In September we welcomed lots of new children to Devonshire, this was the first year that we had 90 children starting in Reception as we have expanded to three classes in each year group starting from Reception.

This term we have also been involved in a variety of fundraising activities for both local and national charities. Events have included a Macmillan coffee morning and harvest festival donations being delivered to the Sutton Food Bank.  Our choir joined the celebrations for Children in Need that were organised by the Rotary and took place in the St Nicholas Centre.  Our school council organised a cake sale in aid of Children in Need.  Mr Kearsey and Mr Eley grew moustaches in November to raise awareness and money for the Movember charity, at the end of November they both had their moustaches shaved off by the children.  Our choir visited 2 local residential centres and sung to and with the residents which was much appreciated.

Children have also been on trips and had visitors to support their learning.  Nursery and Reception have participated in drama workshops.  Year 1 have visited our local church, Christ Church, and have taken part in a Bollywood workshop.  Year 2 went to see Beauty and the Beast at the Secombe Centre.  Year 3 visited The British Museum.  Year 4 visited a Hindu temple in Wimbledon and have taken part in a Bollywood workshop.  Year 5 went on a field trip to Sutton High Street, visited Whitehall in Cheam and have been to The Polka Theatre.  Year 6 have been to the Britain at War Museum and to The Polka theatre to see The Jungle Book.  Children from Reception to Year 4 participated in story telling and music workshops as part of Black History Week.

This term we have had lots of reasons to celebrate.  OFSTED visited us in October and graded us as a good school.  We were awarded Healthy School Status in November which demonstrates our commitment to encouraging everyone at Devonshire to lead a healthy lifestyle through the activities we offer both in and out of the classroom.  Over 30 children in Year 6 passed their cycling proficiency and 15 children from Years 5 and 6 graduated from this terms Police Academy.  Our new kitchen was finished and ready in time to cook and serve Christmas lunch to 340 children.  We cant wait for the rest of our new building to be ready.

The PTA has been very busy this term organising a variety of events for everyone to enjoy and raise money for our junior playground appeal.  These events have included the traditional Big G disco, providing refreshments at the end of the Christmas productions, creating tea towels which had a picture of every child for parents and carers to buy, selling Christmas trees and organising a very successful and busy Christmas Fayre which raised over £2000.

We ended the term with Christmas productions from Nursery, Receptions, Years 1 and 2 and a traditional carol service at Christ Church.

I am delighted to be able to share some good news about our most recent SAT results.  These are the national tests that the children take towards the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2) and Key Stage 2 (Year 6).  In Year 2 the majority of children are expected to be working at level 2 and in Year 6 the majority of children are expected to be working at level 4.

Our target for the Year 2 children  achieving level 2b or above in Reading was 68% with 87% of our children reaching or exceeding this level.  For Writing our target was for 60% of our children to achieve a level 2b or above and 65% reached or exceeded this level.  For Maths our target was that 83% of our children achieve level 2b or above and 85% of our children reached or exceeded this level.

The Year 6 results are equally positive.  Our target for children achieving level 4 or above in English was 75% and 81% reached or exceeded level 4.  Our target for children achieving level 4 or above in Maths was 76% and 83% reached or exceeded level 4.

As if that wasn't enough, our Reception children have just recorded Devonshire's best ever Foundation Stage Profile scores.  Their scores show that the children have been given a wonderful chance to succeed by their families and the Foundation Stage staff at Devonshire.

Congratulations to all of our staff for challenging the children to attain these results, to parents and carers for supporting their children's learning and most importantly to the children who have worked so hard to record these tremendous results.

At the end of a busy summer term it is always good to remind ourselves of some of the achievements this term.  

• Year 6 had a very successful and enjoyable residential trip to Alfriston.
• All classes have been on school visits to support their learning.
• We have received many positive comments about children's behaviour whilst they have been representing the school on school trips or school activities that have taken place off site.
• Members of Year 5 took part in the Phoenix Cycle Training.
• The choir visited Oakleigh Day Centre and sang a selection of songs to the residents.
• We entered a team into the district sports competition, the borough swimming gala and an orienteering championship.
• The netball team reached the semi final of the borough netball rally.
• Year 1 took part in a multi skills afternoon at Overton Grange.
• The PTA organised a very successful summer fayre which raised a record breaking amount of money despite the most horrid weather conditions on the day!
• We started the Language of the Moment scheme - focusing on French initially.
• Emily and Olivia were our first gold merit badge winners achieving 30 merit mentions each since September - well done!
• Reception invited their parents and carers to an end of term 'sing-a-long'.
• Year 2 had tennis lessons at the Sutton Tennis Club.
• Some of our Year 5 children participated in the Sports Leadership Morning at Overton Grange.
• George from Year 5 was selected to play for the borough football team for the 2011-12 season.
• Our musicians demonstrated their talents at our music concert.
• Congratulations to our Reception, Year 2 and Year 6 children who all achieved very positive end of key stage results.
• The wide variety of extra curricular activities that we offer at Devonhsire has continued.
• The PTA hosted an ice cream social to say thank you to everyone who has supported their fundraising throughout the year.
• 4SK worked with the author Eireann Littlefield. They sang and recorded the theme tune to her series of books which she is going to use for her animated series.
• Tanushree designed a wonderful butterfly poster which was used the advertise the Blue Butterfly Watch Day organised by the South Sutton Neighbourhood Association.
• Year 6 performed a fantastic end of year production - well done to everyone involved in this performance.

A big thank you to everyone on the Devonshire team - children, staff, governors, parents and carers.  It's been a great term!