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WELCOME 
Dear Parents and Carers,
Wow! The school year has flown by but it has been full of wonderful moments, achievements and events and I remain so proud of our staff, children and the community we are all part of.
BEST continues to flourish and you have all enabled this to happen.
Thank you to all our parents and carers for your continued support and your kind and generous tokens of appreciation. This really does mean a lot to us all.
I would like to say thank you to all the teachers, teaching assistants, the office team, our lunchtime team, our learning mentor and safeguarding lead. They are a wonderful team and a pleasure to lead. The job they do is a difficult and demanding one, but they remain passionate about BEST. They do an amazing job every day and have an incredible impact on all the young people and families in our care.
This term we welcomed our new reception children who will be joining us from September. It was lovely to meet them and their parents and carers and to show them what their new classroom looks like. They all followed BEST, and we cannot wait for them to start their school days with us.
We are sadly saying farewell to our wonderful Year 6 children. Whilst goodbyes can be difficult, they also signal the start of new opportunities and new beginnings. I continue to take great pride and comfort in the knowledge that they are all ready to move on, and I look forward to hearing about how they thrive as they take the next steps in their school life. As well as the children, we also say goodbye to many of their families - parents, carers, grandparents and older siblings - who have played a significant role in our community for the past 7 years and who have worked with us to ensure their children have had the very best start to their school years. You will all be greatly missed!
I wish you all a fantastic Summer holiday and sincerely hope you enjoy spending valuable time with your family and friends in the sunshine (fingers crossed!).
We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday 3rd September. Please remember to arrive for 8:40 am ready for the beginning of the new school year.
Mrs Amie James
Head teacher
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UNIFORM EXPECTATIONS
September 2025
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At Standens Barn Primary School, we believe that a school uniform gives our children a sense of belonging and community and encourages them to feel proud of the school they attend.
The overwhelming majority of you follow our school uniform policy but we would like to remind you all of our uniform expectations ready for the new school year. Your child's uniform and PE uniform should be plain in the correct school colours or have our school logo on it. Your child must also arrive every day with a named refillable water bottle which they can use throughout the school day, including when they eat their lunch.
All staff will be monitoring uniform standards and ensuring our policy is adhered to throughout the school year so we maintain high standards, and we look like a team to which we all want to belong.
Please use the link below for detailed descriptions of our uniform expectations:
https://www.standens.northants.sch.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=608&type=pdf
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Strings Project
Year 3 have completed their first access strings project with NMPAT! The children all learnt how to hold an instrument from the string family, including a violin, viola or cello. They all showed such great focus and enthusiasm, particularly as many of them have never played an instrument like these before!
During their final performance to their parents and carers, they were all so Brave.
A special thank you to NMPAT Home - NMPAT and to Miss Gifford- Head of Strings- what a great achievement for you too!
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WWII DAY in Year 4
Year 4 kicked off their term with a very creative World War II day. They explored the meaning of poppies for remembrance and the experience of children who were evacuees.
Year 4 also chopped onions, sliced potatoes and cut cubes of spam to make their own World War II ‘Spam Hash’. It was a thumbs up from nearly all the children and some asked for seconds!
The children also ended their term by sharing their learning with their parents and carers during a special performance.
Well done to all!
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A Special Visitor in Year 1/2
Year 1/2 were lucky enough to have a very special visitor come and speak with them. During their RE lesson, Mrs Elijah showed the children Jewish artefacts, such as The Torah, including a tiny one, and even read a passage in Hebrew from it. Mrs Elijah showed them how it is dressed and handled, and placed it in the Ark where it is kept safe.
All the children listened well and demonstrated BEST at all times and remembered lots of interesting facts!
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Girls Love Rugby 2025
Well done to the group of amazing Year 5 girls who represented our school at the recent Girls Love Rugby Festival.
Over 100 girls came together from across the town for a fantastic day of rugby at Northampton Saints. The day was an opportunity for girls to love sport, build confidence and connect with local clubs.
Our children demonstrated BEST and were a sheer joy to be with!
Mr Hern also had a great time spending the day at his much-loved club!
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Farewell Year 6!
Year 6 have had a fun-filled Term 6 with lots of exciting learning opportunities to end their time with us at Standens Barn on an absolute high!
They enjoyed trips to Drayton Manor and Hunstanton- the children (and staff) had a great time- they absolutely demonstrated BEST and were super company.
They were also superstars whilst performing 'Shakespeare Rocks' to sold-out audiences and they also thoroughly enjoyed their Year 6 leaver's party!
We hope they have made many wonderful memories which they will remember for many years to come.
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Year 6 SATs results 2025 
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We are so unbelievably proud of our Year 6 children and everything they have achieved this year - they have worked tirelessly and with such enthusiasm, determination and bravery and their hard work has led to outstanding SATs results, which are all above the national average!
Reading:
85% of our children achieved the expected standard and 32% of our children achieved above the expected standard.
Maths:
78% of our children achieved the expected standard and 37% of our children achieved above the expected standard.
Writing:
75% of our children achieved the expected standard and 8% of our children achieved above the expected standard.
SPAG:
78% of our children achieved the expected standard and 25% of our children achieved above the expected standard.
Combined- reading, writing and maths:
66% of our children achieved the expected standard and 8% of our children achieved above the expected standard.
National averages:
Reading- 75%, Maths- 74%, Writing- 72% and Combined (R, W, M)- 62%
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Sometimes, at this time of year, we also say goodbye to much-loved members of staff. We are really sorry to be saying goodbye to both Mrs Hains and Miss Butterworth who are leaving our school.
Mrs Hains has been a class teacher at Standens Barn since 2001 (when she joined as a newly qualified teacher). She has been an invaluable member of our team and her dedication to our school has been wonderful. Mrs Hains has worked alongside many different colleagues and been part of many memorable occasions over the years. She has taught many children (and generations of families) and she has built strong relationships with them all.
Miss Butterworth joined our team as a teaching assistant in 2013 but in 2016 she then continued her service with us as a class teacher. It has been an absolute pleasure to watch Miss Butterworth develop into a wonderful teacher- she has had a significant impact on our curriculum, her colleagues and the children’s achievements over the past 12 years.
Whilst we are saddened to say farewell, we are incredibly grateful for all they have done and wish them huge success in their future careers. Both their dedication and passion for teaching and life at Standens Barn will be very missed- they have inspired our children, created a nurturing environment for learning and made lifelong friendships with colleagues.
We know that many of you will have fond memories of the time spent with these wonderful teachers, and we know you will share your appreciation and good wishes with them.
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Well done to Flint who won the KS2 Sports day trophy and congratulations to Hall who won the Reception/KS1 trophy in the afternoon.
The overall Sports Day winners for 2025 are . . . . . . . . . . . . . HALL!
A huge thank you to all our wonderful parents, families, grandparents and wider community who came along to support our children during their Sports Day. Your cheering, laughter and joy helped them feel more brave and determined. It was a great day and the children were just the BEST.
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This week we held our BEST Awards and what a joy it was to relive the memories we have made over the past year. We celebrated the wonderful achievements and successes of ALL the children in our school. Some successes we celebrated included:
Most House Smiley Faces-
BEST Class attendance-
BEST House Attendance-
Overall Sports Day Winners- Hall
Whilst it is important to celebrate our individual, class and house achievements it is also important for us to be thankful and remember the whole school events and new opportunities we have enjoyed as whole school team.
Some our most memorable moments are when we enjoy time together as a whole school team during events such as our discos, VE day celebrations, World Book Day and our sketch book assemblies. These events are so important as they help us remember we are role models for others, that each of us are an important part of a bigger picture and that we are all different but all welcome.
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SBPS SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM
This term, our school leadership team volunteered their time during our recent Summer discos and also led and supported our much younger children during the recent Sports Day.
The leadership team have continuously demonstrated our BEST ethos and have been fantastic role models to all children across the school. I would like to express my personal thanks to them all and I hope they use the skills they have developed as they move on to school life at secondary school. I am not sure what I will do without them!
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As shared in our previous newsletter, the nominations for the Northamptonshire Education Awards 2025 are now open.
We would love to celebrate the achievements that make Standens Barn the BEST place to learn and be recognised for the fantastic work happening in our school.
We remain so grateful for the positive feedback and kind words we receive from you on a regular basis so please use the link below to nominate our school:
NEA 2025 Entry Form | Proudly presents...
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During our assemblies this term, the children have been focusing on BEST and how we can follow this in all areas of our lives, no matter where we are or who we are with.
We have reminded our children about the importance of a sense of belonging, what makes people feel like they belong and how we can make others feel welcome.
To help them understand this message, we focused on the UEFA Women’s European football championships and how the sport has significantly changed to ensure women and girls feel as though they belong.
To celebrate the start of this championship, and to represent a sense of belonging and how we are all different but all welcome, our children came to school dressed in their favourite team’s sports kit, their favourite football or sports shirt or just in their favourite team colours (international, national or local team).
Some of our children even came dressed in the colours of their home nations flag or with their own t-shirt designs!
There was a vast array of team colours and it was a pleasure to listen to children talking about their home countries and favourite teams and hearing children demonstrate respect and thoughtfulness to each other.
Our classroom assemblies and lessons allow our children to debate comfortably and safely whilst acknowledging that different ideas exist, and we are all different but we all belong.
This term, the children have been sharing and discussing the following books with their teachers:
Reception: You Choose
Year 1 and 2: My body belongs to me
Year 3: My name is Nefertiti
Year 4: My brother George
Year 5: Milo imagines the World
Year 6: The only way is badger
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Attendance Reminder 
The school doors open at 8:45am so please ensure your child(ren) arrives at school by 8:40am to ensure your child(ren) have a settled start to the school day and do not miss out on any learning. The gates will be closed by 9:00am.
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Please continue to check your emails, our school website and social media for updates about our curriculum offer for your child. We regularly send out and upload information, especially at the beginning of a new school term.
We would also encourage you to ask your child about what they have been doing- we have the pleasure of talking to them about their school experiences and they are open, honest but also very enthusiastic!
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For further information about trips, events and visitors- please check your emails for more information. Copies of all letters can be found on our school website:
https://www.standens.northants.sch.uk/news/?pid=3&nid=1&storyid=18
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Please follow the link below if you would like to register your child to local girl guiding units- these clubs offer a great way for your child to participate in wonderful events and new opportunities: Rainbows (4-7) | Girlguiding Brownies (7-10) | Girlguiding
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To keep all our children safe, the play equipment/trim trail on our school playground must not to be used before and after school. The equipment is only supervised during playtimes, lunchtimes and specific PE lessons.
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Please remember the car park is shut between 8:30am and 9:10am and from 3:00pm until 3:30pm unless you hold a disability badge/permit for vehicles (this must be displayed clearly). Our caretaker will open the school gates when it is time to do so.
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Please remember that if your child would like to bring their bike or scooter into school, they must wear a helmet.
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We are committed to BEST and treating you with respect and courtesy and to be Thoughtful to you all. Our staff also have the right to work in a safe environment, so we ask that you treat them thoughtfully and with respect and courtesy. Offensive behaviour will result in you being asked to leave and may result in prosecution.
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Please be Safe and Thoughtful when collecting or dropping your child(ren) off.
We understand that it can be very stressful in the mornings when we have to be in multiple places but it is vital that ALL car drivers remain courteous to all of those in our community and that they also drive and park within the law to ensure we do not hurt or harm anyone.
The Highway Code Rule 243 states that it is illegal to stop or park near the following:
- near a school entrance (including zig zag lines)
- anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services
- at or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank
- on the approach to a level crossing/tramway crossing
- opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
- near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
- opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
- where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
- where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
- in front of an entrance to a property
- on a bend
- where you would obstruct cyclists’ use of cycle facilities
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