NewsletterTransition Arrangements and Staffing for September

It's hard to believe that we are rapidly moving towards the end of another academic year. But what a fantastic year it has been, so far.

As school leaders it is our role to continually improve the school and ensure we provide an excellent education for everyone. When we reflect on what has happened this year and what we have achieved as a school we feel Firbeck is truly on a positive transformational journey. Our pupils have had lots of experiences through educational visits, enrichment opportunities and participation in LA events. Some of the highlights for this include: a two day residential in London, whole school visit to the pantomime, participation in the LA Primary Parliament, participating in a STEM project with Network Rail, raising money for the Deaf Society and the school receiving the Bronze Award as a Rights Respecting School.

Over the last couple of terms it has been heartening to hear visitors to our school talk about our calm corridors, fantastic focus on learning and the confidence our pupils have when talking about their learning and the school. Our pupils are a real credit to our school. 

Through school and parents working together we have drastically improved attendance and reduced persistent absenteeism. Your support around this is appreciated and demonstrates your desire for your child/children to not miss out on an education. 

We know we could not have achieved what we have so far had it not been for the positive partnership we have with our pupils and their families. As we approach the time of year were transitions happen and we start to put things in place for the next academic year we hope that strong partnership will continue to grow and strengthen. 

As Firbeck continues its transformational journey we are please to share some exciting changes that will be happening over the next couples of months and into the next academic year.

Lower School Outdoor Learning Space and Provision  

We are pleased to announce that from September the provision for our Foundation pupils (Reception and Nursery) will be in main school. We believe this will bring the whole school together, raise expectations for all pupils in Nursery, Reception and Key Stage One and improve provision for these pupils. 

As part of improving this provision the areas just outside the current key stage one classes will be developed into an outdoor learning and provision space for all pupils in our nursery, reception, year one and year two cohorts.  This will allow those classes to make the most of our school grounds and widen learning opportunities. 

While we are still finalising the design for this area the below examples will provide you with an idea of what to expect in September.

 

 

 

The InNOVAtive Learning Project

As a school we feel it is vital that we embrace the use of technology to enhance learning. This is why we are embarking on a learning project with Apple. This project will enable us to really bring abstract learning opportunities to life within the classroom and school grounds, widening the adaption of learning to meet the needs of all of our pupils, raise the level of challenge and improve the sharing of key knowledge and strategies with you, as part of home learning.

This project will enable all pupils in key stage two classes to have access to a learning pad (an i-pad), as a learning tool. This will be rolled out during the autumn term. More details and parent meetings about this to follow. 

 

Annex

Over the next two years we are looking to develop the annex, in order to widen our nursery provision. We are aiming to offer nursery provision from birth. This will be a huge project for the school and will be carried out over a couple of phases. It is anticipated that over the next academic year the first phase will begin and be in place from September 2026. Once the first phase is complete we will be in a position to offer all - year round nursery provision for two year old's and above and full time holiday childcare. 

 

Wrap-Around Care

We are pleased to announce that from September we will be offering wrap-around care provision after school, as well as our established breakfast club.

This provision will by ran by Rattle and Roll and more details will follow before the end of the school year.

 

School Office

The main school reception area and office will be having some long overdue refurbishments over the summer to provide an updated and more welcoming environment for all of our school visitors. This work will include a new meeting room, visitor waiting area and updated reception desk. 

Our whole school transition days will be on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd July. This will be a great opportunity for the children to start to build a positive relationship with the class based staff they will be taught by next academic year, as they will be spending the whole two days with their new class teacher.

In order to support the smooth running of these days we would like you to do the following:

Key Stage 1 

• If your child/children will be in Year 1 or 2 next academic year at the start of the day please take them to the main school hall, where they will be met by staff.
• If your child/children is in Year 1 or 2 next year at the end of the school day you can collect your child from the middle playground just outside the current key stage one classrooms.

Key Stage 2

• If your child/children will be in Year 3, 4, 5 or 6 next year, once the gates open please wait with your child on the bottom playground (where the football posts are).
• At 8.45am the whistle will be blown and the children will line up on the upper part of this playground. You are more than welcome to stay with your child/children between 8.40am and 8.45am on the lower playground. But we do respectful ask that you leave the playground and school grounds once the whistle has been blown.  Key Stage 2 staff will be out on the playground from 8.40am for the meet and greet.
• At the end of the school day please wait on the bottom playground (where the football posts are) to collect your child. The teachers will bring their class to the upper part of this playground to dismiss them. 

 

The transition day for those pupils who will be in our reception class in September will be held on the 16th July (more details will follow in your admission pack). Therefore, our nursery provision will be open as usual on the 1st and 2nd of July. 

Like many schools over the last couple of years and the next few years we are feeling the impact of low birth rates nationally. This has and is having an impact on pupil numbers in school, especially in lower school. The impact for us is that next academic year we will be having mixed age classes in lower school. This will not impact on your child's education or curriculum coverage, due to how the national curriculum and early year's curriculum are designed. 

In addition to this we will be reducing our nursery provision for our three year old's. From September and until our new nursery provision is available in the annex this will be limited to ten places.

Below sets out the class structure for next year:

Nursery/Reception/Year 1

Year 1/Year 2 

Year 3

Year 4 

Year 5 

Year 6 

Senior Leadership Team:

Miss Stimson - Headteacher

I am delighted to share that from September, I will be stepping into the role of Headteacher of Firbeck Academy. Over the past two years as Assistant Head and Year 6 teacher, it has been a privilege to be part of our school’s transformational journey so far and I am truly excited to continue leading our fantastic school forward — building on the many positive successes we have achieved together. 

 

Mrs Stanway-Nock - Assistant Headteacher

I am delighted to introduce myself as the new Assistant Headteacher of Firbeck Academy. Having already worked within the Nova Trust for 10 years, I feel incredibly fortunate to now join this fantastic school and continue the journey alongside such a dedicated and inspiring team. I am excited to bring my experience, energy, and ideas to this new role. I look forward to working closely with staff, children, and families to build on the excellent work already happening here.

 

Nursery/Reception/Year 1:

Mrs Buck - Lower School Leader/Class Teacher

I’m excited to be returning in September from maternity leave, after having my little girl Mia. 

I am thrilled to be joining the main school working with our early years and key stay 1 children. There are lots of exciting things happening at Firbeck and I love being part of our journey. 

 

Miss Travers - SENCo/Class Teacher

Hello, I'm Miss Travers and I have really enjoyed my first year at Firbeck. I am very excited for my new role in September teaching Reception/Year 1 and as SENDCo. I am passionate about ensuring education is inclusive for all children and as SENDCo my role will be to oversee the strategic development of SEND policy and provision. 

Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my family, reading and being outdoors. 

 

TBC - Early Years Practitioner

We are currently recruiting for an Early Years Practitioner to join us in September, more details will follow in due course.

 

Miss Henry - Apprentice Teaching Assistant

Hello, my name is Miss Henry you may have seen me in the Early Years cohort working with your children as they are progressing. I am a new apprentice here at Firbeck Academy and my main goal is encouraging any children that I come in contact with to be their best version of their self while improving their confidence and building their skills such as communication, responsibility, resilience and kindness, while helping them to get the best out of their education. My personal interests are maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle which I would also like to influence onto the children to ensure that they have a bright future. 

 

Year 1/Year2:

Mrs Ahmed - Class Teacher

Hey there! I'm super excited to introduce myself as a KS1 teacher at Firbeck Academy. It's awesome to be part of such a fantastic school. My love for exploring and traveling all began during my time as a flight attendant. My favourite quote is by Peter McWilliams “Nothing Adventured, Nothing attained”. I hope to have many adventure led experiences in the classroom for the children to enjoy. 

I like to express myself through art, especially drawing and painting, this is a big part of my being. I often like to go to museums and admire art work. The most recent museum I have visited is the Louvre Museum in Paris!  

 

Miss Clay - SEND Learning Support Assistant

Hi! I'm Miss Clay, I’m a Learning Support Assistant, and I absolutely love what I do. Every day is a new adventure, and I’m all about making sure every child has the chance to shine in their own unique way. Helping kids feel confident, included, and celebrated is what drives me - and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

 

Year 3:

Miss Yasin - Class Teacher

Hello!

I am Miss Yasin. Starting from September I get the pleasure of being the Year 3 class teacher. My journey at Firbeck has already begun, as I have had the opportunity to work with all the Year groups across the school. I am so excited to continue my journey at Firbeck Academy.

I love reading. My passion for reading all started when I first read the Harry Potter Series, a book that I re-read every year. (Ps. I pretend I am a Griffindor, even though I am really a Hufflepuff). I also enjoy visiting historical places. I really love teaching and I always aim to give children the best experiences and memories. Which is why my expectations are high as I want all children to succeed and reach their full potential.

I am so excited for the new academic year and all the adventures to come. 

 

Miss Rogers - SEND Learning Support Assistant

My name is Miss Rogers and I am a Learning Support Assistant and Midday Supervisor at Firbeck Academy. I have been part of the trust for 4 years and love working and helping the students daily. I enjoy bening out with all students at lunch time to join in the games and chat about their day and I love my role as a Learning Support Assistant too. In my own time I love nothing better than a good book or to work out. 
 

Year 4:

Miss Verco - Class Teacher

Hi, I am Miss Verco and I have been at Firbeck for 2 and a half years now.  I am looking forward to getting to know the new Year 4s on a closer level and watch them grow and develop. It will be lovely to see the changes since I taught them in Year 1! I aim to show each and every pupil that no matter what barrier there may be they can reach their potential and achieve anything! When I’m not at school, I love to read, spend time with family and friends and go for runs. When I get the chance I love to go home and visit my family dog George!

 

Year 5:

Mr Walters - Class Teacher

Hi, my name is Mr Walters, and I’m thrilled to be joining Firbeck next year and teaching Year 5. You may recognise me, as I’ve spent a large part of this year training at Firbeck and completely fell in love with the school and its vibrant community. I truly believe that every child who walks through Firbeck’s doors has limitless potential, and as teachers, it’s our job to help unlock that by believing in them and supporting them to be their very best.

I’m passionate about reading, maths, and history, and as some of your children may already know, I have a bit of a thing for dinosaurs (any excuse to bring them into lessons, I will!). As a parent of two primary-aged children myself, I hope I can connect with your experiences and support your children in a way that feels meaningful to you. I can’t wait to start this journey together.

 

Year 6:

Mr Denty - Class Teacher

Hi, I’m Mr Denty and I cannot wait to take my brilliant Year 5s up into Year 6! We’ve already had a fantastic year together, and I know we’re going to make our final year at primary school one to remember.

I’m a huge sports fan—football and golf are my favourites—and I absolutely love getting stuck into PE. Whether it’s scoring goals, smashing targets, or just having a laugh while keeping active, I’ll be bringing plenty of energy to the playground and the classroom!

Year 6, here we come - let’s make it our best year yet!

 

Miss Oswin - SEND Learning Support Assistant 

I’m Miss Oswin, and I’ve proudly been part of the Firbeck Academy team for almost 7 years. During my time here, I’ve had the opportunity to work across all different year groups, which has given me a deep understanding of our children’s learning journeys. Outside of school, I love spending time with my family. I’m really looking forward to the new term and continuing to support our amazing pupils!

 

Teaching Assistants: our wonderful teaching assistants will be working across different year groups next academic year

Mrs Godwin

Hi, I am Miss Godwin. I am the school's passionate Forest School leader with nearly 20 years of experience at our school. With a deep love for the outdoors and a commitment to hands-on learning, I'm dedicated to nurturing our children’s growth through nature-based activities. I am always excited to be a part of each child's unique journey, guiding them as they explore, discover, and develop essential skills both in the forest and beyond. My long-standing presence in the school speaks to my genuine care and dedication to fostering a positive, supportive environment for every student.

 

Mrs Bowles

Hey! I'm Mrs Bowles and been a member of our school community for the past 7 years. With extensive experience supporting children's emotional well-being, I am a trained ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) and I have recently just completed my Senior Mental Health Lead training which I am keen to incorporate through the school. I am passionate about creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child feels heard, supported, and empowered to thrive. I am looking forward to the new academic year and continuing to make a positive impact across the school. 

 

Mrs Lindsey

I am Mrs. Lindsey, I am a Teaching Assistant with a very positive look on life. This will be my seventh year working with the children at Firbeck Academy. I have a huge passion for SEN and thrive on inclusivity. I have a can-do attitude, which I love to instill in all the children I work with. I cannot wait to support your child on their school journey this academic year. I believe all children can and will succeed in reaching their individual goals. 

 

Mrs Dhiri

I have been part of Firbeck for 12 years and in that time it has truly become a second home for me. It is a place where I have always felt connected and supported and I have enjoyed working in many different year groups. I speak Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu which helps me to build strong relationships with our children who are learning English. One of the most rewarding parts of my role is watching the children grow in confidence and come out of their shell. I am really looking forward to working closely with the amazing children, staff and parents next year.

 

Mrs Day

I am Mrs Day, I have over 30 years experience working in primary schools as a Teacher and then a Teaching Assistant. I have worked at Firbeck for the past 3 years, though working with a welcoming and close knit bunch of colleagues and community makes it feel much longer. Outside of work I enjoy reading, and knitting though I'm very much a knitting novice. 

As school  leaders it is our role to not just develop our pupils but to develop our staff too. And with this comes growth, meaning staff feel more than confident in taking the next step in their career. Staff moving on should not be seen as a negative but as a reflection of how well we develop our staff. The staff that are sadly leaving us are taking up some very unique opportunities.

 

Miss Woods - Class Teacher

After a lovely few years at Firbeck, I’m excited to be heading off on a new adventure - teaching in a school in Rome, something I’ve always dreamed of. While I’m really looking forward to the experiences ahead, Firbeck will always be special to me and I have enjoyed being part of this school's transformational journey. The incredible children, families and staff have made it such a brilliant place to work and it’s been especially meaningful knowing my mum once came here as a pupil too. I’m excited to see all the amazing things Firbeck will go on to do and wish all the families the very best for the future. To the wonderful pupils at Firbeck - thank you for making me smile every single day. You've given me so many happy memories that I will always cherish. 

 

Mrs Cheung - SENCO

It is with great sadness that I will be leaving Firbeck Academy at the end of this academic year, (July 2025). During my time at Firbeck I have loved getting to know all of the amazing children. I have loved the interactions with them, the time that I have spent in each class and being part of the personal progress that each individual has made.

However; a wonderful, rare opportunity has arisen. I will be leaving to be part of a founding team setting up, establishing and growing a new special school in a different county. As many of you will know enhancing the education of those with special educational needs is close to my heart and although this has not been an easy decision to make I feel that this it is one that I need to pursue.

I am proud to have been part of the school journey for the pupils at Firbeck and I take many happy memories with me. I wish all of the children and their families the best for the future. I know that each and every one of the children will go on to achieve wonderful things.

 

Miss Smith - Teaching Assistant

You may have seen me around, during my time here at Firbeck I have been situated in Nursery and Reception and the Year 2 classroom. 

I would like to share with you all the news that I will be leaving Firbeck Academy as I will be pursuing my career further by attending University from September .

The years I have spent at Firbeck have been so wholesome and amazing, from the daily confidence building to the major improvements I've seen in every student at Firbeck and I am so happy that I was able to have been a part of this journey . It has been a true privilege to be a part of the school community and to work alongside supportive and dedicated families. Though I am sad to say goodbye, I am excited about what lies ahead. University is a big step forward, and while I'll be focused on studies I will always look back on my time here with deep appreciation.

 

Mrs Smith - Executive Headteacher

It has been an absolute pleasure to be the Executive Headteacher of Firbeck Academy over the last five terms and to work with everyone connected to the school to develop and implement the plans to be a truly transformational school. At the heart of everything I do has always been 'is this best for the children and will it have a positive impact on them' And I would like to believe that everything that has been introduced, improved and implemented at Firbeck over the last five terms demonstrates this. It certainly feels like a school that is on an amazing journey. It is therefore with great sadness to say I will be leaving Firbeck at the end of this academic year. My skills, knowledge and many years of experience are needed at another of our Nova Primaries. 

I feel blessed to have been a leader at Firbeck - to have had the time with the children here has been a privilege that I will hold dear to my heart, along with the memories.