Lacey Green School
From Lacey Green History
click Lacey Green School reports from 2000 for these.
Click History of St John's School for known facts and documents of Lacey Green School.
click St John's School Association for reports from the PTA.
click 1971 Lacey Green School New Hall Dedication by the Bishop of Buckingham, together with photos of this occasion.
click Lacey Green School Documents for these.
click Education Acts for laws
Click Lacey Green School Photos for those.
89 former pupils described their time at Lacey Green School in questionnaires at a school reunion organised by the Local History Group in 2000.
For pupils with leave dates from 1922- 1935 click Lacey Green School Reunion 2000.
For pupils with leave dates from 1936- 1948 click Lacey Green School Reunion 2000 leave dates 1936 - 48.
For pupils with leave dates from 1949- 1958 click Lacey Green School Reunion 2000 leave dates 1949 - 58.
For pupils with leave dates from 1959 -1971 click Lacey Green School Reunion 2000 leave dates 1960 -1971
For pupils with leave dates from 1972 click Lacey Green School Reunion 2000 leave dates from 1972
click 1919 Men Serving WW1 who had been pupils at the school - 48 in total.
click 1985 Lacey Green School, a summary by Miles Marshall
The Church Magazine November 1903. St.John's School, Lacey Green. The end of our school year is drawing near and with it will come the Inspector's Annual Report. We hope that parents will endeavour to send their children regularly to school, and thus do their share towards the good of the school. We are very anxious that Loosley Row School which was placed on the "efficient" list about four years ago, should maintain its position, and this can only be done if Miss Davies is helped in her endeaours by the regular attendance of the scholars.
1912. April 23rd. From the school logbook. The scholars and teachers have collected eleven shillings and tuppence (56p) for the relief of the Titanic’s sufferers.
1917 December 17th. From the school logbook. The infants’ classroom was seized by the military, who are guarding an aeroplane, which descended in a field adjoining the school, on Sunday afternoon in a blinding snowstorm. Infants taught with the elder scholars today. Weather intensely severe.
December 18th 1917. Infants’ room still occupied by the military who are guarding the aeroplane. Infants taught in the main room, causing no inconvenience, as the numbers are smaller than usual owing to the severity of the weather.
December 19th. 1917. Military vacated the infants’ room. Aeroplane removed at 8 pm last night.
1918 November 19th. From St. John’s School Log. (click Celebrations for similar events). The scholars paraded the village this morning to celebrate the signing of the armistice after a short service of thanksgiving in the church,
The procession which was exceedingly pretty halted at six places - Grymsdyke, the centre of Lacey Green, Loosley House, The Post Office, Lower Road, Loosley Row, Miss Watson’s, Loosley Row, and the Stret, Loosley Row.
Boys were dressed in uniforms to impersonate the army and navy, girls as Red Cross nurses. Almost every child carried a banner mounted on sticks and prettily designed by the elder boys. Frank Lacey and Harold Smith had made little banners from the drawings, painted and crayoned, by the scholars during the year.
A large Union Jack, carried by Alec Dean had been lent by Colonel Tighe (Loosley House). It was especially prized having been used by the boy scouts assembled at Watlington for inspection by Lord Kitchener the week before war commenced. This of course led the procession.
Mrs Tighe most kindly read a message from the Colonel to the children. Words of excellent advice which the smallest child could understand.
1931 H M Inspector's Report
The Present Headmaster will shortly complete his second year of office. Under his intelligent leadership, the school is well maintaining its reputation for sound work in most branches of the curriculum - as well as for good tone and discipline and it is satisfactory to note the progressive outlook now prevailing in such subject as History Geography and Science.
The following are among the matters to which further attention should be directed.
Reading is still relatively a weak subject throughout; a more settled policy in regard to Handwriting in the Upper Classes is desirable and self preparation in Composition should be encouraged with advantage.
While the infants are nicely managed on the whole and are making fair progress generally, there is more noise and movement in the class than can be attributed wholly to normal activity.
21st February 1934 H M Inspector's Report It is unfortunate that the attendance should have been affected so adversely by sickness for the whole of the last term, the period since the issue of the last report has been one of steady progress, and the school in general gives a pleasant impression of maintained and well directed industry. While the attainments as a whole reach a creditable level, the work in English deserves special mention.
A long-standing weakness in reading, apparently due more to defective speech than to faulty word-recognition, has been remedied to a great extent in classes 1 and 2 by definite training in the production as vowel sounds and in the proper enunciation of consonants. The effect on Recitation and on the ordinary speech is equally marked, while it is probable that the improvement in Spelling may be attributed to the same cause.
An interesting feature of the oral response of class 1 is that while the children may be somewhat slow to volunteer information, their answers are thoughtful, seldom wide of the mark, and are above average in phraseology.
As a result of improved procedure, the educational aspect of the music is now satisfactory. The choral singing is bright and tuneful.
The infants are pleasantly managed, and the several groups are now kept usefully employed with their individual occupations. A close assessment of the attainments is not attempted at the moment, but there are points of merit in the work, and the weaknesses are well known to the Teacher and the Head Master
The letter of the above report is shown on the right.
In 1936. Lacey Green School children enacted "Living Whist", game of cards at a church fete in the Vicarage garden. Several recalled it when visiting the Lacey Green School Reunion 2000 held by The Local History Group
1968 Football
Hallmark 1970. From the Headmaster, C of E Primary School: "Plans for extensions to cope with the continuing increase are now in an advanced stage and permission to build had been given by the Department of Education and Science."
1972 report in Hallmark. 13 children are welcomed this term from Speen to Lacey Green School.
Hallmark September 1983. Report by Gaynor M. Newbold – Headteacher
It is interesting to reflect on the wide range of activities enjoyed in the Summer Term.
Visits were made by Key Stage 2 pupils to the Chair Museum, Urban Studies Centre, St. Mary's Church, Princes Risborough, Whiteleaf Cross and to Stocken Farm. Our younger pupils in the Reception Class and the Key Stage 1 pupils visited Cogges Farm.
Key Stage 3 pupils in Year 7 went on a Residential Visit to Norwich with Mr Coleman, Mrs Shaw and parents. This visit was followed by a special evening where they gave a presentation to parents, grandparents, siblings and Governors.
By using first hand experiences of other environments an excellent standard of work has been achieved during and following these visits. This can only be done by meticulous planning and team work by the staff and co-operation by parents.
As usual a wide variety of extra curricular clubs have been available to the children. Teaching Staff and parents join together each summer to run the AAA Awards School Athletics Club for all our Middle School children. The children compete against their own personal best achievements to improve these and are awarded certificates at the end of the term.
Our Cricket Team are again the South Bucks Cricket League winners. We are very grateful to The Sports Club for allowing Mr Coleman and the team to use their facilities.
We are proud of our musical achievements at St. John's. Children in Year 3 upwards have the opportunity to learn to play a wide range of string and woodwind instruments, to play in a string orchestra and a whole school band known as the Lacey Green Symphonetta. Our younger children can learn the recorder with Mrs Stansfield (click Stuart & Kathleen Stansfield) and join our choir at Year 4. Again, this summer, a special Musical Evening for all our children who play instruments at school or are in the choir was held in the school hall. Mrs Hayes and Mr Higgs our two peripatetic music teachers joined Mrs Stansfield, our music teacher to organise an evening to remember.
In addition to school sports days, the Princes Risborough Liaison Group Headteachers decided to hold an Area Sports Day at Princes Risborough Upper School. Our representatives excelled at the field events and came second overall. We hope to continue this event each year.
The Parents Association joined with the school staff to organise events which included a gym display by pupils who were trained by Mrs Rodbourne, games, refreshments and a windmill competition. These were our contribution to Village Day.
As part of our Development Plan the teaching staff are working together to produce new Schemes of Work for each Key Stage of the National Curriculum, attending courses where necessary. We are well on the way with our Schemes but life would be easier if the Government directives did not keep changing.
Both our playgrounds have been resurfaced. The Trustees have paid for the staff car park to be resurfaced.
Ever since I came to St. John's six years ago I have wanted to extend the hard playing area. Many schools are short of hard playing space although we have excellent large grounds, in the winter time the grass area cannot be used. At last, during the summer holidays, I was able to arrange for an additional area in the form of a netball court with extra playground marking to be constructed behind the present Middle School playground using part of our small underspend.
This has meant separate areas at playtime for netball practice, football and other ball games in addition to quiet area and general playing area in the Middle School playground. Our younger children now also have more space as one less year group needs to play in the front playground. Outdoor games lessons can now be organised in a wider variety of ways. If you have not yet seen the improvement do come and look at it before or after school.
We have become a very popular school and are over subscribed for Rising Fives.
Please can I remind you that even if you live in the catchment area of Lacey Green and Loosley Row at 5 and additionally Speen at 8, you need to put your child's name down by the December preceding the academic year when they are five. For most parents this needs to be as the child approaches the age of three as they are joining Playgroups.
If we are over subscribed by the January following the December, the Governing Body Admissions Panel has to meet and decide who to admit using the Admissions Criteria. There is an appeals procedure.
This year, some parents already living in the catchment area did not do this causing additional problems. The local playgroup carries brochures and admission forms and of course they are available at school. Our telephone number is 0844 343521.
I would like to take this opportunity of thanking you for sending in the various "free" vouchers which are available from a number of firms to help purchase things for the school.
Hallmark 1987. "Goodbye and Thank You". To Miss Muriel Agnew, after 27 years teaching at the village school is taking early retirement, not only the present children but past generations will wish her well, thank her for all the extras she has given to the school, and remember her with affection.
Hallmark 1988. David Green. Headmaster of Lacey Green School left.
Hallmark November 1990. Report by Gaynor M. Newbold
I would like to thank everyone who has helped me to set up a School Museum. We now have a number of additional collections including bottles, wartime memorabilia, photographs and skulls. More items are always welcome – wherever possible we like the children to work from First Hand Experience.
Building work and repairs and maintenance at St. John's is almost complete inspite of the many extra problems encountered. The children adapted extremely well, inspite of the School looking more like a building site for many months.
This term we have a large intake from Speen as well as the Rising Fives and a number of children who have moved to our area or transferred to our School.
Already this term we have had two services in St. John's Church including the Harvest Festival during which all the classes made their own contribution. We were extremely pleased to see so many parents and friends present. The children's Harvest gifts were taken to St. Agatha's Home for Teenagers run by the Children's Society in Princes Risborough.
The staff are arranging visits for the children to support their chosen Study Topics. Visits to an Organic Farm and to the Science Museum to study Human Biology have or will soon take place. The Study Topics for this term are:- Festivals, Change, Materials, Earth, Air and Space and Changes – Ourselves/Lacey Green. A great deal of planning has gone on throughout the School in order to access all the Attainment Targets of The National Curriculum and work out the Programme of Study appropriate for each child. If you feel you could help in any way to enrich the children's experiences while they are studying these topics, perhaps with resources or expertise, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our telephone number is 08444 3521.
At the School the parents and/or grandparents are already involved in Paired/Apprentice Reading in addition to our Reading Scheme. From Monday 8 October we started to involve parents in 'Impact' whereby the children will be involved with Mathematics practical work at home, which will be continued and built upon at school based on the current topic. Our Mathematics Scheme, Ginn, will be used as before. We are pleased that our feeder School at Speen will be joining us at St. John's for the first meeting and hope to start this project with their children at the same time.
From this term we have started taking Rising Fives all day, after an initial few weeks of half a day only while they have settled in. Many Buckinghamshire schools only take the Rising Fives for mornings only because this is all schools are given funding for. With the implementation of the National Curriculum and because of my experience of the educational advantage of doing this in another authority, I feel we are, yet again, giving our children an excellent start.
If you know of any children who will be Rising Fives in 1991 or 1992 and have not yet visited us to register and look round the School, please will you ask them to do so as soon as possible.
Although we have a catchment area of Lacey Green, Loosley Row and also Speen at eight years, we welcome children from other areas. At the moment we also have children from Bledlow Ridge, Naphill, Princes Risborough, Saunderton, Walters Ash, Whiteleaf and central Wycombe. As we are also a Voluntarily Aided Church School, parents wanting to send their children to a Church School are particularly welcome.
We welcome anyone interested in Education to attend any of our Open Days, Services and Talks, you do not need to have children of primary school age to become involved!
Parents will shortly be coming into school for private interviews to discuss their child's progress at St. John's. We emphasise the partnership between home and school to enable our children to have an excellent start in their education.
At Christmas time we welcome the parents and members of the local community into school to join us for our Christmas Performances of the Christmas Story. We particularly enjoy sharing Christmas with the 8lst Club who join us for a special afternoon performance followed by tea. The choir trained by Mrs. Stansfield will perform Christmas Jazz as their contribution to an evening of song joining other village groups.
Hallmark January 1991. Young Designers Help Handicapped People. Report by George C. Ward – Bucks Association for Gardening with Disabled People (click George & Mollie Ward for more about George)
The concern for disabled and elderly people is, happily, ever-increasing together with their encouragement for self-help. The greater involvement of young people will ensure even more future adults being involved, resulting in the less active living fuller lives.
A good example are the 11-12 year olds at St. John's Church of England (V.A.) Combined School, who selected Disabled People as the theme for their first term project. Supported by an understanding teacher they decided to analyse the needs of disabled people of all ages and limitations and to design tools/equipment for their use.
I was invited to discuss the gardening potential of the target group and share the experience of the Bucks Association for Gardening with Disabled People – but had not anticipated the depth of sensitivity and practical ideas of this age group.
Their written work indicated their ability to diagnose essential requirements for example suitable gardening tools, a riding saddle, a safety device for household baths. The models, in the course of construction, were practical and the dialogue between them and the visitor revealed their understanding of the technical and human factors involved.
This was a prime example of a teacher developing pupil self-confidence, leading to greater self-confidence by disabled people with the consequent personal satisfaction for all the parties involved.
Local residents should be proud of their local school children.
Hallmark January 1991. Travelling with St John's School. report by Joanna Pawlik and Hester Plumridge
Each year during the Summer Term the middle school classes of St. John's visit various Youth Hostels and Hotels around the country. This is a focus for the topic and gives a chance for some first-hand experience. Whilst there, they study the area's history and its landmarks.
Last year our class visited the Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire. There were many museums around the area with interesting collections about the Industrial Revolution and these gave an example of Victorian life. This is the first time our school had visited this area and with the exception of having too many work sheets in one day we think our class all enjoyed it!
It is traditional for the first years to visit Swanage and stay at the Oxford Hotel. When we went there we especially enjoyed the Sand Dune Trail, beach combing at Kimmeridge Bay and pocket money time! Although the food at the Oxford Hotel left a little to be desired! In Swanage we looked at marine life and studied the geographical area and its history.
We also go on day visits to places linked with our project work, ranging from Stocken Farm and the local Church, to the Science Museum, London.
After visiting Ironbridge last year we made our own blast furnace and managed to smelt a small amount of iron. As a result of this the British Steel Works in Llanwern, Wales invited us to view their No. 3 Blast Furnace and to look around the works. This was a new experience for us and different to all our previous visits.
We have enjoyed all our trips although some are more memorable than others. We hope St. John's will continue to provide children with the same interesting and entertaining visits.
Editor's Note. Older readers will, I'm sure, be quite envious of the opportunities school children have today and join me in saying how nice it was to have this contribution from Joanna and Hester.
Hallmark November 1991. Report by S.L. Coleman – Deputy Head
We have seen the start of another but enjoyable year at St. John's and already many numerous events have taken place at school this term.
There has been a visit by the Kenetic Theatre Company to the school to perform a Science based musical to the top five classes.
Visits have been made by Year 5 to the High Heavens Waste Disposal area as part of their topic on Rubbish, Year 6 to the Imperial War Museum as part of their topic and Year 6 & 7 are about to set off to the Science Museum.
Various courses have been undertaken by the teachers, ranging from Technology to Humanities and all staff have been involved in Inset days and meetings to ensure they are kept right up to date with the National Curriculum.
As always, many visitors have come to the school and we always receive excellent reports of how impressed they are with the children and their work. Particularly on the Open Day which was held earlier this term for prospective parents in the area.
Preparations and rehearsals are well in hand for the school activities at Christmas including a presentation of Aladdin and performances by the children at Baboushka. A church service has been arranged as usual on the last day of term and all parents are welcome to attend.
The Parents Association AGM was held earlier this term and since then have been very involved in raising money for the school through events such as a disco and, in particular, a very successful Auction of Promises.
I am sad to have to report that the school suffered another burglary earlier this term, although happily little was taken. However, this has resulted in a burglar alarm system now being installed and should be in operation by the time this goes to press. Burglars – you have been warned!
On an even more serious note, we have received various reports of a stranger walking in the Main Road area, particularly at the time when the children are going home. We would ask everyone to be vigilant in this matter particularly as daylight hours are now much shorter and children are often going home after school when it is darker.
Hallmark January 1992. Report by Gaynor M Newbold (Headteacher)
We continue to attract children from outside as well as the children within our catchment area. This situation has been helped by Open Enrolment and the recommendation of existing parents.
In addition to our School Brochure, a very attractive pamphlet complete with photographs of life at the school has been produced by a group of our governors. This is hot off the press. The pamphlet will soon be available for newcomers to the area at the local library and estate agents, and at local nurseries.
Please remember you need to fill in a school enrolment form at least eighteen months before your child is due to start school, in order that I can give the county as near accurate predictions of numbers as possible. This has become more important with Local Management of Schools.
Thanks to the kind gift of a cello by our peripatetic music teacher Mr Higgs, we now have two cellos and six children are learning the instrument with Mrs Haynes. It is hoped that we will again have a musical evening in the Summer Term when the children will be able to show their expertise. The string group and the School Band made up of many instruments and age groups, who practice together weekly with Mr Higgs, will perform again.
Success against other schools at chess, football and netball continues. We are very fortunate to have such dedicated teachers to run our extra-curricular activities
I would like to appeal to readers to contact me if they are able to help with any of this terms topics. We would particularly appreciate talks or the loan of artefacts or suggestions for visits.
The lower First School are studying Weather, Rubbish and Domestic Life. Families and Children Throughout the Ages is being studied by the year 3 children. Rivers, Ships and Seafarers is the topic for year 4 who will also incorporate Weather in this topic. France is the topic for year 6 children who are aged ten to eleven. I am sure the Twinning Association will be able to help with this. Spaceship Earth including a local study on Lacey Green is the year 7 topic. An excellent display by our eleven to twelve year olds on the planets has already transformed our Practical Area.
I am still keen to increase our collections for the School Museum. Storage space is extremely limited however. Again, if you can help in anyway please contact me or call into the school.
Hallmark July 1992. Letter to the Editor from Tim Brooker (captain) and all the cricket team of St.John's C.E. Combined School,
Dear Mr Janes,
We thought you might be interested to know that once again the Cricket Team and school are very grateful to the Lacey Green Cricket Club for letting us use their ground, pavilion and for preparing the square for our league games. The facilities are well liked by everone who used them and the result is that we won the league this year.
Hallmark September 1992. Report by Gaynor Newbold – Headteacher
At the start of the New Academic Year at St. John's C.E. School, life is as hectic and exciting as ever.
We have 184 on the roll and 33 new children including 9 Rising Fives, children from our feeder school at Speen and from other parts of the country who have moved to Buckinghamshire. We are also pleased to welcome children from other local areas such as Princes Risborough, Naphill, Walters Ash, Saunderton and Downley.
Our devoted staff have all returned refreshed after the summer break. Mrs Culliford has returned to give part-time support with Key Stage 2. Already Mrs McGinty and I have had a meeting for lower school parents on Reading, and have just completed a pilot screening trial for our Rising Fives.
On Tuesday 22nd September I gave a talk on Testing including the 12+ and the Richmond Tests preceding our Parents Association Annual Meeting. This included refreshments of Cheese and Wine. The Chairman of the Association, Mr Robert Lenko told the parents about the successful year they had had both with the wide variety of events on offer and the additional equipment brought for the school to support the National Curriculum. The development of the school kitchen into a new Group Working Area is almost complete and the parents were invited to view it. A new committee was elected and in addition many parents volunteered to assist them.
The Reception Class and Year 1 and 2 pupils spent a day at the Urban Studies Centre in High Wycombe, staff were assisted as usual by parents on the visit. The children visited the river and did a water trail as part of their study on Water. Other visits are being planned to give First Hand experience for a variety of curriculum areas.
Extra Curricular Activities have begun including Art Club, Chess, Choir, Football, Gymnastics, Netball and Recorders. Members of the Choir are busy practising ready to take part in the Church Pageant.
In addition, we are holding Fitness for Fun Sessions for our 5-7 year olds with a paid instructor and parental supervision and a French Club for our 5-7 year olds with a private tutor and parental supervision.
Please remember if you have a three year old and hope to send your child to St. John's now is the time to visit us to put your child's name down if you have not already done so. I hope to hold another Open Day in October for parents to visit us. The Nursery and feeder school will be informed when the date is finalised.
Hallmark January 1993. Report by Gaynor Newbold – Headteacher
We can look back to the Autumn Term and the introduction of the National Curriculum in the last remaining subjects to be covered, Art Music and Physical Education. Training, or Inset days, as they are now known, are being held during the academic year in all three subjects.
After half term, we will be doing the SAT's (Standard Assessment Tasks) with our Year 2 pupils for the third year. In addition to the obligatory core subjects we will be doing some of the non-statutory work.
St. John's is fortunate in having flexibility in its staffing with both part-time staff and myself available to teach in the Year 2 class to enable Mrs Stansfield, our Year 2 class teacher, to take small groups or individual children, to work through the tasks, without affecting the normal classwork. Many schools do not have this type of organisation.
As the end of term approached, my excellent team worked extremely hard together to produce a number of memorable performances for parents, grandparents and friends of the school of "The Christmas Star" and "A Victorian Christmas" in which ALL the children took part.
Our Group/ Technology room is almost finished and we were able to use it on this occasion, for Parents Association events and now daily as a Group Room for our part-time teachers and lunchtime for Year 7.
A great deal of time, effort and fund-raising has gone into this by our very supportive Parents Association and Governing Body. Mr D. Liddington, our local MP, has promised to perform the official opening ceremony for us when he comes to visit the school.
This term we are again planning visits to support our studies. Amongst these will be a visit to the Museum of London, as part of a study on London, another to the Imperial War Museum, to study life during World War II and a visit to the Science Museum as part of a Communications Topic.
One of our next areas for development is the Library. We would like to hear from anyone, particularly retired people, who may have an hour, a morning or an afternoon per week to spare on a regular basis, to act as a volunteer in the library at school.
On another positive note, I am pleased to report that as anticipated, St. John’s will be expanding again to seven classes after Easter due to the increase in the number on roll. It is interesting to note that this is partly due to the fact that we have continued to attract children from outside the catchment since the Government introduced Open Enrolment.
Hallmark October 1993. Report by Gaynor M. Newbold – Headteacher
The new academic year has just begun at the school, we can look forward to an exciting year ahead with enthusiasm. It is interesting also to reflect on the wide range of activities enjoyed in the Summer Term.
Visits were made by Key Stage 2 pupils to the Chair Museum, Urban Studies Centre, St. Mary's Church, Princes Risborough, Whiteleaf Cross and to Stocken Farm. Our younger pupils in the Reception Class and the Key Stage 1 pupils visited Cogges Farm.
Key Stage 3 pupils in Year 7 went on a Residential Visit to Norwich with Mr Coleman, Mrs Shaw and parents. This visit was followed by a special evening where they gave a presentation to parents, grandparents, siblings and Governors.
By using first hand experiences of other environments an excellent standard of work has been achieved during and following these visits. This can only be done by meticulous planning and team work by the staff and co-operation by parents.
As usual a wide variety of extra curricular clubs have been available to the children. Teaching Staff and parents join together each summer to run the AAA Awards School Athletics Club for all our Middle School children. The children compete against their own personal best achievements to improve these and are awarded certificates at the end of the term.
Our Cricket Team are again the South Bucks Cricket League winners. We are very grateful to the Sports Club for allowing Mr Coleman and the team to use their facilities.
We are proud of our musical achievements at St. John's. Children in Year 3 upwards have the opportunity to learn to play a wide range of string and woodwind instruments, to play in a string orchestra and a whole school band known as the Lacey Green Symphonetta. Our younger children can learn the recorder with Mrs Stansfield and join our choir at Year 4. Again, this summer, a special Musical Evening for all our children who play instruments at school or are in the choir was held in the school hall. Mrs Hayes and Mr Higgs our two peripatetic music teachers joined Mrs Stansfield, our music teacher to organise an evening to remember.
In addition to school sports days, the Princes Risborough Liaison Group Headteachers decided to hold an Area Sports Day at Princes Risborough Upper School. Our representatives excelled at the field events and came second overall. We hope to continue this event each year.
The Parents Association joined with the school staff to organise events which included a gym display by pupils who were trained by Mrs Rodbourne, games, refreshments and a windmill competition. These were our contribution to Village Day.
As part of our Development Plan the teaching staff are working together to produce new Schemes of Work for each Key Stage of the National Curriculum, attending courses where necessary. We are well on the way with our Schemes but life would be easier if the Government directives did not keep changing.
Both our playgrounds have been resurfaced. The Trustees have paid for the staff car park to be resurfaced.
Ever since I came to St. John's six years ago I have wanted to extend the hard playing area. Many schools are short of hard playing space although we have excellent large grounds, in the winter time the grass area cannot be used. At last, during the summer holidays, I was able to arrange for an additional area in the form of a netball court with extra playground marking to be constructed behind the present Middle School playground using part of our small underspend.
This has meant separate areas at playtime for netball practice, football and other ball games in addition to quiet area and general playing area in the Middle School playground. Our younger children now also have more space as one less year group needs to play in the front playground. Outdoor games lessons can now be organised in a wider variety of ways. If you have not yet seen the improvement do come and look at it before or after school.
An open Day for prospective parents will be held on Tuesday 12th October at 9.45am. and 1.15pm. with a talk by myself, tours of the school by Year 7 pupils followed by a question and refreshment time after both sessions. We have become a very popular school and are over subscribed for Rising Fives.
Please can I remind you that even if you live in the catchment area of Lacey Green and Loosley Row at 5 and additionally Speen at 8, you need to put your child's name down by the December preceding the academic year when they are five. For most parents this needs to be as the child approaches the age of three as they are joining Playgroups.
If we are over subscribed by the January following the December, the Governing Body Admissions Panel has to meet and decide who to admit using the Admissions Criteria. There is an appeals procedure.
This year, some parents already living in the catchment area did not do this causing additional problems. The local playgroup carries brochures and admission forms and of course they are available at school. Our telephone number is 0844 343521.
I would like to take this opportunity of thanking you for sending in the various "free" vouchers which are available from a number of firms to help purchase things for the school.
Hallmark June 1994. Report by Gaynor M. Newbold – Headteacher
As we near the end of our two-year inset project on schemes of work, enabling us all to work together as a team so that our children aged five to twelve can be sure of a broad balanced curriculum aimed at continuity and progression, the new Dearing Draft National Curriculum has been sent to school, at last.
Soon, we will be appointing an additional member of staff, a part time Special Needs Support Assistant in addition to our Welfare Support Assistants. In September, the new Government Code of Practice for Special Needs will make changes for all schools in this important area.
Following the excellent support from our parents by Sponsoring the children in our Book Week quiz we now have an additional £1,300 to spend on books. In total, at least £2,700 will be spent on books for the library including all curriculum areas. Our staff meeting was spent at the County's permanent exhibition of new and recently published recommended books, making some initial decisions.
Our Family Treasure Hunt, held on alternate years to Village Day is in July. Again, we are collecting Tesco Vouchers to help us get another computer. We never have enough inspite of having twelve already. Please send in any vouchers you do not need, we can always use them!
We have applied to County for additional computer equipment to develop our curriculum work and have been successful in obtaining CD Rom equipment which will add to our capitation allowance.
Our building improvement plans still continue to be thwarted by lack of forthcoming funds from the Diocese and the department for Education but a number are in the ‘pipe-line’.
Tenders have gone out for improvements to the windows and doors in our library. The case for an additional classroom is being discussed by the Diocese and the County Council. Improvements and replacement of louvred windows and the main doors should be completed by the end of the term.
The Parents Association are funding extensions and improvements to the pathway for pedestrian access into the school, this should be completed at half term.
Excellent work is being produced by Year 6 and 7 following their residential visit to Norwich. A special presentation evening of their work will follow on July 5th.
The rest of the school is planning day visits to complement their present terms study work.
The Sports Club has again allowed us to use the cricket facilities. Our thanks again for this kind gesture.
Our Athletics Club is in action again supported by the teachers and a group of parents. Sports Days will follow later in the term in addition to our liaison group sporting activities of Cross Country, Athletics and Rounders as well as friendly and league Chess, Football and Netball.
By Christmas, it is essential that we have returned application forms for all children hoping to join us in the academic year 1995-96 whether within the catchment area of Lacey Green and Loosley or outside. This year we had again more applicants than we could take.
Hallmark September 1994. Report by Gaynor Newbold – Headteacher
The new academic year is in full swing at St. John's with 218 children on roll including nine rising fives and eleven. Children transferring from our feeder school at Speen at 8+.
We now have an additional support assistant, Mrs West who is working 15 hours per week with children with special needs. Mrs Rodbourne, our part time teacher, has increased her teaching commitment to six tenths of the timetable. This will enable us to support a number of National Curriculum Subjects such as Science, French and the Humanities in half year groups, thus giving more individual tuition than is possible in the whole class situation.
Our extra curricular clubs starts in September. We now have even more clubs on offer including Art, Chess, Football, Gymnastics, Netball and Rounders. Later in the summer, there will be Cricket and Athletics. These clubs are for the Middle School children.
In addition, we now have French classes, Fitness for Fun and Short Tennis for the First School and Lower Middle School children.
Children from year 3 upwards are able to learn to play string or woodwind instruments and join the string orchestra or school band.
Middle school children can join the choir and take part in special performances such as the Village Hall performances with the Lacey Green Singers.
The last week in September is a very special one for the school, an Ofsted Inspection team of six inspectors will be coming to St. John's. The Government plan is to inspect all Primary Schools on a four year cycle. We, being one of the first schools to be inspected in the first month of the Primary Inspection Cycle.
Vast quantities of information, running into seven volumes has been sent as requested to Ofsted, the cost of this in time and money has had to be borne by the school. The Headteachers forms were all changed by Ofsted only a few days before the deadline.
As usual in any school situation, my excellent team have worked together to share the burden. We hope that it will turn out to be a positive experience.
Hallmark November 1994. “A School With Many Strengths". Report by Gaynor Newbold – Headteacher
Following our Ofsted inspecting in September 1994 I am pleased to report the following:- The school was judged to be in the highest category of Ofsted findings "A School with many strengths".
Standards were particularly high in English, Maths, Science, Art and PE. throughout the school, and in History at KS.2 and KS.3 and French at KS.3.
Standards in the remaining subjects were equal to or above the national expectancy across the School.
The School was judged as providing good value for money with strong, efficient and supportive leadership.
Flexible staffing arrangements and committed Staff assisted the School in its high achievements.
The Section 13 Inspection for Voluntary Aided Schools revealed RE lessons and Collective Worship of good standard.
The Mission Statement and Aims of the School permeated the learning. There was a strong sense of community well supported by parents.
This over subscribed School used its facilities and buildings well but pressure for places put Strain on the accommodation needs.
No weaknesses were found by the Ofsted team who recommended that the School should continue to build on its strength".
Educational visits including visits by Years 3 and 4 to Stocken Farm, Sainsburys and the Science Museum, Year 5 British Museum, Year 6 to the Museum of London and Year 7 to the Science Museum, we are now preparing for the Christmas Performances.
This year all the children will take part in the Stargazers, a story about the journey of the wise men to see the new born king.
In addition, the choir will join the Lacey Green Singers at the Village Hall for a Christmas event. The children will entertain the Over 60's club assisted by the Parents Association who will provide tea. The term will end with the service in St. John's Church on the last afternoon of the Autumn Term.
As you are probably aware we continue to be an oversubscribed school. If you have a child or know of anyone with a child hoping to join us in the academic year 1995-96 who has not yet returned an application form to us please remember we need the form by Christmas. The Governor's admission panel will meet at the end of January or the beginning of February as usual.
Hallmark March 1995. Report by Peter Hale
On April 8th the school said farewell to Mrs Gaynor Newbold as she lays down the Headship of the school after eight years in the position. In that time Mrs Newbold has contributed enormously to the school. Today it is a school which has extremely high standards both in education and discipline. It has been given an extremely excellent and encouraging OFSTED inspection report. Much, if not all this, is due to the leadership which has been given by Mrs Newbold. She has led the school 'from the front’, and set an amazing example of very hard work for her staff who have loyally backed her throughout this time. Today we have an over-subscribed school and despite stringent budget restraints able to take on another full-time teacher in September. This is due to Mrs Newbold's management and leadership.
She will be greatly missed both by the Governors and staff, children and parents. Her contribution to St. John's will last a very long time. She has certainly left her mark on the school. Thank you for everything, Mrs Newbold.
Mrs Newbold’s retirement has meant that the Governing Body has had to appoint a new Head for the school. The Governors were unable to do this at the first attempt. At the second they were able to go ahead and interview three candidates, and as a result of that day Mr Stephen Coleman has been appointed Head. Mr Coleman is no stranger to the school! He has been Deputy Head for some time and is very much part of the scene. Staff and Parents, and children are very happy with the Governors choice, and we look forward to ‘great things to come’.
Hallmark May 1995. Report by S.L. Coleman Headteacher
A new term has begun and already our new children in Mrs McGuinty's class have settled in well to the routine of the school. Despite only four weeks passing since the start of the term, the pace of education continues. Visits have already taken place by our Yr. 7 class to Hughenden Manor and all looked splendid in Victorian costume. They had a very enjoyable day and extremely good comments were made about their behaviour and how well prepared they were for the visit. Well done to them and to Mrs Culliford.
Mrs Hamilton's class walked into the village and followed that up with Geography work – we sometimes forget how useful the local area is as a resource! A thank you to the parents who accompanied the children on their visits.
The Yr. 6 children are just completing their Key Stage 2 SAT's tests in English, Science and Maths. This is the first time they have been set on a national level and all the children have coped well with them. The papers have to be externally marked and then returned to us with the results, hopefully in time for Open Evening, later on this term.
At the same time the Yr. 2 children are also undertaking the SAT's tests in English, Science and Maths with Mrs Stansfield and Miss Harrison. Again, the children have coped well with them. It will certainly be interesting to see how our teacher assessments compare with the results of the tests.
We continue to attract children to the school from inside and outside the catchment area and now have 235 children on roll. This is an excellent achievement and - “(reflects the strength of the school's reputation and the hard work of the staff and governors of the school. It has meant that we have increased our staff and we are pleased to welcome Mrs Parry, one of our parents, who is working with some of our older pupils; and Mrs Culliford who has taken over the top class this term. We also welcome Mrs Kelloway and Mrs Doel in a midday supervisors role – always a busy time of the day, and a welcome back to Mrs Foster who is also working at lunch times. It does, however, mean that a lot of parents have to drive the children to school which means that parking in the morning and afternoon is difficult. I would ask parents to take care where they – park; it is frustrating for the local residents if they cannot get in or out of their drives.
Dates have been set for Summer Term events, particularly Sports Day, Open Evening and Musical Evening and parents will be receiving these soon after half term. Athletic and Cricket Clubs, despite the weather have begun and Gymnastics and Drama continue. Our younger pupils are also continuing to take part in French and Fitness for Fun clubs and the Short Tennis club has now moved over to the tennis courts next door at the Sports Club. That, and the use of the Cricket Square adds a marvellous extra dimension to our extra-curricular activities and is much appreciated by the children.
Hallmark September 1995. Report by S.L. Coleman Headteacher
A new year at St John's, and a warm welcome is extended to all our new parents and children to the school. The children will now have had the chance to use the new school library. Although it was disappointing to lose the old library, we are more than pleased with how the new extension has turned out. The building work is almost completed, after a long and hot Summer and the school is beginning to look as it should, a building we can be proud of.
On a disappointing note, it was saddening to have to deal with the vandalism that occurred during the summer, on three separate occasions. Whatever the reasons for these actions, the money that has to be spent on repairs is money taken away from the school budget that could have been spent on many other, more suitable things. Despite all the precautions such as alarms and security lights, it is almost — impossible to stop people who simply want to do damage to property. We all hope it won't happen again.
The term ahead promises to be as busy as ever. An Auction of Promises on 14th October and a mini-sale on 1st December are important events organised by the Parents Association. The Governing Body and Parents’ Association AGMs will be held together on Tuesday 17th October and an invitation is extended to all present and prospective parents to visit the school on its Open Day on Wednesday 11th October.
A thank you, once again, needs to be offered to the Sports Club for allowing the school to use the Cricket Square and Pavilion for their cricket matches. The teas, prepared by the parents, are enjoyed by players and spectators alike.
Many parents will be following the discussions regarding the changes in the Age of Transfer from 12 to 11 with some concern. Although it is only at a consultative stage, if it should go ahead, as seems likely at the moment, it will have enormous implications for Middle, First and Combined Schools. No firm details are yet known. However, I will keep you all informed when the consultation stage has been completed.
Hallmark January 1996. Report by S.L. Coleman – Headteacher
I have often talked of the hectic life within school today and there is a delightful illustration in Winnie-the-Pooh showing Christopher Robin dragging Edward Bear down the stairs. At each step Edward Bear's head bumps on the tread.
‘Here is Edward Bear now coming downstairs, bump, bump, bump on the back of his head behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it.’
I think many people would empathise with Edward Bear and within the whirlpool of activity that expresses the life of the school community the time to take stock and reflect becomes more and more important.
The new children who began this term have settled in very well and are already becoming accustomed to school life. The number of pupils on role continues to grow and | would like take this opportunity to remind parents to send in admission forms for 1996/97 as soon as possible whether you live in or out of the catchment area. If we are over subscribed by January for the following year the Governing Body Admissions Panel will meet to decide who to admit. It is therefore important to have all the forms in.
I am delighted to be able to announce that because of our rise in pupil numbers, it has meant that we have been allocated a grant from the DFEE, with the aid of the Diocese of Oxford, to build a classroom extension. As we are a Voluntary Aided school we are required to find 15% of the grant and both the Governors and the Parents Association have very kindly offered to help with much of this funding.
There are, as always, many activities organised for this term. Years 4 and 5 are planning trips to the British Museum as part of their topic work on Ancient Greece and the Egyptians, and the Weather is being closely observed by the First School children as part of their Key Stage One work. Year 7 are studying Settlements and Year 3 begin a topic on Rivers. Year 6 will be visiting Hazard Alley in Milton Keynes later this term and studying Britain since 1930 as part of their topic. We have always believed that work on Road Safety is very important and Year 4 will be taking part in a Road Safety topic this term and staff are looking closely at how this can be integrated into their school work. Following the accident last term outside the school, I wrote several letters to the County Council and Parish Council expressing my deep worries concerning the speed limit outside the school.
Hallmark May 1996. Report by S.L. Coleman – Headteacher
Summer term has arrived and all the new children seem to have settled in well.
There are a range of activities organised for this term with visits by the children to various events, including year 4 and 6 to the Wycombe Swan to see Wind in the Willows, Year 5 to the Chiltern Open Air Museum and Reception and Year 1 to Ham Farm. It was interesting to read the article, A Letter from Norfolk” in the last edition as year are busily preparing for their residential trip to Norwich in May.
There are also activities organised by the parents Association including a Roller Skating Disco, Treasure Hunt and a Summer Fete to be held in June. It is the first time we have held a fete for a number of years and preparations are well under way. Volunteers required for the Wet Sponge stall! Please come along and support these activities if you can.
Following on from the letters | sent regarding the accidents outside the school, a joint meeting was called by Mr Gosling, a Parish Councillor, Governor and Parent, between the School Governors and the Parish Council. Different ways of tackling the traffic problems were discussed. Parents at St. John’s can certainly help by parking sensibly and reinforcing the Highway Code with their children. Hopefully other measures will soon be put into operation.
Hallmark August 1998. (excerpt) by Headteacher S.L. Coleman
This year was an unusual year with two year groups, Year 6 and Year 7 leaving because of the change in the ages of Transfer from 12 to 11. Both year groups enjoyed residential visits with Year 7 staying at Swanage and Year 6 visiting Ironbridge.
After school activities were well supported, with Tennis, Cricket, Gymnastics, Junior ball skills and Softball just a few of the activities that took place this term. Many of these clubs are either run by teaching staff or organised by the Parents Association with outside tutors. I am delighted at the range of activities that we can offer to the children at school if they wish to participate and most of them do!
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the Village Sports and Social Club for allowing us to use their facilities, once again. As well as lots of children using the tennis courts for tennis coaching, the use of the cricket ground for matches is an excellent facility and envied by many other schools.
Unfortunately we have had children using the school grounds as a skate board area and also making a nuisance of themselves by throwing things in the pond and leaving cigarette ends littered around. Apart from the work the caretaker has to do to tidy up, the school is private property and should any accident occur the persons concerned would not be covered by insurance.