Headteacher's Blog - 12.10.2025

During Monday’s assembly, pupils were set a task, in support of the NSPCC Kindness Challenge. Pupils were asked to make a special effort during the week, to show kindness to someone they would not consider to be a close friend. Pupils at Coppetts Wood proved that they understand what being kind looks and feels like and Ilyas (Y6) made the super suggestion of paying someone a compliment, as a way of demonstrating kindness. Great advice, Ilyas!

If you were unable to attend the recent Meet the Teacher sessions, you can find the notes for each year group, on our school website.

Next week, this term’s family consultation meetings take place, providing an opportunity for you to discuss with the class teacher, how well your child has settled into their new year group and an update on their learning and achievement. If you have not yet booked an appointment, please check your Arbor app, for dates and times available. Parents of pupils in Y5 and Y6, please note that one of your consultation dates is different to the rest of the school – any issues, please check Arbor or contact the school office.  

Barnet Friends is an organisation that provides support for adults experiencing loneliness. If you know someone, within our school community, who is experiencing loneliness, please get in touch with this service, to see what support they might be able to provide.

Last Tuesday, we held the first of two parent and carer workshops focusing on Relationships, Health and Sex Education. In response to lots of questions and concerns about when and how we teach pupils sex education, as well as a significant number of families withdrawing their child from the sex education lessons, we want to engage parents and carers in a discussion about this subject. Sadly, there was a very low turn-out for this session. We hope that attendance will be better for the repeat session which takes place tomorrow morning, Monday, 13^th October, at 9.00am. Come and see the resources we use and take the opportunity to ask questions or discuss any concerns, to help us plan and create a curriculum that best meets the needs of our school community. 

Congratulations to our newly elected House Captains who have enthusiastically started taking on their new responsibilities.

I look forward to working with them, throughout the year, to foster leadership, build community spirit, and promote healthy competition across year groups.

Families whose children are in our Acorn or Oak class – classes in our Additional Resource Provision (ARP) – will be aware that Ms Tatiana Peveri has not been at work for several months. After a period of absence before the summer holiday, she has sadly decided not to return to Coppetts Wood. Deesha Shibnauth (Office Manager) has also decided to move on from Coppetts Wood, for exciting new adventures. I am sure that you will join me in thanking them both for their hard work and contribution to our school community and wishing them the best of luck, for the future.

October is Black History Month. Our curriculum is designed to teach and celebrate the achievements and contributions of black individuals throughout history, through our core texts and across a range of subject areas – it is woven into our teaching and learning, throughout the year, not just October! However, Black History Month is a great opportunity to reinforce and promote diversity and inclusion, and educate pupils about often-overlooked aspects of history.

Black History Month | Childline

Black History Month 2024 resources - BBC Teach

This Friday, is Just One tree Day. The aim of this campaign is to involve schools in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. On Friday, pupils can wear non-uniform to school, in exchange for £1 which will go to JUST ONE Tree, a non-profit organisation working with reforestation projects around the world.

Some of our Year 6 pupils are currently enjoying their PGL residential, taking part in a range of activities, including, archery, zip-wire, Laser Tag, climbing and raft-building. They are having a fantastic time together, impressing the staff and instructors with their sense of adventure, support for each other and great behaviour. I look forward to joining them later, for this evening's campfire.

The next fortnight, promises to be very busy, at Coppetts Wood, with lots of events and activities planned for our pupils and families, including:

Saturday 18^th October - Open Morning (9.00 – 11.30am)

Tuesday 22^nd October – Harvest Festival assembly (9.00am – all welcome)

Thursday 23^rd October – Curriculum Event (3.20pm - all welcome)

Friday 24^th October – School discos (3.45pm Rec/KS1, 5pm KS2)

Our PTA is hoping for parent/carer volunteers to support with the discos. If you are able to help, either through your time during the discos or help in the preparation, please contact the school office or PTA directly. PTA@coppettswood.barnet.sch.uk  

On Thursday 23^rd October, we have a very special guest author visiting Coppetts Wood, reading from his new book and entertaining pupils with extracts from some of his well-known earlier books. More information to follow…

Ms Lippa