Newsletters

Dear parents and carers,

Another incredibly busy and rewarding week at William Ford. There is so much to celebrate.

Lighthouse Café Project Our Lighthouse children had a brilliant opportunity this week to visit a local café and learn how one operates; how orders are taken, how food is prepared, how customers are welcomed and how a small business runs from the inside. This is the beginning of something genuinely exciting. Linked to our careers education and our vision of helping every child to be empowered to make a difference, we are working towards Lighthouse children setting up and running their own café, weaving a great deal of their curriculum learning into the project. Watch this space.

Mini Marathon and Incredible Visitors

Children took part in our mini marathon this week, completing laps of the field and celebrating the London Marathon in the process. We also welcomed two remarkable visitors. Chris spoke about his work in law and his commitment to fairness and justice, encouraging our children to always strive to be the best versions of themselves. James spoke about his work as a scientist, including research that has improved cancer treatment for tens of thousands of patients. His message to the children was simple and powerful: never stop asking questions. We are deeply grateful to both of them for giving their time so generously.

Collective Worship: Your Kingdom Come

We continued our series on the Lord's Prayer, focusing on your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. When we pray these words, we are asking that the kindness, fairness, peace and care for every person that belongs in heaven would become the way things work here; in our school, our street, our community. For our children, that might mean standing up for a friend who is being left out, or choosing kindness when it would be easier not to. Small acts, but they add up.

A Word About Our Community

William Ford is a community we are all very proud of, and the vast majority of our families are wonderful ambassadors for it. However, I would be failing in my responsibility if I did not raise something brought to my attention by several members of staff. We are aware that at times during pick-up there has been swearing, arguments between adults, and derogatory comments made about staff within earshot of children. I want to be straightforward about why this matters, because the evidence is really quite clear: children who regularly hear swearing tend to be the children who swear in school. Children who hear adults making negative comments about teachers tend to be the children who repeat those comments to others. Children who witness adults arguing tend to be the children who struggle to resolve conflict without arguing themselves. Children who witness aggression and violence tend to be the children who get drawn into similar situations. This is not a judgement; it is simply how children learn. They watch us, they absorb what they see, and they bring it into school with them. Our children deserve the best possible version of us at the school gate, and so do the staff who have given everything to look after them all day. If you have a genuine concern about something in school, please do raise it through the right channels; concerns about children with their class teacher, and concerns about any adult in school with a member of the senior leadership team. We are always here to listen.

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me. Psalm 25:4-5a

I pray you all have a wonderful weekend.

Mr. David Huntingford

Headteacher