Latest news at Ashmount School......

• Ashmount staff and students nominated for three categories in the 2017 Charnwood Sports Awards

  Fri 15 Sep 2017

  Ashmount staff and students have been nominated for three categories in this year's Charnwood Sports Awards:

   

  Our students and staff have been nominated for the Outstanding Contribution to School Sports award.

   

  Pupils have consistently achieved the highest standards of personal progress in school sport for several years. During 2016/17, 97% of our students achieved expected, or above expected, progress in PE against national SEN expectations. The same can be said for 98% of students in 2015/16 and 97% of students in 2014/15.

   

  In July 2016, the school was awarded the Gold School Games Mark for the second year running in recognition of our commitment to the development of competition across our school and into the community.

   

  None of these achievements would have been possible without the dedication and commitment of our teachers and support staff, and our pupils and their families.

   

  The Ashmount RDA (Riding for the Disabled) group has been nominated for the Best Community Sport / Physical Activity Project. 

   

  Ashmount RDA group was specifically set up for pupils with special educational needs who attend Ashmount School. Run by a strong and highly committed group of volunteers under the supervision of the lead instructor Kate Holdich, the aim of the group is to encourage as many Ashmount pupils as possible to enjoy the benefits of horse riding in a safe and secure environment. With the support of the school staff and their extensive knowledge of individual pupil’s needs, the riding sessions are a great success.

   

  Ashmount RDA sessions take place as part of the school curriculum in Key Stages 2 and 3 on a Friday morning, where at present 8 riders, attend each session and they ride in 6 to 8 week blocks, depending on the school term times; allowing at least 48 pupils to be offered the opportunity to ride during each academic year. Further sessions are available for parents and carers to access privately for their child on Saturday mornings.

   

  In September 2017, Ashmount RDA Group will have been running for 35 years. To celebrate this, we have planned a special birthday ride in Beacon Country Park for some of the Ashmount students.

   

  Last, but not least, Class Teacher Emma White has been nominated for Senior Volunteer of the Year. 

   

  Emma has always been as passionate about her running as she is about her teaching. During 2016/17, Emma introduced a staff running club. Open to all ages and levels of experience of runner, the running club now meets twice a week and is attended by at least 10-15 teachers, support and clerical staff from across the school.

   

  Our staff team has always been actively involved in local sporting events, including the annual Loughborough Santa Fun Run, but last year Emma arranged for staff to take part in the Leicester Race for Life (5km), the Prestwold Colour Splash (5km) and the 5m Run at Watermead Park, raising funding for some extremely worthwhile charities too.

   

  The group has had a huge impact on staff morale, bringing together staff who would not normally come into contact with each other on a daily basis, and making for an even happier and healthier workforce. 

   

  Winners of the 2017 Charnwood Sports Awards will be announced in December 2017. 

• Ashmount School achieves Gold School Games Mark Award for the second year running!

  Thu 31 Aug 2017

  We are delighted to announce that Ashmount has achieved the Gold School Games Mark Award for the 2016/17 academic year.

   

  The School Games Mark is a Government led award scheme launched in 2012, facilitated by the Youth Sport Trust to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community, and we are delighted to have been recognised for our success. 

  
  With an increasing number of our young people competing in local inter-school competitions this year, we are extremely proud of our pupils for their dedication to all aspects of school sport, including those young volunteers, leaders and officials who made our competitions possible. As part of our application, we were asked to fulfill criteria in the areas of participation, competition, workforce and clubs, and we are pleased that the hard work of everyone at our school has been rewarded this year.

   

  A special thanks to our PE and Sports coordinator Claire Malpas. 

   

  We look forward to applying once again in 2018! 

  

• Headteacher's Summer Term Blog

  Fri 14 Jul 2017

  It has been another extremely successful year for the school. Being named as ‘Special School of the Year’ in the national Shine a Light awards in March was fantastic recognition of the strong commitment of everyone involved with the school to ensure that our pupils receive the highest standards in education and care, particularly with regard to developing their communication skills.

   

  A personal highlight for me was the ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ festival that Ashmount organised and hosted in June. It was great to see how well staff from across the school pulled together to provide an unforgettable interactive experience for our pupils and their peers from other special schools across the county.

   

  Thank you to all those parents and carers who have been able to support the various events that we have run throughout the course of the year. This year, in particular, has seen record numbers attending our primary and secondary sports days, after school discos, summer fayre and our new parents’ coffee mornings— to name but a few.

   

  On behalf of all of our pupils, staff and governors, I would like to say a huge thank you for all of your support this year. We look forward to seeing everyone back after the summer holidays!

   

  David

   

• Chair of Governors' Summer Term Blog

  Fri 14 Jul 2017

  Every year the end of the summer term arrives more quickly than I expected—but this year, at least I can say 'summer' without having to apologise for the weather! It was lovely to see so many parents supporting our sports days, and being quite happy to stand close to the water events in the hope of getting cooled down!

   

  It has also been a bumper year for school trips and successful sporting events at Ashmount. Congratulations to all our super sporting students, and I'm so pleased that so many trips could be enjoyed in appropriate weather, with umbrellas only needed as sun shades! A special mention must be made of the extended trip to Northern Ireland, which required much organisation and reliance on correct ferry timetables, but which was a huge success, and the overnight under canvas Scout weekend - many thanks to all the staff who organised and led these adventures!

   

  Governors are so appreciative of the way our staff and volunteers never seem to tire of supporting our students in extending their life experiences outside the classroom. Every year produces some new and exciting initiative, and I can't finish without mentioning the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Day, in which school was transformed into a Roald Dahl world, with complex needs pupils from across the county having a wonderful day exploring and participating in chocolate making, fizzy drink production and other weird and wonderful events too numerous to mention, supported by staff in magnificent costumes and make up! The prize must go to our Headteacher in a full Willy Wonka outfit. Another end to a very productive year at Ashmount, and the Governors send congratulations and thanks to all who have worked so hard to make it just that.

   

  I wish you all a very relaxing, contented and sunny summer, and send all our leavers our very best wishes for success and happiness in the future . I look forward to seeing everyone else back in August, ready to work towards the next successful year at Ashmount!

   

  Happy holidays!

  Jean Lewis

  Chair of Governors

   

• Giant steps for Northern Ireland residential students

  Fri 07 Jul 2017

  11 of our senior students enjoyed a residential week in Northern Ireland in June.

   

  The trip included a day at the Giant’s Causeway, visits to the Titanic Museum in Belfast, gorge-walking and a forestry skills session.

   

  The group also learned forestry skills during their stay at the Ulster Girl Guiding Centre on the Lorne Estate.

   

  Although the journey was long and tiring, the group had a fantastic week.

   

• The heat was on for Ashmount Sports Days

  Fri 07 Jul 2017

  There were some scorching performances from students as the sun shone on both Primary and Secondary sports days. Both events were a huge success and lots of fun. All classes took part in various events.

   

  Many students wore team colours, waved home-made banners and chanted cheers of support for their team mates.

   

  It was great fun—all the children engaged in the activities and their smiles shone across the field. Well done to all of our pupils and a huge ‘thank you’ to all the parents, grandparents and friends who came to support both events.

   

• Ashmount Summer Fete

  Sun 02 Jul 2017

  Sunday, 2nd July 2017

  Beacon Pub, Loughborough

  12pm - 4pm

• Willy Wonka opens his wonderful chocolate factory to pupils at Ashmount School

  Tue 27 Jun 2017

  On Tuesday 27^th June, Ashmount School was transformed into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory from the Roald Dahl favourite ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’.

   

  We opened our doors to pupils and staff from six special schools from across Leicestershire and Derbyshire who were all invited to experience the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Willy Wonka’s wonderful recipes.

   

  Pupils were given the opportunity to journey through Loompa Land, to experiment with flavours in Wonka’s secret laboratory, to dress up as characters from the story and to take part in chocolate making workshops.

   

  

• Dance and Wiggle Week

  Tue 20 Jun 2017

  Thank you to everyone who supported our ‘Dance and Wiggle Week’ during the week beginning Monday 22nd May 2017.

   

  We are delighted to announce that the events raised over £140 for local charity 'The Shepshed Toy Library'.

   

  Toy Library Manager Catherine Tideswell said, “On behalf of Shepshed Toy Library, we would like to extend our gratitude for your fundraising donation from the ‘Dance and Wiggle’ week. I was impressed with the children’s performance of ‘Ashmount’s Got Talent’ on 26^th May. You all worked very hard and we do appreciate your efforts. I’m sure the week was also a lot of fun!’

   

  ‘Shepshed Toy Library has been operating for over 32 years, and has helped thousands of families as well as those in schools; to benefit from quality affordable toys. Without people like yourselves offering their support we would not be able to continue.’

   

  ‘We look forward to seeing you again, and hope that you all have a wonderful summer with a well-deserved break.’

• Thank a Teacher Day

  Fri 16 Jun 2017

  Today, staff, pupils and their families from schools across the country will be celebrating ‘Thank a Teacher Day’.

   

  We’ve all been taught by great teachers. They show a real interest in who we are, listen to our thoughts, inspire us to learn and encourage us to achieve our best, no matter what our goals are. The influence of a good teacher lasts a lifetime.

   

  The aim of the day is to raise the profile of the teaching profession, highlight the positive impact teachers and school leaders have in our society – with pupils, parents and the wider community, and show teachers how much they are valued.

   

  I’m sure that you will agree that Ashmount is a great school – full of lots of great teachers and support, who are dedicated to providing the very highest standards of education and care for our pupils.

   

  Particular congratulations today go to Class Teacher Hollie Smith and Higher Level Teaching Assistant Maria Gallagher who have each received certificates from the Pearson Teacher Awards in recognition of their efforts towards Excellence in Special Needs Education.