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Friday 16 January 2026

CEO’s Welcome Dear Colleagues Happy New Year! We would just like to share with you and celebrate the new Ofsted report for Shaftesbury Primary School that was published this week. This was one of the first in the country and the first one published for Newham and our Trust.

Tom Canning CBE

The school has done exceptionally well! Being one of the first schools to be inspected we didn’t know what to expect. The team however were lovely and they really got to know the school and its context. They could see and celebrated the schools many achievements and successes.

They listened carefully to the voices of pupils, staff and parents recognising the importance of understanding the lived experience of the school community

“It is great to see all the hard work that the staff put in has paid off and they can see what a special place Shaftesbury is. This is one of the highlights of the report

From the outset, inspectors were transparent and approached the inspection as a collaborative process, working alongside leaders. Inspectors were clear about expectations and thorough in their approach, taking time to look closely at the foundational knowledge and also ensuring every element of the framework was being met before moving on.

This is a joyful and inspiring school, where pupils' achievement soars to new heights. Leaders live up to their aim of giving all pupils ‘a brighter future’. Throughout the day, pupils brim with a thirst for learning more. They relish mastering new knowledge and building their understanding of the world around them, including through the range of educational outings. Staff, pupils and families are rightly proud to be part of this remarkable school.”

The school has also been recognised in Schools week and by the Local Authority.

Best wishes, Tom

Attendance Data Below is the attendance and persistent absence data from across the Trust for the period of Monday, 10 Dec 2025 to Friday, 9 Jan 2026.

Attendance

Group Name

Attendance

Persistent Absence

Tollgate Primary School

95.5%

16.9%

Shaftesbury Primary

93.1%

18.4%

Cleves Primary School

92.7%

17.7%

The Clara Grant Primary

90.9%

16.8%

Monega Primary School

90.8%

12.4%

New City Primary School

90.8%

18.7%

Ravenscroft Primary

90.2%

21.8%

Rosetta Primary School

86.9%

29.5%

Festive Season at Cleves The festive period at Cleves was exceptionally busy and filled with memorable events. Pupils and staff enjoyed a range of activities, including seasonal fetes, musical concerts and a special visit from Santa. These celebrations created a vibrant atmosphere across the school and pupils concluded the term with a sense of excitement and anticipation for the holiday break.

Thank you, Tesco We were delighted to welcome Mr. Atiq Rahman, Manager of Tesco East Ham, to our school with Christmas presents for our pupils in the Resource Provision and Pathways. This generous donation included lots of sensory toys, which our children were excited to explore! Thank you so much from all of us—your kindness has truly made our Christmas extra special.

Prefect Mentors Our Year 6 Prefect Mentors gathered over a afternoon tea to reflect on their roles and set clear leadership aims for the Spring Term. Hosted by Ms Megan and Ms Christofides, the session provided an opportunity for meaningful discussion about how they can lead by example, support their peers and contribute positively to school life at Cleves. It was inspiring to see their enthusiasm and commitment to making a difference this term!

A Visit from our Local MP We were delighted to start the term with a special visit from Sir Stephen Timms, our local MP. He spent time with us this morning and was interviewed by our Year 6 Prefect Panel—what a fantastic experience for our pupils!

Afternoon Tea Party Year 2 recently organised an enrichment afternoon tea party. On the day of the event, the hall was transformed into a charming tearoom, and students wore their best dresses and suits. They enjoyed homemade treats such as scones, cheese sandwiches, and cakes. This fun and educational experience not only deepened the students' knowledge of British culture but also helped them develop essential life skills like planning and communication.

Football Pupils from Monega put on an impressive performance in their football match against Shaftesbury Primary School, securing a 2–1 victory. Both teams showed great skill and sportsmanship.

Reception Children at Monega Become More Confident Writers Reception children at Monega have been making huge progress in their writing ability. Through a combination of hands-on activities, creative exercises, and supportive teaching, the young learners have made impressive strides in their writing skills, all while having fun. Teachers have created a rich, language-filled environment, where children are inspired to write about what excites them. The children are all growing in confidence and they’re building a solid foundation for future literacy skills, ready to take on even more challenging writing tasks in the years to come.

Lion King Pupils from Monega enjoyed a memorable visit to the theatre to see The Lion King. From the moment the show began, they were captivated by the colourful costumes, imaginative staging, and powerful live music. The pupils were especially impressed by the talented performers and the way the story was brought to life on stage, making the trip an inspiring and unforgettable experience for all.

Nursery Ballet This week Mr Archer arranged for the ‘Lisa Gilbert Ballet Academy’ to begin a six week Ballet block for our Nursery children. The children took part in this technical and graceful form of theatrical dance, demonstrating a number of movements and techniques including turned out legs, foundational steps and upright posture. The children also experimented with movement involving a number of different materials including feathers and silk. This was a wonderful listening activity for the children to take part in and all of the children thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Year 3 Faith in School In the Autumn Term Year 3 were learning all about Light during the RE lessons. They explored how light is used as a powerful symbol across many religions. At the end of the term the Faith in Schools team visited us to discuss in more detail the importance of Light for Christians. The children had a great time finding out about other faiths.

Year 2 visit The Young V&A Year 2 visited the Young V&A to support their DT learning. The visit linked closely to their recent project where they designed and made their own cars using bottles, straws and axles. By exploring toys from the past, children were able to observe different designs, materials, and moving parts and reflect on their own creations.

Inclusion Quality Mark This week we hosted a very special visitor as part of our Inclusion Quality Mark. The representative spoke with our team and toured the school looking at our inclusion model as well as speaking to the children. The representative was extremely impressed with our approach to Inclusion and shared our ethos that all children irrespective of race, gender, disability, medical or other special educational need deserve the right to access mainstream education alongside their peers. We also introduced him to our New City Primary Diversity Ambassadors who spoke about their roles within the school and how they ensure all individuals in our school are represented and treated equally. The children spoke articulately about how we uphold the key principles of respect, diversity, equality and inclusion and celebrate all our diverse backgrounds, cultures, religions and identities by promoting equality among race, religion, gender, disability, age and individual beliefs.

Nursery Families Our Nursery children have been talking and learning about each other’s families.They have drawn pictures of their family members and learnt about different family dynamics.

Christmas Santa Fun Run & Fun Day During the last week of Christmas, we took part in our second Christmas Santa Fun Run. The children all ran around the playground whilst we had Christmas music playing. It was a lovely way for the children to burn off excess energy and get some steps in whilst having fun. We had our Christmas Fun Day on the last day of term. Santa visited us with sacks full of presents for the children; whilst waiting to see him, the children had a hot chocolate and popcorn. We also had three bouncy castles and a disco! The children all had an amazing last day, it was a lovely way to end the term.

Wellbeing Team Our Wellbeing Team had a busy term organising events not only for the Children but for staff as well. Some of the events included a Cookie Sale, Raffles, Movie Nights, Doughnut Sale and a Christmas Bonanza Evening to name but a few. They managed to raise around £700.00 which paid for the Christmas Selection Boxes for each child and further upcoming events. The team also welcomed staff back on Monday with various pastries, croissants and drinks to start off Spring Term.

Year 4 Science Experiments Year 4 have been conducting Science experiments this week. The children have been testing different materials to see if they are conductors or insulators.

NPQSEND We are still starting new NPQ programmes. Martin Stanley and Emily Patel facilitated the Best Practice Network NPQ SEND welcome conference at Tollgate.

Train to teach? Please encourage anyone you know to apply to our teacher training programme - now recruiting for September 2026. For the links go to our website: https://londondistricteast.org/teachertraining/lde-teacher-training/apply/

Out and About Just a flavour of our various recent school visits.

ECT Conferences at Excel We have trained over 500 ECTs from across East and South London and Essex this week at Excel London. THANK YOU to everyone who made it happen.

Fixing Our Broken Planet The Natural History Museum Year 6 have attended a workshop at the Natural History Museum, to research Fixing our Broken planet, in the brand-new gallery of the same name. It was a fantastic experience that supported our learning in geography and science on sustainability and habitat destruction and how we can be better and help our planet. They showed their amazing knowledge and teamwork in a workshop aimed at key stage three children!

Reception Literacy Learning - Rosie's Walk This week in Literacy, Reception has been enjoying the story Rosie’s Walk. The children worked with key pictures from the story and practised sequencing the events in the correct order. First, they carefully cut out the different pictures, developing their scissor control and hand–eye coordination. They then used glue sticks to stick each picture down in the correct sequence. This activity supported the children in retelling the story, helping them to remember what happened at the beginning, middle and end of Rosie’s Walk. The children also used positional language as Rosie went through her travels. The children talked about the pictures, used story language, and explained why they chose a particular order, showing growing confidence in their understanding of the text.

The Sound Hive A group of year 6 children worked collaboratively with local artists Ricebox on a piece of art called The Sound Hive which is an interactive sound and light installation inspired by nature. The children created visuals as well as using their own voices for the final piece which encourages users to think about recycling and sustainability while they play. Ricebox brought The Sound Hive to Rosetta for all classes to explore the artwork and it was a big success. Culture Within Newham played a key role in organising the project, by creating a children's board with pupils from other Newham schools.

Year 6 Science This term, we will be learning about light. To begin our science learning, we created our own periscopes using recycled cereal boxes. We learned about how light travels in straight lines and how mirrors can reflect light to help us see around corners. The students enjoyed experimenting with their periscopes and discovering how simple materials can be used to explore exciting scientific ideas.

Pantomime Aladdin The children at Shaftesbury enjoyed watching the performance of Aladdin in school.

Shaftesbury Quiz night

Year 3 Year 3 has been working incredibly hard. In DT we have been looking at paper mechanisms, this half term the children designed and brought to life their pop-up card designs. In maths, Year 3 have been learning to tell the time on analogue clocks, mastering terms like o'clock, quarter past, quarter to and half past.

Year 6 The children in year 6 had a fantastic day out today visiting the Docklands museum! We learned all about the history of the Docks, their involvement in the slave trade, and also explored Sailor Town! We got to try on clothes from the different historical periods and use authentic historical artefacts from different periods of history. We learnt how the Docks have changed over time, and how that has impacted our local history. The best part was learning about the involvement of the Docks in WW2, and why they were a target for the Luftwaffe. We sat in an underground air raid shelter and imagined what it would have been like for people living in London at the time of the Blitz, and we learnt that around 25,000 bombs were dropped on London during the Blitz. We even saw and got to touch a real-life Luftwaffe bomb! We had a great day out, and learned a lot along the way.

Year 5 Share Their Love of Reading with Year 2 At Clara Grant Primary School, we place great importance on reading and believe in nurturing a lifelong love of books in all our pupils. To help inspire this, Year 5 children regularly take part in a buddy reading session with Year 2 pupils. During the session, the older pupils shared stories with their younger reading partners, offering encouragement, support and enthusiasm. The Year 5 children acted as positive reading role models, helping to build confidence and enjoyment in reading for the Year 2 pupils. The buddy reading experience was beneficial for both year groups, strengthening relationships across the school and creating a calm, supportive reading environment. It was wonderful to see the enjoyment on pupils’ faces as they shared stories together and celebrated their love of reading. This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to developing confident, enthusiastic readers across the school.

Children of the Term Visit Pizza Express This week, our amazing Star of the Term children were treated to a special trip to Pizza Express! It was a fantastic reward for those pupils who consistently demonstrated our 5Cs throughout the term – showing commitment, care, curiosity, creativity and confidence in everything they do. The visit was not only a celebration of their hard work and positive attitude but also a reminder that perseverance and effort truly pay off. We are incredibly proud of these role models and look forward to seeing even more children striving for excellence this term!

Playground Equipment Donated We are thrilled to announce that Clara Grant has received an incredibly generous donation of playground equipment! This fantastic addition will help us create an even bigger buzz around play and lunchtimes, encouraging our children to stay active and engaged throughout the day. We are incredibly grateful for this kind donation and can’t wait to see the equipment out in the playground, bringing even more fun and energy to our school community.

Year 4 Become Pizza Designers in DT Lesson Year 4 pupils put their design and technology skills to the test this term by creating their very own pizzas from scratch. The children followed the full design process, beginning with research into popular pizza bases and toppings to help inform their ideas. Using the results of their research, pupils designed and created their own pizza bases, carefully selecting toppings based on popularity and suitability. They also designed eye-catching packaging for their products, thinking about how to make their pizzas appealing to customers. The project concluded with the most exciting part of all — sampling their own creations! The children thoroughly enjoyed tasting the pizzas they had designed and made themselves, while reflecting on what worked well and what they would improve next time. The activity was a fantastic opportunity for pupils to develop practical cooking skills, creativity and an understanding of the design process, all while having lots of fun.

Christmas Jumper and Dinner Day At school, pupils and staff celebrated the festive season by taking part in a joyful Christmas Jumper Day. The corridors were filled with bright colours, fun patterns, and cheerful designs as everyone arrived in their favourite festive jumpers. The atmosphere was warm, inclusive, and full of excitement, helping build a strong sense of community and togetherness. Following the festivities, the school gathered for a traditional Christmas dinner. Children enjoyed a delicious meal featuring classic seasonal favourites, sharing laughter and conversation around the tables. It was a chance for everyone to relax, celebrate, and appreciate time spent with friends and teachers. The day brought the whole school together, creating happy memories and marking the Christmas season with fun, warmth, and unity.

Christmas Raffle This year’s Christmas raffle was a wonderful success, bringing festive excitement and community spirit to the school. Families, pupils, and staff took part enthusiastically, purchasing tickets in support of the school while looking forward to the chance of winning some fantastic prizes. The raffle table was filled with a wide range of excellent hampers which helped create a real sense of anticipation in the lead up to the draw. When the winning tickets were announced, there was plenty of cheering, smiling, and celebration. Even those who didn’t win enjoyed the fun of taking part and supporting a good cause. The event was a heartwarming reminder of the school community’s kindness, involvement, and festive spirit. Thank you all who participated!

Tollgate’s Talent Show The Tollgate Primary School Talent Show was a vibrant celebration of creativity, confidence, and community spirit. Pupils from across the school took to the stage to showcase a wide range of talents, including singing, dancing, poetry, comedy, magic, instrumental performances, and group routines. The event opened with an enthusiastic welcome from staff, setting a warm and supportive atmosphere. Each act was met with cheers and applause from classmates, teachers, and families, creating a sense of encouragement that helped even the most nervous performers shine.

Year 2 Trip to the Tower of London Our Year 2 pupils enjoyed an exciting and educational visit to the historic Tower of London. The trip provided a fantastic opportunity to explore one of Britain’s most iconic landmarks and deepen their understanding of history. During the day, the children: Discovered the fascinating history of the Tower and its role over the centuries. Saw the Crown Jewels up close, learning about their significance to the monarchy. Met a Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) who shared stories about famous prisoners and events. Walked along the ancient walls and visited the White Tower, exploring armour and weapons from the past. The visit linked perfectly to our history curriculum, helping pupils learn about castles, kings, queens, and life in medieval times. The children were enthusiastic, asked brilliant questions, and represented the school wonderfully.

Year 6 Library Visit 6G enjoyed a wonderful visit to Plaistow Library today, where they took part in an engaging Reading for Pleasure session. The children spoke enthusiastically about their favourite books and authors, sharing recommendations and discovering new titles to explore. They then had the exciting opportunity to borrow a library book to take home, choosing stories that truly captured their interest. Everyone left inspired with a renewed love of reading.

https://theboleyntrust.org/