Dear Parents and Carers,

Today, your child spent some valuable time with their new class teacher and settled into their upcoming setting for the next academic year. This transition day is a vital step in providing positive and thoughtful support as the children prepare to move up.  They will stay with their new teachers and classes until Friday only.

Placing 315 pupils into new classes is always a significant challenge that requires balancing a wide range of factors. Please be assured that all placements are deeply considered by our teaching team to ensure the best possible learning environment for every child.

While we understand the importance of peer relationships and do take friendship groups into consideration, they are ultimately just one factor among many that we must weigh. Because each class is a carefully balanced puzzle, any single placement change has a wide, rolling impact on many other children. For this reason, class placements are final and we are unable to accommodate requests for changes at this time.

Supporting Your Child Through Transition

If your child is feeling anxious or worried about their new placement, we ask for your partnership in supporting them. You can help by encouraging them to understand that:

• New connections are coming: They will have wonderful opportunities to make new friends.

• Playtimes remain shared: They will still mix and play with their existing friendship groups during break times and on the playground.

• Growth happens in new environments: Being placed in an unanticipated group ultimately opens up more opportunities for personal and social growth.

Our Shared Experience

Please be reassured that we have many years of experience in managing this transition. In the vast majority of cases, our families are incredibly happy with how the year unfolds. Even when children are initially worried or hesitant, they almost always settle in quickly and thrive once the new academic year begins.

Thank you for your understanding, support, and partnership as we work to make this transition as smooth and successful as possible for all of our pupils.

Warm regards,

Dear Parents and Carers,

I am writing to update you on our actions during this period of extreme heat.

Following Department for Education (DfE) guidance, closing schools for hot weather is not normally recommended, and there is no statutory maximum temperature. Consequently, our school remains open, and we are monitoring conditions closely in accordance with our Extreme Temperature Risk Assessment.

As you know, to assist staff and pupils, we have implemented several mitigating actions, which may cause minor disruptions to usual activities and the curriculum.

Managing Break Times and Our Building 

I understand some parents have asked why children are not kept inside during breaks. It may seem logical, but in reality is not the best solution.  Our ageing building suffers from significant 'heat gain', meaning ambient temperatures, Co2 levels and humidity indoors are commonly higher than they are outside. 

Following guidance, I have determined that children are safer and more comfortable taking breaks outdoors in the breeze where the use of shade, is available and encouraged.  Whilst lunch breaks are longer than standard breaks, all children automatically receive time indoors as they eat their lunch. It is a fine balancing act.

Attendance and the Forecast 

We respect the right of parents who have chosen to keep their children home. However, because the school remains open, these absences cannot be authorised without a justified medical reason. I do consider authorising absences for specific medical conditions that put students at higher risk (such as severe asthma or heart conditions), but medical evidence may be requested.

Fortunately, this unprecedented weather is forecast to ease this weekend. Temperatures tomorrow will remain high, but a forecast early morning shower will hopefully reduce humidity.

Please ensure your child comes to school with a refillable water bottle, a sunhat, and sun cream applied.

Thank you to our staff, pupils, and parents for your continued cooperation, support, and commitment to attendance during this challenging weather.

Regards

IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONARY NOTICE:

Hot Weather Measures for This Week

Dear Parents and Carers,

With high temperatures forecast for this coming week, we are writing to inform you of the proactive, precautionary measures we are putting in place to protect our school community.

As you know, our school occupies a beautiful older building, but it does possess limited modern ventilation in any form. When spaces are full during heatwaves, our classrooms can become exceptionally warm; up to 36 bodies in cramp spaces has its impact. 

Please be completely reassured that our team will be working tirelessly to implement every reasonable step to keep the building cool, including opening windows early to purge heat, keeping blinds fully drawn, and turning off all non-essential electrical equipment.

Please note that all operational decisions made by Ashgate Primary School are guided strictly by our internal Risk Assessment, Department for Education (DfE) safety frameworks, and localised Met Office data. The school does not react to media hype or general consensus; our actions are based entirely on measured, site-specific safety parameters.

To support our data-led safety efforts, please ensure the following sensible precautions are taken:

• Clothing: Standard school uniform is suspended. Please send your child to school in lightweight sporting attire or their school PE kit (light-coloured t-shirts and athletic shorts) to facilitate comfort and thermoregulation.

• Hats & Sun Cream: Please apply high-factor sun cream before school and send your child with a wide-brimmed sun hat. Our staff will be actively checking for these items. Where a child does not have a hat, the school will, where possible, provide one and will ensure they utilise shaded areas as much as practically possible.

• Site Monitoring & Last-Resort Measures: We will be tracking classroom thermometers hourly. A partial or early site closure would only ever be considered as a strict last resort, after all other reasonable mitigation steps have been completely exhausted.

We are tracking the hourly Met Office timeline closely. In the highly unlikely event that emergency measures or an early closure become necessary due to indoor environments remaining consistently above 28°C despite all our cooling measures, we will communicate this to you with as much advance notice as humanly possible via our text and app alert system to ensure you can make childcare arrangements.

Thank you for your rapid cooperation and partnership in helping us take these sensible precautions.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Seargent

Dear parents and carers

Further updates:

As promised in my last letter to you all, I provide the most relevant school updates.

Mrs Forte planned absence

Mrs Forte will next week undergo a significant spinal operation. This will mean that she will be absent for the last 4 and a half weeks of term.  It is anticipated that she will be sufficiently recovered to return in September in her full time roll as headteacher.  We of course wish her well in her operation and recovery.   To ensure consistency in management and leadership, Mr Seargent be providing additional cover alongside the wider school leadership staff.

INSET dates and Holiday dates (FRIDGE MAGNETS READY!)

  Friday 4th September 2026 (Safeguarding)

CHILDREN RETURN TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY 7^th September 2006

  Friday 23rd October 2026 (Outdoor provision)

  Friday 27th November 2026 (Whole Derby City INSET training - inclusion)

  Monday 7th June 2027 (Assessment analysis and moderation)

  Monday 26th July 2027 (End of academic year consolidation/preparation and transition)

INSET (IN-SErvice Training) days are dedicated periods within the academic year when schools are closed to pupils, to enable staff to engage in professional development activities. These days are a statutory requirement, with a minimum of five allocated annually, and are crucial for supporting school improvement initiatives.  They are an addition to, and do not reduce, statutory education days for pupils.

During INSET days, staff participate in various training and development opportunities tailored to the school's specific needs and priorities. These sessions aim to enhance teaching practices, update knowledge on educational policies, and foster a collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement. While historically these days may have been less formally communicated, schools now routinely provide advance notice to parents.

We understand the importance of these days for the ongoing development of our school and the positive impact they have on your children's education. To help you plan, we are providing the confirmed INSET days for the entire 202026/27 academic year well in advance. Additionally, we are sharing an outline of the anticipated development areas for these days, offering insight into how this time will be used to further support your children's learning journey.

I

Dear Parents and Carers,

In light of recent national events and reported tensions across the country, we feel it is important to reach out and reaffirm the values that sit at the very heart of Ashgate Primary School.

We are incredibly proud of our vibrant, multicultural school community. Our varied backgrounds, cultures, and faiths make Ashgate a wonderfully rich environment for our children to learn and grow. We have an exceptionally strong, proven record of promoting equity and equality, and we remain entirely proactive in ensuring our school remains a safe, welcoming space for every single child.

To reinforce this commitment, we draw your attention to our Ethnic and Racial Equality Statement available on the website (Key Policies and Documents & outlined below). 

This document outlines our zero-tolerance approach to any form of discrimination, our rigorous recording processes, and how we work closely with families to ensure everyone is treated with the equal and deserved respect they have a right to expect.

However, the high expectations we place on our children at school can only be truly effective if they are mirrored in the home.

The values of mutual respect, understanding, and kindness start with all of us. By working together as a partnership between school and home, we can ensure our children carry these vital principles with them out into the wider world. Only this way can our communities—not just here in Derby, but nationally—build a society that is genuinely united.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping Ashgate Primary School an inclusive and safe environment for all.

Warm regards

Mr Seargent

Mrs Forte

At Ashgate Primary School, we are wholeheartedly committed to fostering an inclusive, welcoming, and safe environment where every individual is valued. We recognise and celebrate the rich diversity of our school and the wider community, and we are dedicated to ensuring that equality is actively promoted across all ethnic groups, cultures, and identities, including those of all faiths and none.

We believe that education plays a vital role in building a fair and just society. The curriculum and ethos at Ashgate Primary School are designed to ensure that children, staff, families, and the broader community recognise and respect the importance of equality. We actively encourage mutual respect, open dialogue, and deep understanding among all groups.

Ashgate Primary School has an exceptionally strong record of proactively and effectively dealing with any racist or discriminatory incidents. We take a firm and unequivocal stand against prejudice:

• Zero Tolerance: Incidents that reflect inequality or discrimination are absolutely not tolerated and will always be swiftly addressed.
• Rigorous Recording: The school meticulously records any incidents that do not reflect our high expectations of equality and respect.
• Targeted Support: We work closely and collaboratively with individual children, families, and communities to resolve issues, restore relationships, and ensure everyone is treated with the equal and deserved respect they have a right to expect.
•  

When expectations are not met, Ashgate Primary School takes decisive action to prevent recurrence and foster a culture of learning. We address issues through a combination of:

• Education: Helping children and families understand the impact of their words and actions.
• Training: Providing staff and the community with the tools to support equality.
• Sanction: Applying appropriate and proportionate disciplinary measures where necessary.
•  

Dear Parents and Carers,

Staffing Update: Exciting Developments for September and the New Academic Year

I am writing to share some relevant and exciting staffing news as we prepare for the upcoming academic year. We have recently completed several recruitment processes, and we are delighted to share how our team will look from September.

Teacher and Year Group Changes

Last half term, we advertised for a teaching vacancy following the retirement of Mrs Winfield. The competition for this role was incredibly strong, attracting several high calibre of applicants.

We are pleased to inform you that Miss Ragan, who has worked at the school for many years, was the successful candidate and has now attained the position of permanent class teacher. From September, she will be teaching full time in Year 3/4.  I am sure you will join me in congratulating her as she begins her formal transition into Qualified Teacher Status.

Consequently, we are making some appropriate strategic adjustments to our internal staffing structure to best utilise the strengths of our team:

• Mrs Morris will be moving to teach in Year 1/2.
• Miss Donnelly will be moving into the Early Years Foundation Stage (Reception)

This is a highly effective adjustment to our staffing structure. It plays directly to the strengths of all our teaching staff, and we know it will ensure a smooth and successful transition as well as continued high quality learning for the children in September.

Leadership Team Updates

We also have some significant updates regarding our school leadership team.

As previously shared, following a rigorous recruitment process, Mrs Forte will officially commence her role as our full-time Headteacher as of September, following Mr Seargent’s retirement from education at the end of this term. As our current 'co-headship' structure will end, this transition naturally opens up the position for a full-time Deputy Headteacher to support her and the school.

Following a rigorous selection process from a very strong field of candidates, we are thrilled to announce that Mrs Jackson-Rudd will be joining the Ashgate team in September as our full-time Deputy Headteacher. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise, and we know she will be a tremendous asset to our school community.

We are acutely aware that you will be keen to know who your child’s class teacher will be next year. Announcements regarding class allocations will be made during the coming term. We kindly ask for your patience as we finalise these details; this is a complex process with multiple factors and needs to be carefully considered to ensure the best outcome for every child.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Seargent/Mrs. Forte - Co-Headteachers

Important Update for Families in Miss Kaur’s Class

Please be advised that Miss Kaur’s class has been relocated to the adjacent classroom while essential maintenance work is carried out. This temporary move allows Derby City Council to begin necessary repairs immediately.

Despite the change of room, drop-off and pick-up points remain the same.

Summary of Changes:

• New Learning Space: The classroom directly next door to the current one.

• Routine: No changes to arrival or departure locations.

• Reason: Expediting council maintenance work to improve the school environment.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

The DCC Derby Promise Team are delighted to invite you to Derby Promise Dream Fest 2026’s Family Community Day, taking place on Saturday, 2nd May at Derby Market Hall.

There is no need to book, you can come along anytime between 10am – 4pm.

This free, fun-filled day will include:

• Young people’s performances
• Early years activities
• Music and arts workshops
• Hands-on creative activities, including making your own props
• Insights into careers in the creative industries from professionals

You will also enjoy performances from West End stars, presenting a medley of musical numbers, and a Young Makers Market, where young people sell their own creations.

Following a rigorous recruitment process, I am delighted to announce that Mrs Forte has been appointed as the new full-time Headteacher, effective from September 2026. She will succeed Mr Seargent, who will be retiring from education at the end of this academic year.

This selection process was conducted by the Governing Body in partnership with the Local Authority PACE team, and they are confident that Mrs Forte is the right candidate to lead the school forward. Throughout the process, she demonstrated an exceptional vision for the school and a deep commitment to our pupils' wellbeing and academic standards.

Please join us in offering Mrs Forte our warmest congratulations on her appointment.

As a result of this transition, we will now begin a recruitment process for a new Deputy Headteacher. We will keep you abreast of any developments and provide further updates as this progresses.