8th November 2013
Dear Parents
Term continues to move apace and it is very difficult to believe that we are approaching the
festive season. Rehearsals for the Christmas plays are well under way and songs and carols
already abound from a number of classrooms. We are very much looking forward to the
school’s first Shakespearean production for many years. The glimpses of the rehearsals I
have witnessed have been very impressive and so those fortunate to be in the audience will
enjoy Macbeth. Our rugby teams continue to perform impressively indeed all but one were
successful in the fixtures against Millfield last Wednesday. Not to be outdone, to their credit
just before half term the Under 11 Girls Hockey Team qualified for the National Finals. On
the music front the Junior Lunchtime Concert on Tuesday was delightful and tonight the
Chamber Choir takes the public stage for the first time this year at the Long Ashton
Remembrance Concert – something I am much looking forward to.
Senior School Information Evening, Monday 11th, 6.30pm, Charlton Hall
We are hosting the information evening on Monday. You will be aware that it is an event
designed to assist parents as they determine future senior schools. A small panel of experts
will offer objective advice before answering questions. Thereafter parents may wish to take
away literature on a large variety of senior schools. They may also find it useful to talk to the
speakers in an informal setting.
Mrs Isabel Tobias, Headmistress of The Redmaids’, and Mr Stephen Holliday, Headmaster
of QEH will be joining us as will two recent Charltonians. The event will take place in
Charlton Hall. Any parents and their children are very welcome however, it is perhaps best
suited for those in Years 5 - 8. Supper is available at school for those pupils attending.
It is to be hoped that the evening will be well supported as the information gained will be
extremely useful.
Car Parking
It is with some regret that I feel it necessary to write about the behaviour of drivers in and
around school. My observation is however, that many vehicles are travelling too quickly
down the drive and around school. I am also aware of more than one occasion when drivers
have become unnecessarily aggressive towards one another in the car park.
The drive is long and it is tempting, particularly when under pressure, to drive quickly. It is
however, narrow, something that is unlikely to change, and it is perhaps busier than people
anticipate. Please allow good time for your journey and be mindful that we would rather the
children were slightly late than there be an accident on the drive. Please also respect the
needs of other vehicles on the drive.
We do our best to keep everyone in and around the car parks safe. There are always young
children, be they siblings or pupils at the school, in proximity to these facilities and the reality
is that they are by nature unpredictable. For this reason I stress the importance of driving in
these areas with due diligence. As role models for the children it is also vital that we conduct
ourselves in a civilised manner. Vehicles should be parked in respect of other road users
and in regard of the traffic management instructions. Drivers should also demonstrate
patience and respect for another.
I believe the close and happy nature of our community is something very special if not
unique to The Downs. I feel uncomfortable relating this message but I do so in the belief that
you will all share my desire to keep our children safe and to protect the harmony of our
community.
Finally, I very much appreciate that travel times are being adversely affected by the road
works in Barrow Gurney. My understanding is that this work will be completed in January. In
the meantime we realise that delays are sadly inevitable and so please do not become
overly concerned by being unavoidably late into school.
Independence
As I have mentioned I believe that The Downs is an unusually close school community,
something in which I delight. Within this supportive environment it is nevertheless vital that
the children become increasingly independent as they move through the school. Given the
nature of the school this is achieved in a very safe and nurturing environment where help is
quickly at hand. The children need to develop the skills and habits of independent learning at
a reasonably young age as these can then be honed as they progress through the school.
We should be mindful that the senior schools expect their pupils, not the parents, to take
responsibility for their learning.
We appreciate that the younger children in the Pre-Prep enjoy the security of being escorted
into and out of school. As they move towards Year Three however, they should generally be
able to come into school and organise their belongings without much guidance. The younger
children in the Prep School (Year 4) might need some assistance coming into school at the
beginning and end of the week when they have many bags to manage, however, more often
they should be encouraged to organise themselves. By Year 5 the children should be largely
independent as they come to school.
Whilst I have presented a guideline there are no definite landmarks in the development of
the children’s independence but it is important for parents to ‘let go’ and encourage the
children to take increasing responsibility for themselves at school. You will be aware that
staff from both the Pre-Prep and the Prep school patrol the ‘drop off’ points at the beginning
and end of the day. It should be noted that we do not want children walking into school in
front of Charlton House, the path at the back of the house being significantly safer.
Admissions
You will be pleased to learn that there remains a great deal of interest in the school. We do
little to advertise to the external market, rather we largely rely on recommendation by word of
mouth and so I am very grateful for your significant, dynamic support. Specifically we
currently have six places left for the Reception Year 2014. We have one place in both Years
One and Two and a Waiting List for Year 6. I do not present these figures to be smug but
rather to alert parents of the need to register siblings in the near future if they wish to be sure
of a place in the school. We will always try and give priority to siblings but you will appreciate
this becomes very difficult once a year group is full.
Please be assured that despite the healthy interest in The Downs it would be very unusual
for us to have more than 18 children in a class. Furthermore, whilst we have ambitions to
develop the school’s facilities we do not have ambitions to become a much larger school.
Mrs Laura Hart
As I wrote in my last letter Mrs Hart will be going on maternity leave in April 2014. I am now
pleased to relate that in her absence Mrs Karen Peters will be taking over as the 2H Class
Teacher. Previous to becoming a Teaching Assistant at The Downs Mrs Peters was for 12
years a Year One/Two Class Teacher at St Ursula’s and so she has much experience to
bring to the classroom. Already well known to the children and many parents, Mrs Peters will
begin teaching some lessons with Mrs Hart in January and take over as the Class Teacher
at half term for the rest of the academic year. Mrs Hart will remain in assistance until the
Easter Term concludes. Mrs Peters is firm, fair and friendly in her approach to teaching and
we are very confident in her ability to nurture but challenge the children in her care.
Mrs Jane Blair
Mrs Blair has proved an excellent member of the Art Department for a good number of
years. She has particularly encouraged the development of ceramics in the school and she
has often nurtured the Art Scholars towards success at their senior schools. Sadly Mrs Blair
will be leaving us at the end of term as she is moving to Wales. I am sure that you will join
me in wishing her well in the future. In the meantime she will teach at The Downs until the
end of term.
Finally
We were delighted to welcome the Reception Year parents to the first Headmaster’s Supper
of the year. We look forward to seeing Year One and Two parents on the 15th November.
It is to be hoped the weather is kind to us and we all enjoy Bonfire Night tomorrow.
Kind regards
Marcus Gunn