Communication

save the date

Every Thursday in term time – Tiny Tiddlers - 8.50am – 10.30am

Wednesday 12th March – Tea & Talk: Phonics in Nursery – 8.50am (please note date change)

Thursday 20th March – Tea & Talk: Year 4 Multiplication check – 2.30pm

Friday 21st March – Red Nose Day

Wednesday 26th March - Tea & Talk: Year 1 Phonics – 8.50am

Friday 4th April – Last day of term - 1.15pm collection – no after school provision

Tuesday 21st April – Academy open

Friday 2nd May – Preloved uniform sale

message

Dear parents and carers,

The theme for our World Book Day events has been perfectly apt - Oh the places you go!

I have always seen life as journey, and whilst there are milestones and hopeful destinations, the journey is the driving force and full of experiences that shape us.

My wall in my office shares a similar message – Little boat, on the sea, I wonder where you will take me?

The recent Ofsted inspection has been a momentous milestone and is an accolade to the commitment to the academy from us all.

The report resonates our sense of community and our inclusive culture. It outlines how the academy “prioritises the personal development of all” and that “being there for each other is a priority” – what a fantastic line to have in a report.

We were seen for the amazing place that we are and that our children “shine” like the stars that they are.

To receive our report and how it manages to show the heart of Darlinghurst within it and the positivity woven throughout, is a moment of pride. The report was packed with vocabulary highlighting excellence.

Usually, a report includes what a school needs to do better. This is woven within the report and ends with a section, what the school needs to improve. Our report does not raise any areas for improvement but acknowledges that the significant improvement across all areas means that the academy is better than good across the board and has been flagged to Ofsted to return for us to receive a graded inspection.

We await their return.

The success and thanks has been shared amongst all stakeholders – letters to parents and staff. Staff came together to hear the report, a special ‘newsflash’ assembly was held to share the news and thanks to our children. Governors and Trustees were delighted and shared thanks to staff. The Echo grabbed the story and shared the news with the wider community. I shared it my family and dearest friends too.

A special moment for me in this journey has been the community cohesion. The dream has been to be a community that works together and to see parent view, receive your kind emails and to chat with you all on the gate and it is here.

Communication and engagement are so important. Let’s keep achieving excellence together.

As always, enjoy your family time together.

Mrs Nicholls

in the spotlight

Inspection report in the spotlight

Pupils enjoy school.

Staff have the highest expectations of pupils’ behaviour and learning.

Pupils follow the ‘Darlinghurst direction’ to be ready, respectful and safe consistently every day. As a result, pupils behave very well, work hard and have extremely positive relationships with everyone.

Pupils live the school’s values of ‘achievement, belonging, confidence, determination and excellence’. They understand that these characteristics help them to be the best they can be. Consequently, pupils try their best, are resilient learners and achieve very well.

Pupils trust the adults in school and their friends to be kind and listen when they have a problem. Being there for each other is a priority in Darlinghurst. Pupils feel safe here.

Pupils are proud and excited about the very wide range of opportunities to develop personally as well as academically.

Pupils develop their talents and interests by singing in the choir, entering competitions and helping in the community. They become respectful, healthy, active citizens.

The school prioritises the personal development of pupils. It wants all Darlinghurst pupils to be rounded individuals. Pupils experience a very carefully planned experience that allows them to think, participate and contribute.

Pupils with SEND learn the same curriculum as their friends. They take part in a range of additional development opportunities and enjoy times to shine in lessons alongside their peers.

To read the full report visit our website or look at SchoolPing. Alternatively, you can view the report here https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/140536

World book day 2025

Wow! What a fantastic day we have had celebrating World Book Day 2025. The array of costumes, pyjamas and books has been amazing to see. The children began their day applauding our poetry competition winners. The inspiration taken from Mrs Feroze in Monday’s assembly was astounding and the resulting poetry from children across the academy was unbelievable. It’s incredible where your imagination can take you���

Throughout the day, children have learnt and performed a poem, created a class poetry compilation and some have even turned their hand to illustrations. Alternative book covers, mixed up characters, quizzes and bookmarks using a range of calligraphic text have kept the children busy.

At the end of the day, all the children in the academy took part in a buddy reading session. Classes and year groups were mixed up and stories were told. It was lovely to see so many confident children sharing familiar texts with their peers.

As part of our World Book Day celebrations, Mrs Rose, an author and parent, read one of her own stories ‘The Pant Emporium’ to children in Nursery, Reception and KS1. Her story was all about ambition and being what you want to be. The children loved hearing about the magical box and the super special pants. The pants inspired the wearer to find a job they could do when they were older. I wonder what your pants would tell you?

Thank you for all your continued support and helping World Book Day 2025 be a huge success.

Poetry in the Spotlight

Mrs Feroze launched our poetry competition at the beginning of this week, using Dr Seuss’ ‘Oh the places you’ll go!’ poem. She inspired our children to think about the places they wanted to visit, the things they might see and the experiences they might have. She talked about ambitions and careers and how each job would make the children successful.

‘We’re going to great places, we’re off and away!’

From this starting point, the children were tasked to write their own poems using their imaginations and seeing where they would go.

Mrs Feroze was so pleased with the poems she read, it inspired her to write her own poem about our poems.

I sat down at my desk and I began to read,

In my swivelling pink velvet chair,

But the strangest thing started to happen

I was lifted straight up in the air!

Your poems they took me all over the world,

To Dubai, Canada, LA and more

You flew me up mountains, past sparkling seas

To the rustling green forest floor.

I rode on a lion, I won at Fortnite

In a super cool fast Lamborghini

I took giant bites out of the hot spicy sun

I was given wishes from a genie!

You took me deep under the ocean

Then shot me up high into space

I danced upon Saturn with glittering stars

And the happiest smile on my face.

I saw talented artists and kind-hearted vets

Fearsome dragons in battle with knights,

I saw doctors and builders and footballers

With imaginations shining bright.

Your words gave me wings to rise just like a bird

Through the softest cotton candy clouds

The I landed right here, in a room filled with poets:

Darlinghurst, you have made me so proud!

Red Nose Day​​​​

Red Nose Day is back on Friday 21 March 2025!

We have a limited supply of Red Noses available to purchase (via your child’s ParentPay account), priced at £2 each.

Any Noses purchased will be distributed by your child’s class teacher on Thursday 13th and Thursday 20th March, ready for the big day!

To celebrate 40 years of Comic Relief, this year’s Red Noses are based on classic Noses from each decade – from the 80’s, 90’s, Noughties and 2010’s. You might even get lucky and find the Rare Ruby Nose marking Comic Relief's 40th birthday!

Children should wear full school uniform please but are invited to wear their Red Nose to school.

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proud to be me