Headteacher Blog – 8th May 2026
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you all had a wonderful bank holiday weekend. Despite it being a shorter week, our children have been absolutely brilliant and there's so much to celebrate!
This Week's Highlights
We had a very unexpected but very special visitor to Southill yesterday– a deer who decided to explore our school grounds! The children were absolutely thrilled to see our wildlife visitor, and it provided a wonderful opportunity to talk about respecting nature and the animals that share our local environment. It's not every day we have such exciting guests at school!
Beyond our four-legged friend, it's been a busy and productive week at Southill. Year 3 have been making observations and recording information about what is inside a flower in Science, carefully using tweezers and magnifying glasses to peel away the petals – their curiosity and careful scientific approach has been wonderful to see.
Year 2 have been working on a writing unit based on the book 'Luna Loves Gardening', where the main character grows lots of wonderful vegetables. The children were able to explore real vegetables from the book and produced some fabulous writing – their enthusiasm for learning through stories continues to shine!
Year 4 enjoyed their Roman Chariot Workshop, bringing their history learning to life in such an engaging way.
Year 5 have been learning all about Philippe Petit and his extraordinary tightrope walking adventures, including his daring walk between the Twin Towers. They have been completely inspired by his courage, creativity and determination.
Celebrating Our Stormbreak Champions
This week our Stormbreak focus has been on Relationships, and I'm delighted to celebrate our Stormbreak Champions . They have shown kindness, respect, and excellent teamwork – embodying our school rules of being Ready, Respectful and Safe. Well done to all our champions this week!
Celebrating Our Star Writers
Our Star Writers this week have produced some truly impressive work! From Reception to Year 6, the quality of writing across the school has been exceptional. Keep up the fantastic effort with your writing, everyone!
Looking Forward to Next Week
Important Reminders
Sun Safety: As we're enjoying some lovely weather and our children are spending more time outside, please ensure your child comes to school with sun cream already applied. A sun hat is also recommended for break and lunchtimes.
Car Park Safety: A gentle reminder that the school car park gates must not be used as an entrance during the school day – this applies to both pedestrians and vehicles. The car park is for staff and official guests only during school hours. This policy is in place to ensure the safety of our entire school community. Please continue to use the designated pedestrian entrances for drop-off and collection. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our children safe.
A Special Message for Our Year 6
To our wonderful Year 6 children – next week is SATs week, and we want you to know just how incredibly proud we are of each and every one of you.
You have prepared brilliantly for next week. Every lesson, every practice question, and every moment of effort has built your confidence and skills. SATs are simply a chance to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding in key areas of the curriculum – and we know you have so much to show!
Remember:
- You are capable – you've been learning and growing EVERY year
- You are prepared – your teachers believe in you completely
- You are more than a test – these assessments are just one small snapshot of the wonderful, talented people you are
Next week, come in with your heads held high, do your very best, and know that we are cheering you on every step of the way. We believe in you!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
Matt