Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Children's Hopes for the future part of art installation at God's House Tower in Southampton

  Mon 30 Jan 2023

  As part of our PSHE curriculum and our focus Christian value of 'hope', our key stage 2 pupils were offer the exciting opportunity, by artist Tracy Dovey, to contribute to an art installation called the Maypole of Dreams. The Maypole of Dreams reflects the future hopes and dreams of some of our pupils, alongside those of students at Eastleigh College. The hopes and dreams of children in 2023 are beautifully captured on 120 metres of ribbon as part of the installation.

  The installation is displayed in God's House Tower in Southampton and will be on show between 27th January-5th March, so why not pop along and see if your child can spot their hopes for the future captured for all to see.

  Unfortunately not all of the hopes and dreams made it on to the ribbons, those that didn't are displayed on the wall alongside the installation. The artist Tracy Dovey, would like to pass on her thanks to the children for sharing their hopes and dreams with her.

  

• Sporting success continues at School's Games indoor Kurling event

  Fri 27 Jan 2023

   

  Sports report written by Alfie and Charlie (year 6)

   

  On Wednesday the 18th of January, Two Key Stage 2 teams went to the New Age Kurling tournament at Wyvern St Edmund's school. We entered two teams into the tournament and there were 14 schools competing overall; Both teams played really well as a team and one of the teams managed to win all but two of their games.

   

  The Year 5/6 team progressed to the semi-finals against Morgan’s Vale, where we won 3-0. This put us in the final against Greentrees. Unfortunately, we lost by 1-point but won a second-place medal. The Year 3/4 team played well and took a few of their games to the final few stones but didn't manage to qualify for the finals.

   

  Both teams showed teamwork, resilience and honesty throughout the event. Thank you to Tom for training us in our PE lesson and Mr James for taking us to the event.

  

• Update on proposed strike action by NEU members

  Mon 23 Jan 2023

   

  Dear Parents / Carers,

   

  You will no doubt be aware of the ballot of National Education Union members, returning a majority outcome for taking strike action in their dispute with the Secretary of State for Education over making appropriate funds available to allow a fully funded increase in teachers pay at the rate of inflation (as measured by September 2022 RPI).

   

  The proposed dates for industrial action are:

   

  Wednesday 1^st February 2023

  Thursday 2^nd March 2023

  Wednesday 15^th March 2023

  Thursday 16^th March 2023

   

  This industrial action does not affect all teaching staff, only those that are members of the NEU, as other teaching and leadership unions have not yet met the threshold of their members to agree to industrial action. This position may well change as the Unions look to try to engage with the Education Secretary.

   

  Some members of the Whiteparish teaching staff, although not all, are members of the NEU union. At the time of writing this letter those who are members have indicated that they will not be engaging with strike action. This position may of course change and as their head teacher, I will offer them unequivocal support in which ever course of action they decide to take. I would ask you as a parent body, to also offer the teaching staff your full support. This is not a dispute with you or your children, in fact it is about valuing the work which the teaching staff do every single day to try and support your children along their educational journey. From the point of view of a school leader it is also about being able to secure funding which allows this work to be valued and to secure a level of provision moving forward which is deserved by all of the children in our care.

   

  If the unions remain in dispute with the Secretary of State for Education, this may result in a disruptive impact on your children and their education. We of course apologise for this but school staff are not 20% less valuable than they were 13 years ago and if staff are forced into the very difficult position of withdrawing their labour, then they do so after much consideration and in order to protect the standard of education service which we can provide to your children.

   

  To summarise, there currently will be no disruption to the education of pupils at Whiteparish on the days scheduled for industrial action and the school will be open as usual. All children will be expected to be in attendance. If this situation changes, I will of course communicate the change of circumstances with you immediately and I look forward to your continued support of the school and its staff.

   

  Kind Regards

   

  Jon James

  Head Teacher