Andoversford Primary School

As you know, we have put in place measures to keep everyone safe in school this week. This has included adjusting lessons, increasing breaks for both shade and hydration, adapting our lunch menus and using different spaces around school to ensure that the heat does not become unbearable. The ice-pop break this afternoon was very popular!

Tomorrow, we will see slightly lower temperatures, but these will still be higher than average. We are making adjustments to how activity sessions will work during lesson times, but that will not be possible for the after-school cricket club. Cricket Club is cancelled tomorrow, Friday 26th June. Please ensure that children are collected at 3:10. Thank you. 

Our end of year performance is only 2 weeks away! We alternate between a drama and a music performance so that everyone has a chance to shine. This year, on Wednesday 8th July, we are very excited to show parents some musical talents! We are busy rehearsing to be ready for a polished performance.

All pupils are performing some whole school numbers as well as demonstrating what they have been learning in their class music lessons. This year, we will be wowed by whole class brass and samba performances! We are also looking forward to some small group and solo performances from those pupils who are learning an instrument with one of our peripatetic teachers. 

We warmly invite family members, friends and the wider community to join us in the audience. More details to follow about how to book tickets. 

Children will need to be back at school in their uniform at 4:45pm, ready for the show to start at 5pm. 

Did you know there are free fantastic learning resources available through Atom Learning?

You can get some fantastic reading, writing and 11+ preparation guides through our dedicated link for Andoversford families.

You can find the link below or alternatively on the Parent Information page of the school website: 

Free learning resources for Andoversford Primary School families | Atom Learning

After being a welcoming and organised presence in the school office over the last two year, Ms Seymour-Marsh will be starting a new adventure in September. Ms Seymour-Marsh has helped us to streamline and moderise lots of office procedures which have made parents' and teachers' lives easier. We are very grateful for the fantastic impact she has had during her time at Andoversford. 

Ms Seymour Marsh will be moving to the next step for her career in a busy school office in Cheltenham. They are very lucky to have her!

We are currently advertising for Admin and Finance support to keep things running smoothly. Please do share the information with anyone who you feel might be interested. 

There has been a lot of information in the local, and national news, and on social media as well as lots of discussions about the best way to manage in the current heatwave. Schools are all different and the decisions that school leaders will take are based on the specific details for their school environment. 

Andoversford Primary will remain open for pupils. We have a large site, spacious classrooms and plenty of shady areas to enable us to cool down. Teachers will be adapting their days and they are likely to take more breaks between lessons - for example by popping to base camp in the nature area for story time. Children always have access to their water bottles and are encouraged to drink to stay hydrated throughout the day. 

At Andoversford, our uniform has plenty of options, including shorts and T-shirt, a summer dress, or playsuit. These are ideal to wear in warm weather. If you do not have adequate options in your uniform stock at home, please let us know and we can help. PE kit can also be used if your child does not have suitable options. 

Wednesday and Thursday will see the highest temperatures this week. We already use the shaded, wooded, nature area for lunchtime on Wild Wednesday, but we may also do the same on Thursday if temperatures remain high. Please make sure that your child has their summer outdoor kit with thin layers - long trousers and long sleeves allow us to enjoy the area without worrying  about bites, scratches or nettles. 

We follow the guidelines to stay safe in warm weather - please check the news article from yesterday if you aren't sure. 

We hope you all managed to keep cool over the weekend! As glorious as the sunshine is, let’s all work together to ensure that we stay safe in the sun.

All children should have sun hats and water bottles in school every day. We follow the Cancer Research Sun Safety advice:

Find Shade: This is the best way to get protection. We are lucky to have lots of fun and exciting shady spaces to play. There are some wonderfully big trees on the field to seek shade under and we can also utilise our brilliant cool, shaded forest school area.

Cover Up: In school, all children wear their uniform which offers protection for most delicate areas. In the sun, children should also be wearing a wide-brimmed sun hat to offer extra protection for the face, back of the neck and ears. A cap provides some protection for the face if worn the right way around! We have lots of summer options in the uniform policy which includes polos and shorts, light summer dresses and playsuits.

Use Sun Cream: The higher the factor, the better. There are some fantastic longer-lasting options on the market now. Children can reapply as often as needed before going outside, but a good base of Factor 50 in the morning before they arrive at school is a very good idea.

Staying hydrated is also very important. Children are encouraged to drink water regularly throughout the day and they always have access to their water bottles.  Please make sure they have them in school every day.

Let’s all stay safe in the sun!

The first of our School Life - working together series will be looking at planned absence.

We understand that summer term is a busy time for families and sometimes things slip. With that in mind, it is a good time of year to revisit important policies and procedures. 

We have noticed a steady increase of emails to the school office to inform of planned absences. 

Please note, that all planned absences must be submitted through the online absence form. This includes for early collections, as well as medical appointments. Any medical appointment confirmations or other supporting evidence must then be emailed to the school office to ensure that your request can be processed accordingly. 

You can find a link to the form here: Absence & Illness | Andoversford Primary School

When absence forms are not completed or evidence is not submitted, it can slow down the processing of your request.  To ensure your request is dealt with efficiently and smoothly, please do remember to follow all parts of the procedure. 

More information on planned absences can be found on the school website. You can also find a copy of our handy FAQ, which details information on absence, medication, and more, here: Parent Information | Andoversford Primary School 

Please remember, the office is not manned full time. Therefore it is helpful to give as much as notice as possible when submitting requests. 

Dear Parents and Carers, 

We are delighted to annouce that this year we have managed to gain an incredible 6,500 ASPIRE points.  To celebrate this fantastic achievement, we have organised for the whole school to go to… a mystery location! The children would like to build the suspense and keep the information a surprise. The trip will be taking place on Wednesday 15th July.

The school have subsidised the cost of the travel of this visit to ensure that it is affordable to everybody. We are asking for a voluntary contribution of £8.50 per child to help towards the cost of the activity. Your child will not be denied a place if you decline to make a voluntary contribution. Payment should be online via ParentPay. Please make your voluntary contribution or let us know if you do not wish to contribute by Monday 29th June 2026.

Please see the attached letter for more details of the trip. And remember, for now please keep this information a surprise! 

Thank you for your support. 

Welcome to our series: School Life - working together.

This will be a short series of articles to provide information on different areas of life at Andoversford Primary School.

We will be starting next week looking at absences and how these work at Andoversford. 

Are there any areas of school life you'd like more clarification on? If so, please don't hesitate to email the school office: admin@andoversford.gloucs.sch.uk. 

Please find attached a flyer for an upcoming SEND Summer Celebration hosted by Parent and Carer Alliance C.I.C. 

Dear Parents and Carers,

Please find attached an important letter from The Governing Board of Andoversford Primary School.