Letters to Parents & Carers
This week's Headteacher Letter
27th June 2025
Dear Parents & Carers,
Sport & Health Week
What a fantastic week we have had, focussing on Sport & Health. Our skipping Ninja workshops were brilliant, really encouraging the children to be active, learn new skills – appropriate to their need and ability – and engaging them on thinking about healthy life choices. We then followed it up with our Sports Day, where the children took part in a range of activities showcasing their hard work over the year in PE – finishing with some exciting races.
Most importantly it was fun! The children enjoyed pushing themselves and showed our school value of determination. The reason why we have this big push on healthy living – food and activity – each year is because the data shows us that when children arrive at Westminster, 14% of them are classed as obese; when children leave Westminster, 30% are classed as obese. We know that obesity can lead to a multitude of health issues in later life and so we are unashamedly focusing on doing what we can to help our children be fit and healthy. Research also shows that exercise has a huge boost to mental health. Again, we know that many of our children struggle with their mental health at times and helping them to know that exercise helps is part of our work too..
Westminster Freebies
I was mortified that children and adults helped themselves to the Skipping Ninja’s equipment on the playground. Thank you to those of you who brought items back, but I still can’t shake off the view that the items shouldn’t have been taken in the first place. It is true that we often have items for free available outside the Hub, but never on the playground, where it was quite clear they weren’t for giving away. This has resulted in school having to pay over £400 in compensation to the Skipping Ninja, and it is very unlikely he will want to come back and work in our school, which ultimately means your children are missing out. You haven’t really made Everyone Welcome with those actions.
School Meal Prices - reminder
The cost of a school dinner from September 2025 will be £2.40 per day (£12.00 per week). If your child is currently in Year 2, you will need to pay for school dinners when your child moves to Year 3 in September 2025 (or send a packed lunch). If you would like to check if your child is entitled to free school meals, please speak to the office.
Staffing Changes
As we come to the end of the year, I would like to inform you that we have 10 staff members leaving us this summer. We will be saying farewell to Mr Fitzgerald, who is moving on to Whetley Primary Academy, Mr Iqbal who is moving on to Southmere Primary Academy, Mrs Dean from Class China and Miss Wilson from Class Madagascar. All 4 teachers have made a huge impact at Westminster and they leave a legacy of a love of learning and most importantly, a love of the children and community. We absolutely wish them well for the future and thank them for their efforts.
We are also saying goodbye to a number of our classroom support staff – Mrs Bi, Miss Hussain and Mr Stoyles, who have been supporting our youngest children and some of our children with additional needs for the last 2 years or so. Goodbyes are also being said to Miss Taylor, Miss Mahamood and Mr Naeem who have been invaluable in their work across school. Again, we wish them all the best moving forward and know they will always cherish their time at Westminster.
New Classes
You will find out what your child’s new class is today. We are not using countries as classes anymore. The new class names are the Year Group followed by the teacher’s initials (apart from Nursery which is just staying as Nursery!)
Nursery – Mrs Jarvis
RCD – Mrs Dilger
RSM – Mrs McVay
1KP – Mrs Platts
1AS – Mrs Sheridan
2MB – Mrs Barnes (returning from maternity leave)
2SB – Mrs Bibi
3HS – Mrs Sharp
3JM – Mr Matthews
4RM – Mrs Mahmood
4MS – Mrs Shahzaad
5JFW – Mrs Fowles-White
5SG – Mr Greenwood
6HJ – Mrs Jamil
6AK – Miss Khan
Important Dates
Monday 30th June – Thursday 3rd July – Book Fair in school (in the back hall at the end of each day)
Tuesday 2nd July – Parents Evening 1
Wednesday 2nd July – Y6 Transition Day; Whole School Transition Day; Reception Open morning
Thursday 4th July – Parents Evening 2
Monday 7th – Friday 11th July – Y6 Residential Week
Thursday 10th July – Brass Band Performance
Tuesday 15th July – 1.30pm – Y6 Parents Afternoon Tea & Leaving Assembly
Friday 18th July – 1.30pm School closes for Summer
Tuesday 2nd September – School Opens for the new year!
Follow us on Instagram
Thank you to those of you who have already followed us on Instagram, as our X (Twitter) account is no longer being updated. Please find us and follow us – westminsterbd3. You can also follow our hub too – westminsterbd3hub
Have a nice weekend, and God Bless.
Mr. S Gallacher
Headteacher
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