This week we were pleased to welcome the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow and Dr Tom Wilson, the Director of the St Philips Interfaith Centre to Avanti Fields for a visit. Our Year 10 students had a Q&A session with them, which included some very thoughtful and insightful questions posed, and then a tour of the school. The visit has supported the Year 10 students in their GCSE Religious Studies course to provide some real-life opportunities to learn more about Christianity.

From January, the school will be implementing a curriculum and timetable change for all students and staff. An operational decision to move to a “setting” model for students in English, Mathematics, Science and Spanish (KS3 only), rather than the current “streaming” model has been agreed by the Trust. Setting students in their core subjects will allow for greater personalisation of learning for all students, ensuring that students are able to be stretched and challenged appropriately. The school is currently conducting a short staff consultation on how students in KS3 are taught in all of their remaining subjects, and this information will be communicated to parents in the upcoming weeks. Should you have a query regarding these changes, please contact Miss Bardsley. 

The timetable change will also allow the school to launch a House system across the school. Students will be allocated a house of either Aether, Air, Cosmos, Earth, Fire or Water based on their current form classes. Introducing a house system will promote greater opportunities for student leadership, collaboration between year groups of students and add another positive aspect to our current behaviour practices. 

Finally, I would like to thank Mr Kite for his strong and steady leadership from the summer term last year and into the start of this year. Mr Kite is returning to Krishna Avanti Primary School this week, a slightly earlier transition than was previously communicated. The leadership, guidance and stability that Mr Kite has provided in his tenure at Avanti Fields has ensured that all staff and students were safely able to begin their learning in their brand-new building this year. Should you have any queries around the early transition, please contact Dipak Patel from the SSC. 

This Thursday all students received a whole school Remembrance assembly and observed two minutes to remember those who sadly lost their lives in conflict all around the world. 

This week students in year 8 had the wonderful opportunity to visit the theatre to watch ‘The lion, the witch and the wardrobe’ at the prestigious Curve Theatre in Leicester. For many of our students it was their first ever visit to the theatre and we are thrilled to have trips running again and look forward to many more. 

Here’s what our students thought:

‘Very impressed with the whole production’ – Niyam

‘I really liked the use of puppets for the Lion, Aslan’ – Krishna

‘It was really good and there were scenes that surprised me. I liked when the White Queen was lifted in the air and her dress reached down to the floor.’ – Shivani

Netball has really taken off at Avanti Fields this term and been successful with lots of students attending the club. We had competitive teams in years 7, 8 and 10 (mix of years 9 and 10) playing in the Leicester city schools East league. All teams have played numerous games against many other city schools. Well done to all girls for their effort and perseverance with the games in the face of some tough competition. We look forward to developing as a team and competing in more fixtures.

Next week is anti-bullying week and there will be year group assemblies on this year’s theme of ‘one kind word’ for all students. Throughout the week students will engage in a range of tutor activities to support this year’s theme and there will be a competition for students to design a unity flag competition incorporating kindness and our Avanti values. The winners design will be used as the whole school anti bullying logo. 

Yours sincerely

Miss Bardsley

Acting Principal