Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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Academy Conversion Consultaion Meeting
Mon 29 Jun 2020Dear Parents and Carers,
The correspondence below was posted to you all individually on Friday 26th June along with an annual school report for your child or children. Hopefully this will have been received by today. I just wanted to ensure that the information has reached you safely, hence the additional distribution via Ping. A copy has also been added to our ‘Latest News’ section on our webpage, where you can translate into any language at the click of a button.
Proposed Conversion of Marshfield Primary School to Academy Status
I write to inform you of the proposed intention of the school to become an academy, and joining the Carlton Academy Trust (CAT).
The school has achieved much over recent years, and the logical next step is to build on this by joining CAT, where Marshfield will lead the development of primary schools within the trust. This will in effect enable the creation of a Marshfield Multi-Academy Primary Trust, a very exciting prospect that would not be available to us as a stand-alone school.
As part of this process we will be formally consulting with all key stakeholders on the nature of these proposed changes. Parents are one such key group, and to provide you with greater details of the changes we have arranged two parent and carers’ consultation meetings to be held on Monday 13 July. There will be two sessions, one starting at 4pm and a second at 5pm. Refreshments will be served and translators will be available. We will also ensure social distancing guidance and requirements are fulfilled at all times.
With Covid-19, we have to take additional precautions to plan for any event in school. In view of this, if you wish to attend the meeting, please can you contact school by 3 p.m. on Wednesday 8th July, so that we can make any necessary arrangements.
A list of frequently asked questions is included overleaf relating to the conversion, which should hopefully answer most or all of your questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Academy?
An academy is a state school that is out of local authority control, being funded directly by central government. Rather than being accountable to the local authority, they are directly accountable to the Department for Education. This provides greater freedoms to innovate and lead to improve teaching and learning and standards at the school. This is a well-established process within Bradford and the country, with over 5500 primary academies in England at the end of 2019.
What is a Multi-Academy Trust? (MAT)
A MAT is the legal framework to lead a group of academies who share a common sense of ethos and vision. The trust will also enable the academies to support each other in developing and sharing best practice, staffing and resources.
Which MAT will we be joining?
The Carlton Academy Trust. This is a Bradford based MAT, which has grown out of the success of Carlton Bolling, an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted-rated secondary school who were named ‘Secondary School of the Year’ in the 2019 BBC/Pearson National Teaching Awards.
What is the proposed academy conversion date?
The proposed conversion date is January 1st 2021.
Who has proposed the move to academy status?
This is a move that has been proposed by senior leaders at Marshfield, backed by governors and approved by the Department for Education in May. The move will facilitate improved standards at the school, as well as far greater scope for Marshfield to influence practice within and beyond the city with all the advantages that brings.
Will I see big changes at the school when they convert to academy status?
No, the daily experience for your child will remain the same. There are no plans to change school uniforms, staff, classrooms, signage or similar with a move in to the trust. Most changes will be behind the scenes in the administration of the school which serve to support improved teaching and learning.
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Return to School Year 5 and Year 4
Wed 24 Jun 2020Dear Parents and Carers,
Hope you are all safe and well and looking forward to the return of some kind of normality which seems to be positively appearing across the horizon.
I would like to begin by saying a huge thank you to our children in Year 6 and Year 1 who have returned to school over the last few weeks. It has been so lovely hearing their laughter and excitement in class as they learn alongside their peers. They have adjusted magnificently to our social distancing and health and safety producers. Parents and carers to also be commended for lining up beautifully each morning and demonstrating high levels of confidence and resilience.
Through teacher phone calls, those parents and carers with children in Year 5 will already be aware that their children can return to school on Monday 29th June. Similarly, Year 4 parents and carers will also be receiving individual phone calls next week and their date of return is scheduled for Monday 6th July.
In Summary
School will open for Year 5 children on Monday 29th June
School will start at 9:30 a.m. to allow a controlled and staggered arrival with key worker children and other year groups already attending school. Following the same reasoning school will finish at 2:15 p.m. School will close at midday on Friday afternoon to enable teachers to have their PPA time.
School will open for Year 4 children on Monday 6th July
School will start at 9:45 a.m. to allow a controlled and staggered arrival with key worker children and other year groups already attending school. Following the same reasoning school will finish at 2.45 p.m. School will close at 12:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon to enable teachers to have their PPA time.
Arrangements for key worker children and other vulnerable groups will remain exactly the same.
For all children the following measures will be put in place:
- Making sure that children do not attend if they or a member of their household has symptoms of coronavirus.
- Promoting regular hand washing for 20 seconds with running water and soap or use of sanitiser and ensuring good respiratory hygiene by promoting the catch it, bin it, kill it approach.
- Cleaning more frequently to ensure that the virus doesn't settle on frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles, handrails, table tops, play equipment and toys.
- Minimising contact through smaller classes or group sizes (of no more than 10 children) and altering the environment as much as possible, such as changing the layout of classrooms. School will only be open for Year 6, 1, 5 and 4. Siblings in other year groups will not be permitted to attend school.
- Reducing mixing between groups through timetable changes, such as staggered break times and staggered drop-off and collection times.
- Reducing access to the school site. Children will remain in school for the whole day and will not be permitted to go home for lunch. Parents will also only be granted access to the school grounds via invitation only.
- Ensuring social distancing in the school canteen. Children can bring a packed lunch to school. The school canteen will be closed for hot food. However, grab bags will be prepared for children who would prefer a school meal or those children who are entitled to free school meals.
- Reducing the spread of contamination. Own clothes to be worn which are fresh on – we recommend putting clothes straight in the washing machine once returning home from school to minimise and control the spread of infection. Thorough hand washing to take place at home just before leaving the home and returning from school.
Please do not hesitate to contact the school office if you require any further clarification or information. Referring to Boris Johnson’s update last night, it would appear that it could only become statutory for all children to return to school in September at the onset of the new academic year. As much as we would love to have as many children as safely possible returning to school before the end of July, any decision you make will be fully supported 100%. It is not yet compulsory to send your children back to school.
Seems like we are going to be treated to some wonderful weather over the next few days so please enjoy it safely with your families,
Mrs Victoria Hartford
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School Sport Week 2020 at Home
Fri 19 Jun 2020National School Sport Week at Home: Marshfield Primary School backs campaign to ensure no child misses out on sports day
Marshfield Primary School is preparing to join the Youth Sport Trust and Sky Sports to help young people and families up and down the country engage in a week of virtual sporting challenges.
With young people set to miss out on their main school sport day this summer, the Youth Sport Trust is taking its annual National School Sport Week campaign beyond the school gates to parents and families - reinvented as National School Sport Week at Home.
Taking place from 20 to 26 June, the UK-wide campaign will give families, communities, schools and sports clubs the chance to capture the enjoyment, competition and camaraderie they have been missing out on during weeks of school closures and social distancing.
In previous years National School Sport Week has seen thousands of schools join in a week-long celebration of school sport and Physical Education, and their important role enhancing young people’s wellbeing.
This year, Sky Sports has teamed up with the Youth Sport Trust to supercharge the campaign, helping to inspire families across the country to take part. This builds on a long-term relationship between the broadcaster and charity.
Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive Ali Oliver said:
“The Youth Sport Trust is thrilled that Marshfield Primary School is backing National School Sport Week at Home to ensure no child misses out on their school sports day this summer."
“Right now, young people are missing their friends and missing the sense of connection they get through sport. Sport has such a crucial role to play in promoting young people’s wellbeing and this has never been more apparent than it is now. After weeks of isolation we hope that YST National School Sport Week at Home 2020 can help bring families, communities, schools and sports clubs back together.”
Anyone can register to take part and will receive videos and activity cards to help them plan a series of challenges across the week for their families, neighbours, friends or colleagues.
Please click on the link below to register your interest:
https://comms.youthsporttrust.org/l/821183/2020-05-19/5jb5
We will be taking part in the challenge at school so we would love to see what you get up to at home. As always, don't forget to tag us in your photos/videos on Twitter @MarshfieldPS
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Definite Return to School Plan (Year 6 and Year 1)
Fri 12 Jun 2020Dear Parents and Carers,
Hope you are all well and are looking forward to a relaxing weekend with your families, albeit amidst this miserable weather.
Mr Ali and Mr Daykin have contacted all Year 6 parents and carers this week regarding a definite plan to open on Monday 15th June. Similarly, there will also be an attempt to speak to all Year 1 parents individually next week to confirm a definite return to school the following Monday (22nd June). Staff and I are really excited to open our doors to a wider selection of children as we gladly embrace the concept that normality seems to be (eventually) returning a little bit.
Unfortunately, as for the return of the rest of the school, we do not have any concrete plans in place at this stage.
Plans for all England's primary school children to return for a month before the summer break were dropped by the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson on Tuesday 9th June.
I was very disappointed to see how this announcement was handled and the fact that Mr Williamson had built up so many pupils and parents’ expectations about a possible return to school in June.
The announcement means (for most schools) that many primary school children, outside the key worker groups and the year groups already being phased in, will not be back in school until September.
To add to the confusion, Boris Johnson has also announced an ‘exciting summer catch up plan’ for schools over the summer. As of yet, I have recieved no further information regarding this catch up plan; the schools and pupils who may be able to access it and how it is to be financed and implemented. As and when I receive this information I will be in a position to share it with you. As I have already mentioned, staff and I are keen to consider keeping Marshfield Primary School open throughout the summer holidays if finances will support this and it is logistically and safely possible. I will (of course) write to you with any definite plans in due course.
As a parent of two daughters, I understand the anxiety and uncertainty this creates for all our families. Please do not worry about any educational development being lost at home. When it is safe, we will have your children back engrossed in their learning and achieving to the best of their ability, like we always do. Looking at the varied and exciting examples of learning coming in from home, I couldn’t be more proud of your concerted efforts with home schooling.
I thought I would also take this opportunity to make you aware that I have invited a virologist to come into school over the next few weeks to speak to staff and run workshops with children, just to add an extra layer of risk aversion. Using the same reasoning, we are also having thermal fever screening cameras, non-touch access control buttons, and automated hand sanitisers installed throughout the whole school over the next few weeks.
A sincere thank you to all parents for the continued support and understanding you have displayed throughout the last three months.
I cannot wait to see some Year 6 children on Monday morning and for those parents and carers who wish to keep their children at home, you have my 100% support.
Warmest Wishes,
Victoria Hartford
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Wider School Opening Plan
Mon 01 Jun 2020Dear Parents and Carers,
Hope you have all been enjoying this incredible weather we have been experiencing recently.
Having listened carefully to direction from Councillor Imran Khan (Bradford’s Policy Holder for Education);
“Advice from public health has established that in our district, only two of the five tests set by government have currently been met. As a result, the council is concerned that the 1 June date is too soon for the safe return of reception, year one and year six pupils.”
Then through detailed consultation with our governing board, neighbouring MyBD5 Headteachers and the Local Authority; the following course of action has been agreed regarding a phased wider school opening. Again, as with everything at the moment, this plan is only conditional and will depend on updates from the government, Department for Education and Public Health.
School will open for Year 6 children on Monday 15th June
School will start at 9:15 a.m. to allow a controlled and staggered arrival with key worker children and other groups already attending school. Following the same reasoning school will finish at 2:30 p.m. School will close at midday on Friday afternoon to enable teachers to have their PPA time.
School will open for Year 1 children on Monday 22nd June
School will start at 10 a.m. to allow a controlled and staggered arrival with Year 6 children, key worker children and other groups already attending school. Following the same reasoning school will finish at 2 p.m. School will close at 12:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon to enable teachers to have their PPA time.
Arrangements for key worker children and other vulnerable groups will remain exactly the same.
For all children the following measures will be put in place:
- Making sure that children do not attend if they or a member of their household has symptoms of coronavirus.
- Promoting regular hand washing for 20 seconds with running water and soap or use of sanitiser and ensuring good respiratory hygiene by promoting the catch it, bin it, kill it approach.
- Cleaning more frequently to ensure that the virus doesn't settle on frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles, handrails, table tops, play equipment and toys.
- Minimising contact through smaller classes or group sizes (of no more than 10 children) and altering the environment as much as possible, such as changing the layout of classrooms. School will only be open for Year 6 and Year 1 classes (from the onset). Siblings in other year groups will not be permitted to attend school.
- Reducing mixing between groups through timetable changes, such as staggered break times and staggered drop-off and collection times.
- Reducing access to the school site. Children will remain in school for the whole day and will not be permitted to go home for lunch. Parents will also only be granted access to the school grounds via invitation only.
- Ensuring social distancing in the school canteen. Children can bring a packed lunch to school. The school canteen will be closed for hot food. However, grab bags will be prepared for children who would prefer a school meal or those children who are entitled to free school meals.
- Reducing the spread of contamination. Own clothes to be worn which are fresh on – we recommend putting clothes straight in the washing machine once returning home from school to minimise and control the spread of infection. Thorough hand washing to take place at home just before leaving the home and returning from school.
It is NOT COMPULSARY to send your child to school and you will have my full support on whatever you decide is best.
When we have learned from our suggested phase return plans for Year 6 and Year 1, I will write to you regarding the reintegration of other year groups. This situation is completely new to all of us and I am not prepared to make any false promises or reassurances at this stage.
Above all, I will endeavour to ensure that every child has a chance to come back to school before the new academic year and I am currently liaising with staff to see if we can make this possible throughout the six week’s holidays. This way we will not be compromising the safety of children by rushing to have every class back at the same time.
If you have any further questions or enquiries please email or telephone the school office.
Thanks again for your unabridged guidance and support.
Look after yourselves and stay safe,
Victoria Hartford