A Message from Mrs Peace
Please click the button below for Mrs Peace’s letter.
Please click the button below for Mrs Peace’s letter.
Another amazing week at Portland!
We told you about our Time to Talk Coffee Morning!
Pupils from Year 4 and 5 attended the Fundamentals Festival and had a great time.
Our Pathfinders Project went down a scary path with Year 6!
Oak class embarked on a Jungle Safari this week!
Year 5 got to meet some Tranmere Rovers superstars to talk about mental health1
Our first gymnastics session was a hit!
We were very grateful to Lisa, who gave great advice about mental health.
Anti-bullying Ambassadors proving to be excellent role models; working with Tranmere Rovers; an unusual winner of our Headteacher’s Award and some practical work in class – another great week.
Oak class showed off their skills in Design Technology!
As you will be aware, many of the nation’s teachers are out on strike on Wednesday 1st February 2023.
This does affect our academy and consequently a significant number of our classes will be closed to all pupils.
Only our Year 6 and Year 1 classes will be open on Wednesday.
If your child attends wraparound care everyday and you would like one of our limited school places available, please contact the School Office.
This letter outlines the school’s plans for Wednesday 1st February ONLY. Other National Education Union (NEU) strike days are as follows:
Tuesday 28th February/Wednesday 1st March
Wednesday 15th March
Thursday 16th March
We are currently working on plans to keep our academy open for as many pupils as possible, but our academy may be affected in a different way next time.
We’re aware that this is a cause for concern for everyone, but we will do everything we can to ensure that learning continues when these strikes take place.
Please remember to alert the office by 10am on Tuesday 31st January if you would like to collect a packed lunch for your child on free school meals on the Strike Day.
Yours sincerely,
What a week we’ve had!
Year 5 and Year 6 enjoyed an amazing day out in Anglesey!
What a week! We have enjoyed football; boxing; the continued success of our Community Shop…and there is still time for new families to join us for an incredible school experience.
Year 3 and Year 4 enjoyed a fantastic football session with Tranmere Rovers!
Dear Parent/Carer,
It is that time of year again when we say goodbye to our children and families for a little while whilst we evaluate the year and plan for the next stage of our academy’s development towards becoming a GOOD school.
I hope you can see the changes that are being made to put learning and education at the heart of our community and really impact positively on our children’s decisions in life.
I have appointed high-quality, high-energy new teachers to join our experienced team in delivering a dynamic and fast-paced curriculum, and a new comprehensive programme of creative arts, music and sports.
A trauma-informed approach to our Behaviour Policy and investment into our play-times is also currently underway, along with the development of a clear staffing structure to support our parents with their queries.
Below is a slideshow that contains detailed information about the upcoming Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check.
If you would like to know more, or if you have any questions, please contact us and we will be happy to help.
Dear Parent/Carer of Year 6 pupil,
As you may be aware, from Monday 9th May our Year 6 pupils will sit their end of Key Stage examinations – otherwise known as their SATs.
Our children have worked exceptionally hard for these tests and are ready and prepared to have a jolly good go at them. There may be butterflies in the tummies of our children but this just means that they care; and it is a great life skill to be able to overcome those feelings of nerves and anxiety and push through.
8:30am start for breakfast together
Mrs Ali, Mr Ogilivie and Mrs Mumford invite your son, daughter or ward for breakfast everyday (Monday to Thursday) to calm the nerves and celebrate this very special time together.
Please ensure that your child is at school for this slightly earlier time if possible, but the start of the school day at 8:55am is also acceptable.
Please do not be late.
Lots of rest at bedtime and be on time for school
Please support your child to get a good night’s sleep before their tests and that they are not over stimulated with games, phones or devices until late into the night.
Not only do these tests support us in demonstrating progress to reach our goal of being an outstanding academy eventually, but the results are passed onto your child’s high school and may determine sets or groupings in Year 7.
It is so important for these tests to reflect the ability of your child so that their new high school teachers can support them as best as they can, especially after a significant loss to learning in recent years due to Covid.
No phones please and no smart watches
Mrs Ali and the team request that phones and smart watches are not brought to school at all from Monday please (or they are checked in at the office upon arrival), because if a phone or smart watch is accidentally left on their person it could lead to cheating accusation where all results would be void (not counted).
Keep in touch with us
As the week progresses, there may be something you want us to be aware of or request support in helping your child in for their SATs tests. We can help. Please keep in touch with us via the School Office on 652 5124.
Please do not allow your child to miss these SATs tests.
Timetable
It feels like a whole week of tests is ahead for our Year 6 children but there are actually only six tests to complete. Most of them are first thing in the morning and the whole process is over by midday on Thursday.
Please help us to reassure your children that this is very doable if we look after each other and ‘have a go’. Do not miss any of the tests as this will have a huge impact on the final results.
Date | SAT information | Start Time | Finish Time | Duration |
Monday 9th May | English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling(Paper 1 Questions) | 09:30 | 10:15 | 45 minutes |
English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling(Paper 2: Spelling) | 11:00 | 11:15 | 15 minutes *The test is not strictly timed |
|
Tuesday 10th May | English Reading | 09:30 | 10:30 | 60 minutes |
Wednesday 11th May | Mathematics: Paper 1 Arithmetic | 09:30 | 10:00 | 30 minutes |
Mathematics: Paper 2 Reasoning | 11:00 | 11:40 | 40 minutes | |
Thursday 12th May | Mathematics: Paper 3 Reasoning | 09:30 | 10:10 | 40 minutes |
Access Arrangements
Some children will be receiving extra time (25%), transcription, touch-typing or regular prompting in line with their personal support plans and educational needs. Parents/carers will be notified by the class teacher if an access arrangement is in place for their child.
Good times ahead
If we have 100% attendance for all of these statutory tests, we have arranged a number of exciting events over the summer term to give our Year 6 pupils the send-off they deserve. This includes an overnight sleepover called ‘under the stars’, a leaver’s BBQ, campfire cooking, use of the MSE inflatables, film and popcorn and possibly a Year 6 production to end the year on a super high.
Please do help us to make this summer a great success for your child and feel part of the Portland pack, which means a few days of knuckling down and working hard on these tests.
Results will be sent home around the last week of the summer term.
Thank you for your continued help and support and for preparing your child to be the best that they can be.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs C Peace
Headteacher
Dear Parent/Carer of Year 2 pupil,
As you may be aware, May is the month that our Year 2 pupils sit their end of Key Stage examinations – otherwise known as their SATs.
Our children have worked exceptionally hard for these tests and are ready and prepared to have a jolly good go at them. There may be butterflies in the tummies of our children but this just means that they care; and it is a great life skill to be able to overcome those feelings of nerves and anxiety and push through.
Please don’t be late
Miss Munnerley has worked very hard to plan for these tests being completed in a non-threatening, non-dramatic and calm manner. In fact, a lot of the school day will look the same for our Year 2 children but with some independent challenges thrown in.
We do need your help though with one important aspect – punctuality. Please ensure that your child is at school for the start of the school day at 8:55am every day.
Keep in touch with us
As the month of May progresses, there may be something you want us to be aware of or request support in helping your child in for their SATs tests. We can help. Please keep in touch with us via the School Office on 652 5124.
Please do not allow your child to miss time from their school day.
Timetable
Unlike the Year 6 tests, we don’t have a published timetable as we want these tests to be as low-key as possible and simply part of normal school life. If your child does mention them, or appears anxious, please do reassure them that tests are a life skill and a very big part of school life. And to just try your best.
Any problems or concerns please contact the School Office on 652 5124. Thank you for your continued help and support and for preparing your child to be the best that they can be.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs C Peace
Headteacher
Dear Parent / Carer,
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share with our pupils, parents and community that Mrs Allen will be leaving Co-op Academy Portland at the end of this term, her last day with us being Friday 8th April.
Mrs Allen has worked at the school for over 25 years and I know that many of you will have been taught by her.
She will be hugely missed at Portland and will leave a gaping hole in our school community with the warmth, love and support she offers her colleagues, our families and our pupils.
Please join me in wishing Mrs Allen all the luck in the world in her new adventures.
Thank you Mrs Allen for everything you have done for us!
Yours sincerely,
Mrs C Peace
Headteacher
Below is a link that contains detailed information about the upcoming SATs.
If you would like to know more, or if you have any questions, please contact us and we will be happy to help.