Well, that was a wierd week or two...

Morning bloghoppers. Apologies for the blogoshpere silence these past weeks, but we've just been a tad on the busy side.

Our visitors (yes, those visitors) left us last week very impressed with what they saw, and we are awaiting their report to share with the community, the Evening Post, and , indeed, the world. Since their departure, the energy levels in the school seem to have dipped, and I think one or two adults are VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD to a looming holiday, but we have an academic year to complete, challenges still to meet, and targets waiting to be met.

So, what have we learned after this fornight of introspection?

No-one, and I mean no-one, except for a bloke from the Times, is interested in caving. No-one.

Key Stage 1 have some very odd, Sendak inspired dreams.

Nursery and reception get better at writing all the time.

A 2l pop bottle is never ever just a 2l pop bottle. Simply add some food colouring, a swoosh (technical term; those who need to know know) of ribbons, ...

The rainforest, as depicted in pastels, is a beautiful place indeed.

Our attendance figures strive through adversity (100% for SATs week. Awesome. Let's all go caving....)

All joking aside, very well done year 6. Your turn next year 2.

That is all.

Something happenign tomorrow, just can't remember...no, I'm sure it'll come to me ... no, sorry, it's gone...

So I said to the boys, after we finished playing footie in Battersea park last night, "I thought I'd wear orange, and maybe flip flops. What about you boys?".

Apparently, Aston Villa cufflinks are the order to the day. No-one told me.

So, you having a street party? We just did, and it was excellent. The key theme? Sharing. I was blown away by the kindness of our community who gave so generously - thank you all so much - and by how wonderfully behaved our learners our learners our, and how considerate they always are. (Thank you also to that gang of year 6 who "did their SATs" with me, and to all the staff for pitching in; as ever, you are great.)

So, in this very short week, what have we learned?

Reception and nursery make the most excellent hats.
Key stage 1's writing gets better and better.
Year 3 and 4 are super sleuths (although it was slightly disappointing that the reward, for catching someone in the class, was a measly £2.50!).
Year 5 are without doubt the best sharers.
Year 6 are going to break all records for maths SATs.

Even though it has been a short week, we have managed to cram in an enormous amount. Well doen everyone. have a great weekend.

That is all.

It's all getting tight down at the bottom of the table..

.. and all of a sudden every game becomes a six pointer. Didn't want it to get this close. Oh dear...

Anyway, on to more pleasant matters. Red Nose Day saw participation levels at Badock's Wood climbing yet again, with a brilliant turn out for our mad hair day. the count as of Friday night was £127.28, but we still have money coming in, which is amazing. Well done everyone. As I drove home that evening, listening to other peoples' silliness, and how they had raised money, I couldn't work out who'd done any better. Photos will be crash landing in reception very soon.

I spent some time in key stage 1 last week. WOW! The books down there are utterly amazing, and the work the children are completing, even though some of them are still only 5, is pretty awesome.

EYFS learners are also turning out some amazing work, and I was delighted to see them this morning talking about what they are most proud of in the learning journals.

And, although it might sound a little blase, when they were applying themselves last week, key stage 2 were really showing some good work. I have some writing on my desk at the moment that is amazing. Not only that, it has been brilliant marked by another child before the teacher got the chance to comment.

Very, very pleasing indeed. So, what have we learned?

Read above. That is all.

Have a great week everyone.

That is all.

Is that song really about a saucepan?

Greetings to the second half of this academic year blogonauts. I hope it finds you well, refreshed from your rest.

Today, I broke most of key stage 2's hearts by giving them all a homework book, but then made them all happy by telling them they were off the hook (yesssssssssssssss!) until next week (ohhhhhhhhhhh!).

Then, we took year 6 off to stars of a previous blogpost - Sketty Primary School in Swansea. And, my, what a welcome. Our friends were what they always are - friendly. We had loads of fun singing and dancing, eating (a lot - nice Welsh cakes) and generally enjoying a wonderful experience. I could listen to those guys sing all (St David's) week. Mr Rees and the gang, thank you so much. Even before the coach tipped us back on this side of the bridge, year 6 were talking about having you back at the wood.

So, at the start of the second half of the year, what have we learned?

Year 1 are amazing writers.
Year 2 are amazing readers.
Reception can create the most amazing story maps.
Year 4 need to be more amazing when Mr V isn't in class.
Year 5 are amazing on computers, whether its publishing slave trade era newspapers, or programming lighthouses to switch on and off, conserve energy, make toast and save the world - all whilst washing its own windows.
Nursery are amazing at creating displays for their corridor.
Year 3 can, when pushed, do some amazing pattern spotting in maths.

And of course, year 6 are amazing, and I really do mean amazing, singers. Well done gang - except for some weird coach behaviour, you really represented the school well today.

Well done Mr Scaiff.

Until next time, that is all.

How many Villa players in the England squad?

If I were Gerard Houllier, I would've spent all of today at my desk, calling all the other premiership managers saying

"Hi, le Petite Gerard here,how's it going? ...

Cool, I was just wandering how many players you had in the internationals this week? ...

That many? Well, it's the thought that counts. At least you tried. ...

No don't feel bad. ...

No, please don't cry. ...

No, Arsene, please don't get upset ...
...
...
...
Sorry, I've got call waiting. Monsieur Learner is on line two. Okay, bye now, bye, bye, yeah, bye."

However, I am not Monsieur Houllier. Yet I have been sat at my desk a lot of today. And have't been overjoyed by the way some visitors have been treated today.

Yesterday, however, was a very different story. There was I, sat in the meeting room with visitors from a potentially new Bristol school, when a thud shakes the door frame asunder. Was it year 3 asking for their lunch? No. Someone trying to get me to say my three dinners were ready. Neigh. A member of year 6 with some good work to show. Non.

It was infact 8 - yes, eight - members of year 6 with good work to show. And mighty fine work it was indeed. One of my visitors came to look too, and, after they had all gone, he told me how impressed he was, and that he was an ofsted inspector, and that he thought our year 6 books were of the highest quality. Put that in your peep and schmurk it!

What else is there to say except...

That is all.