Last assembly of the year

Today we held our last whole school assembly of the school year and what an assembly it was!  We were thrilled to have a performance from our school choir who sang beautifully, and we had a performance from a school band - well done Bella, Heidi, Lottie and Bobbie for performing in front of the whole school.

Mrs Littlewood wished our year 6 pupils the very best of luck in their next chapter!

As is tradition year 6 rang the school bell on the way out of school.  Click here to see them exiting Oldcastle for the last time!  Ringing the Bell.

Farewell and Best Wishes

As we reach the end of this term, we say a fond farewell to two valued members of our Oldcastle family.

Lisa Diehl, our Family Engagement Officer, will be leaving us to take up an exciting new role as a School Counsellor. Lisa has made a lasting impact on the lives of so many of our pupils and their families. Her compassion, dedication, and unwavering support have helped build strong and trusting relationships within our school community. She will be greatly missed by staff, pupils, and parents alike. We wish Lisa every success and happiness in her new role—any school would be lucky to have her.

We also say goodbye to Mrs. Anderson, who has contributed to school life in a number of roles during her time at Oldcastle. She will now be taking up a position as a 1-to-1 Learning Support Officer in a new school. Her flexibility, hard work, and positive attitude have made a real difference to the pupils she has supported and the teams she has worked with. We thank her for all she has given to Oldcastle and wish her the very best in this next chapter.

Thank you both for everything. You will always be part of the Oldcastle story.

Have a fantastic summer and we look forward to welcoming our pupils and parents back in September.

Round Up of the School Year

As we reach the conclusion of another fantastic academic year at Oldcastle Primary School, we like to take time to reflect on the journey we have shared together as a school community. The months that have passed have been characterised by growth, achievement, and the consistent demonstration of our core values that define who we are as a learning community.

Throughout this academic year, our pupils have embraced each monthly value with remarkable dedication and understanding. September marked our beginning with respect and responsibility, establishing the foundation for our year ahead. The introduction of our Toddlers Group has strengthened our community bonds, while our newly elected junior leaders and house captains have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities that continue to inspire their peers.

October brought compassion and hope to the forefront of our school life, coinciding with our Estyn inspection—a significant milestone that showcased the outstanding work taking place within our walls. The governors' report further validated our commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.

November's focus on friendship and forgiveness was beautifully exemplified through our remembrance celebrations, where pupils demonstrated profound respect and understanding of historical significance. 

December's emphasis on understanding and patience proved particularly relevant as we navigated the excitement of Christmas concerts while celebrating Barney's fourth birthday—a testament to our school's unique character.

The new year brought determination and perseverance, perfectly aligned with our Year 6 residential experience and the first anniversary of our food pantry initiative. 

February's values of honesty and trust were celebrated through our charity fashion show, featuring our dedicated staff as models and Venetia Steel.

March's celebration of learning and effort culminated in an amazing Welsh week and our inaugural school community forum, strengthening the partnership between home and school. 

April's community and service theme was reflected in successful parents' evenings and our rugby team's outstanding achievements.

May's focus on cooperation and citizenship was magnificently demonstrated through our VE Day celebrations, PTA disco, and sports days, bringing together pupils, families, and staff in joyful celebration. 

June's values of gratitude, care, and generosity were embodied in Barney's recognition as a highly commended school dog. We enjoyed a hugely successful Careers Week and were excited by bump-up day activities.

July's culminating value of taking and managing risk has been exemplified through our spectacular Grease production with children in year 6 being performers to the whole school and their parents. We also had rewards day celebrations, and the poignant Year 6 leavers' presentation—marking both an ending and a new beginning for our departing pupils.

This year has demonstrated that when a school community works together with shared values and common purpose, remarkable achievements become possible. We would like to thank all our children, parents and carers for their support over the last school year.

Year 6 Leavers Presentation

We held a really lovely presentation for our year 6 pupils and their parents on Tuesday evening to recognise each and every one of our year 6 pupils.  Miss Matthews and Miss Tompkinson spoke about every child following an introduction from Mrs Littlewood. Each child was presented with a leavers gift, thanks to a donation from the PTA, and a digital copy of a year 6 yearbook.

A formal presentation followed when some pupils received individual awards and these are detailed below.  Well done all.

The evening finished with a BBQ and refreshments for the pupils and their families.  Thank you to everyone that helped make the event so special for our year 6 leavers and their parents. 

Well, that's a wrap! What a fantastic couple of performances our year 6 children have put on for pupils, staff, and parents. They absolutely smashed their performances of Grease, and we couldn't be prouder of them all.  Thank you to everyone who has been involved in making the show such a success In particular, we would like to thank the following:

• Mrs Murdoch for creating the Rydale High Scenery on the stage

• Maesteg Comprehensive and Llangynwydd Comprehensive for the loan of the Grease car, bed and diner props, which really made the performance special!

• Mrs Littlewood, Miss Matthews, Miss Tompkinson, Miss Williams and Mrs Anderson for their dedication to develop the children

• Mrs Brown for creating wonderful hair styles

• All the year 6 parents for providing such fantastic costumes

• Finally, to our amazing pupils who put their heart and soul into the performances to create such a spectacular show.

School Governors

We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to our dedicated school governors for their commitment to Oldcastle Primary School throughout the past academic year. Their contribution to our school community has been both substantial and invaluable.

Our governing body demonstrates exceptional dedication through their attendance at a comprehensive range of meetings, where they examine crucial aspects of our school's operations. These sessions encompass detailed scrutiny of our budget allocation, thorough evaluation of our curriculum provision, and careful consideration of the overall management and strategic direction of our institution. The governors' systematic review of key areas within our school improvement plan ensures that we maintain our vision for continuous improvement.

We were pleased to note in the Estyn inspection that school governors were recognised as being effective collaborators with the school leadership team in planning strategic improvements. The inspection also commended our robust monitoring and evaluation processes, which are strengthened considerably by the governors' active participation and oversight.

The professional expertise, time, and energy that our governors contribute to Oldcastle Primary School creates a foundation upon which we can build our educational aspirations. Thank you to our governors for your continued commitment to our school community.

Barney

We were delighted to receive a certificate this week confirming that Barney is a highly commended dog!  He was delighted to have the doggy treat that was sent too! Thank you for all of Barney's gifts at the end of term - he is one lucky doggy!

Community Food Pantry 

We are delighted with the success of our community food pantry initiative, which continues to demonstrate the profound impact that collaborative partnerships can have on supporting families within our local community.

Since launching our food pantry in partnership with Baobab Bach on Tuesday 16th January 2024, we have witnessed an extraordinary response from our community. The initiative was born from our school's commitment to serving as a vital hub for local families, particularly in response to the persistent challenges posed by rising food costs that many households continue to face.

Our partnership with Baobab Bach has proven to be exceptionally valuable, as this established organisation brings considerable expertise in building and sustaining community pantries that provide essential support to those who need it most. The organisation's mission aligns perfectly with our educational values, as they work tirelessly to promote good mental health, support environmental sustainability, and address the critical issue of food poverty within our communities.

The food pantry operates on a simple yet effective model, offering reduced-cost food bags for just £5 each. These carefully curated bags typically contain up to fifteen items, including ambient food such as canned and packaged goods,  vegetables, and bread items, providing families with quality, affordable provisions that help to fill cupboards and create nutritious meals.

Since September 2024, we have recorded over 542 visits to our food pantry, a statistic that speaks volumes about both the genuine need within our community and the trust that families place in our school as a source of support. This figure represents not merely numbers, but real families who have been able to access essential provisions during challenging times.

The success of this initiative would not have been possible without the generous funding support we have received and the partnership we have forged with Baobab Bach. Their expertise, resources, and unwavering commitment to community welfare have been instrumental in establishing and maintaining this vital service.

For families interested in accessing this service or seeking additional information about our food pantry, please do not hesitate to contact the school office on 01656 815790. The food pantry will resume in September.

Community Food Pantry Over the Summer Holidays

Our Food Pantry is closed throughout the summer holidays. Don't forget you can use the Baobab Bach pantries locally please follow this link Home - Baobab Bach CIC - Sustainable Communities 

The Bridge in Bridgend Town Centre also offers a food pantry. Click here to view the details Home | Thebridgemps 

Oldcastle Rocks

We were so disappointed to cancel Oldcastle Rocks last weekend but we were so glad we did with the weather that arrived on Saturday.  Don't forget to save the revised date! 

After School Club and Late Club Prices Increase from 1st September 2025

The following information has been emailed to all users of the after school and late club facility. Following a review of our Afterschool and Late Club provision, we find it necessary to make some adjustments to our pricing structure. The increase in fees is due to increases in our operating costs and will allow us to continue to offer the service you expect both now and into the future.

Prices will increase from 1st of September 2025 

• Afterschool Club will increase to £9.00 per session

• Late Club will increase to £2.50 per session

We thank you for your ongoing support and trust that these changes will help us to continue providing you with the service.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Weekly Attendance

We are committed to promoting good attendance at school and have a target of whole school attendance of 95%.  This week's attendance was 91.1%.

Tesco Community Blue Token Scheme - look out for us in Tesco!

We are delighted to have been accepted to be included in the Tesco Community Blue Token Scheme from July to September this year. Our project is now live in stores so please support us!

Oldcastle Primary School, Community Pantry, Bridgend

Our food pantry ensures that our pupils and their families have access to nutritious food and essential supplies, all-year round.

The project with the highest number of votes across your region will receive £1,500, the second placed project £1,000 and the third placed project £500. 

Please see below a list of stores taking part in the voting on your project. Feel free to share this list of stores amongst your supporters and within your community.

• Bridgend 1 Superstore CF31 4AP

• Bridgend Extra CF31 3SQ

• Gentle Way Bridgend Express Express CF31 5EJ

• North Cornelly Express Express CF33 4LN

• Pencoed Express Express CF35 5NG

Contact Details

Please ensure that we have up to date contact details for you. You can let us know if you change your address or phone number by filling in this form. Change of Contact Details

• September - Respect and Responsibility 

• October - Compassion and Hope 

• November - Friendship and Forgiveness 

• December - Understanding and Patience

• January - Determination and Perseverance

• February - Honesty and Trust 

• March -Learning and Effort 

• April - Community and Service 

• May - Co-operation and being a good citizen within society

• June- Showing Gratitude and Care and Generosity

• July - Taking and managing risks 

At Oldcastle, we are proud of each other and ourselves. We nurture all of our community so that we grow as confident, responsible and happy people. Oldcastle school is more than just learning. 

• We try hard for each other

• We act responsibly

• We treat people how we’d like to be treated

• We work as a team

• We trust and respect each other

• We listen and learn together

• We share knowledge and experience

Together we make the difference

Together we shape innovative experiences 

More information on our values and visions can be found on our website.  Visions and Values

Nut Free School

Please can we remind parents that we strive to be a nut free school as we have a number of pupils who have a severe allergy to nuts.  

This includes nut products such as peanut butter and nutella. 

Contact details

Please ensure we have up to date contact details for you to ensure you keep up to date with school news and we are able to contact you during the school day if required.  You can either email us with change of details (ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk) or complete the change of details form.  

We love to hear about pupil success outside of school.  Please email us any achievements to ask@oldcastleprimary.co.uk What a busy week we have had with pupil success congratulations to you all!

Lifeguards Success

Well done to Fara, Maisie, Lottie, Effie, Faith and Heidi for your success in the lifeguards competition last weekend.  So many medals!

Cricket Success

Some pupils who have taken part in the cricket at Bridgend Town Cricket Club recently brought in their medals to show us.  Well done to everyone who enjoyed the cricket over the last few months.

Swimming Success

Well done Eloise, Bette and Elspeth for swimming a mile that's very impressive!

Performing Arts

Well done to all the pupils who have performed at their Stagecoach end of year performances.  What an achievement to perform at the Sony Theatre in front of so many people.  Here's a selection of children who have performed so far.

Year 4 have worked so hard on their project - Fashion is a Story -  this term, culminating in an upcycling challenge and a fashion show for their parents on Wednesday.  We were grateful to have Miss Nicola Steele from Venetia Steele visit who was so impressed with the varied outfits.   The outfits and the children looked amazing. Click on the images to activate the image carousel.

Rewards Day

On Monday we held our Summer Rewards Day and the children were treated to time on a variety of inflatables on the main yard. So many smiling children around school on Monday! The highlight for many was undoubtedly the distribution of ice creams from the ice cream van, which served not merely as a refreshing treat, but as a tangible symbol of our appreciation for their outstanding conduct and academic progress. The joy and excitement radiating from our pupils throughout this special day reinforced the fundamental importance of acknowledging achievement and fostering a positive learning environment.

Here's a round of of the total token points collected over the year a total of 88854 !  Wow that's a lot of tokens collected!!

Staff vs Year 6 Netball

On Wednesday, we held our annual staff vs year 6 netball games.  It's always a fiercely competitive experience and a joy for pupils to watch! Four games were played and here are the results!

• Game 1 - Pupils 5 Staff 3 - Staff Player of the game Mrs Harris

• Game 2 - Pupils 1 Staff 3 - Staff Player of the game Miss Walters

• Game 3 - Pupils 0 Staff 5 - Staff Player of the game Mrs Brotherton

• Game 4 - Pupils 1 Staff 3 - Staff Player of the game Miss Vaughan

Year 2 Inventions

As part of a Year 2 topic, the children had to design and create an invention that solved a problem. They have made an information leaflet during literacy sessions to advertise their inventions. Year 1 have come to visit us so that Year 2 pupils can show them their final invention.  Da Iawn pawb.

Year 5 Uniform Designs

As part of their Careers Week project year 5 were challenged by Nicola from Venetia Steele to design a school uniform.  The children worked really hard on their design and we were delighted to have Nicola judge the designs.  Below are images from the winning designs.  Well done to the following pupils whose designs were selected as winners:

Class 5E

• 1st  - Violet

• 2nd - Amelia C

• Joint 3rd - Jake and Myia

Class 5T

• 1st - Izzy

• 2nd Eloise

• Joint 3rd - Gabriella and Amelia P

Year 4 Portraits

Year 4 have created some amazing portraits from various materials this term!

Year 6 Leavers

Our Catering Team are the best!  Today they have created some amazing cakes to say farewell to our year 6's and even had special t-shirts made up!  Thank you Team  Catering for going the extra mile for our children!

The Bridge

We are excited to announce that we will be offering Healthy Packed Lunches for children under the age of 16 throughout the Summer Holidays. Packed lunches are available in our Community Hub from 11am - 3pm.  We are thrilled to introduce our Summer Kids Activity Planner! Throughout the summer, we will be offering a variety of engaging activities that kids are sure to love.  As the event dates come closer, tickets will be available for FREE on Eventbrite. Our Support Workers at the Community Hub are also here to help with your bookings.

Halo Swimming

Active 4 Life

Looking for an exciting, action-packed summer for your kids? Active 4 Life for ages 8-11 is back at Bridgend Life Centre — and it’s completely FREE!

In partnership with Bridgend Town Community Council, we’re bringing the fun at Bridgend Life Centre with:

Dodgeball
Dance
Art Attack
Football
Table Tennis

…plus loads more games, challenges, and creative activities to keep your child active, engaged, and smiling all summer long!

Location: Bridgend Life Centre
Dates: Sessions available between 28th July – 15th August
Time: 10am – 2pm, Monday to Friday

️ Pre-booking is essential!
Call us now on 01656 678890 or pop into the centre to secure your child’s place.

Spots are limited — don’t miss out on this fantastic FREE summer experience!

Summer Squash Camps every Tuesday and Thursday during the six-week summer holiday at the Sports Wales National Centre in Cardiff. The sessions run from 10am to 3pm and are open to children aged 5–13 of all abilities.

Each day is packed with fun games, skill-building, and active play — a great option for families looking to keep children engaged and moving over the holidays.

https://shop.squashwales.com/collections/summer-squash-camps

• Friday 18th July Term Ends

Inset Days 2024/25

• Monday 2nd September 2024

• Friday 6th December 2024

• Friday 21st February 2025

• Friday 11th April 2025

• Monday 2nd June 2025

• Monday 21st July 2025

Inset Days for 2025 / 2026

The inset days for 2025 / 26 have been approved by school governors and these are as follows:

• Monday 1st September 2025 

• Friday 21st November 2025

• Monday 5th January 2026

• Friday 13th March 2026

• Friday 22nd May 2026

• Monday 20th July 2026

Health and Wellbeing / PE Days

• Nursery - Thursday

• Reception -  Wednesday

• Year 1 - Monday

• Year 2 - Tuesday

• Year 3 - Friday

• Year 4 - Friday

• Year 5 - Friday

• Year 6 - Friday

In the event that you have a concern regarding a child please follow this procedure:

• During school hours please contact Mrs Ceri Littlewood, safeguarding lead at Oldcastle Primary School.

• Out of school hours please  contact  the  out of hours Emergency Duty Team Tel No 01443743665

More information on Safeguarding at Oldcastle can be found on our website.