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Welcome toAstley Primary School
I am extremely proud and privileged to be the Headteacher of Astley Primary School, part of Synergy Multi Academy Trust. We are a school passionate about providing every child with the opportunities, skills and experiences to become a lifelong learner.
The 'Astley Curriculum Experience' (ACE) is at the heart of what we do; we are all ACE learners. We aim to develop happy, confident and kind individuals who are ready to contribute to and engage with life after Astley.
Our school is a fun, challenging, inspiring, positive and ACE place to be, so please do enjoy exploring our website and what Astley has to offer.
Follow us on Instagram @astleyprimary and feel free to come and visit us in action, I am sure you will love Astley as much as we do.
Jen Goakes - Headteacher
Latest News
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Bears, Turtles and Dolphins had a wonderful time exploring our school grounds in Forest School. They
inspected a moth trap, discovering lots of interesting insects that live around our school. Bears, were
fascinated by the different patterns and markings on the moth's wings. The children also visited the orchard,
where they picked their apples straight from our very own the trees!
01263 860212 www.astleyprimary.org.uk office@astleyprimary.org.uk @Astley_Primary
Astley’s Apple Day is taking place on Wednesday 14th October 2026 3:15-5:00pm. Please look out for posters
including more information about this wonderful community event. If you are able to volunteer your time to
help with any of the Apple Day activities or games, please speak to Mr Dart.
Individual and sibling photos took place this week, photos are now being processed by Tempest details on
how to purchase will follow soon.
Next Friday 2nd October is our European Day of Languages. Throughout the day, children will develop their
French vocabulary by exploring and practising words and phrases through games, songs, stories, and
interactive learning experiences. This day helps to promote an awareness of different languages and cultures.
Our new House Team Captains have proudly received their House Team Captain badges. We look forward to
sharing the House Team events with you as they take place throughout the year.
We are excited to announce that our class assemblies will begin next Wednesday 30th September at 2:45pm.
Tiger Class will be kicking things off with the first assembly, and we look forward to welcoming Tigers’ families
to celebrate their learning with us.
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We have had a fantastic first full week back and it has been wonderful to see the school buzzing with energy,
enthusiasm and smiles once again. Over the coming weeks, our assemblies will focus on the theme of British
Values. We encourage you to talk about these at home and ask your children to share what they have been
learning with us in school.
01263 860212 www.astleyprimary.org.uk office@astleyprimary.org.uk @Astley_Primary
We are excited for our clubs to begin next week. There is a range of opportunities on offer, so please take a
look and speak to the office team if you have any questions or would like your child to be added to a waiting
list.
Music remains a very important part of life at Astley, and there are many opportunities for children to get
involved. From lessons with our visiting peripatetic music teachers to performing as part of a Rocksteady
band, there is something for everyone. If you would like to find out more, please speak to our Music Lead, Mr
Dart, or contact the school office.
Every Monday on the playground, we enjoy a selection of our favourite assembly songs to start the week
positively. On Fridays, a member of staff creates their own ACE Music Mix: a playlist of feel-good songs to
take us into the weekend. It has become a firm favourite with both children and staff alike!
We would like to wish our Sharks class a fantastic time on their residential trip to Hilltop next week. We know
they will have an amazing experience and we look forward to hearing all about their adventures when they
return.
Finally, we hope many of you will join us for our Open Morning and Celebration Assembly today, with the
assembly beginning at 9.05am. Have a wonderful weekend.
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Welcome Back! A really warm welcome back to our existing families and a special
first-time welcome to our brand-new Bears. We are delighted that you are all part of our ACE community, and we hope
you are as excited about the year ahead as we are.
Thank you for choosing to be part of Team Astley. It is a privilege to play a role in your children's journey, and we look
forward to continuing to make Astley a very special place to learn, grow and thrive.
I am passionate about providing consistency, fun, a safe environment and a wide range of opportunities for all pupils.
Equally important is ensuring that parents and carers receive clear communication, feel well informed and know that
we are always here to support you.
The school has been buzzing with excitement as we prepare for the new year. Our staff team has been busy planning
engaging learning experiences, enriching opportunities and memorable moments for every child. We have high
expectations for all our pupils and are committed to helping every child achieve their very best while enjoying their time
at school.
Thank you for your support in ensuring children return to school looking smart and ready to learn. School uniform helps
children develop a sense of belonging and pride in our community. Please remember that all items of clothing should
be clearly named and jewellery should be kept to a minimum, with only small stud earrings permitted. Equally smart PE
kits should be worn to school on the designated days shared by class teachers. If you need any support with uniform,
please do not hesitate to contact the school office.
We love welcoming families into school and sharing the wonderful things that our children are achieving. Throughout
the year there will be opportunities to attend assemblies, celebration events, performances and weekly open mornings.
Our first open morning takes place today and provides a fantastic opportunity to visit classrooms, meet staff and see
learning in action. We hope many of you will be able to join us every Friday morning. The first Celebration Assembly will
be next Friday 11th September at 9:05am.
Don't forget to follow our school Instagram account to keep up to date with life at Astley. We regularly share
photographs, celebrations, reminders and highlights from across the school, giving you a glimpse into the exciting
experiences our children enjoy every day @astleyprimary
Strong relationships between home and school are at the heart of everything we do. If you have a question, concern or
simply need some clarification, please get in touch. Class teachers are usually the best first point of contact, but
members of the leadership and office team are always happy to help if needed. We would much rather hear from you
early so that we can work together to support your child. Communication and partnership are key to a successful school
experience, and we value your feedback and involvement throughout the year.
Please take a look at the dates overleaf for key events and reminders for the autumn term. We will continue to share
updates through newsletters, Arbor and Instagram to ensure you have all the information you need.
Thank you for your continued support. Together, we can make this another fantastic year of learning, achievement and
opportunity for every child at Astley. Here's to an ACE year ahead!
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What a week! We have been enjoying a jam-packed summer calendar in true Astley
style. Last Friday, we celebrated the end of another wonderful year with our Summer Fair. Our amazing Friends of
Astley raised just over £400 – a fantastic achievement! Thank you to everyone who gave up their time and energy to
help organise, support and attend the event. We are also incredibly grateful to the Friends for providing each class
with £25 towards an end-of-year celebration, helping our children create special memories together.
I am so proud of our Turtles, Dolphins, Penguins and Sharks, who gave superb performances in this year's Summer
Show, Pirates vs Mermaids. The hard work, enthusiasm and talent on display were truly impressive, and the children
should be incredibly proud of themselves.
A huge thank you goes to Miss Wreford for leading the production, Mr Sayer for his technical expertise, and Miss Jarvis
for managing the lighting, and Mrs Alford and Mrs Borley for designing and painting the wonderful scenery and props. As
always, thank you to our entire staff team for choreographing dances, supporting rehearsals and ensuring everything
ran smoothly. Finally, thank you to all of our families for your unwavering support, helping with costumes and practising
lines and songs at home.
Today, we say goodbye to Miss Hester, who has been a valued member of Team Dolphins this year. We thank her for all
she has contributed to Astley and wish her every success in the next chapter of her career.
We also bid farewell to Miss Harrold after an incredible 17 years of dedication, passion and commitment to Astley. She
has played a significant role in our school's journey and has touched the lives of many children and families over the
years. She will be missed, and we thank her for everything she has done. We wish her happiness and success in her new
adventures and with the new addition to her family.
More exciting news – Miss Peacock will be going on adoption leave over the summer and will be welcoming a new little
boy into her home. We wish Miss Peacock all the best and look forward to seeing her back next year.
Today marks the end of the Astley journey for our Sharks Class of 2026. It has been a privilege to watch them grow, learn
and develop over the past seven years, and we are immensely proud of the young people they have become. Our Year 6
leavers thoroughly enjoyed their Sharkitude Festival, and we celebrated the end of their time with us with a special
camp-out on the school field. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who helped make Sharkitude 2026 such a
memorable and special occasion.
As school will be closed over the summer break, some of your usual routes to support may not be available. If you need
advice or assistance, Just One Norfolk is an excellent source of support. Their website and helpline can be accessed on
0300 300 0123. If you have an urgent safeguarding concern and believe a child may be at risk, please contact the
Children's Advice and Duty Service (CADS) on 0344 800 8020.
As we reach the end of the 2025–2026 academic year, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the entire Astley
community. Your support, encouragement and enthusiasm help make Astley such a special place for every child and
family.
Have a wonderful summer break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back and beginning our next chapter together
on Thursday 3rd September.