17th July 2026
I can't believe we've come to the end of another school year. At the beginning of September when we start the new school year, July seems a very long way in the future, but it comes around so quickly. Of course 2025/26 has felt rather different for me as it has turned out to be my last year at Cranbourne after 35 enormously happy years. We've had the most amazing last half term - some of the highlights are below.
We've had our best academic results for some time. Reception have shown how much learning they have done by excelling in their early learning judgments. I've been thrilled to see their progress, and was delighted when they came and shared their Drawing Club books with me this week. We have some very talented artists and writers! Their results are above the national average.
Year 1 have made superb progress in their phonics and made short work of the phonics screening test. Their result was also above the national average, but even more important than reaching the expected standard in a government test, they are reading beautifully.
Year 4 have impressed us with their times tables knowledge. There is no pass mark for this test, but our average score is really high again, and is testament to all the practice the children have been putting in.
Year 6 absolutely smashed their SATs, giving us the best provisional results we've had in more years than I can remember (and I can remember a lot!). They weren't just above the national average, they were well above. For example they achieved 92% at the expected standard in maths (phenomenal!!) and the national average was 75%.
School is about way more than results though, and the wonderful children that walk through our doors make us proud in a multitude of ways. They truly are ready, respectful and safe in all the broadest ways they can be.
We've had two amazing shows. Year 5 treated us to "Ali Baba and the Bongo Bandits". It was the first time we'd performed that show and I think it will become a Cranbourne favourite. The children were wonderful!
Year 6 treated us to "Alice in Wonderland" for their final Cranbourne production. It was superb, and the applause rightly went on for some time. Mrs King, one of the DET primary directors, was in the audience, and she said to me afterwards, "Is there anything Cranbourne can't do?". No - our children are amazing!
Talking of year 6, they've been out on their residential trip, to Walton on the Naze, and a watersports day - all very adventurous. This week we say goodbye to them in the annual leavers' assembly, which is always both uplifting and a bit emotional.
Other year groups have been out and about too. Reception and year 1 have both been to farms, and year 5 have had a secondary school taster day at John Warner and been to the Gunpowder Mills
Sports Day was brilliant, and we managed to have the perfect weather, avoiding the heatwaves! Both the morning and the afteroon were just perfect with great competition, loads of fun, and the most wonderfully supportive spectators. Our athletes represented us beautifully at District Sports too, coming in third place.
The Summer Fayre was a resounding success and raised £5,500! This time last year we had to cancel because we didn't get enough volunteers, so a huge thank you to everyone who stepped up. This was the last fayre for Abi and Tara who have stepped down from the committee, but we owe them a big thank you for all their years of fundraising. The new chair will be brilliant, and will be looking for new committee members - why not get involved?
Please make sure you scroll down to get to the dates we have already set for the autumn term.
Now I have to sign off on my last ever newsletter. I've written so many of them over the years, and it's always been lovely to share all the wonderful things happening at Cranbourne. I think it's been one of our best half-terms ever - what a high to leave on!
Rachel Semark
Headteacher, on behalf of the Cranbourne team
