Rights Respecting School - SILVER LEVEL

We are very pleased to announce that Torridon Primary School has been awarded the UNICEF SILVER: Rights Committed Award.

A Rights Respecting School is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practiced, respected, protected and promoted. 

At Torridon Primary School we aim to have the children’s rights at the heart of our ethos and culture, to improve well-being and to develop every child’s talents and abilities to reach their full potential.

We have successfully achieved the Silver Award: Rights Aware, we are now working towards achieving Gold: Rights Respecting.

If you wish to find out more information about the award, visit: 

https://www.unicef.org.uk/rights-respecting-schools/getting-started/gold/

https://www.unicef.org.uk/rights-respecting-schools/getting-started/silver/

Primary Science Quality Mark

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark, celebrating a commitment to developing excellence in science leadership, curriculum design, teaching and learning. PSQM is a comprehensive year-long professional development and school improvement programme that gives primary science subject leaders the knowledge, capability and support needed to improve the quality and profile of science education across the entire school. The Primary Science Quality Mark is led by the University of Hertfordshire. Helen Sizer, PSQM Director said: ‘The Primary Science Quality Mark recognises a whole school commitment to raising the profile and quality of science education, helping children recognise the value and relevance of science in their lives – both now and in the future. Achievement of the Quality Mark reflects the development of effective science leadership, visionary curriculum design and excellent teaching practice which is positively impacting on children’s learning across the school. We have been impressed by the dedication of subject leaders, teachers, headteachers, pupils, parents, and governors alike – they all have reason to be incredibly proud.’

OPAL (Outdoor Play And Learning)

We are very excited to be an OPAL (Outside Play And Learning) school.

OPAL is based on the idea that, as well as learning through good teaching, children also learn when they play. As 20% of their time in school is playtime, we want to make sure that this amount of time (equivalent to 1.4 years of primary school) is as good as possible.

With the children, we have created many areas in our playground. We now have a mud cafe, a huge sandpit, water play area, small world area, dressing up and performance area, wheels area and ball court. The children are really enjoying our new playground areas.

Live Dance Catford Broadway

Dance Live – Catford Broadway Theatre

Our year 5 and 6 dancers were amazing at DANCE LIVE 25.

Live Dance is a celebration of dance that champions and celebrates dance in schools within Lewisham at The Catford Broadway Theatre each year.

Torridon dancers in Year 5 and Yr 6 have created and rehearsed their choreography in preparation for the showcase and performed over two evenings. The Year 5 piece “Twisted” used props and the stimulus of stories and fables from around the world. Year 6 explored lifts and high energy travelling phrases in their piece “Connected”.

This event produced by Trinity Laban gives children a creative performance experience in a professional theatre setting and celebrates the talent of young people.

                   

Free School Meals and Pupil Premium

How might a child be eligible for FSM or Pupil Premium Funding?

A child may be eligible to receive the Pupil Premium Grant/Free School Meals if the parent and carer receives any of the following

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
  • Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit

Children under the compulsory school age who are in full time education may also be able to get Pupil Premium Grant/Free School Meals.

What is pupil premium and who is eligible for it?

Pupil Premium is funding from the Government to help the school address the current national underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their peers. The funding is to ensure that provision is in place for those disadvantaged children who need it most.

Since the introduction of Free School Meals for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, these children may miss out on this additional funding. We do encourage parents to complete online Free-School-Meals  application, if they think they may be eligible, even if they do not need to claim a free meal. Please call the school office 0208 697 2762 if you would like assistance with your online application or more information.

ArtsMark

We are excited to have started our journey towards Artsmark accreditation. 

Mayor Of London - Sadiq Khan - came to visit Torridon

We were very excited to welcome the Mayor Of London, Sadiq Khan on Tuesday 9th January , who came to visit us along with his Deputy Mayor and some of the Lewisham Council members.   He made a very important announcement about extending his Universal Free School Meals initiative for another year.  This means that all primary school children in London will be entitled to a healthy, nutritious lunch free of charge.  He enjoyed having lunch with some of the children and they had great fun chatting to him and asking him lots of questions.  Tommy and Miracle (Year 4) did a fantastic job of interviewing him – they were just as professional as the interviewers from the BBC and ITV!   As always, our chef Raheem and his wonderful team did a great job with the lunch menu. All in all, it was a very proud day for Torridon.

              

Visit from Korky Paul

Some of our children’s illustrations have been published in the latest Winne the Witch book!

Last year Korky got in touch with us and asked us to get the children to design a witch that celebrated our difference, the creative team sent Korky 60 drawings that the children created focusing on celebrating our diversity. From the 60 drawings Korky and his team selected 28 drawings to appear in the end papers of the book. The Creative team couldn’t be prouder, and  Korky couldn’t stop raving about what a talent bunch of children we have at Torridon. Well done guys!!

                                                           

Full Time Meals

                               

We were so excited to welcome Chef Tom Kerridge to Torridon. We had such fun cooking with him and our own Chartwell’s Chef Raheem.  We are pleased to be part of the Full Time Meals campaign.

School Chef of the Year

We are so proud of our fabulous chef Raheem.  He has been awarded SCHOOL CHEF OF THE YEAR!  It is so well deserved.  He is an incredible talent and we are so lucky to have him here at Torridon.  Well done Raheem!