Mrs Norton's - What a fantastic school this is.

What a fantastic school this is! There really is not another school like it. I have seen so many children leave here as well rounded, educated and articulate young adults who have gone on to achieve great things in their lives. One became a scientist who is now on the list to become a space woman, another was part of the team who isolated a cancer causing gene. I have seen troubled children come from other schools into our small family atmosphere where they are never missed or forgotten. Soon they start to blossom and flourish and then they start to achieve. With that achievement comes pride in their success and the seeds for the future are sown.

Playground gossip always concentrates on the negative and feeds doubts and insecurities. It is so easy to forget the positive when everyone is talking a school down. This school has a big future and your children should be part of it. They should benefit from everything this school has to offer and the developements that are yet to come.

Academically we have a tradition of doing very well, whichever teachers are on the staff at the time. New teachers are carefully selected to ensure they follow the school ethos and will continue to improve our high standards. Children who pass the 11+ do not do this because of one teacher only, they do it because all the staff are involved and play a part in that child's success.100% pass rate reflects the 100% + commitment and dedication of all the staff in all the years preceding this exam..

We have always been proud of our inhouse training which has provided us with excellent teaching assistants some of whom have gone on to gain a variety of skills including Special Needs qualifications and qualified teacher status. These people know the school systems and policies inside out and are ideally placed to ensure our high standards are met in every area. Teaching assistants are not given jobs they are not qualified to do. This year some of our catering staff are studying for NVQ qualifications.

The pastoral care at Heathcote is second to none, the children here are safe, valued and proud of their achievements. We accept that all children are different and each child is treated as an individual with individual skills and needs. Everyone here is dedicated to the welfare and educational success of your children.

I shall miss this all when I retire in July but am so proud to have been part of such a special place. I will be sad not to be part of the plans that Mrs Carn and Mr Gladwin are now making. We have an exciting new teacher to take over from Mrs Hobbs, he is very well qualified for the job and enthusiastic and I am sure the children will be inspired by him. The Foundation stage area is becoming well settled and flourishing, applications are on the increase for places in this unit. The Twilight Club is very successful and yet another area where your children can thrive.

This is a wonderful school, I have every confidence that it can continue to be a wonderful school. Your confidence in the school will ensure that this is so.

Mrs G Norton