4 months ago
Posted on 19th Dec 2025 by Penny Lyall

Christmas wishes

Thank you for your continued support, contributing to the continued success of our school. This term has showcased many highlights, from musical and dance talent opportunities within our Trust, to exciting trips and visitors and a super successful careers week. Our children have showcased their brilliance in many ways and made our school both happy and successful. They have worked their socks off in class and been kind friends outside, ensuring our values shine out at all times. As we approach the end of the year, we reflect on the achievements of the year and can feel a strong sense of pride to be part of Hodnet School.

We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a very happy new year, and look forward to continued happiness and success in 2026.

Mrs Lyall, and all at Team Hodnet.

4 months ago
Posted on 19th Dec 2025 by Penny Lyall

Attendance recognition

Well done to all our children and families who have tried so hard to attend school so far this year. Many children received certificates this week to recognise their commitment to attending school showcasing the value placed on education. As we said in church, children need to be in school to benefit from the rich learning environments and opportunities we offer.

Our target is 96% or above, so far this year we have exceeded our target by reaching 97.5% whole school attendance. Amazing! Please keep this up. Also the number of pupils classes as persistently absent has fallen, again amazing news. Only 4.8% of our school population are classed as being persistently absent, significantly better than the national average of 16.5%. Children are persistently absent if their attendance falls below 90%, triggering Education Welfare Involvement.

Class attendance – all our classes are at or above our school target – brilliant news! Classes in order or attendance:

Class R, 97.92%
Class 3, 97.64%
Class 2, 97.63%
Class 6, 96.92%
Class 5, 96.87%
Class 1, 96.76%
Class 4, 96.50%

4 months ago
Posted on 19th Dec 2025 by Penny Lyall

Spring term 2026 diary dates updated

Dates shared December 2025. New dates added in red.

January

Mon 5th – School reopens.
Fri 9th – DEAR 3pm
Fri 9th – closing date for Kitchen Assistant post applications in by 4pm.
Mon 12th – Curriculum & Coffee morning 8.45 – 9.15am class R
Tue 13th – Curriculum & Coffee morning 8.45 – 9.15am classes 1& 2
Wed14th – Curriculum & Coffee morning 8.45 – 9.15am classes 3&4
Thurs 15th – Curriculum & Coffee morning 8.45 – 9.15am classes 5&6
Fri 16th – Swimming starts for Y3 & Y4 for 5 weeks.
Wed 21st – Y4 visit to Blists Hill, information to follow
Wed 21st – Y5 visit to Ironbridge, information to follow
Thurs 22nd – Online safety virtual parents event.
Mon 26th – Christingle Workshop 3.15-4.15, parents from 4.15-4.30 information to follow.

February

Mon 2nd – Fri 6th – National Storytelling week with events in school and planned visitors. More information to follow.
Thurs 5th – Sportshall Athletics competition.
Fri 6th – DEAR 3pm
Fri 13th – break up for half term.
Mon 23rd – school reopens.

March

Tues 3rd – Y6 visit to RAF Cosford, details to follow.
Wed 4th – Parents Evening 3.30 – 7.30
Thur 5th – Parents Evening 3.30-5
Fri 6th – World Book Day, optional dress up.
Fri 6th – DEAR 3pm
Mon 9th – Fairtrade focus fortnight begins
Wed 11th – Y6 class assembly 9am. Y6 parents welcome.
Fri 13th – Mother’s day lunch.
Mon 16th – Rock Steady Concert 9.15am.
Wed 18th – Y2 class assembly 9am. Y2 parents welcome.
Thursday 19th – Church service 2pm TBC.
Mon 23rd – Fri 27th – Y6 residential to Oakerwood
Tue 24th – Governing body meeting
Thurs 26th – Church service 2pm. Cancelled.
Fri 27th – Break up for Easter. Return to school Monday 13th April.

4 months ago
Posted on 19th Dec 2025 by Penny Lyall

A message from St Luke’s and a Christmas blessing

A message from Rev Chris:

Thank you for using our Church, it is always such a blessing to have you all there. The children are so gifted and I can see that the staff are bringing the best out in each child.

The Blessing for all;

May the joy of the angels,

The eagerness of the shepherds

The perseverance of the wise men

And the obedience of Mary and Joseph

And the peace of the Christchild be yours this Christmas.

The blessing of God almighty, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always. Amen

Hodnet Christmas Services;

Sunday 21^st December 5.30 Lessons and Carols

Wednesday 24^th December 3pm Crib Service

Thursday 25^th December 11am, Christmas day communion.

Have a wonderful Christmas. With thanks and blessings of peace.

4 months ago
Posted on 19th Dec 2025 by Penny Lyall

Lockers

We have purchased and installed almost 100 lockers for our KS2 corridor and Y6 classroom to replace our coat pegs. Children in classes 4, 5 and 6 now all have an individual locker to use to store their coat, bag and PE kit. This should make our cloakroom spaces significantly tidier and therefore safer.

We expect lockers to be used appropriately, showing respect to other users and to property. We have spoken to the children about locker use, including keeping them tidy and presentable and always keeping the key in the lockers at all time, spares are kept centrally.

Lockers were needed due to the large volume of property which was becoming a health and safety problem! Particularly with our larger classes who were finding the the pegs were not sufficient to hold all their things.

We reiterate – pupils only need a small bag to hold their reading folder and any homework. We do not wish to impose additional costs on families, there is no need to purchase smaller bags, but when considering a school bag in the future, please be mindful of size, as we have said previously many times, please only send essentials in to school as we simply do not have the space. Thank you.

4 months ago
Posted on 19th Dec 2025 by Penny Lyall

Well-being projects and Guinea Pigs

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the collection in church yesterday for school well-being. We raised £133.19p which will be used in the spring term.

4 months ago
Posted on 11th Dec 2025 by Penny Lyall

Nativity performances

A reminder that our Nativity performances are next week, Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th both at 2pm. Entry with tickets only please to ensure a safe capacity within our school hall.

Parents from YR, Y1 & Y2 are invited to come to watch the performance, the rear playground gates will open at 1.50pm, ready for a 2pm start in the hall.

Reminders that parents and carers are able to take photographs of their children and we will provide opportunities for photographs at the end, but ask that you respect the wishes of all families by only taking pictures or videos of your own children and keeping them for personal use. We have several children this year who cannot be photographed, their family members do not provide permission for photographs to be taken or shared on social media or websites.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Mrs Lyall

4 months ago
Posted on 11th Dec 2025 by Penny Lyall

Christmas lunch

Huge thank you to our kitchen staff who cooked an amazing Christmas lunch for children and staff this week.

Children enjoyed singing and dancing to Christmas music after their lunch and had a delightful sing song in the hall. Great fun!

Photos

4 months ago
Posted on 11th Dec 2025 by Penny Lyall

Bumped head wrist bands

Following recent First Aid training, we have implemented an additional recommendation to our procedures when a child has bumped their head.

Due to the need to observe children closely after a bump to the head, we have purchased bright yellow bumped head wrist bands to enable all staff to see at a glance that a child has bumped their head and therefore needs to be monitored. The wrist band will include the data and time of the injury.

We will continue to implement our existing procedures of phoning parents when a child bumps their head and writing a bumped head letter home as required.

4 months ago
Posted on 11th Dec 2025 by Penny Lyall

Rock Steady concert

On Monday our pupils who participate in Rock Steady music lessons will be leading their termly music concert. Parents of those pupils are welcome to attend.

Children who are performing are welcomed to come in Christmas themed / party / rock star non-uniform!

Band leader Dan will be leaving us this term, he has been promoted and will now line manage other band leaders, including our new band leader, Luke, so we will still see Dan from time to time. We send him our congratulations, wishing him all the best for the future. He has been inspirational for young people in our school and will be a big miss.

Reception Class

Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

Class 4

Class 5

Class 6