Welcome to the Headteacher's blog. It is used to share information and showcase the variety of learning that takes place here at Brunel.  Along with Facebook, Twitter and our newsletters, this blog will also be used for posting information on events happening in school.  I hope that you find it useful and will check back regularly.

Darren Woolner - Headteacher

What a busy week for Team Brunel!

This week, we’ve been so impressed with how hard the children have been working on using their 'Issy Manners' throughout the school day. From polite greetings to helping each other in class, it’s wonderful to see them putting these important values into practice. Our challenge for the children this week is to use their 'Issy Manners' at home as well! Please encourage them to continue their good habits and let us know how they’re getting on— we’d love to hear about the positive impact their manners are making at home too!

Last Saturday, we launched our very first Brunel Bedtime Stories. Our story this week was 'The Koala that Could' by Rachel Bright and Jim Field. Here is a link to the video again for anyone who missed it. https://fb.watch/uv0RqfVsyD/ We are excited to find out what the story will be this Saturday. Join our Facebook page at 7pm on Saturday to find out.

On Thursday evening, we hosted our first Maths Games Evening of the academic year. It was fantastic to see so many of our families at this event which has become a popular part of our school calendar. Our next Maths Games Evening takes place on Thursday 14th November. We hope you will be able to join us.

Reading for Pleasure at Brunel.

At Brunel Primary and Nursery Academy, we are passionate about nurturing a love for reading in our children. We believe that reading is not just an essential academic skill but a powerful gateway to unlocking a child's full potential. Reading for pleasure can transform children’s lives, impacting their confidence, creativity, and ultimately their life chances. That's why we have been working hard to ensure that every child at our school has the opportunity to develop a genuine love for reading.

At Brunel, we’ve been transforming our school environment to reflect our commitment to reading. We’ve worked hard to develop inviting and engaging reading spaces across the school that encourage children to pick up a book, explore new worlds, and enjoy stories. We want to create lifelong readers who are curious, thoughtful, and imaginative. By working together—both in school and at home—we can give our children the best possible start, equipping them with the skills and confidence they need for the future. Let's continue to foster that love for reading and watch our children thrive.

It has been a busy and exciting week as the children have settled in wonderfully.

A huge thank you to our dedicated staff for preparing such engaging and high-quality learning environments for our students. We hope you enjoyed attending the Meet the Teacher meetings that took place this week—please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions. It was also lovely to meet so many of you at the Meet the Headteacher Coffee Morning, which we will continue to host monthly.

This week at Brunel, we have been focusing on one of the key British Values: Democracy.

As part of this, we held elections for our School Council, allowing students to experience the democratic process first hand. The School Council plays a vital role in our school community, representing the voices of their peers and helping to shape school policies and initiatives. They work together to bring forward ideas, organise events, and make Brunel an even better place to learn and grow.

Every child across the whole school participated by writing their own manifesto, explaining why they would make a great school councillor. After a secret ballot, our new school councillors were announced during a special Achiever's Assembly. Mr. Woolner will be meeting regularly with the School Council members as they work hard to make positive changes and contribute to the continued success of Brunel. 

Our School Councillors are:
Tregantle Class - James and Mia
Lantic Class - Emily and Lunar
Daymer Class - Alice and Lottie
Marazion Class - Isabella and Payton
Talland Class - Vinnie and Khai
Seaton Class - Louis and Daisy

Meet the Teacher
This week, Lantic, Marazion and Daymer classes held their Meet the Teacher Meetings.
We hope you found these sessions helpful and they gave you an insight into what the children will be learning this term. Don't forget to also check out our website blogs each week to keep up to date with each classes latest news. You can find the blogs on our website by following the link: https://www.brunelprimary.co.uk/classes

Next week, we look forward to welcoming Tregantle, Talland and Seaton parents. These will take place at 3:15pm on the following dates: 

Tuesday 10th September 2024 at 3:15pmSeaton and Tregantle Classes
Wednesday 11th September 2024 at 3:15pm Talland Class

Thank you for a wonderful first week at Brunel Primary and Nursery Academy.

Have a wonderful weekend and we look forward to seeing you all back safe and sound on Monday morning.

What a busy Summer!

What a busy Summer it has been at Brunel Primary and Nursery Academy!

A huge thank you to the Bridge Trust, our caretaker Mr. Stephens, the cleaning team and members of the school staff who have been working incredibly hard over the Summer holidays to get our school ready for the new academic year.
Our school building and hall have both been painted, there are new carpets in 4 of our classrooms and the grass bank on Callington Road has been cut which hugely improves the aesthetics of our school. 
All that's missing now is our wonderful school community who we can't wait to see back at Brunel on Wednesday 4th September. 
Have a great last few days of the Summer holidays; we can't wait to see you all!

I am deeply honoured to introduce myself as the new Headteacher of Brunel Primary Academy.

It is a privilege to follow in the footsteps of Mrs. Cooper, whose superb leadership has set a high standard for our school. I am committed to building upon the success we have already achieved, ensuring that our school continues to thrive and excel.

I believe that a school should be a happy, caring, respectful and hardworking environment where all staff members use their skills to help the children recognise their true potential and talents. At Brunel Primary Academy, we will strive to create an atmosphere where every child feels valued and inspired to achieve their best.To achieve this, I will work closely with our children, parents, staff, and governors to ensure that each of us 'Seize the day' to achieve the best possible outcomes for our entire school community. Collaboration and open communication will be at the heart of my approach, as I believe that together, we can achieve great things.

A bit about myself: I was born and bred in Saltash and have dedicated 22 years of my career to teaching in various primary schools. Additionally, I have gained extensive experience working for the local authority, providing school-to-school support. This background has given me a deep understanding of the educational landscape and the tools to foster a thriving school environment.

As a parent myself, I truly value the opinions and concerns of parents and carers. Your insights are invaluable, and I encourage you to share any queries or concerns with me. I am here to support you and your child’s learning and school life in any way I can.

Together, we can continue to take the school forward and make Brunel Primary Academy the best it can be. Thank you for your commitment and support of our school. I look forward to meeting the whole school community very soon and embarking on this exciting journey together. I would like to invite you all to a Meet the Headteacher Coffee morning on Thursday 5th September at 9am where I hope to meet you all personally. In addition, I will be popping into all of the Meet the Teacher meetings which will be taking place across the first two weeks of term. Warmest regards, Mr. D. Woolner

Dear Parents and Carers,
I cannot believe how fast this summer term has gone and suddenly I find myself writing to you for the final time. It has been a real pleasure to work at Brunel for so many years, most recently as a headteacher. I have always felt so thankful that I chose teaching as a career as I've enjoyed every day of coming to 'school'. No two days are ever the same and primary aged children are a constant source of delight and amazement. I am lucky to have worked with such a brilliant team of teachers, TAs and wider school and Bridge Trust staff, but it is obviously your children who really put the joy into this job and make all the hard work worthwhile.
I'd sincerely like to thank all parents/carers for your support, some of you over many years, the Brunel community really is the 'best' and I'm proud of what we've achieved together. 
This morning in assembly we talked about our Brunel/Bridge values; be enthusiastic, be determined, be creative, be excellent, be curious and be responsible. We looked at the varied achievements of T.V. adventurer Ben Fogle who, having been a child who struggled at school and lacked confidence, has displayed many of these characteristics over the course of his career. Ben has recorded a special message for Brunel Primary and Nursery Pupils. The link is http://www.cameo.com/recipient/63d59a93b16880dd2e792dd1 .
I wish the very best in the future for yourselves and your children and know that I leave Brunel in good hands with the fabulous Brunel team and Mr Woolner.
With very best wishes,  Suzanne Cooper  

ART WEEK