These are some of the School of Creativity projects that happened last year:

• Published authors, playwrights and illustrators worked in classrooms from Yr. R to Yr. 6 supporting students to develop their writing and storytellings skills.
• Mantle of the Expert inquiries happened across the school, including – The Black Swan Investigations Agency investigating strange, unexplained events; The Marine Archeology Team exploring the sad events surrounding the sinking of a passenger ship in the second world war; and a team of bridge designers building a link across the river Yare providing access to a beautiful nature reserve and discovering the history of the Yarmouth to Norwich railway disaster.
• The dissemination of inquiry methods used and developed at Surlingham School to schools and authorities across the country.
• A teacher exchange programme with schools in Palestine.
• A film project in Yr 5/6 using animation and other media techniques, building on last year’s project.

For more information on these projects and other events at Surlingham School please contact the school office

We have now uploaded all of the films made by the children for the Surlingham Film Festival, July 2010. The channel is on Vimeo, address: http://vimeo.com/user4505297/videos

Currently the channel is categorised as private and can not be viewed without permission. If you would like access to the channel, to view and download any of the films, then please contact me at: tim.taylor4@btinternet.com and I will be happy to make you a subscriber.

Eventually we hope to make the channel open to all viewers. In order to do this we will need to make a number of changes to protect the children’s identities and conform to the school’s ICT policy. This may take quite a long while. If you do not wish your child’s work or image to appear on the Vimeo site as an ‘open’ film, then please let me know. Information on Vimeo can be found on the website information page: http://vimeo.com/about

Tim Taylor

• When did it exist?

• Why did it end?

• What where their religious beliefs?

• What was their art like?

• Were was their empire

Please include a drawing or two.

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/southamerica/before1500/history/aztec.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/what-customs-did-the-aztecs-have/5103.html

During the day delegates will work in special interest groups discussing specific related issues. Evidence and outcomes from these groups will be collected and collated on computer and posted directly onto the conference web-page. Our aim is to generate a common purpose and direction that will influence the future of education.

Organised by Surlingham Primary School, School of Creativity, delegates will include school leaders, class teachers, governors, advisers and others engaged in creating meaningful, relevant and challenging educational experiences for children.

After keynotes from ‘expert witnesses’ Chris Watkins from the Institute of Education and Luke Abbott, director of mantleoftheexpert.com, delegates will work in special interest groups, each with an inquiry focus. During the day there will be opportunities to draw on the expertise of Chris and Luke, the experience of children and staff from Surlingham Primary School and the knowledge, strengths and experiences of other delegates at the conference.

The aim of the conference is not to decide the outcome or ‘deliver’ a single point of view, but to gather together like-minded professionals and allow them the space, time and resources to discuss and share their thoughts and ideas for the future of education: A very rare opportunity.

If you would like to take part please download the attached flyer for more information by clicking here.

The film’s running time is 94mins

The film has been rated as a PG by the BBFC – To find out more about the BBFC visit the website: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/

CITY OF EMBER is a fantastical sci-fi children’s drama, in which two young teens embark upon a mission to save their dying city and find freedom beyond its confines. The film was classified ‘PG’, in accordance with the Board’s Guidelines, for mild scary action scenes. At ‘PG’, the Guidelines state that ‘frightening sequences should not be prolonged or intense. Fantasy settings may be a mitigating factor’. One scene shows the two teens being chased by a gigantic mole through the underground tunnels. Another scene shows guards hunting the two teens down and there are a couple of tense moments, including sight of a greenhouse being smashed up. Finally, the pair go on a boat ride, accompanied by a little girl, which resembles a thrilling water ride at an adventure park. None of these scenes are particularly alarming nor prolonged. There are also a few scenes in which loud noises from the failing generator can be heard, accompanied by brief blackouts.

The main spoken language in this work is English. Directed by Gil Kenan The cast for this work includes: Bill Murray, Catherine Quinn, Saoirse Ronan, Tim Robbins. PG means -

The money is to be spent in three ways. One, to create new and continuing creative learning opportunities for the school’s pupils. Two, to support a network of schools interested in developing their own inquiry curriculum. Three, to communicate the work of the school to a national audience, to participate in and influence the national agenda on curriculum change and development.

For more information on School of Creativity status please visit the Creative Partnerships website.

Click on the links below to read reaction from local newspapers:

Highlights from the report include:

“Surlingham is a good school. It ensures that pupils develop well academically and extremely well in their personal development. This judgement is reflected in the large majority of parents’ questionnaires returned and the many written comments by parents stressing how happy their children are at the school, the progress that they are making, and the care, attention, development and encouragement their children receive.”

“The school has a number of outstanding features and has improved significantly since the last inspection because of the effectiveness of the school’s leadership.”

“All staff know the children extremely well and are very committed to them. This is not simply a product of the size of the school but because adults listen to and value pupils’ contributions.”

“The school is extremely inclusive and staff work hard to remove any barriers to learning.”

“The outstanding curriculum provides extremely effectively for both academic and personal development. There is a strong emphasis on creativity and the school’s use of an inquiry approach successfully links subjects together meaningfully and provides stimulating contexts to practice basic skills.”

“The curriculum is enriched by trips and visitors, and international and residential links with other schools foster pupils’ awareness of a diverse society particularly well. Pupils reflect thoughtfully on their own and other people’s lives, helped by the drama work they undertake, and the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is excellent.”

“Pupils develop their independent learning skills particularly well, for example in the ‘Forest School’, and lessons provide wide-ranging opportunities for discussion, research and group work.”

“Lessons are interesting and, as a result, pupils enjoy school and learning a very great deal this is reflected in their good attendance. Pupils make an extremely good contribution to the school community through the school council and other responsibilities.”

“Because of the quality of provision, pupils achieve well and some very well. Standards by the end of Year 2 show an improving trend over recent years and are now well above average. In 2008, they were exceptionally high in reading, writing and mathematics… In National Curriculum tests in 2008, at the end of Year 6, overall standards were above average and exceptionally high in mathematics. Tests results for 2009 have not yet been returned but school data indicates further improvement. Standards are high in English, mathematics and science. Improving pupils writing has been a sustained focus in the school and final drafts of written work for this year group are of high quality.”

“Given their overall excellent personal development and their above average levels of skills, along with opportunities that they have to assume responsibility and demonstrate initiative, the school lays the foundation for their economic well being and the next steps in their education effectively.”

“Adults’ good relationships and quality of care [in the early years foundation stage] ensure that children get a good start to education in the Reception class. Children achieve well so that standards at the end of the year are well above average in all aspects.”

Please click here to download the full report as a pdf.

Our summer fair is almost here! There will be fun and sun (fingers crossed!) and to make it amazing we need your help.

If anyone out there has a gazebo (or 2) that we can borrow to protect us against the glorious sunshine we will be having (?!) then please let a member of FOSS know. They make the fair a nicer place to work whatever the weather.

Also we would like any budding bakers out there to make delicious eats for the cake stall. Parents come from far and wide to buy homemade cakes and buns so please spare an hour if you can. Plates will go out nearer the time.

Next ask is the non-uniform day (Hurray!!). It will be on Friday 19th June. Please bring along some wine or chocolates etc. Just something you would be pleased to win. We can then use this in the raffle, wine and water or Tombola. This is a huge help to us as it cuts the cost of buying and thus increases profit for the school! Teachers can contribute too don’t forget!

Last ask is for parents, teachers and older children. We need help running the stalls! This is the biggest ask and we are grateful as always to those that help. A list will be put up in the playground so if you are free to help then please sign up or speak to a FOSS member.
Children could you please speak to a member of FOSS first so that we can get you a good stall to do! Thank you very much. Your support is very much appreciated.

Our theme this year is Celts and Romans (hence roman numerals!) with prizes for the best costumes! So have a think for a fancy dress costume to wear. If a whole outfit doesn’t grab you then maybe just a sword and shield or jewellery etc. just to get into the spirit! Sheet’s will be the order of the day though!

We will also be holding a talent competition!! Adults and children alike are able to take part as we are sure that “Surlingham’s got talent!”
Again prizes are up for grabs so start practicing your singing, dancing, jokes martial arts etc. and see if you can win a prize!

Don’t forget that FOSS is our school PTA. You are all members. You can all feel good knowing that you are supporting your children and you can have fun at the same time.
Thank you all so much and see you on the day!!

Films this half term:

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Charlotte’s Web

The Great Escape

More information

Parental Consent form 1

Parental Consent form 2

www.bbfc.co.uk