Northampton Primary Academy Trust Abington Vale Primary School, Blackthorn Primary School, Ecton Brook Primary School, East Hunsbury Primary School, Headlands Primary School, Lings Primary School, Rectory Farm Primary School, Simon de Senlis Primary School, Thorplands Primary School, Upton Meadows

Primary School and in partnership with Weston Favell CE Primary School

Central Office: Headlands Primary School Bushland Road Northampton NN3 2NS Tel: 07741654181 Email: info@npatschools.org Website: www.npatschools.org

19th June 2019

NPAT News

Welcome to the NPAT News.

In this newsletter, we will be keeping you up to date with the multitude of different activities and opportunities available for our children to achieve ‘extraordinary’ things both within their individual schools and across the Trust.

As the year draws to an end, it is a time to reflect on the great things that have happened in the trust this year and all that we can be proud of both at school level and across the whole trust. Although the outcomes of our year 6 SATS tests are not yet in, we are hopeful that they will continue the upwards trend started last year and reflect the focused work that has taken place in our schools to develop teaching, learning and curriculum in order to best support our children to reach their full potential.

We always welcome feedback so if you’d like to get in touch, please contact npatnews@npatschools.org

Julia Kedwards,

Chief Executive Officer

The Northampton Primary Academy Trust Partnership (NPAT) is a collaboration of eleven great primary schools in Northampton. With responsibility for approximately 4300 children across Northampton, NPAT is

driven by a vision to achieve educational excellence; creating opportunities and enriching lives.

This approach is encapsulated in our motto:

‘Achieving Extraordinary Things’

NPAT schools all share this common vision and are committed to shared values, whilst retaining the freedom to innovate and develop their own identity and character. Our schools with the year they became

part of NPAT are:

Abington Vale Primary School (2012) Blackthorn Primary School (2018)

East Hunsbury Primary School*(2017) Ecton Brook Primary School (2012) Headlands Primary School* (2012)

Lings Primary School (2012) Rectory Farm Primary School (2017)

Simon de Senlis Primary School*(2015) Thorplands Primary School (2018)

Upton Meadows Primary School (2018) Weston Favell CE Primary School (partner since 2012)

Northampton Primary Academy Trust Abington Vale Primary School, Blackthorn Primary School, Ecton Brook Primary School, East Hunsbury Primary School, Headlands Primary School, Lings Primary School, Rectory Farm Primary School, Simon de Senlis Primary School, Thorplands Primary School, Upton Meadows

Primary School and in partnership with Weston Favell CE Primary School

Central Office: Headlands Primary School Bushland Road Northampton NN3 2NS Tel: 07741654181 Email: info@npatschools.org Website: www.npatschools.org

19th June 2019

NPAT News

Inspired by our national treasures

Over 500 Year 4 children from NPAT schools travelled

to London earlier this

month as part of the

National Gallery’s flagship

Take One Picture Project.

The ‘Take One Picture’ scheme invites UK primary schools to use a painting from the National Gallery’s collection and respond creatively to its themes and

subject matter, historical context, or composition. The approach is cross curricular, so the children not only have the opportunity to be creative in their art but

also through their writing and use of technology to investigate further.

As a trust we are really proud to be working with prestigious organisations like the National Gallery who are supporting us in delivering our vision of providing excellent arts education to all of our children. Grateful thanks go to Mr. Smith, Headteacher at Headlands Primary School who has led on this project and inspired teachers and pupils alike with his enthusiasm. An exhibition of children's work will take place at Lings Primary School next month.

Make a difference - become a school governor!

Are you interested in education? Keen to ‘give back’ to your community and have spare time to do so? Ready to

accept responsibility but work as part of a friendly, committed team? Interested in developing your own skills and

CPD? Then becoming a NPAT school governor may be the thing for you. While we are particularly focusing on

those with a background in finance, health & safety or HR, we warmly welcome interest from anyone who is keen

to make a difference and you do not need to a have a child (or grandchild!) in our schools to be eligible.

To express your interest or find out more please email: recruitment@npatschools.org

Social and Emotional Learning

Ensuring our children have a solid grasp of the basics so

that they can perform to the best of their ability

academically and that they have access to a wide

variety of experience and inspiration from music, art,

sport, drama is a given in all NPAT schools. But we also

have an eye on helping the children to gain the skills to

be good members of ‘society’– the society of their

classrooms, the society of their communities and even

that of their family lives. With this aim in mind, social

and emotional learning helps children to manage their

emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show

empathy for others, establish and maintain positive

relationships, and make responsible decisions.

We are very lucky

to have a team in

one of our schools -

East Hunsbury -

who are national

leaders in this field.

Pictured left are

East Hunsbury staff and Headteacher, Mrs. Arundel

who have had international success in schools as far

afield as Spain, Romania, Croatia and Italy creating

lesson plans and resources for teachers to use in the

classrooms with children aged 3 years to 11 years and

included lessons specifically designed to use with

children with learning difficulties.

Northampton Primary Academy Trust Abington Vale Primary School, Blackthorn Primary School, Ecton Brook Primary School, East Hunsbury Primary School, Headlands Primary School, Lings Primary School, Rectory Farm Primary School, Simon de Senlis Primary School, Thorplands Primary School, Upton Meadows

Primary School and in partnership with Weston Favell CE Primary School

Central Office: Headlands Primary School Bushland Road Northampton NN3 2NS Tel: 07741654181 Email: info@npatschools.org Website: www.npatschools.org

19th June 2019

NPAT News

Musical stars of the future

Simon de Senlis Primary School hosted a Performing Arts

Evening earlier this month showcasing a very wide array

of young musical talent which included a flute solo; a

mini strings

orchestra;

keyboards; choirs;

a budding Ringo

Starr (pictured

right) and acoustic

guitar players

who gave a very

confident

rendition of Cold

Play’s - Yellow.

The audience loved every single second of the song

written and performed

by the school’s own

rock band ‘Locked and

Loaded’ and were

treated to a sneak

preview of Simon de

Senlis’ upcoming

production of comical

musical The Amazing Adventures of Superstan.

Tickets are still available for the actual show which

promises to be a hilarious masterpiece. Please contact

Simon de Senlis on 01604 661011 if you would like to

more information.

Sporting stars of the future

The summer terms traditionally see an increase in

sporting opportunities for primary school children with

interschool competitions in all kinds of sports. While

we celebrate the successes of our schools (sometimes

at the expense of their fellow NPAT schools -

competition can be fierce!), we also celebrate the

opportunity these events give our children to have the

honour of representing their school, to be recognised

for personal achievements and to mingle with children

with similar interests from other primary schools who

may well form part of their friendship groups in their

time in secondary school.

Special mention goes to Lings

Primary with three teams already

through to the prestigious Level 3

County School Games. Pictured

right are their gold medal

winning Year 5 and 6

development gymnastics squad. Headlands Primary

School did themselves proud at this tournament and

came a very creditable 4th overall. Also well done to

Weston Favell netballers who have secured themselves

a place in the L3 County Finals.

Thorplands Primary School cricketers enjoyed an

inspiring day out to watch

England put up a valiant

fight against Pakistan at

the 2019 Cricket World

Cup which was held at the

Trent Bridge ground. In

spite of the disappointing

result the children loved seeing their heroes in action

and picked up some useful tips to help their own game.

Cricket is definitely topic of the moment with Abington

Vale Primary School eagerly anticipating a visit from

former pupil - England and Strictly Coming Dancing star

Graeme Swann. More in the next edition...

Northampton Primary Academy Trust Abington Vale Primary School, Blackthorn Primary School, Ecton Brook Primary School, East Hunsbury Primary School, Headlands Primary School, Lings Primary School, Rectory Farm Primary School, Simon de Senlis Primary School, Thorplands Primary School, Upton Meadows

Primary School and in partnership with Weston Favell CE Primary School

Central Office: Headlands Primary School Bushland Road Northampton NN3 2NS Tel: 07741654181 Email: info@npatschools.org Website: www.npatschools.org

19th June 2019

NPAT News

Looking for some family focused fun to fill the

afternoons and weekends now that the football, rugby

etc is winding down for the summer?

A number of NPAT schools are host to glorious

summer afternoons of live bands, children’s

entertainers, games, bouncy castles, barbecues, pony

rides, treasure hunts and Pimms tents among other

attractions.

The following schools are hosting this summer and are

keen to extend the welcome to the whole community

both locally and to the families of other NPAT Schools.

• Saturday July 6th, Simon de Senlis (near the

big Tesco, NN4 0PH ) Summer Fete from 11-2

p.m.

• Friday July 12th, Lings Primary School

(Hayeswood Rd, NN3 8NN) Summer Fayre

from 3.15 onward.

• Saturday July 13th, East Hunsbury Primary

School Summer Family Picnic (Penvale Road,

NN4 0QW)

• Friday July 19th, Weston Favell Primary School

Summer Fayre (Westwood Way, just off the

Wellingborough Rd, NN3 3HH

For further information on exactly what is

available at each event look out for posters

locally or check in with the school

concerned.

Supporting ALL children

Three of our schools (East

Hunsbury, Headlands and

Simon de Senlis) have very

well regarded Special Units

that support children with a range of

additional, often profound, needs. Being

part of the Trust enables the staff of these

units to work together sharing ideas, pooling

resources and creating opportunities to give the children a

meaningful and enjoyable time at school with plenty of

occasions to spend time with others who may form part of

their secondary school experience.

Coming up shortly is the much loved and hopefully now

annual Special Unit Picnic hosted by East Hunsbury. Last

year’s event was a huge success as the weather was

glorious and everyone from all three schools had a great

time getting to know one another.

Due to the success of Ellie Robinson in

the world of para swimming,

Northampton High School offer a

Sports Masterclass and Disability

Sports Awareness Day as part of their

continuing enrichment programme for

girls in the local area. Next week ten very lucky Unit girls

will have the opportunity to participate in a range of

appropriate sporting activities with Ellie and a chance to

chat with Ellie in an informal Q and A session.

And finally...a chance to stop, breathe, reflect and absorb.

Weston Favell Primary School have mastered the art of

creating more spiritual experiences for the children. Our

children look back fondly to Experience Christmas - a

special event hosted by St Peter’s church. Here children

from Ecton Brook are making

good use at a busy time of the

year of WFPS Reflection Space.