Weekly Update from Mr Meehan

As we draw another year to a close, I would like to express my thanks to our whole school community, and the part everybody plays. I would like to say a big thank you to all our parents, for the support, love and commitment you give to your children and helping them to flourish here at school. 

We know our pupils reach great outcomes by the end of their time with us, and we’ve just been reminded of this again, with the excellent SATS results our Year 6 pupils achieved this year, well above national averages and also smashing Kingston averages in the number of children attaining expected levels in the core areas. Our % of children who have met the expected level across the board in reading, writing and maths is 78%, which is 16% clear of the national average, and higher than both Kingston and Richmond averages. This success is on top of a curriculum in which children ‘achieve widely’ and flourish in all sorts of ways. Please shout about this success; we are very proud of our Year 6 pupils and ALL they have achieved.

Not only that, and even more important than all this, it is a delight to see our Year 6 children preparing for their step to secondary school as all-round pleasant and well-motivated, engaged students, ready for even bigger things. Our iShare theme this half term has been ‘Bearing Good Fruit’ and I look forward to seeing what fruit we will see them bearing as they continue to grow! 

We would really appreciate your support in giving a shout out to Christ Church in any channels you may pass through, so that we can be part of the journey of development for more children for the years to come. Here are the details of our Autumn tours, when we look forward to showing off our wonderful school family again. There are fewer children in our local area, but we want to go on being a local school in which many New Malden children flourish, ‘becoming the people God made them to be’.

Over the last couple of terms, we have also partnered with an organisation called KICK, who provide mentors in school for children who need some social and emotional support. We have had Mr Bevis working with us at the juniors fulfilling this role, and we thank him for his work for us. Whilst he is now moving on to new things, we will continue to work with KICK, and look forward to welcoming a new mentor in the Autumn. 

This is our final parent update of the school year, so may I wish you a lovely summer. Do join us if you can for our last church service of the term, when we say a final goodbye to our Year 6 pupils. I pray you and your family have some great times together in the weeks ahead, and know God’s blessings in all you do.

Our School Updates for Parents

Uniform Reminders 

As you know, all year, we have talked about our ‘norms’, one of which was all about how we present ourselves, in terms of our uniform, as presenting ourselves well is part of being our best, both individually and as a school. As part of this we want to remind parents of some of our uniform expectations (you can read all the details here):  

1. Trainers can be worn, but they must be completely black (including the sole) with no colour logos, this includes for PE. 
2. For PE: Navy blue (not black) football shorts or tracksuit trousers. No tight (cycling) shorts or leggings. 
3. Hair that is shoulder length or longer must be tied back. If a child does not have their hair tied they will be asked to tie it back, with an elastic band if nothing else.

Reminder: New Collection Safeguards from September

• If someone different is collecting your child, inform the school in advance using the online form
• In September, each child will be issued a unique password that authorised collectors must share at pickup.
• We will collect photos of parents and regular collectors to help staff quickly recognise authorised adults
• Only those Year 5 and 6 pupils whose parents have completed a permission form will be permitted to walk from or to home alone
• All external providers running clubs will be required to follow similar safeguarding procedures.

For more details, see the Meet the Teacher presentations or the school website.

Reminder: New Term Menu

PS Catering have announced their menu for the new term do take a look - children opting for hot lunches will choose their meals directly at the counter as before. There is no obligation to have a meal every day, and any child who does not bring a packed lunch will be offered a hot meal. If your child requires a “special diet” (any medically prescribed diet including food allergies) then please read the attached.

Reminder: School Street Scheme - Lime Grove

Following the positive feedback from parents in our consultation earlier in the year, we are pleased to advise that a trial School Street will be introduced on Lime Grove between Poplar Grove and Coombe Road from 1st September 2025.

This will mean that, with the exception of residents’ cars, no cars will be permitted to drive down this section of Lime Grove at the times of drop off and pick up, meaning there will be minimal traffic along the road at these times of day, keeping the area around our school much safer. 

School Streets support active travel by making it safer and easier for children and their families to walk, cycle or scoot, while also reducing local traffic congestion, poor parking and engine idling, which improves air quality.

The scheme will be enforced using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). There will be exemptions for vehicles registered to school staff, residents living within the School Street zone, emergency vehicles and Blue Badge holders accessing the school.

Kingston Council will be collecting feedback about the trial scheme through the "Let's Talk" page from August 2025, but in the meantime further information can be found here: School Streets web page."

Clubs Autumn Term

Please remember to book club places for your child before the start of next term. The following clubs are already full:

• Junior dodgeball
• Y1 and 2 Football

You can see a full list of the clubs available, with booking details, on our website here. As well as sports and music clubs, also on offer are Dance, Drama, Spanish, Coding, Judo and Good News club.

Wider Community Updates

Library Summer Reading Challenge

2025's Kingston Libraries Summer Reading Challenge is almost upon us and, this year, they have a unique challenge. Rather than following the national reading challenge, they have created their own in conjunction with Kingston Heritage and Kingston 2025. The Challenge celebrates all things Kingston which has been inspired by the crowning of King Athelstan 1,100 years ago.The Kingston Summer Reading challenge is running from 11th July to 12th September. Please see the attached for details.

Ultimate Activity Camps at Holy Cross Prep School

Ultimate Activity Camps provide activity day camps for children aged 4-14 during the school holidays. Running this Summer at Holy Cross Prep School, children will enjoy a fantastic range of over 40 sports, games and art activities every week. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Rose Youth Theatre Summer Schools 2025

The Rose Theatre have sent us information regarding their exciting summer course available with Rose Youth Theatre for those aged 7-11. Booking is now open for their 'Create in Three Days' course, running between 6th August – 15th August 2025. The course is full of fun drama-based activities, crafts, exercises, and skills. Small groups will work with a Rose Youth Theatre director and assistant for the duration of the course and create a short piece of theatre to be shared with families on the final day. Please visit their website to see a full list of course options. Click here or see the attached flyer to find out more and book your place.

Free Summer Holiday Cricket Camp - Alexandra Recreation Ground

Surrey County Cricket Club are running a free summer holiday camp at Alexandra Park Recreation Ground, Alexandra Dr, Surbiton KT5 9BQ. The All-Stars Cricket Camp (open to 5–8-year-olds ) will run from Tuesday 27^th August – Friday 30^th August 10am-11am each day. The Dynamos Cricket Camp (open to 8–11-year-olds) will run from Tuesday 27^th August – Friday 30^th August 11:15 - 12:15 each day. To register click one of the links below and use the DISCOUNT PROMO CODE when booking your place.

• All Stars Cricket Camp signing up link- All Stars Voucher Code - XMGQR
• Dynamos Cricket Camp signing up link- Dynamos Voucher Code - 636EQ

Old Kingstonian Hockey Club Open Day

The Old Kingstonian Hockey Club will be holding an Open Day on September 7th, and warmly invite individuals of all ages to participate in this family-friendly event and experience hockey firsthand. Please see their flyer attached for details.

Summer Events - Discoverers Friends of Richmond Park

Discoverers has planned a few events in Richmond Park during the summer. Please see the attached for details.

Kingston Children's Centres - Summer Holiday Programme

Kingston Children’s Centres are pleased to share their brand new summer holiday programme for Kingston children's centres. With a variety of activities suitable for children aged 0-5 (and siblings up to 8 years). Please see the attached for details.

A+ Tuition Centre

A+ Tuition Centre, a well-established tuition provider based in New Malden, has asked us to advertise their tuition for children in Years 3 to 6, with a particular focus on preparation for the 11+ exams and grammar school entry. This summer, they will also be running Summer Intensive Courses specifically designed to support children who are applying to grammar schools. Please see the attached flyer for details.

Key School Dates

Summer Term 2025

• Friday 18th July - Y2 Choir Performance @ 2:30pm
• Friday 18th July – Y4 Meet the Teacher @ 3:45pm
• Monday 21st July – Meet New Class Day
• Monday 21st July – Y6 Leavers’ Celebration @ 2:00-3:20pm
• Monday 21st July – Y6 Meet the Teacher @ 3:45pm
• Tuesday 22nd July – Church Service @ 9:30am
• Tuesday 22nd July - Term finishes early at 1.05pm (infants) and 1.20pm (juniors). Connect will finish at 5:15pm
• Wednesday 23rd July – Friday 29th August – Summer holiday

Autumn Term 2025

• Monday 1st September – INSET Day (School closed to pupils)
• Tuesday 2nd September - Autumn Term starts
• Wednesday 10th September – Carroty Wood Meeting @ 5:15pm
• Wednesday 17th September – SEND Parents’ Coffee Morning @ 9:30am
• Thursday 18th September – Junior Orienteering Day
• Wednesday 24th – Friday 26th September – Y5 Trip to Carroty Wood
• Thursday 25th September – Infant Orienteering Day
• Wednesday 1st October – Parents Prayer Group @ 6pm
• Friday 3rd October – Harvest Service @ 9:30am
• Tuesday 7th October - Reception Tour for Prospective Parents @ 9:30-10:15am
• Friday 10th October – PTA Break the Rules Day
• Monday 13th – Friday 17th October – Chums Week
• Tuesday 14th October – Y5&6 Soloists Concert @ 9am
• Wednesday 15th October - Nursery Tour for Prospective Parents @ 9:30-10:00am
• Friday 17th October - Reception Tour for Prospective Parents @ 9:30-10:15am
• Wednesday 22nd October - Reception Tour for Prospective Parents @ 9:30-10:15am
• Wednesday 22nd October – Parents’ Evening (Video appointments)  @ 3:45 – 6:45pm
• Thursday 23rd October – Parents’ Evening (Video appointments) @ 2:45 – 5:45pm (School closes 1 hour early) 
• Friday 24th October – INSET Day (School closed to pupils)
• Monday 27^th – Friday 31^st October – Half Term