Rudgwick School News

Vacancy for Headteacher

Simon Harrison — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:55:06 GMT

We are seeking to appoint a new, permanent headteacher from Spring term 2011; for furter details please see the attached advertisment:

Rudgwick Headteacher Advert - Aug 10

Well Done Sarah .........

rudgwickadmin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:38:48 GMT

We have heard through the grapevine that Sarah Bargman has successfully completed her quest to cycle 178 miles from London to Paris to raise money towards our new build project. Hopefully more details and photos will follow, in the meantime if you haven't donated and wish to do so please go to Sarah's page on just giving: http://www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Bargman-London-Paris-Bike-Ride

Thank you Sarah.

Greenhouse Update

rudgwickadmin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 21:47:11 GMT

Attached below is an update on our fantastic greenhouse being built from recycled bottles - 460 so far and another 1000 needed! As well as details of how to drop off bottles over the Summer holiday, we are sure there could be loads due to all the hot weather, there are some great photos of the greenhouse!

Greenhouse Update Poster

Thank You from Lawrence

rudgwickadmin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:00:41 GMT

The following message is from Lawrence Caughlin to everybody at Rudgwick Primary School:

"Thank You

I would like to thank all the parents and children for my lovely gifts - they couldn't have been better - my golf has to improve now.

I am also very grateful for all the positive comments and messages of support - it is very gratifying.

I shall miss Rudgwick Primary hugely and I will always hold fond memories of this very special place.

I wish you all the best for the future.

Lawrence Caughlin"

Change of Headteacher

rudgwickadmin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:00:00 GMT

We are able to confirm that Lawrence Caughlin will be leaving Rudgwick at the end of this term to take up his new post as Headteacher at Swiss Gardens Primary in Shoreham. We are very sorry to be losing Lawrence; our loss is very much Swiss Gardens’ gain.

The Governing Body is actively recruiting for a replacement for Lawrence and will be advertising for a permanent Headteacher as soon as possible in the Autumn term with the intention of making an appointment for January 2011. In the meantime, the interim Headteacher will be Miss Katharine Hikmet from St Robert Southwell in Horsham.

Simon Harrison

Chair of Governors

Ofsted Report Published

rudgwickadmin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:27:25 GMT

Rudgwick Primary School pupils and staff are celebrating following an excellent recent OFSTED inspection.

The school was rated as Good overall with several outstanding areas which were – The extent to which pupils feel safe/ The extent to which pupils adopt healthy lifestyles / the extent of pupils’ spiritual, moral ,social and cultural development / The effectiveness of care, guidance and support/ The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement/ The leadership of teaching and learning/ The effectiveness of the school’s engagement with parents and carers/ the effectiveness of partnerships in promoting learning and well – being/ the effectiveness with which the school promotes equality of opportunity and tackles discrimination.

The report states 'Good relationships between adults and pupils and among the pupils themselves are at the heart of the school’s work. Pupils are confident and exceptionally welcoming, reflecting the extremely high quality of care, support and guidance they receive. They make good progress because they are taught well'.

It goes on to say 'the school has made good improvements since the last inspection'.

Lawrence Caughlin, Headteacher, said "we are all delighted with the report which reflects the wonderful children we have at Rudgwick, the high level of commitment by all staff to the care and progress of our pupils and our strong sense of community".

Simon Harrison, Chair of Governors, added "As a Governing Body we too are delighted with the report which shows a significant improvement in standards in all areas. These improvements are without doubt due to the leadership of Lawrence Caughlin and the leadership team, the very able support and hard work of all the staff and the fantastic efforts of our children and their parents".

A copy of the School Ofsted Report - Jun 10 is available on the school website.

May Fair 2010

rudgwickadmin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 10:42:16 GMT

Under a clear blue sky the May Fair opened with a fantastic and colourful display with all the children in the school dressed in their class colour and carrying a decorated staff (stick that is not a teacher!). The children then formed an archway through which the May King and Queen (Jack and Sophie) processed to be crowned. Each class then performed a traditional May dance after which the fair was truly underway.

A huge thank you to evryone who took part on the day, especially the PTA committee and Mrs Spring; early reports suggest we raised some £1,800.

New Build - Planning Application Submitted

rudgwickadmin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:47:55 GMT

A key step in the new build project has been taken! We have now submitted an application for planning permission for the proposed new building; this has been confirmed as received by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and is now proceeding through the consultation process with all interested parties including Horsham District Council (HDC) and Rudgwick Parish Council.

If you would like to see details of the apllication these may be viewed via the WSCC website: this direct link, takes you straight to the relevant page; from there you can submit comments and support for this project. Ahere is also an opportunity to comment on the HDC website: this direct link, takes you straight to the relevant page.

Please do visit these websites and submit your comments and support; all received will be taken into account when the application is considered.

School Open - 11 Jan 10

Simon Harrison — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 11:33:02 GMT

Thanks to the fantastic efforts of the working party on Sunday 10th the school will be open on Monday 11 Jan 10 (subject to no major dump of snow overnight!!)

It is still very tricky bringing vehicles close to the school so would ask that if at all possible please walk to school until Queen Elizabeth Road has been cleared. If you have to come by car on the 11th we will be operating a "walking shuttle bus" from the junction of Queen Elizabeth Road and Church Street from 0820hrs onwards; so please drop your child(ren) there and we will supervise them into school.

As it is likely the children will be playing on the snow covered field during break times, please ensure they are dressed appropriately i.e. welly boots, gloves, coat, hat etc

Finally a huge thank you to all those who so willingly turned up and helped to clear the snow, we couldn't have done it without you. Special mention must go to Tim Bargman for bringing his tractor and snow plough; this really helped speed things up and reduce the amount of hand shovelling required.

School Closed - 8 Jan 10 - Update

Simon Harrison — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:18:32 GMT

Please be assured we are making every effort to open the school again on Monday 11th.

As well as clearing the approach road and path to the school we need to clear all the paths around the buildings to ensure all can access and exit the buildings safely. It is proposed to have a working party of volunteers to carry out this essential work - if you are able to help please do turn up with shovel or spade! Start time 1030hrs.

A further announcement regarding opening the school will be made on Sunday afternoon.

School Closed - 8 Jan 10

Simon Harrison — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:13:51 GMT

We regret to inform you all that the school will again remain closed for all day tomorrow (Friday 8th January) due to the continued difficulty in accessing the school using Queen Elizabeth Road and Tates Way. It was hoped road conditions would have improved sufficiently to allow the school to open again tomorrow but this has not happened. Please be assured we will be making every effort to open the school again on Monday 11th. We will update the website accordingly Sunday evening.

School Closed - 7 Jan 10

Simon Harrison — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:13:10 GMT

The school will remain closed for all day tomorrow due to the continued difficulty in travelling by road which is likely to worsen overnight due to predicted frost conditions. It is hoped road conditions will have improved sufficiently to allow the school to open on Fri 8 Jan 10; we will update the website accordingly tomorrow evening.

School Closed - 6 Dec 10

Simon Harrison — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:51:55 GMT

As you may have guessed the school is closed today, Wed 6 Jan 10, due to the snow making access near impossible. We will keep you updated and advise about opening tomorrow later on today or early tomorrow.

Stop Press: The school will also be closed all day Thu 7 Jan 10.

Quality Assurance Mark for Early Years

Simon Harrison — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:16:15 GMT

We are delighted to have been awarded the Early Years Quality Assurance Mark. This award recognises the quality of our early years provision, and took several years work to achieve.

A number of different modules had to be completed and verified. These included ‘Welcomes, Farewells and Transitions’, ‘Meals, Snacks and Celebrations’ and ‘Working Together as a Team’. Working through these modules has given us an opportunity to evaluate what we do and to embrace new experiences. We introduced a self-registration system that has now continued into Years 1 and 2. We aim for 80% of activities to be self-initiated by the children. In Reception children can free-flow between the classroom and the outside area. The module, ‘Making the Most of the Outdoors’ focused our attention on how we could ensure that the unique nature of the outdoor environment offered our children opportunities to explore, invent and experience on a larger scale. We were able to almost double the size of our outside learning space by incorporating a large sloping grass area. This has provided the children with countless opportunities to create and investigate, which have included making a log pile for mini-beasts, and constructing ‘rain catchers’ and dens. The children are now able to access the whole curriculum both indoors and out.

The action plans we developed in order to attain the quality assurance mark will continue to help us implement the early years foundation stage in the future.

South Downs Challenge - A Great Success

Simon Harrison — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:04:00 GMT

News from the intrepid hike that lasted from 20th to 23rd August 2009 during which the team walked 100 miles from Winchester to Eastbourne, ascending and descending the equivlant height of Ben Nevis. The team of nine were 'outstanding', the scenery was fantastic and the weather wasn't bad either!

We are grateful for your support to the team who, for the school and the village bio-diversity project, have raised (to date) a staggering £945 out of a target of £1000. If you wish to, donations can still be made via the 'just giving website'.

Photos from the 'event' can be found in the photo gallery of the same name.