Keep up to date with all the news happening in the school at the moment. Articles are added during the week. Parents are encouraged to check regularly. Our weekly newsletter, emailed directly to parents, summarises content for the week.

• Year 6 First Aid Workshops – A Valuable Learning Experience

  Thu 03 Apr 2025

  Year 6 First Aid Workshops – A Valuable Learning Experience

  Today, our Year 6 students are participating in engaging and informative first aid workshops, equipping them with essential life-saving skills. The sessions covered key areas such as treating minor injuries, responding to emergencies, and understanding the importance of staying calm under pressure.

   

  Learning first aid at this stage is incredibly beneficial, as it helps children develop confidence, responsibility, and the ability to assist others in need. These workshops empower our students with practical knowledge that could one day make a real difference in an emergency.

   

  A big thank you to our workshop leaders for providing such an invaluable experience. Well done, Year 6—we are proud of your enthusiasm and eagerness to learn these vital skills!

• Follow Burnside Primary on Facebook! 📢

  Wed 02 Apr 2025

  Follow Burnside Primary on Facebook! 📢

   

  Did you know Burnside Primary has a Facebook page?

   

  It’s a fantastic way to stay updated on all the exciting things happening at our school! From special events and achievements to important announcements, our page keeps you connected with everything going on at Burnside.

   

  We currently have 326 followers, and we’ve set ourselves a goal of reaching 400 followers by the end of the month – and we need your help! Please take a moment to follow our page and encourage friends and family to do the same.

   

  We would also be incredibly grateful if you could share our posts about our brand-new 2-year-old provision, which will extend to 30 hours from September. Spreading the word will help more families learn about this fantastic opportunity for young children in our community.

   

  Let’s grow our Burnside community together – follow, like, and share!

• The Importance of School Attendance – Recent Research

  Wed 02 Apr 2025

   

  Recent research from the Department for Education (March 2025) highlights a crucial link between school attendance and academic achievement. The findings confirm that regular attendance is essential for primary school children to succeed and develop key life skills.

   

  Why Attendance Matters

  ✅ Higher Achievement – Pupils who attend school regularly perform better academically, particularly in subjects like English and Maths.
  ✅ Social & Cognitive Development – Attending school every day helps children build friendships, develop social skills, and grow in confidence.
  ✅ Long-Term Benefits – Good attendance lays the foundation for future success in education and career opportunities.

   

  The Impact of Poor Attendance

  Unfortunately, missing school can have a significant negative effect on a child's education and overall well-being:
  🚨 Lower Achievement – Children with high absence rates often struggle with tests, fall behind their peers, and find it harder to catch up.
  🚨 Social & Emotional Struggles – Absence can lead to feelings of isolation, lower self-esteem, and difficulty forming friendships.
  🚨 Future Challenges – Poor attendance can affect long-term prospects, including access to higher education and career opportunities.

   

  Our Commitment to Supporting Families

  At Burnside Primary, we believe that every child deserves the best start in life, and attendance plays a key role in this. Here’s how we support our families:
  ✔️ Encouraging 100% Attendance – Our goal is at least 97% attendance, ensuring all pupils make the most of their education.
  ✔️ Family Support – We work closely with parents to understand and remove any barriers to attendance, offering help from local authority teams, early support services, and SEND support where needed.
  ✔️ Monitoring & Communication – We track attendance regularly and will stay in touch with families to address any concerns promptly.

   

  How You Can Help

  🏫 Promote Good Attendance – Encourage your child to attend school every day and arrive on time. Explain why education is important for their future.
  📚 Support Learning at Home – Foster a positive attitude towards learning by helping with homework and engaging in educational activities.
  📞 Stay in Touch – If you have any concerns about your child's attendance, please speak to us so we can work together to find a solution.

   

  By making school attendance a priority, you are giving your child the best possible chance to thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally.

   

  Let’s work together to give every child at Burnside Primary the brightest future! 🌟

• Easter Holiday Club

  Wed 02 Apr 2025

  Last week, we shared some exciting news about the fantastic events the After-School Club is hosting during the Easter holidays – and we’re thrilled with the response so far!

   

  These include a super fun Easter Egg Hunt, a lively Easter Party/Disco for EYFS and KS1, another for our KS2 pupils, and a creative "Bling Your Bike" event.

   

  These events are proving to be incredibly popular, with two already nearly full! Coming along is a fantastic way for children to see their friends, have fun together, and make some amazing holiday memories.

   

  Spaces are limited due to staff-to-child ratios, so don’t miss out – book as soon as possible to secure your spot!

• Burnside Shine in Skipping Competition

  Wed 02 Apr 2025

  Burnside Year 5 pupils demonstrated their agility, endurance, and sportsmanship in an exciting Skipping Competition held with other local schools last week.

   

  With ropes whirling and feet moving in perfect rhythm, the competition featured various categories, including speed skipping, double-dutch, and freestyle routines. The energy in the room was electrifying as participants pushed their limits, cheered on by their peers and teachers.

   

  Burnside’s Year 5 students delivered an outstanding performance in the long rope competitive events, securing both first and second place in all three challenges:

  • Run Jump Out – 1st place for 5K, 2nd place for 5H

  • Infinity Game – 1st place for 5K, 2nd place for 5H

  • A-B Game – 1st place for 5H, 2nd place for 5K

   

  Additionally, 5H earned a special trophy for being the most improved class in the 'Skipping for 30 Seconds' challenge, showcasing their determination and rapid progress.

  The event was a resounding success, highlighting the dedication and talent of the students.

  We are proud of all the participants and we look forward to even more exciting sporting events in the future!

• Children’s Cancer Run

  Wed 02 Apr 2025

  Dear Parents/Carers

  A little while ago, we distributed leaflets about the Children’s Cancer Run, and many of the children have already signed up! Some have even told me how excited they are to take part. I’m also encouraging some of our staff to join in—after all, you don’t have to run; walking is absolutely fine!

  If you or your child would like to participate, it’s not too late to sign up. Here is the basic information

  📅 Date: Sunday, 18th May 2025
  ⏰ Time: from 09:00 – 14:00
  📍 Location: Newcastle Racecourse, High Gosforth Park

  You can choose from the following routes:
  👟 Mini Run (1km) – wheelchair & pushchair accessible
  🏃 3 miles or 5 miles

  For full details and to register please use the QR code or the leaflet we provided or visit the Cancer run website. Remember to add that you are part of Burnside Primary School.

  To help everyone who has registered get in shape for the event, we will be holding two easy training sessions before race day:

  📅 Wednesday, 30th April & Wednesday, 7th May 2025
  ⏰ Time: 3:30pm – 4:00pm
  📍 Meeting Point: The school yard for a warm-up before starting our short run

  Important: Children must be accompanied by the adult they will be running or walking with on the day, and you must have registered for the event to take part in the training sessions.

  For families whose children are entitled to Pupil Premium funding, some of the grant can be used to cover the registration cost. Please contact the school office for more information.

  We’d love to see as many of you there as possible, supporting a great cause!

  Miss Ramsay
  Headteacher

• Primary Engineer Competition

  Thu 20 Feb 2025

  Next half term children will be given the opportunity to enter an exciting national competition ran by ‘Primary Engineer Ltd.’ This is the Leaders Award competition and it is open to all age groups with a design and research question: ‘If you were an engineer, what would you do?’ Children decide on an engineering field of their choice and will be able to access pre-recorded interviews with engineers from that field. They will then decide on how they can solve or fix an engineering problem and design a product.

  
  Every entry will be graded by engineering professionals and they will each receive a certificate with winning entries having their prototype made by a partner university. Please find a link below for information about the competition should children wish to think about their entries over the half term holiday, however, lesson time will be given during the w/c 10th March to celebrate British Science Week. Please note; the competition does not require designs to be made, only an annotated design sheet and a letter to an engineer explaining how the product works.
  We look forward to hearing about your exciting engineering ideas and inventions!

  
  Primary Engineer Website

  
  Mrs Ray
  Year 1 Teacher
  Science Coordinator

• Parents Consultations

  Thu 13 Feb 2025

  We are excited to share the dates for our Autumn Parent Teacher Consultations.

   

  We will continue to offer both virtual and face-to-face appointments, allowing you to choose the option that best fits your needs. To manage attendance and minimise wait times in the school hall, we have designated specific days for each year group.

   

  Please complete the below google form to indicate your preference, please note the form will close at midday on Monday 3rd March and we will be in touch over the following week with your appointment time.

   

  Parents Consultation Form 

   

  Please note that virtual appointments will begin at 1:00 PM, and once those are completed for each class, teachers will transition to face-to-face meetings.

   

  Here are the consultation dates:

  • Monday 10th March: 1:00-5:15 PM - Year 5
  • Tuesday 11th March: 1:00-5:15 PM - Year 4
  • Wednesday 12th March: 1:00-5:15 PM - Year 3
  • Thursday 13th March: 1:00-5:15 PM - Year 6
  • Monday 17th March: 1:00-5:15 PM - Year 2
  • Tuesday 18th March: 1:00-5:15 PM - Year 1
  • Wednesday 19th March: 1:00-5:15 PM Reception
  • Thursday 20th March: 1:00-5:15 PM Nursery

   

  Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you!

• Autism Family Drop-In Sessions

  Wed 12 Feb 2025

  Northumberland County Council are hosting a series of Autism Family Drop in Sessions over the next few months. 

   

  Do you have a child age 0-19? Come along for a cuppa and chat and meet other parents, no diagnosis needed.

   

  You can find more information on their website here.

• Pupil voice

  Tue 11 Feb 2025

  I wanted to share with you a recent initiative we’ve been working on with the children. As part of an activity aimed at improving our school’s facilities, the students were asked to share their ideas on what changes they would like to see. One suggestion that has come up consistently is a renovation of the pupil bathrooms.

  In response to this, Mrs. Ramsay, our School Business Manager, will be reaching out to tradespeople to get quotes for the necessary work. We are hopeful that we will be able to begin renovations within this academic year.

  We’re excited to be addressing the children’s feedback and look forward to improving the facilities for everyone.

  Thank you for your continued support.