Page 5 - Ad Astra Trust Newsletter 2025

Barnard Grove Primary

What a year it has been, and it seems like such a short period of time since I was writing to you in the
last Trust Newsletter. As our journey continues, our collective ambition is to strive to be at the heart
of our wonderful community, providing our children and families with a school they can be proud of...
and call home.
At the start of November, we welcomed Ofsted into Barnard Grove. After several years without an inspection, our staff
and children relished the opportunity to show what it means to be part of our school. We’re delighted to continue to be a
‘Good’ school, which has now been the case for over twenty years. As schools, and the way they are inspected, continue to
change, to consistently be able to offer an excellent education, year-after-year, should never be taken for granted. However,
whatever measures are used to judge us, the fi rst paragraph of our fi nal report says it all:
“ Pupils are proud to attend Barnard Grove Primary School. They feel happy, safe and valued here. Parents
explain that the school feels like a family. This reflected in the warm relationships between staff and pupils.

Pupils are keen to make their teachers proud. They work hard and achieve well.”
Academically, last year was exceptional. Thanks to the hard work of everyone, every
key measure – Good Level of Development in Reception, Year 1 Phonics, Year 4
Multiplication Tables Check and Year 6 SATs – our results improved from the previous
year. Impressively, in the Multiplication Tables Check, our children’s achievements
were in the top 8% of schools in the country; Year 6 Reading was
in the top 15%; Year 6 Writing in the top 17%; and Year 6 Grammar, Punctuation
and Spelling in the top 13%.
Although, correctly, there always needs to be an eye on children’s academic skills, particularly in English and maths,
achievement, both at an individual and school level, is measured in so many different ways. One of the fi ve key curriculum
principles is that we are inclusive, celebrating diversity and respecting everyone in society. Our school’s core ethos is
driven by this. The Barnard Grove Way is about nurturing every child, spotting talents, supporting, enriching, challenging,
aspiring and making sure everyone has a sense of worth.
Enriching children’s learning is a key component in our work. As well as fostering a love of learning, trips outside of school,
or activities where we get out of the classroom around our school site, enhance teamwork and togetherness. Throughout
the year, we’ve seen excellent examples of our children showing empathy and leadership skills, or excellent knowledge of
the Vikings at the Jorvik Centre, or a love of castles after visiting Raby Castle. A child’s achievements in these areas is as
important as any SATs result and will always be celebrated.
At the start of the year, our Year 6s enjoyed their annual residential trip to Robinwood. This is always such an important
part of our school year, for both staff and children, as relationships are fostered, and everyone gets taken out of their
comfort zones, in a safe and supportive way. For the fi rst time, Year 4 are also going on a residential trip this year, to the
Lake District, where they’ll enjoy lots of (wet and muddy) activities.
Our sporting offer continues to thrive, both for children who want to participate and take up a new hobby, or for those
children who have a competitive streak. We’ve had cluster, and subsequent Town, success in tag rugby, indoor athletics,
dodgeball, football and basketball. At regional level, our girls’ tag rugby Team fi nished 4th in the Tees Valley and our
athletics team fi nished 4th at the same level. After recently becoming Tees Valley champions at dodgeball, our children
have qualifi ed for the North East Dodgeball Championship.

Being at the heart of our community is key to our school’s success and helps provide us all with a sense of belonging. We
continue to support good causes, but we’ve also been supported by local businesses and families too, receiving generous
donations to purchase puddle suits for our Reception children, enabling them to further enjoy the outside spaces, and Mr Walker
funding to support end-of-year activities. We’re extremely thankful to have such supportive ‘neighbours’.
Although we’ll all be ready for a break in the summer, there’s no doubt 2025-2026 is going to be another fantastic year
for us at Barnard Grove.

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