Dear Parents/Guardians,

As we reach the last day of term and come towards the end of another year, I would like to thank you for all your care, help, understanding and support during what has been a very positive and productive year at Cardinal Newman.

We are blessed with enthusiastic children, supportive parents, insightful governors and dedicated school staff who form such a special community, which enables great things to happen. I would like to thank the PA for their tireless efforts raising funds this year for the school, totalling an amazing £37,000.

We have a great deal to celebrate this year!

Academic

We are not defined as a school by our academic results, however the children have worked so hard this year, and it is only right to celebrate their successes.

Phonics (Year 1): Outstanding phonics results in year 1, where 98% of our children reached the expected standard.

Multiplication and Tables Check (Year 4): Children achieving full marks – 25/25 =72% – a fantastic effort, well done year 4!

Y6 SATs

Our Year 6 results demonstrate years of building on solid foundations, which culminates in their final year.

The Maths statistic is especially rewarding for us as a school. It is always a target for all staff -that all children leave Cardinal Newman having reached the expected standard.

Broad and Balanced Curriculum

At open mornings, we are very keen to set out that our aim is for all our children to have the opportunity to excel in a range of different activities. Here are a few of the highlights from this year:

• Royal Academy Portrait competition
• Year 4 classes performed in public in a combined choir at Dorking Halls
• Year 6 children Achieving the Faith in Action Award
• School hosting the Xavier Musician of the Year
• School Council visited The National Gallery and Downing Street
• School Productions in all year groups, including Y6 The Greatest Show, Y2 Great Fire of London, Y3 Egyptians and Y4 Romans
• Y5/6 Girls Football Royal Holloway -winners
• Y5/6 Girls Football Surrey Country Finals - Knockout stage
• Y5/6 Girls Football Knockout Cup runners up
• Y5/6 Girls Football League -winners
• Y6 Girls Football Freddie Driessen Tournament -winners
• 2nd at 2026 Panathlon competition
• Y3/4 Dodgeball tournament -winners
• Y5/6 Girls Dodgeball tournament -winners
• Y6 Mini Olympics competition at Salesians- winners
• Y4 Boys 2nd at cross country Notre Dame
• Y5 Boys 2nd at cross country Notre Dame
• Y6 Netball runners up
• Thirty Y5 and Y6 children competed in the National 11-14 Maths Challenge with 3 children competing in the bonus round
• Whole School Science Fair for all year groups with winners participating in a Xavier Trust Science Fair at ACS in Cobham
• “Aim High” workshops for the local area were hosted at Cardinal Newman for children to fulfil their potential in Writing, Maths and Science

‘Pupils benefit from the many and varied extra-curricular activities and clubs on offer. Musical performances and other special events enable pupils to showcase their talents. Every pupil is encouraged to ‘shine’ in their own unique way’. Ofsted March 2024

Prayer and Liturgy

The prayer and liturgy of the school continued to blossom this year. Our children continue to lead aspects of collective worship, and they participate beautifully in the singing of hymns. Every child has participated reverently in whole school Mass and their understanding continues to grow. Children in Year 3 upwards have had the opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration in our school chapel throughout the academic year. Our Year 6 children have completed the Faith in Action award.

It is at this time of the year that we prepare to say goodbye to Year 6 and we wish them all the very best for the future. I shared a book with the year 6 children at the start of the year and again yesterday called ‘Remarkably You’ with the message ‘Follow your path. Do what you love to do. Be completely, uniquely, remarkably YOU.’

To those families who are now leaving Cardinal Newman, please do stay in contact and let us know what the future brings.

We are incredibly appreciative of all the support we receive from all of our community, whether that be volunteering for trips, making financial contributions, sending appreciative emails of thanks, helping out with PA events, hearing readers or donating uniform…. Thank you for all you have done to support our school this year. We wish you a very happy summer holiday.

Best Wishes

Gerry Flower

News/notes

External Clubs for September

External clubs are available to book for September. Please see our website here for more details.

Chertsey Museum

Parking

Parking is available in the Coronation Rec car park which is just a short walk away from school. Alternatively, you can park for free at Hersham station car park on Walton Park with a permit which you can obtain by emailing the school office your car registration plate.

Please also note that parents dropping their children off for Breakfast Club or any morning clubs are not allowed to park in the school car park.

National Online Safety: Wake Up Wednesday Guides for Parents 

We would like to make you aware of our ‘online safety’ advice, guidance and support page called ‘Wake Up Wednesday - what parents / carers need to know’.

Wake Up Wednesday, created by The National College, aims to inform parents and carers on topics such as social media platforms, gaming, and iPad security. They include top tips, important reminders and reality checks on a wide range of online safety topics. They are a great resource to keep up to date with the issues children may encounter. 

We will post relevant articles of interest that should help you and your child here on our website.

We thank you for your ongoing support in assuring the safety of our pupils online.