Headteacher Message

Hello all,

This week I really want to celebrate how our children are making a difference! Firstly, you may have seen via our Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/DarellSchool, @DarellSchool) that we had a wonderful letter from our local MP Sarah Olney. As you may know, we were having continuing problems with a bin located on the corner of Darell Road which regularly overflowed into our Key Stage 1 playground. To combat this problem, four of our amazing writers in Year 2 got together to write a letter to Sarah Olney to request that the bin be removed. To our delight, not only was the bin removed but the children also received a lovely letter in response. I would like to share the final line from her letter here: 

Keep fighting for what you believe in, no matter how big or small!

I was also hugely privileged this week to support our two teams of Year 5 & 6 pupils in participating in the first round of the Urban Debate League. This competition is run by the charity Debate Mate who we have been working with this academic year. Whilst the competition could not take place in person, the children were able to join the debates virtually. We entered two teams who each took part in two debates, both with unseen motions to discuss. It was also our first time taking part in any debating competition. I was absolutely blown away by the quality of the children’s debating skills. They expertly applied the skills they had been taught in their club and spoke confidently despite some minor tech issues! Of the 4 debates the children participated in, our teams won 3 against a number of other schools from across London! I was incredibly proud of the children and I know that they were absolutely buzzing after the competition. Our children being able to express themselves and speak clearly is a key driver for our curriculum. It is one of our main goals in our curriculum vision statement, so it was fantastic to see these children really excelling in this arena. Massive congratulations to all the children who participated.

I must end here as I again need to collect more books for children as prizes for reaching 100 dots in their reading records. Next week, we are very much looking forward to enjoying a well-earned hot chocolate with those children who have reached 100 dots. Please remember to read with your children over the weekend.

Paul Gilbert

I am currently reading What I talk about when I talk about running by Haruki Murakami

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