Upton Village

South Oxfordshire

Blewbury School Ofsted Report

For all parents, the importance and value of a good, local school is perhaps immeasurable. Your child will spend many years there and gain the basis for both secondary school and life thereafter. As many in Upton will be aware, the teachers and support staff at Blewbury School have been working exceptionally hard to maintain and improve our local school. I am very pleased to report that this dedication has enabled the school to achieve not only a “good” Ofsted rating, but one with significant “outstanding” elements. I believe the best way to summarise the report is to let it speak for itself:

“The school provides an exceptional curriculum” which “captures pupils’ enthusiasm for learning and their thirst for knowledge.”

“….teaching and learning are of consistently good quality and some lessons are outstanding.”

“Teachers… invariably set interesting and challenging activities that are well matched to pupils’ interests and learning needs”

“The curriculum is exceptionally well enriched by a wide range of visits that support learning, including residential visits for all Key Stage 2 pupils, and also by visitors to the school.”

“Pupils in all year groups are eager to learn, enjoy coming to school and behave exceptionally well.”

“Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are outstanding.”

“Pupils are proud of their contribution to the school and to the lives of others through membership of the influential school council and eco-councils” and “thrive on the many opportunities that they have to take responsibility”.

“Parents were unanimous in saying that their children enjoy school and this is reflected in the exceptionally high levels of attendance.”

“The school emphasis on the international dimension is a great strength…..” “The outstanding emphasis on global development has enabled the pupils to have a highly developed sense of the importance of global understanding.”

“There is a good emphasis on the arts, particularly music, which successfully encourages pupils to develop their specific talents and interests.”

On behalf of us all, I would like to thank Marion Mills (Head Teacher), all the teachers, support staff, children, parents and wider community for the work they do to help develop and maintain the great school we have. Thankyou!

Andrea Brown, Parent & School Governor

The full Ofsted report can be accessed via the school website: http://oxfordshire.schooljotter.com/blewbury

Please make purchases through www.buy.at/blewburyschool and help boost our funds!

THE OXFORDSHIRE BEFRIENDING NETWORK

Volunteers supporting people with life threatening and terminal illness

Would you like to make a difference in 2009?

Being diagnosed with a serious illness can be one of the most overwhelming experiences anyone can face, as it involves not only coping with the symptoms of the illness, but a huge adjustment in lifestyle and often social isolation.

Having a regular visitor, someone outside the immediate family, who will listen, can offer emotional support and be willing to accompany the ill person on their ‘journey’ can be invaluable.

We are currently looking for new befriending volunteers and we offer free training, expenses and on-going support.

Our next Befriending trainings start in Oxford in May/June and October 2009.

If you can offer 2-3 hours a week to befriend someone living in your area, are warm, compassionate and emotionally mature please contact us on 01865 791781 or email: enquiries@oxonbefriending.net for a Befriending information pack and application form.

We also run an Advocacy service and will be running training for Volunteer Advocates in April. For Advocacy enquiries, please ask for Jan Penrose or email: jan.penrose@oxonbefriending.net

Managing Diabetes

Woodlands Medical Centre, Didcot have arranged a talk by Professor David Matthews, Churchill Hospital Oxford on ‘Managing Diabetes’ it is aimed at helping patients and their carers manage their diabetes condition and will cover:

· What is diabetes?

· How does it affect you?

· Keeping control

· How to manage diabetes when you are ill

· Healthy eating

The talk will be on Monday 20th April 2009 at 7pm in the ‘CORNERSTONE’ Arts Centre DIDCOT

There is no charge but places are limited so please book your place(s) by ringing or leaving a message with your name and telephone number on 01235 750524

Parish Precept 2009-2010

For the year starting April 2009 the council has decided to keep its precept (the amount of your council tax that comes back to the parish) at £7250. This will be the fourth year at this level.

The cost to the average household will be 85P per week.

Parish Transport Representative

The Parish Council is looking for a volunteer to take on the role of Parish Transport Representative or someone who is prepared to assist the P.C. in monitoring the bus service and supplying the council with figures on usage and performance.

If you think you can help us in this area please give Mike Brown a call (850135) and he will go through what the job entails or agree with you the parts of the job where your input would be appreciated.

It is essential if we are to maintain our present level of bus service that we make ourselves heard in areas where decisions are made.

Police Surgery

Mike Claydon one of our local community police officers will be holding a police surgery at Upton village hall on the 23rd February 2009 at 19.00-20.00 hrs.

The surgery will be on a one to one basis where villagers can talk in confidence with Mike about any issues they feel he may be able to help with in his capacity as a PCSO.

Stolen Car

A White Vauxhall Brava 4 x 4 was stolen from outside a house in Fieldside, Upton on Sunday evening (18th January 2009) at around 8.30pm.

If anyone saw anything would they please contact the police on 08458505505.

Upton Oil Syndicate

The Upton oil syndicate has been open to other villages for a number of years and seems to be ‘spreading its wings’ as I receive requests to join from new locations.

Now with a membership of over 300 people, it makes sense to continue with the syndicate – reducing the cost of heating for many local families.

As you may have found out by now, we have moved out of the village and now live closer to the boy’s schools in Pangbourne. My contact details are (preferably by e-mail) colin.batchelor@eggconnect.net or by telephone 0118 984 1126 (after 7.00pm).

If you haven’t got round to making contact but wish to join, just drop me a line and I can send you all the details.

The next order is scheduled for mid January. To be included, I need to have your orders by Saturday 10th January at the latest.

Colin Batchelor

January Drop In

January marks the start of the second year of our Drop-in sessions and, providing our numbers stay up, I guess it will become a permanent feature of our Village life. I’m always open to suggestions as to what else we could offer during these sessions, so if there’s something you would like to see us doing, or if you have any good ideas, please don’t keep them to yourself. We’d love to hear them.

The next three sessions will be at the usual time of 10.30 – 12.00 noon on the following Thursday mornings: 8 January, 22 January, 5 February.

If you need transport to the Village Hall please give me a ring. We may be able to help – especially if you could let me know the day before.

We look forward to seeing you.

Yvonne Collins 01235 850989

Tony West Memorial Fund

A total of £425 has been contributed to Tony’s memorial fund. This reflects both the respect and affection with which Tony was regarded.

Jessie proposes to use this money to fulfill Tony’s ambition to replace the existing sanctuary lamp in St Mary’s with something more worthy. The new lamp has been selected but will need approval from the diocese before it is purchased and installed.