Dear Parents and Carers,
We have only been back for two and a half weeks and the school year is already in full swing: our Extra-Time clubs have started, the first Rugby fixtures have taken place, our German exchange partners have arrived safely, and we are busy preparing for this year’s Open Evening in two weeks’ time.
Sharing and celebrating what we do and who we are
We would like to make it easier for you to see the wealth of enrichment and learning opportunities that opens up to our students when they join Chipping Norton School. For this reason, we are currently reviewing our online presence. We will continue to use Facebook, our website and the Headteacher’s letter to communicate. However, we have decided that Twitter/X no longer aligns with our values as a school, so instead we will open up a new communication channel via BlueSky. I will share further details with you in my next letter.
Along with sharing and celebrating our students’ achievements in school, we are equally keen to celebrate any acts of courage, creativity, curiosity and compassion that take place outside the school gates. We have created a new, dedicated email address at [email protected]. This allows you to send a picture and brief description of any achievements that you would like to share as we know how inspiring this is for all members of our community.
To get the ball rolling, I would like to highlight the incredible compassion and courage shown by two of our students who took part in the Richmond Runfest last weekend. Year 13 students Lucy and Chloe competed in their first ever 10k for their chosen charity, British Heart Foundation, and raised £1300. Congratulations and what testament to our values in action!
Attendance & Belonging
You may have seen recent government research in the news which shows a clear link between early absence in the school year and long-term persistent absence. Statistically, over half of students who are absent in the first few weeks will go on to miss more than a tenth of their education, which equates to 20 days of missed learning per year. Early gaps in attendance also lead to greater difficulties in forming stable and secure relationships during students’ school career – further evidence for the importance of our school target of no more than 5 days absence per year.
Upcoming events:
Tuesday 23 – Thursday 25 September: Meet the Tutor Evenings (5-8pm):
I hope that you have secured an appointment to meet or speak to your child’s tutor next week. They will be able to provide you with an initial impression of how the year has begun, and you will likewise be able to share any information that will help the tutors or teachers support your child. A booking link was sent out earlier this week via email – please use https://cnsptc.schoolcloud.co.uk/ to access the booking page if you haven’t done so already.
Wednesday 24 September: Head Teacher’s Question Time (5.30-6.30pm) in school: Please register your interest in attending via this link: https://forms.gle/ruTXUihjajsRiSwg6 and indicate the question or area you would like to discuss. Currently, uniform and SEND are at the top of the agenda of submitted responses.
Thursday 2 October: Open Evening for Year 6 parents (5-8 pm): Permission requests for student ambassadors and guides have now gone out and I would like to ask you to ensure they are returned in a timely fashion so that we can show off our biggest asset – our students!
Message from our School Health Nurses, Kylie Mighty and Wendy Bull:
Our ChatHealth texting service now supports both young people (11–19) and their parents or carers, making it the primary contact point for advice. Available during term time and school holidays, ChatHealth offers confidential advice from a School Health Nurse. Text 07312263084 anytime and receive a reply within 24 hours, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm (excluding bank holidays). We provide guidance on health, wellbeing, and parenting.
I look forward to meeting you at any of the events listed above, and would like to repeat my invitation to come and say hello when you are in school. Have a good weekend!
Yours faithfully,
Bertram Richter
Headteacher
