Newsletters

24/25 - Summer 2, Week 1 

{item_alt_tag}

Dear parents and carers,

We hope you all had a restful and enjoyable half-term break. As mentioned in our last newsletter, we are now entering a particularly exciting and memorable final half-term of the school year. Highlights to look forward to include our much-anticipated one-night residential trip to France for pupils in Years 4 and 5, our annual Sports Day and FordFest celebration, and, of course, the Year 6 end-of-year production.

This half-term also marks important transitions: we begin to welcome our new cohort of Year 2 pupils from Village Infants, helping them prepare for life at William Ford, while also supporting our Year 6 pupils as they get ready to say goodbye and move on to secondary school.

In addition, June is Community Month at William Ford - a time when every year group takes part in a form of community service. Whether it's litter-picking, creating gifts for local residents, or helping in the school grounds, our pupils will be learning the importance of generosity, responsibility and making a difference locally.

There are also some exciting developments happening in school, which you can read more about below. On Wednesday evening, we hosted a food tasting event ahead of the launch of our new catering provider, Apetito. We were thrilled to welcome so many parents, pupils and staff to sample the menu and learn more about what’s to come.  Some parents have contacted me, concerned that our current kitchen staff will be made redundant as a result of the new provider.  I can confirm that is NOT the case.  Some staff a required in the kitchen and others are being trained and redeployed across the school - including an exciting new initiative starting next year where we will be offering cookery classes across the school.

We are also proud to announce that William Ford features in Jamie Oliver’s new documentary, Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution, which airs on Channel 4 this Monday, 9th June at 9pm. It’s a celebration of inclusive practice, and we are honoured that our school’s approach has been recognised at a national level.  It was very exciting to attend the premiere of this broadcast in Central London on Wednesday night along with our pupils Shelby, Cairon and Lillie.

No alternative text description for this image

No alternative text description for this image

.

In Collective Worship, we have continued exploring the miracles of Jesus. This week, we reflected on John 9:1–7, where Jesus heals a man who was born blind. The passage reminds us not only of Jesus’s power, but also his compassion and ability to see potential where others cannot. Mr Lazarus also introduced our latest Rights Respecting Schools focus: Article 16: the right to privacy. We discussed how Jesus himself sought moments of privacy to pray and prepare for difficult times, including before his crucifixion. Pupils were encouraged to reflect on their own right to privacy, both emotionally and physically, and how they can respect that right in others.

There’s a lot to look forward to as we approach the final weeks of term—thank you for continuing to be part of our journey.

 

I pray you all have a wonderful weekend.

 

Mr. David Huntingford

Headteacher

{item_alt_tag}

{item_alt_tag}

{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}

Transition  

As the end of the school year approaches, children will be starting to think about their new classes and the changes that are coming. Please speak to your children about the upcoming changes and speak to their current teacher or me if you have any concerns. 

Don't forget next Friday 13th June is a non pupil day.

School will be closed all day and we will return on Monday 16th June 2025. 

Hello! We are thrilled to tell you author and hip hop artist Christian Foley is coming to your school! Christian’s sessions aim to nurture and develop student’s enthusiasm and skills towards reading and writing. Books are available to order now – click or scan the QR code to buy online and Christian will sign and personalise the books.

 

{item_alt_tag}

New and exciting books have been added to the library in recent weeks. 

Please make sure that once you have read the book you return it to the correct place before taking a different book.  

{item_alt_tag}
New year 2 pupils welcome meeting [In-person]
2:00pm – 3:00pm
10
June
Inset - Non-Pupil day
All Day
13
June
Roman Day [In-person]
All Day
17
June
Whole school Workshop and Assembly - Christian Foley [In-person]
8:00am – 8:30am
18
June
France Residential Y4 and Y5 [In-person]
All Day
from 19 Jun until 20 Jun
19
June
France Residential
All Day
from 19 Jun until 20 Jun
19
June
Y6 Swimming wk3
8:00am – 8:30am
20
June
{item_alt_tag}
06 Jun 2025
Layers of the Rainforest
This week Shelby and Davianna tell us about their learning in geography.
Read more
03 Jun 2025
William Ford to Feature in Channel 4 Documentary 'Jamie’s Dyslexia Revolution'
William Ford selected to feature in Jamie Oliver's upcoming documentary due to its inclusive ethos and its screening and support for dyslexic pupils.
Read more
23 May 2025
Colchester Castle - Year Four
Enriching learning about the Romans
Read more
{item_alt_tag}

Year Three

This week, year 3 have been learning about Article 16 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which says that every child has the right to privacy. To bring this right to life, each child created their own Privacy Box to keep in their tray.

 

These boxes offer a personal space where pupils can write down their thoughts and feelings—things they may not feel ready to share yet. When they are ready, they can choose to open up to someone they trust. This project helps children understand that it’s okay to need time and space for themselves and that their emotions are valid and worth protecting.

 

In assembly this week, Khadija, Zahid, Victor, and Lena from 3F shared their beautifully designed privacy boxes and explained what they had learned:

 

Khadija said, “I’ve learned that privacy means having the right to keep some things to myself. It helps me feel safe.”

 

Zahid shared, “Everyone should be allowed to have their own thoughts without feeling judged. That’s why privacy is important.”

 

Victor explained, “Privacy helps us understand our feelings before we talk about them. It gives us time to think.”

 

Lena added, “I learned that it’s okay not to share everything straight away. We can choose when we’re ready.”

 

 

Year Four 

Year 4 have settled well into their final half term before moving on to Year 5.  

What we have learnt about this week 

English this week has seen the children starting their new novel ‘Revolt against the Romans’ by Tony Bradman. They have enjoyed being introduced to a twelve-year-old Roman boy called Marcus and have written their own character descriptions. 

In maths, the children have been looking at angles and have begun work on 2D shapes. They have been identifying the different types of triangles with growing confidence. 

Geography this week saw the children researching the layers of the Rainforest and produced amazing collages that demonstrated their understanding. In science the children have been investigating different types of teeth and the reasons that different types of teeth are needed. 

What we will learn about next week 

The children will continue to read their exciting novel and will be finding out what life will be like for Marcus when he moves to Britannia.  

In maths, the children will continue to develop their understanding of 2D shape, moving on to quadrilaterals. 

In history, the children will be looking at Roman belief systems and how they moved from a pantheon of gods and goddesses to becoming a driving force in the early Christian church. 

In Religious Education, the children will think about marriage across different religions and worldviews. 

Year Five

Year 5 have had a great start back to school, beginning some new units and topics. We cannot quite believe that this is the last term of year 5!! 

What we have learnt about this week 

This week in English and Reading, we have begun our new unit, studying the book: The Nowhere Emporium. We have begun to look at noun phrases and figurative language and have written a setting description, based on a magical shop. 

In maths, we have been looking at position and direction, specifically translation and symmetry.  

In Science, we have completed our unit of life cycles, looking at the life cycles of a bird.  

In RE, we have also finished off another of our topics, looking at the importance of the Qu’ran in Islam. 

What we will learn about next week 

Next week, we will be moving onto our new topic in RE: What people believe about God.  

In Computing, we will be looking at pixels, as part of our new unit on Skills showcase, looking at the Mars Rovers.  

In Maths, English and Reading, we will be having some assessments next week, to see how the pupils have progressed over the year. We hope you have a lovely weekend.  

Year Six

Year 6 have settled back into school seamlessly, it’s great having them back! 

What we have learnt about this week 

It is delightful to observe the return of Year 6 to school, filled with enthusiasm as we eagerly anticipate the remainder of the term. This week, the class has enthusiastically resumed shared reading, diving into our new book, The London Eye Mystery. This engaging text serves not only to enhance their reading skills but also to stimulate their critical thinking. 

In addition, we have embarked on exciting maths investigation lessons, which the children are thoroughly enjoying. These sessions encourage problem-solving and collaborative learning, fostering a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts. 

Moreover, preparations for our Year 6 production, titled School of Pop, are well underway. The children have displayed admirable patience and dedication during the audition process. As the Year 6 team, we have been genuinely impressed with the acting talents showcased by many pupils. 

Well done Year 6! Keep up the excellent work. 

What we will learn about next week 

Next week, Year 6 will continue with their shared reading sessions, allowing the pupils to engage with texts collaboratively. Additionally, we will begin practising our lines for the upcoming play (School of Rock). The songs required for the performance are currently available on the school website, so please encourage your child to take the initiative in learning these melodies. 

In mathematics, our investigations will persist, providing pupils with opportunities to explore concepts deeply and creatively.  

Furthermore, we will continue our design and technology project titled 'Come Dine with Me.' During this project, the children are tasked with creating their own healthy starter or dessert. They have already researched recipes and designed logos, and they will soon embark on a shopping trip to purchase their necessary ingredients. 

Lastly, please remind your child to bring their swimming attire for our Friday session in the pool. Thank you for your continued support. 

 

{item_alt_tag}

Each week, staff select three children from each class who have shown effort and commitment to upholding an aspect of our school vision, shown at the bottom of the page. Congratulations to this week’s ‘stars of the week’ for their tremendous endeavours!

 

 

 

 

{item_alt_tag}