Dear parents and carers,Â
I hope you’re all well and are looking forward to half-term (a reminder we break up on Wednesday 21st October, so no school on Thursday 22nd or Friday 23rd October).Â
As ever, school has been incredibly busy, and the children have been working their socks off. I have been so impressed during my learning walks with their focus and determination, and this is reflected in the wonderful work they are producing in books.Â
Thank you!
A huge thank you to those of you who attended parent consultation meetings with your children’s class teacher/s. There was a happy hum to the school hall, and we’re very grateful to you for your engagement in your child’s learning and personal development here at Scarcroft.Â
Thank you also to the many parents of Reception children who attended Mrs McDonald’s phonics workshops. We were thrilled to welcome so many families, and hope you found the sessions helpful in supporting your child with their phonics at home.Â
Things to celebrate!
Yesterday and today we have welcomed local artist, Liz Collier, into school to create a collaborative piece of relief artwork for the main school hall. The artwork is inspired by the word ‘Thrive’ and what that means to us. We look forward to you enjoying the final piece when you join us for assemblies.
Hello Yellow went with a bang last Friday, when children and teachers dressed in yellow for the day in support of Young Minds and children’s mental health, and to show young people they’re not alone. The final total raised by Scarcroft was £258. Thanks so much for your support.
Reception 2027/28 open mornings!Â
I am sure it feels like a lifetime away but if you have a child starting school in September 2027, then now is the time to visit prospective schools, and we would love to show you around. We will be hosting five open mornings when we will show small groups of parents around school and you will meet some of our incredible children.
Dates available are as follows:
If you would like to join us for one of these sessions, please email the school at: admin@scarcroft.elt.org.ukÂ
Please leave your details and indicate which days you would be available, as we have limited space per group. If you can attend more than one date, then we will get back to you with your visit date.Â
Please arrive at 9:25 for the tour, which will start at 09:30
Wishing you all a very happy weekend, and a wonderful half-term when it comes. As ever, a huge thank you for your continued support for school.
Best wishes,Â
Jen MitchellÂ
Head of School
Dates for the diary
| Monday 19th October – Wednesday 21st October | Y5 Peat Rigg residential |
| Wednesday 21st October | Break up for half term |
| Monday 2nd November | Back to school |
|
Monday 16th November |
Odd Sock Day |
| Friday 27th November | FoSS Christmas Fair |
| Wednesday 16th December | Y1-6 Panto Trip – Peter Pan |
| Friday 18th December | School closes for Christmas |
Reception – Castlegate: 95.89%
Year 1/2 – Fishergate: 98.05%
Year 1/2 – Micklegate: 96.84%
Year 1/2 – Stonegate: 97.6%
Year 3 – Coppergate: 97.7%
Year 3 – Whip ma whop ma gate: 97.05%
Year 4 – Petergate: 94.4%
Year 4 – Walmgate: 98.21%
Year 5 – Colliergate: 96.24%
Year 5 – Skeldergate: 94.39%
Year 6 – Fossgate: 94.77%
Year 6 – Goodramgate: 97.21%
Have your circumstances changed?
Your child may now be eligible for Free School Meals and Pupil Premium funding if you receive Universal Credit or other qualifying benefits.
Applying could unlock additional funding and support for your child and our school.
Find out more:
If you would like help with an application, please contact the school office. All enquiries will be treated confidentially.
Excel Learning Trust is looking for passionate, community-minded volunteers to join our governance community as Members, Trustees, and Academy Committee Members. By giving your time, you will play a vital role in ensuring children and young people across our primary, secondary, and alternative provision schools experience educational excellence every day. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds, no prior governance experience is required, and full training and support will be provided. Whether you want to support a local school committee or help guide the Trust’s strategic direction at board level, your unique skills can make a real difference.
To learn more about the roles available and to apply please visit here. Applications close on 1st November 2026.
The updated website includes details of the Scarcroft and Woodthorpe school governors and minutes from previous LGB meetings
SCHOOL UNIFORM: Click here to purchase school uniform from our new supplier.
Over the past couple of weeks, Reception have been really busy. We loved welcoming our parents into school to share our phonics lessons with them and we’ve been reading and writing our first words! We’ve loved looking at photographs of ourselves in the past and we discussed how much we have changed over time. We’ve also been noticing the changes in the weather and our environment as we enter Autumn.
When investigating Senses in Science, the children tested how much they relied on their sense of sight to navigate their way around the playground. They then found that they needed their sense of hearing when a partner guided them with verbal instructions!
We have been working together on team building exercises in PE. We found lots of inventive ways to carry a ball together!
To help us in our writing, the children made finger space friends using lolly pop sticks. We designed our own using colouring pens!
Recognition Awards
Micklegate
Freddie – Freddie earned our recognition award for making a fabulous start in Y1 in Micklegate class. Freddie has shown us that he is curious and ready in every lesson and always gives his best. Fantastic work!
Marnie – Marnie earned our recognition award because her behaviour for learning sets a wonderful example to all the children in the class. She listens carefully and makes sure she tries her hardest. Marnie is also an incredibly thoughtful, kind and helpful class member who is always ready to help other children and her teachers, a total superstar!
Stonegate
Mila – For being such an amazing friend in the classroom. You are a perfect role model for the other children. You show them how to be kind, respectful and considerate of other people’s feelings.Â
Sasha – For being a super star mathematician. I am so proud of your amazing maths skills and how much effort you put into your learning. You are always finishing the work and getting onto our super challenges. Keep up the hard work!
Fishergate
Iluka – For being such a hardworking and enthusiastic member of our team! You have thrown yourself into life here at Scarcroft and we couldn’t imagine our classroom without you!
Misha – For always bringing Joy and positivity to our class. You enjoy all areas of learning and it has shown through your independent work. You are smashing year 1!
Levon – For Your AMAZING writing. You have shown us exactly what you can do this half term! You are ready, you are confident and you are constantly wowing us with your ideas. Well done Levon!
Writing
Over the past two weeks, the children have produced some amazing writing based on the book The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. The wonderful images have really sparked their imagination, and we have been blown away by their vocabulary choices.
Science
The children have shown themselves to be incredible geologists. They have loved learning about rock formation and working scientifically to examine and test the properties of rocks. Following on from learning about rock formations, the children explored some amazing fossil samples, including having the opportunity to handle a fossil of dinosaur coprolite (dinosaur poo) and a juvenile mammoth tooth.
Yorkshire Museum
We recently enjoyed a fantastic, highly informative school trip to the Yorkshire Museum, focusing on Stone Age and Iron Age Britain! The children had a wonderful time exploring interactive exhibits and ancient artefacts, bringing history to life as they learned how early humans lived and survived. It was an exceptionally successful day, leaving pupils fully engaged and loaded with new knowledge that perfectly complements our classroom learning.
Recognition Awards
Coppergate
Charlie – for his exceptional kindness across our school, helping not just his classmates but also those older than him too!
Heidi – For being such a powerhouse of a learner. She is always listening, engaged and pushing herself to know more. Well done!
Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma Gate
Nell – She has been producing fantastic writing lately and her work practically leaps off the page! Well done, and keep it up!Â
Isla –Â She has made an excellent start and now feels like a valued, well-integrated member of the class and part of Scarcroft School!
Writing
Our Year 4 classrooms were buzzing this week as we came in to discover an unexpected visitor had been in our classroom? We found flowers, packets of seeds, graffiti saying ‘Varmints are here’ and a letter from ‘The Secret Gardener’. We had lots of questions: who are the varmints? What shall we do with the seeds? Should we listen to the secret gardener? Why have they chosen us? Hopefully we’ll get some answers!Â
PE
The children have loved playing tag rugby in PE this half term. They’ve learnt how to pass the ball backwards, run and dodge other players to avoid being tagged and defend players effectively. We’ve also been so impressed with their swimming. They’ve made lots of progress in just a few weeks
Recognition Awards
Walmgate
Serenity – Serenity has had an excellent start to the year and worked so hard. She is using lots of tools to help her and getting on so well in the classroom. Keep it up Serenity!
Petergate
Felix – Felix brings so much enthusiasm and energy to our classroom! His confidence in reading aloud to the class and sharing wonderful, creative ideas during class discussions are absolutely fantastic. Well done Felix!
Tiffany – Tiffany has blown me away with her writing this half term. From her beautiful handwriting to her imaginative, creative ideas! Tiffany is also such a kind member of our class and always there to help others.
In science, we have been learning about salt flats. Here we have created a salt solution and we’re hoping to evaporate the water and be left with just salt.
Recognition Awards
Colliergate
Lydia – for her brilliant effort level every single day.Â
Mia – for her resilience and determination to learn.Â
Skeldergate
Florence – Amazing effort in class and fabulous writing. Great role model.Â
Eloise – Attitude to learning is brilliant. She tries her best in every lesson.
Science
We have started a new unit of working in science, learning about health and circulation. So far, we have looked at healthy choices to make and reliable sources of health information (including some shockingly dodgy historical ‘advice’). We also went outside and modelled how blood flows around the circulatory system and created some models of the different components of blood back inside.
Computing
In Computing we have been writing code to make a wind turbine rotate, whilst also using degrees to make a sprite to turn. We learnt to use nested loops to repeat movements. We definitely have some budding programmers in our midst!
Recognition Awards
Fossgate
Dexter – for making a great start to Year 6. Right from the start, he has been committed to proving, across the curriculum, how bright he is and determined to be as Year 7 ready as he can be.
Olivia – even though she felt a bit nervous about starting Year 6, Olivia has worked hard across every subject and is a fantastic person to have in the classroom. She is going to do brilliantly this year!
Goodramgate
Eli – for his positive approach to school in general, but in particular his kindness towards other children and his fascination with our trip to Eden Camp.
Orla – for being an absolute all-round superstar. Orla is friendly and confident in class, showing a daft sense of humour. She’s also incredibly hard-working and has shown a wonderful dedication to her reading practice.
