Headteacher Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

What an incredibly busy and rewarding few weeks we have had at Great Waltham!

Firstly, thank you for your support at Saturday's Summer Fete. It was wonderful to see so many families enjoying this special community event together. The FOGWS outdid themselves once again, creating a fantastic atmosphere with games and stalls for the children, a delicious BBQ, and wonderful music that brought everyone together. We would like to thank the entire FOGWS team, with special recognition to Mrs Mitson, our chair, whose tireless efforts made this event such a success.

Our Key Stage 2 pupils demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination during their trip to Danbury Outdoors on Monday. Despite the challenging heat, they embraced the activities with enthusiasm. We were particularly impressed with the strength and courage they displayed during the climbing wall activity.

We were exceptionally proud of our Year 5 pupils who participated in this year's 'Schools Gotta Dance' festival at the Chelmsford Theatre. Under the expert guidance of Mrs Squier, who choreographed their performance and worked with the children for several weeks, they looked so professional on stage. Their dedication and hard work truly shone through – well done to all the children involved, and our thanks to Mrs Squier for her commitment. Please see below some photos in the news section.

Well done to Class Antarctica who performed a wonderful assembly last Friday. The children's smiling faces, clear voices and lovely singing were definitely the highlights. 

Attendance

I am pleased to report that our whole school attendance remains consistently above the national average of 94.8% – thank you to everyone for your continued support in this area. As we look ahead, I wanted to remind you that May half term presents an excellent opportunity for family holidays. Next year's May half term runs from 23rd May to 2nd June, with pupils returning to school on Wednesday 3rd June. We strategically add two inset days to extend this break, enabling families to take advantage of typically cheaper holiday rates. Please remember that, in line with our attendance policy, we are not able to authorise any term-time holidays.

Staffing News

Some of you would have already met or spoken to Mrs Carroll who has recently joined us in the school office.  We are sure you will join us in making her feel welcome.  

Mrs Barry and Mrs Hamilton are both leaving Great Waltham at the end of this academic year. This news comes with mixed emotions - while we are sad to see them go, we are also excited about the new opportunities that await them.

Both Mrs Barry and Mrs Hamilton have been valued and hard-working members of our team, consistently demonstrating exceptional commitment to our pupils' learning and wellbeing. Please join me in thanking them for their commitment, care, and dedication to the children. I know you will want to wish them the very best of luck as they embark on their exciting new pursuits.

Looking ahead to September, I am pleased to share some positive news about our staffing. Mrs Maher, Mrs Ford and Mrs Bullivant, whom many of you already know, will be joining our team as Learning Support Assistants. Their familiarity with our school community and values will ensure a smooth transition, and I am confident they will be wonderful additions to our team.

We are looking forward to seeing many of you at the KS2 production next week.

Best Wishes,

Mrs Justine Brooks