We offer a FREE Breakfast Club for all children at Beckfoot Priestthorpe from 8:00am every morning. Children are able to access a healthy, nutritious breakfast before they start school.
Weekly Newsletter 16.05.2025
A staffing update from Mrs Gunning
Year 1
After the Spring Bank break Mrs Bennett will be returning from maternity leave and so Miss Cowgill will unfortunately be leaving us. We have really enjoyed having Miss Cowgill as part of the team here at Beckfoot Priestthorpe and we wish her well in her next venture. Mrs Bennett will take over in Year 1 for the remainder of the school year. Whilst we know this is a little unsettling, Mrs Bennett has been a teacher here for a long time and knows our routines and curriculum exceptionally well. Mrs Bennett will be in school on Friday the 23rd to spend some time with the children and to ensure a smooth handover from Miss Cowgill.
Year 3
Unfortunately, Miss Hill is no longer able to be in Year 3 on a Monday and Tuesday. We were reluctant to introduce a new teacher so late in the year, so we looked for an alternative solution. In order to ensure continuity and consistency for the children, we made the decision to use our current staff to fill the vacancy. Year 3 are now taught English and Maths by Mrs Cutting on a Monday and Tuesday and Mrs Gunning and Mrs Ludkin are teaching some sessions too. We felt it was important that the children had familiar faces who knew them and school well. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday remain the same with Mrs Noonan.
Staffing changes mid year are sometimes unavoidable, but the children’s well-being and learning are always at the centre of any decisions we make.
Thank you for your continued support.
Mrs Gunning
Diary Dates
MAY
Tuesday 20th May – Year 6 Brownlee Mini Triathlon (see email for details)
Tuesday 20th May – Under 11’s Football Festival 4:00pm at Marley Stadium
Thursday 22nd May – Early Years school trip to The Lancashire Village
Thursday 22nd May – Year 5 Class Assembly, 9:00am, parents, carers, families are welcome to join
JUNE
Tuesday 3rd June – Class Photographs
Thursday 5th June – Fluoride Varnish Team visiting Early Years
Tuesday 10th June – Year 1 and 2 school trip to Yorkshire Wildlife Park
Wednesday 11th June – Year 5 and 6 Tag Rugby Tournament (more details to follow)
Wednesday 18th June – Year 6 Fire Safety Talk
Thursday 19th June – Year 4 Class Assembly, all parents and families of children in Year 4 are welcome to attend
Friday 20th June – Seaside Lunch Menu (menu to follow shortly)
Friday 20th June – Year 6 Junior Warrior (see email for details)
Friday 27th June – FOPPS non uniform – Bring a bottle of chocolate for the tombola at the Summer Fair Festival
JULY
Tuesday 1st July – Year 6 school trip to the University of Bradford introducing Shakespeare Event (see email for details)
Thursday 3rd July – Year 5 school trip to the University of Bradford poetry performance
Friday 4th July – FOPPS SUMMER FAIR FESTIVAL – all families welcome
Attendance
Our whole school attendance last week was 96.3%
Reception – 93.4%
Year 1 – 92.1%
Year 2 – 97.3%
Year 3 – 98.9%
Year 4 – 98.2%
Year 5 – 97%
Year 6 – 97.6%
Congratulations to Year 3 who will win our attendance trophy for last week. Well done to Year 4, 5 and 6 who also achieved our target.
Pride of Priestthorpe Awards
Reception – Xander and Kamila
Year 1 – Rebecca and Benjamin
Year 2 – Mads and Quinn O
Year 3 – Henry. D and William
Year 4 – Zane and Joseph
Year 5 – Joshua. S and Scarlett
Year 6 – Whole Class
Early Years
Early years have been finding out about the life-cycle of a frog
Year 1
Year 1 have been continuing their basketball skills in PE including bouncing, rolling and dribbling. Next week we move onto shooting hoops!
Year 2
Year 2 did a cress investigation to see what plants need to grow. We changed the conditions for each one and the one with sunlight and water grew the healthiest.
Year 3
Year 3 have been investigating how shadows change throughout the day.
Year 4
In maths, we have been using place value counters to understand when to exchange in multiplication questions.
Year 5
In science, Year 5 have been studying the life cycles of different plants and animals. This week we looked at the life cycles of the bumble bee and the cuckoo. We discussed the differences between arthropods and birds and then mapped out each creatures life cycle from birth to adulthood. Next, the children sorted various statements by deciding which belonged to which life cycle. Finally, we discussed the similarities and differences of the two life cycles and were surprised to learn that both the bumblebee and the cuckoo leave the hard work of child rearing up to someone else!
Year 6
Year 6 have completed their SATs and, as a reward, are tucking into doughnuts kindly donated by FOPPS.
Important learning information
We use a range of Learning Apps in school, which can also be accessed at home. Please use the links below to practice key skills.
Times Table Rockstars is an award-winning maths learning platform where children can practice their times tables like a rock star! Certificates can be achieved every Thursday for the children who have made the most progress in terms of the biggest increase in accuracy that week. We also run in school competitions.
Times Tables Rock Stars – Times Tables Rock Stars
Accelerated Reader will allow children to read a book and then take an online quiz to test their knowledge and understanding of the text, and receive immediate feedback. Students respond to regular feedback and are motivated to improve their reading skills.
Spelling Shed uses the science of spelling to teach it to pupils. Using phonics as a base and drawing upon proven approaches such as teaching morphology, etymology, and orthographic mapping, as well as teaching spelling patterns. Children are set new activities on here each week.
