24.01.2023

Dear parents/carers,

You may be aware from media coverage that the NEU (Teaching Union) have declared strike action, which will take place on Wednesday 1^st February, Wednesday 1^st March and Wednesday 15^th and Thursday 16^th March 2023. The strike is happening because of a national dispute between the unions and the government over teachers’ pay and not because of any issues at our school. 

I’m getting in touch to give you as much notice as possible that learning may be disrupted on these dates.

We recommend that you start to make alternative childcare arrangements for these dates.

I’m sorry about the potential disruption to you and to your child’s education. I understand that this situation may be frustrating, and ask that all members of our school community continue to treat each other with respect. Thornhill remains committed to providing a safe and secure environment for our pupils and delivering high-quality teaching.

We are working closely with our staff and their union representatives to keep up to date with the situation, and I will inform you of the final arrangements as soon as possible. We will aim to contact parents and carers by sending a text as soon as we can on the first day of strike action informing you if your child’s class is closed.

Please ensure we have the correct contact numbers for you.

Kind regards,

 

Mrs B Waite

Headteacher

Our Year 3/4 Girls Dodgeball team competed in a local event last week at Dunstable Leisure Centre. 

The team of 8 girls stormed through the group stage beating 3 other school convincingly. 

Confidence was high leading into the semi-final. Again, the girls composed themselves well, came up with a plan and executed it perfectly, winning the semi-final 3 games to 0. 

The final was set between Thornhill and The Vale Academy (a team that we had beaten in the group stages). 

Game 1 went to Thornhill. 

Game 2 when to the Vale Academy. 

It was all down the final game. The girls played exceptionally well but within the last 10 seconds of the game, with 3 girls left on either side, the Vale Academy had possession of all three balls. They rallied and threw all three balls simultaneously knocking one of our girls out with a ball strike to the legs. It really could have gone either way. 

We are very proud of our girls' second place but even more proud of the way they organised and conducted themselves throughout the tournament. Well done to all involved.