Latest News

Happy Christmas

Fri 16 Dec 2022 PH

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Pastoral and Leadership Teams (also known as the Pantomime Cast)

School Newsletter - December 2022 Edition

Fri 16 Dec 2022 AK

Sports Round Up

Tue 13 Dec 2022 AK

The Autumn Term, has been an extremely busy one for the PE Department and its pupils.

Consistent regular fixtures against opposing schools have returned, teams have been entered into County Cup competitions and the numbers attending extra-curricular clubs have been exceptionally high.

It is impossible to list all of the achievements of our amazing staff and pupils, but you can download our Sports Round Up here with more details.

Pershore Interact Accreditation

Sun 11 Dec 2022 PH

It was great to be re-accredited as an Interact School in connection with Pershore Rotary Club this week. Thanks to our Interact Chairperson Julia, Richard Lees and Lucy Thornton from Pershore Rotary Club and Miss Baker and Ms Bevan for supporting the group in school.

Sleigh No to Loan Sharks!

Sun 11 Dec 2022

Christmas is a time for family, friends and fun. Unfortunately, it’s also the period when loan sharks are particularly active. Stop Loan Sharks need your help to stamp out this predatory practice in local communities.

Follow these safety tips to protect yourself and loved ones from loan sharks:

1. If you're struggling to make ends meet and need cash fast, the thought of a loan shark might seem tempting, but remember these lenders are not your friends. Debt can quickly spiral out of control – it's important to think carefully before taking out a loan and consider other options.

2. Never send money or give credit card, online account details or copies of personal documents to anyone you don’t know or trust. This information is valuable so make sure you protect it from criminals who can use it to find and stalk you, harass you or threaten those you love.

3. If you’re thinking about borrowing money, it’s important to check that your lender is genuine. Loan sharks operate illegally without the correct permission from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Do your research first and check the firm or person you're dealing with is listed on the Financial Services Register.

4. When exploitative loan sharks are preying on hardship, it’s vital for people to know there is an ethical, local, not-for-profit alternative available. Credit unions are a lifeline for many people, with their services helping members to save regularly, borrow responsibly and keep track of their finances. There are other community lenders who are mostly not for profit, and who reinvest any surpluses into serving vulnerable customers, which can be found on https://www.findingfinance.org.uk/.

5. Getting trapped in a never-ending spiral of debt after borrowing from a loan shark can have devastating consequences, not only on your finances but also on most other aspects of your life, including your mental health, work and relationships with your family and friends. If you're worried about a friend or family member, or if you need help yourself, Stop Loan Sharks can offer confidential advice and support.

Are you worried about a friend or family member who is being taken advantage of by a loan shark?

Contact the Stop Loan Sharks 24/7 Helpline on 0300 555 2222 for support or visit http://www.stoploansharks.co.uk. Live Chat is available on the website between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Scarlet Fever Advice

Wed 07 Dec 2022 PH

Dear Parent(s) / Carer(s),

Re: Increase in scarlet fever

We are writing to inform you of a recent national and local increase in notifications of scarlet fever to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), above seasonal expected levels.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the signs, symptoms and the actions to be taken if you think that you or your child might have scarlet fever.

Signs and symptoms of scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is a common childhood infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, or group A Streptococcus (GAS). It is not usually serious, but should be treated with antibiotics to reduce the risk of complications (such as pneumonia) and spread to others. The early symptoms of scarlet fever include sore throat, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. After 12 to 48 hours, the characteristic red, pinhead rash develops, typically first appearing on the chest and stomach, then rapidly spreading to other parts of the body, and giving the skin a sandpaper-like texture. The scarlet rash may be harder to spot on darker skin, although the 'sandpaper' feel should be present. Patients typically have flushed cheeks and be pale around the mouth. This may be accompanied by a bright red red ‘strawberry’ tongue.

If you think you, or your child, might have scarlet fever:

contact your GP or NHS 111 as soon as possible
make sure that you or your child take(s) the full course of any antibiotics prescribed. Although you or your child will feel better soon after starting the course of antibiotics, you must complete the course to ensure that you do not carry the bacteria in your throat after you have recovered
stay at home, away from nursery, school or work for at least 24 hours after starting the antibiotic treatment, to avoid spreading the infection

You can help stop the spread of infection through frequent hand washing and by not sharing eating utensils, clothes, bedding and towels. All contaminated tissues should be disposed of immediately.

Invasive Group A Strep (iGAS)

The same bacteria which cause scarlet fever can also cause a range of other types of infection such as skin infections (impetigo) and sore throat. In very rare cases, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause an illness called invasive group A strep (iGAS). Whilst still very uncommon, there has been an increase in iGAS cases this year, particularly in children under 10 years old. It is very rare for children with scarlet fever to develop iGAS infection.

As a parent, you should trust your own judgement.

Contact NHS 111 or your GP if:

your child is getting worse
your child is feeding or eating much less than normal
your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration
your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38C, or is older than 3 months and has a temperature of 39C or higher
your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty
your child is very tired or irritable

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs
there are pauses when your child breathes
your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake

Stop the spread

During periods of high incidence of scarlet fever, there may also be an increase in outbreaks in schools, nurseries and other childcare settings. Children and adults with suspected scarlet fever should stay off nursery / school / work until 24 hours after the start of appropriate antibiotic treatment. Good hygiene practice such as hand washing remains the most important step in preventing and controlling spread of infection.

Resources

NHS – Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Health protection in education and childcare settings

Hand hygiene resources for schools

LADYBIRD BAUBLES FOR THE GRACE KELLY CHILDHOOD CANCER TRUST

Fri 02 Dec 2022 AK

One of our fabulous Year 8 students, Surinder Uppal, has been off very school poorly for a little while now and The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust have very kindly provided us with ‘Clive’ (named by the class) an AV1 robot so that she can join lessons from home or hospital. Clive is a very clever tool and allows Surinder to access the lesson, see what’s going on, participate in the lesson and communicate with friends when she is connected from where ever she may be. The Trust have a Christmas tree going in to Worcester Cathedral and so asked us to make some ladybird baubles for the tree. We enlisted the support of some of Surinder’s friends to help her do this and the results are fab as you can see! Surinder even joined in the one photo on Clive. We hope they look great on the tree and go a little way to say thank you to the trust for their support in allowing us to have Clive!