Welcome back letter from Mrs Scarth

Dear parents /carers,

Start of Term Message

A warm welcome back to everyone in our Oatlands Junior School community, especially to the new children and parents who have joined us. I hope you all enjoyed a great summer holiday.

It has been a super, positive start to the new academic year, with all class teachers commenting on how the children are happy and enthusiastic to learn. The children have come into school looking so smart in their school uniforms, well organised with everything they need and are enjoying settling into their new classes. A special well done to our Year 3 pupils and new starters in other year groups, who are continuing to settle in well and make new friends.

A reminder that we look forward to seeing you all in school next week, for our annual start of year parents’ meetings. We will be sharing important information about what will be happening in your child’s year group in the year ahead and how you can support at home. This is also an opportunity for you to meet your child’s new class teacher. These are for parents/carers only:

Years 5 and 6 – Tuesday 9 th September 6pm

Years 3 and 4 – Thursday 11 th September 6pm

Primary Geography Quality Mark I am delighted to share with you all our recently awarded Primary Geography Quality Mark. It is a remarkable achievement to be awarded silver. This would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our Geography subject leader, Miss Mansfield. Her passion and expertise in this subject have ensured that our Geography curriculum, teaching and learning are truly outstanding , as recognised by Ofsted earlier in the year. Well done!

Feedback from the Geography Association Assessors: "Congratulations to Oatlands Junior School on achieving the Primary Geography Quality Mark – Silver. This award reflects a well-structured and highly engaging geography curriculum that is clearly valued by pupils and staff. The school’s vision for geography is explicitly linked to the wider school ethos and three curriculum threads, promoting equality and diversity, provoking curiosity, and embedding safe behaviours, ensuring the subject is purposeful and embedded in daily life.

"Fieldwork is a clear strength where pupils benefit from regular, purposeful experiences, from local area studies to residential visits, with clear progression in enquiry skills, mapping, data collection, and use of digital tools such as Digimaps. Cross-curricular connections, particularly those made to science, English, and PSHE are strong, with geography acting as a driver for reading, writing, and wider curriculum engagement.

"Pupils are confident, articulate geographers who can explain what they are learning, why it matters, and how it connects to the world around them."

I look forward to sharing more achievements and successes throughout the year in my half-termly letters and would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support.

Our weekly news and information will be shared through the school website. This is an accessible and convenient way of keeping up to date with school news.

The Autumn Term Calendar of Events is attached for your future reference.

If you are able to help with any trips or events that interest you, please do contact your child’s class teacher.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

Yours sincerely

Estelle Scarth Headteacher