KINGTON LANGLEY ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
TUESDAY 27 MARCH 2007

 LYNN EVANS, HEADTEACHER

2006 began with our NETWORK focus, which involved staff working and learning with other local schools on developing children’s writing. This continues to thrive as our Cluster of primary schools – Kington St. Michael, Bybrook Valley, Christian Malford, Sutton Benger, Lacock, and Stanton St Quintin – meet regularly for training and exchanging ideas. Recently we were able to spend a day with colleagues from these schools to celebrate our pupils’ achievements and progress. We were also joined by our Link Primary Adviser who was very impressed by the work of the Network and now we are spreading the word about our new strategies across the county.

During the last year we have been able to really develop our use of ICT in school through our SMARTboards and the recent purchase of a laptop trolley with wireless technology. By the end of 2007 we aim to have 16 laptops that can be taken to any classroom for children to use in their learning.

Maintaining strong working relationships with the community continues to be at the heart of our village school. We have been delighted that the Parish Council has listened to the ideas of some of our students and currently we are working together to improve the ‘copse’ area outside the school. Four of our eldest children wrote to Peter to ask permission to put up bird boxes, hedgehog houses, clear the small stream/ ditch and plant further shrubs. May I thank the Parish Council for allowing myself to attend a recent meeting and put forward the children’s ideas, and subsequently writing back to the ‘Nature Crew’ giving them the go ahead for the stream, the bird boxes and ‘copse rules’ are now being written.

We are so lucky to have such involvement with the village through the Parish Council, local volunteers, parents, governors and involvement with the Church to name but a few. We have spent time with our Greathouse friends at Christmas entertaining them with our pantomime and singing. Again our recent Christingle Service proved a resounding success raising £190 to support the Children’s Society. In addition, I have been to Langley Chase, with the youngest class and local nursery children, to see Jane Kallaway’s lambs. What a fantastic welcome and awe inspiring visit. Everybody at Langley Fitzurse would like to say a big thank you to all who help make our school such an exciting place to learn.

Fund raising during the year has been phenomenal…. Not only Christingle, but Marie Curie and raising money to buy Goats for families in Africa. Thank you to the Chapel for donating money for the front end of a goat! Our Promises Auction was a tremendous success and can I take this opportunity to reiterate heart felt thanks from everyone at Langley for support from parents, governors, and the community. It has culminated in the building of our gazebo that was officially opened by two pupils and was attended by FOLFSA representatives, the carpenter and Mr Terry Cornell who dutifully delivered a custard pie in my face – it was all in a good cause and the children loved it!!! Subsequently School Council met with the Chair of our Friends of the School, Max Sealy, who explained that we had raised enough money for not only our new outdoor classroom but also to give £100 to each class. Class Councils then decided what they want to spend their money on.

As part of our revalidation process for our Healthy Schools award we have set up a Healthy Food task group comprising of the school cook, a parent governor, the Head and four pupils. The children have been giving their feedback on school dinners – which they say have improved recently. Together the task group aims to promote healthy lunch boxes too, by asking parents to allow children to help pack a healthy lunch. Michala Ashley-Dando, one of our parent governors has also involved the children in the Sainsburys’ Active Kids club. Involving the children in cooking and learning about the ingredients they use has been an important development this year both through curriculum cooking with Michala and through Kids can Cook clubs run by Michala and Jane Ager, our Sodexho cook.