Kath Jones’ Retirement

A teaching career of 30 years at Dr Radcliffe’s school in Steeple Aston came to an end in July this year.

Kath Jones first came to Dr. Radcliffe’s in 1972 where she taught until the birth of her children, Jonathan and Oliver. She returned in 1986 and says she has been privileged to work there until this year. Over the years, she has taught almost one thousand children from the Astons and neighbouring villages. “What is wonderful,” she says, “is to hear from past pupils and to see what they are doing with their lives. As a teacher of young children you never see the finished product.”

Kath says what she has enjoyed first and foremost throughout her time at Dr. Radcliffe’s has been the children. “They are so lovely. It’s special being a teacher and a joy to witness their progress.” Kath has also enjoyed being part of a very supportive staff at the school where “everyone works as a team.” She remembers the fun both in the staff room and classroom and shedding tears of laughter with other members of staff, especially her Teaching Assistant, Brenda.

Many changes have taken place at Dr. Radcliffe’s while Kath has been on the staff. She remembers teaching ‘over the road’ in the old horsa huts, which have since been demolished and where the Play Area now stands. To avoid ‘two schools,’ staff took it in turns to have their coffee on alternate sides of the road. But her favourite teaching room was at the back of the ‘new’ building where she had patio doors opening onto a little garden, which was lovely for the children. “I’m sure I spent more time in that garden than I did in my own garden at home!”

Kath thinks that the high standards at Dr. Radcliffe’s may be taken for granted at times, but she believes the children achieve such high standards because they love and respect the staff who teach them. She says how lucky the children are that they also have an environment which includes ‘The Forest’ behind the school, the outdoor theatre, so many after school clubs and the opportunity to take part in award-winning drama and music: “Sometimes I can’t believe that the children in the productions are only 10 and 11 years old.” She wonders if the children realise how lucky they are in comparison with those in other schools.

At the end of the summer term, Kath was presented with a book: ‘The Dr. Radcliffe’s Years.’ Inside are quotations from children and staff and photos of Kath and her classes down the years, bringing back so many memories. Kath is looking forward to visiting Dr. Radcliffe’s from time to time. Meanwhile, she is enjoying having time for her family and grandchildren and returning to hobbies she had no time for before such as walking, baking, cross stitch, knitting and just being in her garden. “I think I’ll have a year of see-what-happens,” she says.

Kath talked to Clare McKinley in September 2010

Rain does not stop play, or music, or dance.

Pupils from Dr Radcliffe’s School had to perform their pieces inside after the planned end-of-term amphitheatre performance was washed out on July 16th. However this did not stop all the performers from putting on a great show.

First up was Year 5 performing a dance routine that they first performed at the Warriner Arts Festival. This time they also performed the parts that were taken up by Deddington School. Flags and lights contributed to a great visual spectacle.

This was followed by the performance of “Out of the Blue”, a short musical show that took second place at the Cheltenham arts festival. A great performance by a large ensemble was greeted with enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Year 3 then performed an extract from the BFG. This was arranged, and rehearsed in their own time, by themselves, with Mrs Smit providing the text. Some lengthy dialogue was recited without a hitch.

Year 6 performing their Cheltenham art festival winning performance “Behind Closed Doors”, which was received with rapturous applause, rounded off the evening.

Congratulations to Class 3

Class 3 children at Dr Radcliffe’s School wanted to raise money for the Parkinsons Disease Society so they took part in a sponsored walk of 6.5km. The walk was a huge success. They have already raised over £900 and the money is still coming in. The children enjoyed the day, despite the effort they had to make to get round the course.

The children, who are 7 or 8, wanted to make a difference and Mrs Tamsin Smit their teacher supported their concern by organising the walk, with encouragement from Mrs Frances Brown, the headteacher.

The walk was done in two loops. The first went round some fields of Tim Taylor’s, and he kindly moved his cows that day so that the children had the fields to themselves. The second part of the loop went through the woods behind the school and then back through the village via Northside.

What I Like Best About Steeple Aston

Here are the winner’s of the Steeple Aston Youth Art & Design Competition and comments on them made by judge Peter Waite.

Up to Sevens

1.Ben Stacey “My Friend Matthew”
A warm happy painting. Very well arranged on the sheet. Simple, but strong and effective use of colour. Good to see the whole sheet coloured!

2.Jessica Willis “The Church”
Well-composed and a nice, confident and sensitive line. Well-observed – even the raised stone in the pathway! Difficult to see the top of the tower at six!

3.Henry Gascoyne “My School”
Bold colour and nicely textured composition. I like the fact that the school crest has been observed and love the way the school attracts the birds!

4.Maddie Boote “My Family Under a Rainbow”
A loving way to show your family. Strong and bold colour and design, filling the sheet.

5.Lucia Cox “Riding the Fields”
An imaginative theme. Full of the movement that horse-riding suggests. Love the flying hair!

Eight to Elevens

1.Gregor Rae “What I Like Best About Steeple Aston”
An imaginative way of presenting all the things of interest in an illustrative, graphic way. Nicely observed details and well laid out.

2.Amy Osman “Steeple Aston Fete”
Nicely observed and sensitive tinted drawing.

3.Rebecca Babbage
All the parts of the park observed, with descriptive colours and textures.

Equal 4th Isabella Lang
James Babbage
Charlie Ellis

Thank you to all of you who took part in the competition, and to your teachers and parents too.