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.

• Keeping your children happy and safe

  Fri 26 Sep 2025 Jill Williams

  At Burnside, the safety and well-being of our children are the cornerstones of our ethos.

   

  We continuously strive to empower our children with the understanding that their happiness and safety are their inherent rights. We encourage them to recognise that any concern, no matter the size, is valid and deserves to be heard by a trusted adult.

   

  In our ongoing efforts to fortify our commitment to safeguarding and well-being, we will be continuing our bookmark initiative. This week, children from Year 1 to Year 6 have been be asked to identify two adults within the school whom they feel comfortable approaching should they need to discuss any concerns. They have made a bookmark which will provide a constant reminder they have someone to talk to.

   

  This exercise is crucial in ensuring that every child knows they have a support system within our school community.

   

  Should any child find difficulty in selecting two adults, please rest assured that we will provide them with the necessary support to make these important choices.

   

  Your continuous support and involvement are invaluable to us, and together, we can maintain a secure and nurturing environment for our children to thrive.

   

  Thank you for your unwavering trust and cooperation.

• The European Day of Languages

  Wed 24 Sep 2025

  The European Day of Languages’ takes place on Friday 26th September. This day provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate languages and learn about other European countries. Language learning brings lots of benefits! Even if you only know a few words of the language of the country
  that you visit (for example on holiday), this enables you to make new friends and contacts.

   

  At Burnside, we have planned lots of fun activities for your child to take part in to celebrate ‘The European Day of Languages.

   

  •  EYFS - taster session in French
  •  KS1 - taster session in Spanish
  •  Lower KS2 - taster session in Polish
  •  Year 5 - taster session in Italian
  •  Year 6 – taster session in Portuguese
  •  Interactive Quizzes
  •  Learn how to say ‘Hello’ in ten different languages

   

  We hope that your child enjoys learning about ‘The European Day of Languages’ and can tell you all about the languages they have learnt on this day.

• Invacuation and Evacuation Drill

  Tue 23 Sep 2025 Jill Williams

  Today, staff and pupils rehearsed our invacuation and evacuation drills. Each term we drill both our invacuation and our evacuation procedures. So that everyone knows what to do, we plan for and rehearse procedures even for events that are very unlikely to occur.

  An invacuation is a standard safety procedure, similar to an emergency evacuation/fire drill. This procedure would be used if there is a threat to the safety of pupils, staff and others in school, and when it’s safer for everyone to remain in the school building rather than evacuate. Situations where our invacuation procedure may be used include:

  • a potentially dangerous animal on the school site
  • an alert from the police about a disturbance or dangerous situation in the local community that could affect the school
  • a nearby chemical incident or other risk of air pollution
  • a dangerous person or intruder on the school site

  When we initiate the invacuation procedure, everyone in school will be alerted by the sounding of a specific alarm. Staff have been trained to follow procedures and ensure that, as in the case of a fire evacuation, everyone is safe. During a drill/event pupils will either stay in their classroom, or if outside make their way into the nearest classroom, and wait quietly until the event or drill is given the 'all clear'.

  We also rehearsed evacuation to leave the building, for example, in the event of a fire to ensure the children recognised the different alarms and what they each meant.

• 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