Latest news at Ashmount School......

• Ashmount awarded top marks for Artsmark

  Fri 12 Jul 2019

  Pupils and staff at Ashmount are celebrating after receiving the prestigious Platinum Artsmark Award.

   

  Artsmark is Arts Council England’s award for schools and education settings that champion cultural education. It celebrates settings that embrace the arts across the curriculum, bringing them to life for children and young people.

   

  In order to achieve the Artsmark Award, Ashmount had to develop arts and culture provision to embed a broad and balanced curriculum. This was achieved by creating an overall plan that was committed to and delivered across the whole school.

   

  Staff and students were supported by Attenborough Arts in planning and developing their initial objectives, working alongside the school at various stages to support their Artsmark Award achievement.

   

  As an Artsmark school, Ashmount gained access to exceptional networks and resources from some of the most treasured cultural organisations in the country, which helped to strengthen and deliver their arts provision. Through Artsmark, Ashmount will continue to incorporate art and culture into every pupil’s life, learning, knowledge and understanding, helping them to build skills, resilience, confidence and character.

   

  On receiving the award, Deputy Head Abi Steady said: “We’re extremely proud of achieving our Artsmark Platinum Award. We are committed to delivering a high-quality arts and cultural education and we look forward to continuing to grow with Artsmark.”

   

  Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said: “I would like to congratulate Ashmount School on their Artsmark Award. As an Artsmark school, Ashmount exemplifies how the Award can help schools to achieve a broad and balanced curriculum, ensuring that each of its pupils is given the opportunity to explore and build a love of the arts that will remain with them as they go through adult life.”

   

  Students who took part in the recent poetry project were awarded individual certificates at a special ceremony at Ashmount in July.  A presentation of their work was also on display for parents and visitors to view.

   

   

• Message from the Headteacher

  Thu 11 Jul 2019

  This year marks a personal milestone for me, having first joined the school ten years ago. Over the years, our collective vision has always been to provide the very highest standards of education and care for all of our students. We have continued to be incredibly proud of our pupils’ achievement this year, particularly all of the hard work that has led to the school achieving the prestigious Platinum Artsmark Award.

   

  Having started the year being named ‘School of the Year’ in the Leicester Mercury’s Education Awards, we are delighted to announce that Ashmount is soon to be featured as a Best Practice Representative in forthcoming issue of ‘The Parliamentary Review’.

   

  We look forward to starting the next academic year with a brand new classroom block for our new Reception pupils, enabling us to provide for an even greater number of students.

   

  None of these achievements would be possible without the continuing support of our parents and carers, so on behalf of our staff and governors, we would like to wish all of our pupils and their families a very happy summer holiday.  

   

• Celebration for EYFS graduates

  Thu 11 Jul 2019

  Our EYFS students marked the end of their first year at school with a special graduation ceremony.

   

  Parents were invited to the celebrations where each student, wearing a robe and mortarboard, was presented with a special scroll—and a video of each child’s ‘special moments’ was played.

   

  The ceremony was followed by a party with a celebratory cake.

   

• Soccer Aid Charity Match

  Mon 08 Jul 2019

  On Thursday, 4^th July a team of Ashmount staff and governors grabbed a ball, got their team-mates together and had a good old 90-minute kick about against a team of staff from Elizabeth Woodville Primary School and Maplewell Hall School to raise money for Soccer Aid 2019.

   

  Despite two goals from Support Assistant Peter Hodges and a hat-trick from Headteacher David Deacon, the Ashmount team lost 7-5 to two last minute goals from their opponents.

   

  Many thanks to Charnwood College who allowed us to use their 3G pitch for free so that all of the money raised from the event could be donated to charity.

   

  We’re pleased to announce that the event raised over £250 for Soccer Aid 2019 which will be used to help children whose lives have been turned upside down by disease, hunger, poverty or disaster.

   

• Sun out for our Sports Days

  Fri 05 Jul 2019

  Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 held a Sports-themed day involving art-based and creative activities including making banners, flags and costumes. 

   

  Parents joined classes on the Charnwood College field for an afternoon of fun sports and games, which challenged individual skill as well as team work and co-operation.

   

  The weather was hot and there was a really good turn out from parents, who all got involved in the afternoon’s events.

   

• Dance and Wiggle Week

  Fri 28 Jun 2019

  There was much music and merriment during the recent Dance and Wiggle week—which raised over £200 for charity.

   

  Students took part in various workshops, learning new dance moves whilst having lots of fun.  Staff and students collaborated to create a whole school dance video and a prize was given to the best dance move of the day during a special Ashmount’s Got Talent contest. The week’s events raised £207.70 for Happy Days charity.

   

  The aim of Dance and Wiggle week is to get students moving, to have fun, explore dance and to raise money for Happy Days—a charity which works with local communities across the UK to provide vital respite breaks for individuals, families and groups who support children with additional needs.  

• Summer Fete 2019

  Thu 13 Jun 2019

  Thank you to all of our pupils, parents, staff, governors and visitors who supported this year's summer fete. 

   

  The weather was fantastic, and a range of games, stalls and refreshments had been organised by The Friends of Ashmount.

   

  We raised over £2,000 on the day! 

• Easter bonnet parade

  Thu 02 May 2019
  Where did you get that hat? There were some amazing creations on display at our Easter bonnets parade.

  

• EYFS Magic Maths Parents' Session

  Fri 12 Apr 2019

  EYFS have a parents' session taking place on Tuesday, 7th May from 1.30pm - 3.00pm.  This will provide parents with an opportunity to see some Maths teaching in class and to experience some of our class routines alongside your child.

  This will be an inclusive session, aiming to meet the needs of all Animal Antics.

  There will also be an opportunity for tea, coffee and biscuits after the session from 2.30pm.  This will be a good opportunity to talk with other parents and Hollie will also be available to answer any questions or queries you may have, including transition to Year 1.

• Message from our Chair of Governors

  Fri 12 Apr 2019

  Spring is definitely springing in time for our Easter holidays, after a trial 'spring' in the February half term, but however the weather decides to behave, Ashmount keeps on moving forward with new and exciting initiatives, while still maintaining our standard events and progress.

   

  So well done to pupils for all the excellent work you have completed this term, the sporting competitions you've entered, and the exciting arts work you have developed and completed recently in conjunction with Attenborough Arts. We have more innovations to look forward to with the addition of a new classroom allowing us to increase numbers in EYFS from September, and of course Governors have been heavily concerned with planning for this.

   

  I think it must be the non-stop variety of activities that encourages parents to apply to be Governors—and we are delighted to welcome two new parents to the Governing Body. James Wainwright and Lindsey Heald are our newly elected Parent Governors. Many congratulations to you both, and we look forward to you joining us next term.

   

  But that, of course, means we have had to sadly say goodbye to two long-serving Parent Governors, Claire Henson and Isela Bonequi. Thank you both for all you have given to Ashmount and the Governing  Body—we really appreciate all you've done in the past, and we do hope to see you still at some of the many events in school.

   

  Governors send best wishes to everyone for a peaceful Easter holiday, with much chocolate and egg rolling, as well as a well-deserved rest before the energetic summer term, when we look forward to sports days, outdoor visits and end of term entertainments!

   

  Happy Easter!

   

  Jean Lewis 

   

  Chair of Governors