Summer 1 Newsletter
Dear Parents, Carers and Friends of Broadgate,
As we begin the final half term of the school year, it is incredible to think how quickly the year has passed. The coming weeks are set to be busy, enjoyable and full of memorable moments, with many opportunities to celebrate the children’s achievements and the progress they have made throughout the year. There is plenty for everyone to look forward to, including sports days, performances, transition activities, leavers’ events and a range of awe and wonder experiences linked to our school development priorities. Please take a moment to note the important dates and information included below. We are looking forward to an exciting and positive end to the academic year before the children (and staff) head off for a well-deserved summer holiday.
Dates/Events
Fri 5th Jun Reception and Y6 class photographs
Mon 8th Jun Y6 residential to Robinwood
w/b 8th Jun Y1 Phonic Screening Week
w/b 8th Jun Y4 Multiplication Check Week
Wed 10th Jun Meetings for new Reception Parents (Sept 2026) 9am and 6pm
Fri 12th Jun Y1 trip to Hesketh Farm Park
Wed 17th Jun ‘Hands on History’ - Mayan visitor to Y6
Wed 17th Jun Y2 Skipping festival
Fri 19th Jun Y3 visit to Harewood House
Tues 23rd Jun Mindmate workshop for Y6 parents re transition 8.45am (More details to follow)
Tues 23rd Jun Mindmate workshops for Y6 children
Wed 24th Jun ‘Hands on History’ – Ancient Greece visitor to Y5
Wed 24th Jun EYFS Sports day – 10am
Thurs 25th Jun STEM workshop for Y6
Fri 26th Jun KS2 ‘Broadgate’s Got Talent’ finals
Tues 30th Jun New Reception (2026) open night
Wed 1st Jul Y5/6 Sports day – 10am
Wed 1st Jul Y3/4 Sports day – 1.30pm
Wed 1st Jul New Reception (2026) open night
Fri 3rd Jul Horsforth School Transition Day for Y6 pupils
Wed 8th Jul KS1 Sports day – 10am
Wed 8th Jul Y6 leavers’ party afternoon
Thurs 9th Jul Y4 trip to Tropical World
Fri 10th Jul Reports sent home to parents
Wed 15th Jul Back-up Sports Day (in case of bad weather)
Fri 17th Jul Leavers’ assembly – 9.30am
Fri 17th Jul Nursery party am. Nursery closed pm
Fri 17th Jul School closes for the summer break – 3.05pm
Y6 SATs
Congratulations to our Y6 pupils for the fantastic way they approached their Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) before half term. Throughout the week, they showed great maturity, resilience and determination, tackling each day with a positive attitude and giving their very best effort. We are extremely proud of the way they conducted themselves and of all they have achieved. Following the tests, the children enjoyed a range of well-earned off-timetable activities and treats and there is still plenty for Y6 to look forward to over the coming weeks, including the 3-day Robinwood Residential experience, secondary transition events, delivery of the Y6 leavers’ hoodies and their very own Y6/Mr Shuffles party later in the term.
We would also like to thank our governors for their valued support with the administration and invigilation of the tests throughout the week. We are indeed fortunate to have such a supportive team of governors.
Y1 Phonic Screening Check
The Y1 Phonics Screening Check will take place during week beginning Monday 8th June. This is a short, statutory assessment completed individually with the class teacher to assess children’s phonic decoding skills using a mixture of real and pseudo words. The check helps schools identify any pupils who may benefit from additional support as they continue to develop their reading skills and prepare for Year 2.
Y4 Multiplication Tables Check
Similarly, Y4 pupils will complete the national Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) during week beginning Monday 8th June. This statutory online assessment checks children’s quick recall of multiplication facts up to 12 × 12, an important skill that underpins all future learning in mathematics. The check consists of 25 questions, with six seconds allowed for each response and takes less than five minutes to complete. The results help teachers identify any pupils who may benefit from further support with times table fluency. We encourage all Y4 pupils to approach the check with confidence, try their very best and be proud of themselves. Good luck Y4!
Sports Days
Just a reminder of this year’s upcoming Sports Day dates:
- EYFS on Wednesday 24th June (morning)
- Y5 /6 on Wednesday 1st July (morning)
- Key Stage 1 on Wednesday 8th July (morning)
- Y3/4 on Wednesday 1st July (afternoon, 1.30pm start).
Please note that all morning events are planned for a 10.00am start, allowing flexibility to move to the afternoon at 1.30pm if the field is too wet or conditions are unsafe. As a contingency, we have also set aside Wednesday 15th July as a reserve date in case of a complete washout. Parents are warmly invited to come along and support, but as ever, we remain in the hands of the great British summer – so sun hats and raincoats at the ready!
Reports
Please note that pupils’ end-of-year reports will be sent home via Ping at 3.30 on Friday 10th July. The report itself will be an attached document. Please feel free to either email or call the school if any related queries emerge. The message will also contain information about your child’s annual attendance and will confirm their next year’s teacher. To help prepare children for the changes ahead, they will take part in planned transition activities during the last few weeks of term. Transition activities such as meeting their new teachers, visiting future classrooms and engaging in ‘getting to know you’ activities play a key role in helping boost confidence and supporting emotional well-being, hopefully mitigating unwarranted anxiety over the summer holiday period.
Leavers’ assembly
Parents of Y6 children are cordially invited to join us in the school hall for the annual Y6 Leavers’ Assembly on Friday 17th July at 9.30am. This is always such a special celebration of the children’s journey through Broadgate and is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on their achievements, share memories and mark the end of this important chapter in their young lives. As we prepare to bid them farewell and wave them off to new adventures at their respective secondary schools, we just want to reiterate publicly our strong feelings of pride in the young people they have become. We wish them every success and happiness in the future - they will be greatly missed!
Promoting ‘Awe and Wonder’ (curriculum enrichment)
As part of promoting “Awe and Wonder” enrichment opportunities, a group of Y4/5 pupils recently took part in a ‘pupil voice’ research project linked to the University of Oxford exploring children’s perceptions of museums. The children met with researcher Dr. Sophie Thompson-Lee (also one of our parents) to share their views and contribute to discussions (to mark World Museum Day) about how museums can be made more engaging and accessible for children in the future. We were proud to receive feedback praising the pupils for being “articulate, polite and funny” and for being a real credit to the school. Sophie’s blog can be read at https://www.education.ox.ac.uk/news/not-just-looking-what-children-enjoy-about-museums/
Enhancing curriculum enrichment through ‘Awe and Wonder’ remains a key priority within our School Development Plan, reflecting our commitment to providing memorable experiences that inspire curiosity, enjoyment and a love of learning. This term has already seen a wide range of exciting opportunities, including whole-school skipping workshops and competitions, the hugely popular Broadgate’s Got Talent initiative led by Mrs. Devlin and Miss McNamara which is creating a real ‘buzz’, numerous educational visits, hands-on learning experiences and an increased range of after-school clubs and community events. These experiences continue to strengthen pupils’ confidence, cultural capital and sense of belonging, with attendance currently at an all-time high and punctuality also showing considerable improvement.
Nursery Waiting List
As always, we would be pleased to hear from any parents who are considering sending their children to our Nursery. The earlier the children are registered, the easier it is for us to plan for the future. Please contact the school office for more details on the dedicated email address: nurseryadmissions@broadgateprimary.org.uk
Parking Around School
Parking around the school site continues to be a significant concern and we respectfully ask all parents and carers to park safely, considerately and in accordance with parking regulations at all times. In particular, we ask that drivers do not park on zigzag markings, in restricted areas or in ways that block residents’ driveways and access points. We fully understand the ongoing frustration experienced by local residents and ask all members of our school community to work in partnership to help improve the situation and keep everyone safe at the beginning and end of the school day. Thank you for your continued cooperation and support.
Training Days
Just a reminder that the remaining training days for this year will be held on Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st July, so effectively meaning therefore that school will close for the children on Friday 17th July and will re-open for children in Y1-Y6 on Wednesday 2nd September. Where did that year go?
And Finally
As we head towards the end of another very busy and rewarding term, we would like to thank you for your continued support. Working in partnership with parents and the wider community makes such a difference to the experiences and opportunities we are able to offer our children.
Warm regards,
Sarah Qualtrough