Newsletters

25/26 - Autumn 2, Week 1

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Dear parents and carers,

I hope you all enjoyed the half-term break and are settling well into the new school term.

It has been a busy and very positive start to the year at William Ford CofE Junior School. I am pleased to share several highlights and important reminders:

Visits to enrich our school community
We were delighted to welcome Gloria Delafu into school. Her presentation was inspiring: she encouraged our pupils to believe in themselves, and to become “masters of their own future” - an idea she has lived out in her own journey. It was clear the children found her message engaging and motivational.

Up next, we have invited J Grange into school. This promises to be an excellent session - highly recommended not only for our pupils but for you as their parents too. You should have received a letter about this event already. We strongly encourage you to take part alongside your child if possible. Please speak to the office if you did not receive this letter.

Collective Worship and our themes
This week in Collective Worship we have begun a new topic focusing on the story of Daniel and the characteristics of Jesus Christ. We began by exploring how Jesus is loving, and also started learning the story of Daniel. We also welcomed a visit from the Salvation Army, who spoke to us about anti-bullying. These elements are strengthening our school vision of “successful, healthy, fulfilled and empowered learners… strengthened by the hope and example of God.”

School Council
It was a pleasure to meet with the School Council for the first time this week. Their enthusiasm and ideas for improving our school life were impressive. We look forward to publishing the minutes of that meeting on our school website so that all families can see and engage with the work of the Council.

Upcoming Year 6 residential
Next week our Year 6 pupils depart on their residential trip to the Mid-Wales mountains. We assure you that the team and the group will be in our prayers for great weather, a safe journey, and lots of rich learning as they experience God’s wonderful world outdoors.

Important: Online safety reminder
We continue to receive concerns about children using WhatsApp, TikTok and Snapchat very late into the night. As ever, please remember that you, as parents/carers, are responsible for monitoring what your children are accessing and watching.

One trend of particular concern is known as Italian Brainrot. While at first glance it appears to be a strange or harmless meme trend featuring nonsensical AI-generated characters with pseudo-Italian names, there are deeper issues:

  • The trend is built on absurd visuals and AI-generated audio, which appeal strongly to children because they appear “funny” or “weird”. 

  • Some of the videos have underlying messages or content that are less innocent than they appear: for example, certain characters or audio tracks have been criticised for mocking religious beliefs or making light of conflict. 

  • Because the bizarre content can be hypnotic and children may repeat or mimic it without full understanding, it presents risks in terms of screen-time, content exposure and potential for anxiety or confusion.

In practical terms, we ask you to check that your child’s device and apps are set to appropriate times and access, that nights are free from online distractions, and to talk with your child about what they are watching and playing. Encourage open conversation: ask questions like “What’s that about?” or “Why did you watch that?” rather than assuming it is harmless.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our children safe, well-supported and thriving.

I pray you all have a wonderful weekend.

 

Mr. David Huntingford

Headteacher

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Children in the Lighthouse started their swimming lessons this week and had a fantastic time. Thank you for all the staff who make this incredible experience happen, especially those who got into the pool with the children to support them in the water.

Welcome back everyone,

We are hoping to have some Felix project deliveries over the Christmas holiday. 

Are there any parents who may be available to help us closer to the time to unload the delivery and support parents with the collection of the items?

Please email me at office@williamfordschool.co.uk or  to join our amazing parents and staff who have helped with deliveries to date.

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Year Three

Kaleb

Year Four

Kris

Year Five

Christabel

Year Six

Ophelia

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Super Sleuth by David Walliams 

I have enjoyed reading this book and becoming a detective. A crime times place on a ship and two characters become the detective and try to solve the crime. When reading the book, you try to find clues to find out who the culprit was. 

 

 By Avantika 5W  

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Lighthouse Swimming Lesson
10:30am – 11:30am
11
November
Children in Need - Non Uniform Day
All Day
14
November
Cinema Trip (Y3 and Lighthouse)
9:00am – 12:00pm
14
November
Parent Evening Night one [In-person]
3:30pm – 6:00pm
17
November
Science Museum Trip
All Day
18
November
Lighthouse Swimming Lesson
10:30am – 11:30am
18
November
Cake Sale - Breaktime
10:45am – 11:15am
18
November
Cake Sale
10:45am – 11:00am
19
November
all school flu vacine catchup
All Day
20
November
Science Museum Trip 5H
All Day
20
November
Parents evening [In-person]
3:30pm – 6:00pm
20
November
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07 Nov 2025
Girls' Football Team
This week, we hear from our amazing girls' football team.
Read more
06 Nov 2025
Inspiring visit from Gloria Dalafu
Inspiring visit from Gloria Dalafu
Read more
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Year Three

It has been lovely to welcome the children back for what is always an exciting and fun-packed half term. 

What we have learnt about this week 

This week we have enjoyed launching into our new shared reading book ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ and we are looking forward to seeing where the adventure goes next. 

In our English lessons we have been learning about the features of a non-chronological report. We have also practised using proper nouns and the present tense. 

In maths we have continued to work on addition with a focus on column addition crossing over the 10 /100. 

The children have been comparing continents in geography, looking at landmass, population and number of countries. 

In R.E the children have learnt about the importance of The Grace to Christians and have written their own, more personalised version of the prayer, to be read in class. 

What we will learn about next week 

Next week the children will be writing their own questions based on a non-chronological report. They will also complete a lesson to develop their use of subordinating conjunctions and another converting between past and present tense. 

In maths we will be focusing on subtraction and various mental strategies for solving these calculations.  

In history we will be considering the enquiry question ‘what is a pharaoh?’ 

In science the children will continue their investigation of light and will learn more about refection of light on different surfaces.  

We are also looking forward to our trip to the cinema on Friday! 

Year Four 

It has been good to have the children back after the half term break. They have settled back in well.  

What we have learnt about this week 

In English this week, the children have been introduced to their new novel ‘Journey to Jo’burg’ by Beverly Naidoo. They have thought carefully about the setting and have discussed the difficult topic of apartheid with maturity. They have also looked at the homophones there,  their and they're in grammar.  

In maths the  children have been continuing their unit on addition and subtraction  and have been practising using the formal method.   

In geography,  pupils looked at the climate of India and created definitions to understand the difference between climate and weather  

In RE, the children thought about the  Ahimsa – the Hindu golden rule.  

What we will learn about next week 

Next week,  the children will continue to read their new novel.  They will also be looking at diary writing and will write their own diaries as the characters start on their long journeys.  

In maths,  the children will be finishing their unit on addition and subtraction,  consolidating their understanding of the formal method for both operations.  

History will see the children using stone age artefacts to see what evidence they can find out about this period.   

In RE, the children will be finishing their unit on Hinduism and will be demonstrating what they have learnt across this topic.  

Science will see the children starting a new unit on States of Matter, where they will be considering the properties of solids, liquids and gases.  

Year Five

This week has been another fantastic week of learning in Year 5! 

What we have learnt about this week 

In Maths, the children have been learning about prime numbers, square numbers, and cube numbers. They have also practised multiplying by 10, 100, and 1,000. 

In English, we started reading The Boy at the Back of the Class. The children have learned about the features of a non-chronological report, asked questions about Syria, and researched the answers using their own notes. 

In Science, we are finishing our stargazing project. The children have completed their PowerPoints and props, and they are getting ready to record their space documentaries next week. 

In RE, the children enjoyed creating their own superhero for good as part of our Inner Forces unit. 

During their cooking sessions, the children had lots of fun making banana bread, it smelled delicious! 

It has been a fantastic week full of learning and creativity in Year 5! 

 

What we will learn about next week 

Next week in year 5, the children have an exciting range of activities planned! In science, they will be filming their stargazing episodes, using their PowerPoints and props to showcase what they have learnt. In geography, the children will take on the role of relocation consultants using real-life scenarios to decide on the best place for a family to move.  

In RE, we will begin our new unit on Incarnation, thinking about the qualities that make a great leader. During computing, the children will continue developing their programming skills as they tinker with Scracth. 

In maths, we’ll be dividing by 10,100, 1000 and consolidating their multiplication and division skills through a range of problem-solving activities. 

Year Six

It has been great to welcome the children back fully refreshed and ready to go after the half-term break. 

What we have learnt about this week 

This week, the children have moved on to exploring the features of a balanced argument in their English lessons.  They debated a range of issues and have begun to research and plan their own balanced argument about the ethics behind Victorian workhouses. In maths, our new topic is fractions, and the children have already explored equivalent fractions, simplifying fractions and fractions on number lines.  Class 6B made their traybakes in their cookery lesson on Tuesday, the traybakes looked and smelled delicious!  In our rights respecting lesson, the children explored how our names help us have a sense of identity and we discussed how we would feel if our names were taken away from us and we were given a number instead.  The children have completed their end of unit assessment in R.E. and will be moving onto a new topic - examining the arts in Christianity. 

 

What we will learn about next week 

Next week, some of our Year 6 children will be on their Trewern residential trip.  Those children who will be staying at school will come off their normal curriculum for the week and spend some time engaging in a range of creative activities. 

 

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Each week, staff select two 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!

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