Dear Parents/Carers, 

Thank you for your patience and understanding at the start of the week when we had to close the school on Monday due to unexpected water supply issues. We were pleased to reopen as normal on Tuesday, and we're very grateful for your support and flexibility.

We’re also delighted to share some fantastic news with you.

I have recently received a letter from the Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, recognising Forest Academy for our work in supporting disadvantaged pupils. The letter confirms that the results achieved by our pupils at the end of last school year are among the very best in the country. The Secretary of State has encouraged us to share our approach with other schools, so more children across the country can benefit from the kind of support and high expectations that we hold dear at Forest.

We are incredibly proud of this recognition, but more importantly, we share this success with you. Our achievements are not just the result of what happens inside the classroom. They are a community effort, built on the strong partnership between home and school. Your ongoing support, encouragement and trust all play a vital part in helping our children thrive.

At Forest Academy, we are relentless in our mission to ensure that no child is left behind. Every child deserves a brilliant education, and we remain firmly committed to that goal. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Together, we will continue to make a lasting difference.

A reminder that Parents’ Evenings will take place on Tuesday 3rd and Thursday 5th February. If you haven’t yet booked your appointment, please do so via the Arbor app. We look forward to discussing your child’s progress and continuing to work in partnership to support their success.

Mrs Lloyd & the Forest Academy Team

On Tuesday, Year 1 children had a wonderful time on their first trip to the local church, where they listened carefully, asked thoughtful questions, and showed excellent behaviour throughout the visit. This experience helped them make meaningful connections between their learning in school and the wider community. 

Over the course of the term, the children have made fantastic progress, especially in their writing and maths. They have worked hard to develop their skills, showing increased confidence, independence, and resilience when tackling new challenges. 

Children have also been learning about the Queen and our current King, helping them to understand the role of the Monarchy in Britain. They have also been studying different types of leaders, including leaders in the country as well as leaders at home and in school. Through these discussions, the children have begun to understand what makes a good leader and how leadership helps communities work together. We then decided to elect one leader through a democratic vote for one afternoon. Congratulations to Mia, who won by a landslide! Children enjoyed some games chosen by our new leader.

Their enthusiasm for learning and willingness to try their best have been a real highlight, and we are extremely proud of the effort and progress they have made this term. Well done!

This week, Year 3 became environmental explorers as we delved into the topic of deforestation. By linking our English and geography lessons, we investigated how the loss of rainforests impacts both our global environment and the indigenous communities who live there. They were presented with an imagined image of the school suffering from deforestation that really got them talking!

During our Whole Class Reading of 'The Vanishing Rainforest', the children impressed us with their maturity, asking deep and thoughtful questions about how we can protect these vital habitats.

In mathematics, we have been busy mastering the art of measurement. The children have been getting hands-on with rulers and meter sticks to explore millimetres (mm), centimetres (cm), and metres (m). We’ve been practicing how to choose the right unit for the job, whether measuring a tiny sharpener or the length of a classroom table!

Well done Year 3 and keep up the good work!

This week, Year 5 have been exploring poetry. They started by reading a range of poetry aloud and discussing the features including rhyming patterns and figurative language. They then read 'If' by Rudyard Kipling and began to generate rhyming words they would use imitating Kipling's style. In maths, the children have learnt how to use the formal written method for multiplication and division. The children have become more confident in using short and long multiplication and short division. We will continue to practise these skills in our daily arithmetic sessions.

In art, the children created planet surfaces using oil pastels and water colours. They then created golden frames using 3d shapes and gold tissue which will frame their final art piece. In geography, the children have learnt about the push and pull factors that contribute to the decision to migrate from one country to another. They discussed each factor and, in their pairs, ranked them in terms of importance. In science, the children have been learning about the phases of the moon and how we have night and day. In French, the children have learnt how to give directions to different places around town.

Congratulations to Kaliyah, Shasmeen, Aleeya and Amani on earning their pen licence! They consistently have high levels of presentation and use a cursive script in all their books.

Parent Mental Health Day – 30th January 2026

Parent Mental Health Day (PMHD) is an annual campaign which takes place each year in the UK on the 30th of January and raises awareness between the vital link between parents’ and carers’ mental health, and the wellbeing of the whole family.

While PMHD is an important date in the calendar, the challenges parents and carers face are year-round. The current cost-of-living crisis, increased concerns about digital harms, rising rates of mental ill health and the impact of stretched services have further increased parent and carer anxiety and, in some cases, helplessness and hopelessness. Add to this, when you are a busy parent or carer, it is easy to neglect your own mental well-being.

PMHD is an opportunity to check in with how you are doing, which could help you to identify anything you may need support with. In turn, this could support you to be more available for your child's needs

If you are feeling low, anxious or stressed, you can access Croydon NHS Talking Therapies, a service that offers free and confidential talking therapies and specialist support to help you feel better.

You can find out more about Croydon NHS Talking Therapies and what this service has to offer by clicking on the link here: https://croydontalkingtherapies.nhs.uk/

You can access the service by completing a self-referral form by clicking on the link here: https://croydontalkingtherapies.nhs.uk/refer-yourself/

If you have concerns about a child (or their families) welfare, contact Croydon Council’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) 

Telephone: 020 8726 6400 

Out of hours: 020 8726 6400 (ask for out of hours team) 

Email: childreferrals@croydon.gov.uk 

Office Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 – 16:00 

If you think a child is at risk of immediate harm telephone 999