Clifton with Rawcliffe Primary School

12 October 2020

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Jack Archer Walk to School Week last week. 32 Primary Schools took part in the York area. Our schools average for the week was 61.9%.

The winning schools were:
1st Clifton Green Primary- 89.6%
2nd Archbishop of York Junior- 89.4%
3rd Bishopthorpe Infants- 85.8 ... See MoreSee Less

Clifton with Rawcliffe Primary School

8 October 2020

Summary of Local Governing Committee meeting for 30th September 2020

After what has been a very turbulent few months for all of us, we had a Video meeting of governors on the 30th September, which allowed us to catch up with what is happening in school right now. In this meeting reports were presented by the Headteacher, the Business Manager (Finance Report) Safeguarding Lead (Safeguarding Policy and Update) and the school SENDCo (SEND Report).
First I want, on behalf of all the Governors, to pay tribute to Mr Herbert and his team for the colossal amount of work they have put in to making sure the school could open this term, be safe, and be a great place for your children to learn. An incredible amount of work has gone into this and I can only tip my hat to all involved. Bravo!
I also want to thank you, the parents, and your children, for showing such great support to the school, and for being so patient, at a very unsettling time for us all. Mr Herbert remarked that not only have the pupils settled in really well - after all this time out and with all the changes to their daily routines, but that they seem to have kept up really well with their learning whilst at home. As well as that attendance has been excellent, at over 97%. So thank you all!
As Governors we have necessarily not been in school and so we are reliant on the information coming from Mr Herbert and all the staff, as well as from you all, as to what happens in school and what it feels like. We were delighted, therefore, to see loads of pictures of the new learning arrangements, and all the pupils - albeit sat in an unusual format - ready to go.
I am personally absolutely thrilled by Mr Herbert's determination to make the curriculum as broad and interesting as possible for your children, with English and Maths woven into the teaching of all subjects, be they sciences or humanities. It isn't always easy to do, and it is a testament to the priority given to the school's Vision and Values that this is the case.
Nearly all of you will not know me and the current situation doesn't help in that regard - I was hoping to see, and meet some of you at, open days, Christmas plays, fairs, as well as day-to-day learning, and who knows? Maybe I will in the not too distant future.
In the meantime, keep well, and know that your children are in a fantastic place to learn, be safe, and enjoy life.
With my best wishes
John Sharpe
Chair of Governors ... See MoreSee Less

Clifton with Rawcliffe Primary School

8 July 2020

Some of our pupils from years four, five and six have taken part in virtual tennis and athletics competitions organised by the York School Sports Network. The children completed some challenges at home and were competing against other local schools. We are very proud of them for trying their best and for representing Clifton with Rawcliffe School.

Here are the results:

Y3/4 athletics - 1st

Y5/6 athletics - 4th

Y3/4 tennis - 3rd

Y5/6 tennis - 3rd

The Y3/4 athletics team went on to represent York at the county competition and finished in 8th place! ... See MoreSee Less

Clifton with Rawcliffe Primary School

15 June 2020

Wednesday 10th June – Governors’ Meeting Report

The Governing Body came together on Wednesday 10th June 2020. Like so many other people and groups, the unusual circumstances of 2020 led us to hold this particular meeting virtually. We started by approving the minutes of our last meeting, which was held on Tuesday 3rd March, just a few weeks before schools were ‘closed’ and most children started to learn remotely.

The Governors first welcomed three new governors to the team. Steve Hemingway - parent governor, Azu Ndulue - parent governor and Donna Wass - co-opted governor.

We then moved on to hear from Mrs Johnson, CwR’s Head of Business and Operations, who updated us on finance. Forecasts for the school continue to look promising but with uncertain times for society in general and a gradual decline in the number of primary school age children in York and across the UK over the next few years (which brings implications for school funding), finances will – as always – have to be watched carefully.

Mrs Wright then gave us an update on what is being done to safeguard the wellbeing of CwR children in (and, now more than ever, also beyond) school. It’s clear that Mrs Wright, Ms Dearlove and all the CwR staff have been working particularly hard on this since the ‘lockdown’ and we cannot thank them enough for their efforts.

Mr Herbert then gave us his Head’s Report. It was very clear that he and the staff have been working tirelessly since March to effectively ‘reinvent school’ and ensure that learning continues for all the children, regardless of whether they can physically attend school or not. Thanks to these efforts, CwR has been able to stay open for key worker children throughout this period, including during what would normally be the Easter holiday.

It must have taken a Herculean effort from all the teaching and support staff, not least our dedicated cleaning team, to keep the school functioning safely in this new age of social distancing and particularly to prepare this week for the partial re-opening to the youngest and oldest pupils. Mr Herbert and other staff have also worked hard to keep parents informed about an ever-changing situation in recent months (something which the several parent governors in the meeting could confirm first-hand!). Parental and pupil feedback, on the return this week and more generally, has been excellent, with one parent praising the staff for “doing a super job of explaining it all to them whilst not making it too scary or different”. Mr Herbert relayed that the children themselves had also been brilliant in following all the advice on keeping safe in school. Parents and carers at home have obviously played a massive role in supporting home-schooling recently and preparing eligible children for a safe return to school; they also deserve considerable credit!

The governors ended the meeting with an emphatic “thank you” to Mr Herbert, the brilliant and extraordinarily dedicated staff which he leads by example, and all the pupils, parents and carers of Clifton with Rawcliffe community who have played their part. All have risen to the occasion and will no doubt continue to do so as the country and its schools gradually – hopefully! – return to normality as soon as possible. In the meantime, the governors wish everyone a safe and happy summer term. ... See MoreSee Less