School News 16th January 2026
- rpurshouse
- Jan 18
- 5 min read
Friday 16th January 2026
Headteacher's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to a brand new year at Goldthorn Park Primary School. I hope you all enjoyed a restful and joyful break over the Christmas period, spending quality time with family and friends. It has been lovely to see the children return with such enthusiasm and readiness for the term ahead.
I would also like to acknowledge the recent spell of severe winter weather, which resulted in the school having to close for a snow day. This decision is never taken lightly, and I want to thank you for your understanding, flexibility, and support in keeping everyone safe.
We have had a wonderfully lively and inspiring start to the term, with our Y2 children diving into their Pirates Inspiration Day Land Ahoy! Year 2 Sets Sail on a Pirate Inspiration Day, Y5 fully immersing themselves in life as Romans, and our EYFS pupils enjoying a magical Teddy Bears’ Picnic Snowstorms, Bear Hunts & Sensory Adventures in Reception! —each event filled with creativity, curiosity, and big smiles. Adding to the excitement, we were thrilled to welcome representatives from the London Marathon Foundation into school to officially open our new Daily Mile running track, generously funded by them and already proving to be a fantastic addition to our commitment to healthy lifestyles.
And there’s even more exciting news to come: one of our fantastic teachers has secured a place in the London Marathon, ready to lead by example and inspire our children and families by showcasing the benefits of staying active… more details to follow soon!
We are very much looking forward to a positive and productive term, filled with exciting learning opportunities for all our pupils. Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership with the school.
Warm regards,
Mrs R. Purshouse
Headteacher
Year 5 - Professor McGinty Roman Day
Year 5 were delighted to welcome a Roman historian- Professor McGinty’s. The children learnt about Roman clothing, culture, architecture, daily life, and even unusual foods. During the visit the children handled real artefacts from Roman times, which really brought history to life.
Miss Cummings & Mrs Brownhill
Year 5 Teachers
🌟 OUR WALL OF FAME 🌟Celebrating What Our Children Achieve Outside of School!
We love celebrating the amazing things our pupils do beyond the classroom! Whether it's taking part in sports, joining clubs, achieving personal milestones, or earning certificates, medals and trophies — every success matters and we want to showcase it.⚽🏊♀️🤸♂️🎭🎶🥋
We would be delighted to receive photographs of children involved in any sporting or extracurricular commitments outside of school. This could include football, swimming, gymnastics, dance, drama, martial arts, music, or any other activity they enjoy. Please send photographs to your child’s class teacher via Class Dojo. These will be proudly displayed on our Wall of Fame in the school hall for everyone to celebrate.
📅 Deadline for submissions: Monday 19th January
Thank you for your continued support.
Mrs Ward
(PE Lead/ Year 1 Teacher)
2026 National Year of Reading - Let's Make Every Word Count!
This year marks an exciting milestone – 2026 is the National Year of Reading! At Goldthorn Park Primary, we believe that reading opens doors to new worlds, sparks imagination, and builds confidence. Children truly come alive when they explore topics they love – whether it’s superheroes, football, cooking, dancing, or dinosaurs.
The National Year of Reading is your chance to help your child develop a lifelong love of reading through the everyday moments you already share. Reading isn’t just about books – it’s about stories, ideas, and conversations that inspire curiosity and creativity.
For families, this year brings more support, fresh ideas, and practical ways to weave reading into busy routines, no matter your child’s age. From bedtime stories to reading recipes together, every word counts!
Let’s work together to make 2026 a year where every child discovers the joy of reading. Keep an eye out for tips, activities, and events we’ll be sharing throughout the year to help you on this exciting journey.
Because when children read, they grow – and when they grow, they thrive.
Safeguarding is Everyone's responsibility
Keeping Our Kids Safe – Equilibrium - Parents Webinar
📅 Tue 27 Jan | Online Webinar
As parents and carers, keeping our children safe is always our top priority. Today, children face new challenges both online and offline, and it’s important to know how to support them without overreacting. This webinar, delivered by Equilibrium, a safeguarding service, focuses on misogyny, harmful sexualised behaviours, and the influence of the online world. The session will provide up-to-date information, practical support, and confidence to help you protect your child. If you would like to empower yourself with knowledge, please register using the link below:
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.
Attendance Matters...
Regular attendance is vital for every child’s learning, progress, and overall development. Research shows that pupils who attend school consistently achieve stronger academic results and lay the foundations for future success.
At Goldthorn Park Primary School, we are dedicated to working in partnership with families to ensure that every child is in school, on time, every day.
Important information:
Attendance below 96% is considered low.
Pupils with attendance below 90% are classed as Persistently Absent.
Let’s continue working together to give every child the best possible opportunity to thrive.
Ms Tolley
(Deputy Headteacher & Attendance Lead)
Whole School | 93.84% |
Year Group | Attendance % |
Reception | 93.21% |
Year 1 | 92.89% |
Year 2 | 93.0% |
Year 3 | 93.99% |
Year 4 | 94.08% |
Year 5 | 94.68% |
Year 6 | 94.24% |
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
Tuesday 20th January 2026 - Year 4 PCSO workshop Anti-Social Behaviour & Criminal Responsibility
Wednesday 21st January 2026 - Year 5 PCSO workshop Anti-Social Behaviour & Criminal Responsibility
Thursday 27th January 2026 - Year 6 PCSO workshop County Lines & Knife Awareness
Wednesday 28th January 2026 - Year 3 Greek Day with Humph's Histories Class 7
Thursday 29th January 2026 - Year 3 Greek Day with Humph's Histories Class 8
Friday 30th January 2026 - Great Athletes Event in school
Monday 2nd February 2026 - National Story Telling Week 2026
Thursday 5th February 2026 - Year 2 Class Assembly
Friday 6th February 2026 - National Number Day
Monday 9th February 2026 - Friday 13th February 2026 - Children's Mental Health Week
Monday 9th February 2026 - 2:30pm Year 1 Assembly - Chinese New year
Tuesday 10th February 2026 - Safer Internet Day
Tuesday 10th February 2026 - Year 3 PCSO Workshop Internet Safety & Social Media
Friday 13th February 2026 - Dress to Express Day
Spring Half Term Holiday - Monday 16th February - Friday 20th February 2026
Monday 23rd February 2026 - INSET Day school CLOSED to children
Tuesday 24th February 2026 - Year 4 PCSO Workshop Internet Safety & Social Media
Wednesday 25th February 2026 - Year 2 Residential
Friday 27th February 2026 - Celebrating Martisor
Monday 2nd March 2026 - PCSO Workshop Stranger Awareness & Getting Lost
Monday 2nd March 2026 - Reflexions Parent Workshop - Supporting your child with tests/ test anxiety
Tuesday 3rd March 2026 - PCSO Workshop Stranger Awareness & Getting Lost
Thursday 5th March 2026 - Year 2 Trip
Tuesday 10th March 2026 - Year 3 & 4 Tag Rugby Festival
Tuesday 10th March 2026 - Year 2 CO2 Crew Workshop
Wednesday 11th March 2026 - Reception PCSO Workshop What does a Police Officer do?
Wednesday 11th March 2026 - Year 5 CO2 Crew Workshop
Friday 13th March 2026 - 9:00 Reception Mother's Day Craft
Friday 13th March 2026 - Nursery Mother's Day Craft 10:45 Morning Nursery/ 2:30 Afternoon Nursery
Tuesday 17th March 2026 - Nursery PCSO Workshop What does a Police Officer do?
Thursday 26th March 2026 - Year 4 Romans Day
Summer Term 2026 Term Time: Monday 13th April 2026 - Monday 20th July 2026
Monday 4th May 2026 - Bank Holiday school CLOSED to children.
Half Term Holiday Monday 25th May 2026 - Friday 29th May 2026
Friday 19th June 2026 - INSET Day school CLOSED to children
Monday 21st July 2026 - INSET Day school CLOSED to children
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