School News 20th April 2026
- rpurshouse
- 23 hours ago
- 5 min read
Monday 20th April 2026
Headteacher's Message
Dear Families,
I hope you all enjoyed a lovely two‑week break together and had the opportunity to spend time as a family, exploring, resting, and creating special memories.
As we return to school, I would like to warmly welcome everyone back for the summer term. This is a particularly important and busy term for all of our pupils, as they begin to prepare for the next step in their learning journey, whether that be moving year groups, transitioning into Key Stage 2 or Key Stage 3, or developing the confidence and independence needed for future learning.
Attendance during this term is vital. School works extremely hard to plan and deliver a wide range of learning opportunities that support pupils’ progress and preparation, including high‑quality classroom learning, PSHE, assessments, and targeted support. This includes key statutory assessments such as Year 6 SATs, the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check, and the Key Stage 1 Phonics Screening, alongside many other important experiences across the curriculum.
Being in school every day ensures that children can fully access these opportunities, maintain learning routines, and feel confident and prepared as the year progresses.
As always, we value our strong partnership with families. If you have any concerns about your child or their attendance, please do not hesitate to contact the school office, who will be happy to support you.
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to another positive and successful term together.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs R. Purshouse
Headteacher
Safeguarding is Everyone's responsibility
Please follow the link to a short video, created with our amazing pupils, which explores the important difference between friendship fallouts and bullying. It helps children to recognise that disagreements and changes in friendships can happen naturally, while also highlighting when behaviour becomes repeated, intentional, and harmful.
It would be wonderful if you could watch the video with your child to reinforce the key messages shared, particularly around letting a trusted adult in school know so that any concerns can be addressed swiftly.
After watching, we encourage you to talk with your child about who they would feel comfortable speaking to in school if they were worried, and to remind them that we are always here to listen and help. If you have any concerns or questions following the video, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
At Goldthorn Park Primary School our door is always open. If you have any concerns about a child or
family, please contact the school. We are here to listen and help provide the support you need.
Proud to Achieve association for PE Accreditation
We are delighted to share that our school has achieved Association for Physical Education (afPE) accreditation, recognising our strong commitment to high‑quality physical education and enriching opportunities for sport and physical activity for all pupils.
As part of the accreditation process, afPE assessors noted that, “The school provides a safe haven for learning” and highlighted how “a plethora of activities and strategies are used to engage and develop children.” This reflects our inclusive approach to PE, where all children are supported to build confidence, skills, and a lifelong enjoyment of being active.
The accreditation also praised our Early Years provision, stating that “EYFS provides a strong foundation for the improvement of physical skills and language and communication development.” We are particularly proud of this recognition, as it demonstrates the importance we place on strong foundations from the very start of a child’s learning journey.
This achievement celebrates the enthusiasm of our pupils and the dedication of our staff, and reinforces our commitment to ensuring every child thrives physically, socially, and emotionally through high‑quality physical education.
For more information about PE at Goldthorn Park Primary please follow this link: PE | Goldthorn Park
Celebrating Learning About Other Faiths
We have had a wonderful time across school recently celebrating and deepening our learning about different faiths, helping our pupils to grow in understanding, respect, and appreciation of the diverse world around them.
As part of their learning about the Hindu faith, Year 5 were fortunate to welcome one of our parents into school. They spoke with the children about Hinduism, sharing valuable personal insights and experiences, and helping to bring their learning to life in a meaningful and memorable way.
The whole school came together to celebrate the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi, and it truly was an amazing and enriching day for everyone. The children took part in a special assembly led by a spiritual leader, who introduced them to a range of Sikh artefacts, including the kirpan (sword) and kara, deepening their understanding of Sikh beliefs and traditions.
Following the assembly, the children enjoyed some creative downtime, making beautiful Vaisakhi cards for their friends and family. It was lovely to see their thoughtful designs and kind messages. To finish the day, pupils watched an engaging video about Vaisakhi which helped to reinforce and extend their learning in an accessible way.
We also loved seeing the children dressed in their beautiful clothes, including royal blue, orange, and traditional outfits – they looked fantastic and added to the joyful atmosphere of the celebration.
It has been a truly wonderful experience, and we are proud of how thoughtfully and enthusiastically our pupils continue to engage with learning about different faiths and cultures.
For more information about Religious Education at Goldthorn Park Primary please follow this link: RE | Goldthorn Park
The Importance of Good Attendance
Regular school attendance plays a vital role in every child’s learning, progress, and overall development. Children who attend school consistently are more likely to achieve strong academic outcomes, while also developing essential skills such as resilience, routine, and confidence that support their future success.
At Goldthorn Park Primary School, we are committed to working in close partnership with our families to ensure every child attends school regularly, arrives on time, and is ready to learn each day.
Key Attendance Information
Attendance below 96% is considered low
Attendance below 90% means a child is classed as Persistently Absent
By continuing to support one another and prioritising attendance wherever possible, we can ensure that every child has the very best opportunity to flourish and reach their full potential.
Ms Tolley
(Deputy Headteacher & Attendance Lead)
Whole School | 93.44% |
Year Group | Attendance % |
Reception | 91.82% |
Year 1 | 92.63% |
Year 2 | 92.13% |
Year 3 | 94.58% |
Year 4 | 92.70% |
Year 5 | 94.50% |
Year 6 | 94.07% |
Autumn Term 2025 Term Time: Monday 1st September 2025 - Friday 19th December 2025
Monday 1st September 2025 - INSET Day school CLOSED to children
Tuesday 2nd September 2025 - INSET Day school CLOSED to children
Autumn Half Term - Monday 27th October - Friday 31st October 2025
Spring Term 2026 Term Time: Monday 5th January 2026 - Friday 27th March 2026
Spring Half Term Holiday - Monday 16th February - Friday 20th February 2026
Monday 23rd February 2026 - INSET Day school CLOSED to children
Summer Term 2026 Term Time: Monday 13th April 2026 - Monday 20th July 2026
Monday 20th April 2026 - Year 4 SPARKs visit into school.
Monday 4th May 2026 - Bank Holiday school CLOSED to children.
Wednesday 6th May 2026 - Year 5 Assembly.
Thursday 7th May 2026 - Polling Day School CLOSED to children (apart from Year 6 a.m.)
Friday 8th May 2026 - Marvellous Mapwork at GP
Monday 11th May 2026 - Year 6 SATs week - ALL YEAR 6 in.
Friday 15th May 2026 - Year 6 Celebration Circus Day
Monday 18th May 2026 - Walk to School Week.
Tuesday 19th May 2026 - Choir event.
Tuesday 19th May 2026 - Year 4 Rainforest Roadshow visitor in school
Half Term Holiday Monday 25th May 2026 - Friday 29th May 2026
Friday 5th June 2026 - Year 3 Assembly
Friday 12th June 2026 - Day of Welcome
Monday 15th June - Friday 19th June 2026 - Refugee Week
Friday 19th June 2026 - INSET Day school CLOSED to children
Wednesday 24th May 2026 - Year 4 Assembly.
Monday 29th June 2026 - Year 4/ Year 6 Bikeability
Tuesday 30th June 2026 - Year 1 Trip.
Friday 3rd July 2026 - Year 3 Trip
Monday 21st July 2026 - INSET Day school CLOSED to children
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