooms to see what wonderful learning has happened this year.
    Last Day 18.07.25 School closes for the summer holidays.

     

     

    Read More

June 2025