Pollington-Balne Church of England Primary School

Summer 2 Newsletter

July, 2026

As we reach the end of another school year, I have been reflecting on what a truly fabulous and jam-packed year it has been. There have been so many memorable moments, achievements and successes that make me incredibly proud to be part of this wonderful school community.

This year has brought significant change and a number of challenges, but together we have faced them with determination, resilience and positivity. As a school, we can hold our heads up high and be extremely proud of all that we have achieved. Throughout it all, our children have continued to shine, demonstrating kindness, enthusiasm and a commitment to learning every single day.

I am incredibly proud of all of our pupils and of my wonderful staff team, who continually go above and beyond to provide the very best experiences and opportunities for the children. Their dedication, passion and care make our school such a special place, and I am enormously grateful for everything they do.

A special mention must go to our Year 6 children. They have gone from strength to strength this year and have been fantastic ambassadors for our school. They have approached every challenge with maturity, determination and enthusiasm, and we are incredibly proud of the young people they have become. We wish them every success and happiness as they move on to the next stage of their journey.

One of my personal highlights this year was the residential visit to Gulliver’s. It was wonderful to see the children developing their independence, building friendships and creating memories that I know will stay with them for many years to come.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you, our parents and carers, for your continued partnership and support. Working together enables us to give our children the very best opportunities, and your encouragement and involvement are greatly appreciated.

As we break for the summer holidays, I would like to wish everyone a wonderful, restful and enjoyable summer. Stay safe, make lots of happy memories, and take time to relax and recharge.

We are looking forward to an exciting start to the new academic year, with Alice in Wonderland as our whole-school theme and our Federation trip to Stockeld Park to look forward to.

Thank you for being part of such a fantastic year. We are excited to welcome everyone back in September for another exciting chapter.

Have a wonderful summer! ☀️

Kind regards,

Mrs Rawes and Mrs Batty

Attendance as at 09.07.26

Our Attendance to date is: 95.3%

Authorised Absence: 3.3%

Unauthorised Absence: 1.5%

	FFTAttAwardNatAut25 8113331 KS2	[pdf 236KB]
	FFTAttAwardSimAut25 8113331 KS2	[pdf 232KB]
	FFTAttAwardNat2425 8113331 KS2 (1)	[pdf 176KB]

Congratulations to:-

Mrs Batty for leading our school through and gaining accreditation for the PSQM Primary Science Quality Mark.

The Primary Science Quality Mark is a comprehensive, one-year, evidence-informed, professional development and school improvement programme. Equipping primary science subject leaders with the knowledge, confidence, and expert support they need to transform the quality and profile of science education across the school, for all children. Subject leaders who successfully complete the programme receive recognition through the accreditation of the Primary Science Quality Mark for their school. It has been a real labour of love for Mrs Batty this year and we are very proud of her achievement. This will continue to improve our science curriculum into next year and beyond.

and also to:-

Mrs Stone for leading our school to again achieve the Gold Games Mark.

In other exciting news, we are proud to announce that Pollington has achieved the prestigious gold mark in the sports award for the 2025/2026 academic year! This remarkable accomplishment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff and pupils throughout the year.

Achieving the gold mark reflects our commitment to promoting physical education and healthy lifestyles within our school community. We want to thank everyone involved for their contributions, as this recognition would not have been possible without your support. We look forward to sharing more about the initiatives that led to this achievement and our goals for maintaining this standard in the future.

The School Games Mark Gold Award is a government-led scheme facilitated by the Youth Sport Trust. It rewards UK schools for their commitment to competitive sports, physical education (PE), and keeping students active. To achieve Gold, schools must meet strict national benchmarks for participation, inclusion, and sports leadership.

Thank You from Year 6

Our Year 6 children have been busy expressing their gratitude by writing thoughtful thank you letters to Drax Power Station for their generous financial contribution towards our Forest School canopy. They have also written to the talented parents who kindly donated their time, skills, and expertise to design and build the shelter.

The canopy has already become a valued addition to our school grounds, providing a fantastic outdoor learning space that can be enjoyed throughout the year. Whatever the weather, pupils from every class have been able to take part in Forest School activities and outdoor lessons in a safe, sheltered environment.

We are incredibly grateful for the support and generosity of everyone involved. Thanks to this wonderful collaboration between Drax Power Station and our school pta, pupils now have an inspiring space where they can learn, explore, and connect with nature all year round.

thank you letters from children [pdf 2MB]

Meet the Governors and SLT

We are planning our new parents coffee morning with governors and SLT, please join us for a catch up and discuss all that is new in school. Our first morning will be in September; date and time to be confirmed.

We hope to see you there.

Oak Class

Oak class have been learning about plants. Following on from our farm visit we have been talking about which plants we eat. We have enjoyed planting cress and watching it grow. The children drew a face on a cup, filled it with compost, added cress seeds and watered them. We are excited to give them a haircut and taste the cress.

Thank you for your support.

Mrs Batty & Mrs Bodle

Ash Class

This half term, Ash Class has been working hard across a range of subjects.

In RE we have been learning about sacred places of worship, exploring why they are special to different faiths and how people show respect they visit them, we have also been comparing between these sacred places including the Church, Mosque and Synagogue.

In writing, we have enjoyed reading books from other cultures and we have focussed our writing on Mama Panya’s Pancakes. We have now written our own engaging narratives focusing on descriptive language and making the characters and setting interesting.

In History, we have been learning about significant people from the past, discovering how their achievements and actions have shaped the world we live in today. We have learnt about Florence Nightingale, Mary Seacole, Neil Armstrong and David Attenborough and looked at the impact they have made in the past and how we can see the impacts today.

We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, curiosity and determination that Ash Class continues to show in all their learning.

Have a Lovely Summer

Mrs Stone & Mrs Poskitt

Maple Class

Maple Class have had a fantastic and very busy end to the school year! In PE, the children have enjoyed exploring dance and theatrical arts, as well as taking part in gladiator-themed athletics, where they developed their running, jumping and throwing skills. Sports Day was a wonderful success, and the children demonstrated our Christian value of respect by encouraging one another, celebrating each other's achievements and showing excellent sportsmanship throughout the day. Thank you for all your continued support this year. We hope everyone has a safe, relaxing and enjoyable summer holiday!

Miss Yates and Mrs Firth

Willow Class

This week, the children have been putting their musical knowledge into practice by using different musical notes and their notation on sheet music to create their own compositions. They began by working collaboratively in small groups, discussing ideas and composing a piece together before moving on to create an individual composition. To finish the unit, everyone had the opportunity to perform their work, confidently showcasing their compositions to their classmates and celebrating each other's creativity and musical achievements.

Mrs Jones and Mrs Evans

Birch Class

In Birch Class, the children have been carrying out practical math's investigations, requiring them not only to use their mathematical knowledge, but also their creativity and teamwork skills. For Diversity Week, we looked at 'hidden disabilities' strengthening our empathy and understanding of what it can be like in somebody else's shoes. We wrote, and then performed, poems in the style of Matt Goodfellow to demonstrate our understanding and inform others. Our Science, this half term, has been about our health. We have found out lots about nutrition and how to look after ourselves.

Sports

Sports Newsletter

This half term, we faced some unexpected weather challenges that led to the cancellation of planned events. We want to extend our t thanks to all the pupils who signed up to represent the school; your enthusiasm and commitment are truly commendable. While it’s disappointing when plans change, we appreciate the understanding and support from our school community during these times.

Dance Competition Success

We are thrilled to announce that some of our Year 5 & 6 pupils made an outstanding impression at the recent dance competition! Pollington was awarded the title of “Best Group” and secured third place overall, showcasing the incredible talent and hard work of our performers. A special shout-out goes to our rising stars whose fantastic efforts made this achievement possible. The preparation for this competition was a true testament to our pupil’s dedication. They spent their own time rehearsing and perfecting their routines, demonstrating not only their artistic abilities but also their commitment to teamwork.

Fantastic Sports Day

What a fantastic day we had at Sports Day! It was wonderful to witness the participation and teamwork displayed by all classes, bringing our school community together in a spirit of friendly competition. A huge thank you to Jak for his invaluable support and expertise, which played a significant role in making the day a success.

Arbor parent app

Can we remind parents to clear their meals payments balance before the end of the year, as we prepare the system for the updates. Year 6 parents, once the system has closed any outstanding payments will be invoiced to you in September as you will no longer be able to access our account.

As we try to streamline our office system, from September all parents should order their child's meals on the Arbor system. This can be done in quick actions on the top of the parent dashboard, log into meals, click the meals options Monday, and you will be able to book on a weekly/termly or yearly basis. Ordering will shut at 8am everyday for that day's orders to the kitchen.

If parents/carer's want to change any pupil or parental details held on our MIS system, you can request this directly on Arbor.

If you have any issues with meal payments please do not hesitate to contact Ms Warren via the school office.

Further information about Free School Meals can be found on the website. If you are entitled to free school meals please apply for this even if you child is in Reception, year 1 and year 2 receiving universal free school meals. Further funding helps us to support your child in school as well as receiving a free school meal.

Staff updates

We are pleased to announce that Mrs Firth will be our new HLTA from September 2026.

School Meals

All meals are to be booked in advance on Arbor.

Please remember if you are entitled to Free School Meals to apply this summer for it to continue into the next school year. Please see the letter sent out earlier this month for more details and applications.

The first week back will be week 2 of the school menu. There is a change to the menu on Tuesday 8th September, due to deliveries, Chicken Goujons are replacing Bolognaise.

Jacket potatoes will be available to order everyday. The fillings will be varied through out the week, Tuna, Cheese and Ham, Cheese and Beans, Bolognaise etc.

Thankyou PTA

The PTA have sent their thanks to everyone involved in the Leavers disco and to parents and children for attending. It was the biggest and best disco of the year and they were thrilled with the turn out. Funds will go towards the coaches our first visit of the year in September.

We would like to thank the PTA for all their support and time given to the school and wish them all a restful summer. We can't wait to hear what they have in store for us next year.

All parents are part of the PTA and if anyone wishes to get involved with the committee and having a voice in what goes on next year they will be welcome to join. Details can be found on their welcome page of the website.

Reminders

School Uniform

New uniform can be purchased directly from the shop Clothes for Little People in Goole or follow the link to their website below.

We appreciate your continued support in maintaining our high standards.

	The School Uniform Shop	Link
	Clothes for Little People, on line uniform shop