Headteacher: Mrs R. Mobbs School Vision:“Growing Today, Ready for Tomorrow!”
Dear Parents/Carers,
As we come to the end of another action-packed year, we reflect on what has been another brilliant year at Whitchurch Combined School. From sporting successes to exciting PTA Music festivals and memorable trips, our pupils have embraced every opportunity and achieved so much. We are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished throughout the year.
Goodbyes!
Sadly, this time of year also brings opportunities to say goodbye. Earlier this term, we said farewell to Mrs Forsythe, and now we also say goodbye to Miss Johnstone, who has been working in Reception Class. Although she has only been with us for a short time, she has made a wonderful impression on both the children and staff. We know that everyone in Reception and across the school will miss her, and we wish her every success for the future.
We also say goodbye to Mrs Heron, one of our dedicated Teaching Assistants, who is leaving the school to move to Norfolk. Mrs Heron has been a valued member of our school community, and her kindness, commitment, and support for our children will be greatly missed. We thank her for all she has contributed during her time with us and wish her every happiness and success as she begins this exciting new chapter.
Today, we also said goodbye to our Year 6 pupils - the Class of 2026. They enjoyed an emotional Leavers’ assembly, where we celebrated their many achievements and reflected on their journey through primary school. This was followed by their end-of-year celebrations at Oving Village Hall, providing a fitting opportunity to mark the end of a very special chapter. We are immensely proud of each and every one of them and wish them the very best as they begin their secondary school adventures.
Finally, we say goodbye to a number of families whose children have now completed their journey through Whitchurch Combined School. Thank you for your support, encouragement and involvement over the years. You will always remain a valued part of our school community.
Goodbye, good luck, and best wishes to all of our leavers. We hope you take with you many happy memories of your time at Whitchurch Combined School and we look forward to hearing about your future successes.
Whitfest 2026
A Fantastic Community Celebration!
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for Whitfest 2026 and helped make it such a memorable evening. It was wonderful to see so many families, friends and members of our community coming together to enjoy the sunshine and celebrate another successful school year.
The event was filled with live music, delicious food, exciting activities and plenty of smiles, creating a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish. It was lovely to see children and adults alike enjoying everything that was on offer and making lasting memories together.
A special thank you must go to our incredible volunteers, PTA, performers, stall holders and organisers, whose hard work and dedication behind the scenes ensured the event ran so smoothly. We are also incredibly grateful to everyone who attended and supported the evening. Events like Whitfest are only possible because of the strength and generosity of our wonderful school community.
We made a staggering £4,238.06! The school and PTA will work together in the new academic year to think about how best to spend this amount.
Thank you once again for your support, and we look forward to seeing you at future PTA events!
Another year, another victory for Whitchurch Combined School!
We are incredibly proud to announce that Whitchurch Combined School were crowned District Sports Champions 2026, securing another fantastic first-place finish at the annual competition held at Stoke Mandeville Stadium.
Led by Mrs Spring, a strong and determined team of Key Stage 2 pupils travelled to Aylesbury earlier this month on a warm July evening to compete against local schools in a range of athletics events. The children took part in shot put, long jump, 60m and 80m sprints, 600m and 800m distance races, and relay events, demonstrating outstanding effort, determination and sportsmanship throughout the evening.
There were some excellent individual performances, including Annabelle’s 1st place finish in the 800m race and Evie’s victory in the Girls’ 80m Sprint. These achievements were superb; however, the real strength of the team came from the remarkable number of 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishes secured across all events. The consistency and teamwork shown by every member of the squad ensured that Whitchurch were crowned overall champions once again!
A huge thank you must go to all the parents and families who came along to support and cheer on the children. Your encouragement helped create a wonderful atmosphere and was greatly appreciated by everyone involved.
This latest success means that Whitchurch Combined School has now won 3 of the last 4 District Sports competitions we have entered – an incredible achievement and a testament to the hard work, commitment and talent of our pupils and staff.
Congratulations to the entire team on another outstanding performance – we are incredibly proud of you all!
Governors' Progress Awards 2026
The Governors’ Progress Awards celebrate pupils who have made excellent progress in Reading, Writing and Maths throughout the academic year. These awards recognise the hard work, determination and commitment shown by children in their learning across all year groups.
The awards were presented by our Governors during a special assembly on Tuesday 21st July. Each recipient received a certificate, and the overall winner from each year group was also awarded a £5 book token in recognition of their outstanding achievement.
Congratulations to all of our award winners:
Reception
Reading: Oliver
Writing: Auden
Maths: Iris
Overall Winner:Oliver
Year 1
Reading: Cora
Writing: Leo
Maths: Jacob
Overall Winner:Leo
Year 2
Reading: Florence
Writing: Dougie
Maths: Matilda
Overall Winner: Dougie
Year 3
Reading: Reuben
Writing: Ava
Maths: Arianna
Overall Winner:Ava
Year 4
Reading: Aarith
Writing: Sophie
Maths: Max
Overall Winner:Max
Year 5
Reading: Amelia
Writing: Affan
Maths: Erin
Overall Winner:Erin
Year 6
Reading: Ethan W
Writing: Otto
Maths: Lilly K
Overall Winner:Lilly K
Well done to all of our winners! These awards recognise the fantastic progress you have made this year and the dedication you have shown in your learning. We are incredibly proud of your achievements and look forward to seeing your continued success in the future.
The Simon Blore Award 2026
The Simon Blore Award is presented to one child in each year group who has consistently demonstrated the Whitchurch values throughout the year. These pupils have stood out for their kindness, determination, curiosity, respect and positive attitude, serving as excellent role models for their peers.
We are delighted to recognise the following children as this year's recipients:
Reception: Daisy
Year 1: Aditi
Year 2: Ruby G
Year 3: Margot
Year 4: Hannah
Year 5: Alec
Year 6: Olive and Ottilie
A special congratulations goes to Hannah, our overall Winner! Hannah consistently demonstrates everything that our school values represent. She is always happy, polite, curious and eager to learn, and she approaches every opportunity with enthusiasm, a positive attitude and real resilience! Hannah truly embodies the spirit of Whitchurch Combined School and is a deserving recipient of this year's award.
Congratulations to all of our Simon Blore Award winners - we are incredibly proud of you all!
Lillian Price Award 2026
The Lillian Price Award is presented to a Year 6 pupil who has made an exceptional contribution to school life through their dedication, commitment and service to the school community.
We are delighted to announce that Benny was this year's recipient in recognition of his outstanding service to Whitchurch Combined School. Throughout his time at the school, Benny has demonstrated a positive attitude, a willingness to help others and a commitment to making a difference within our school community. He is also the most committed librarian we have ever had, and we know Ms Brown will definitely miss him!
This is a truly special honour and a reflection of the impact Benny has had on both staff and fellow pupils during his time at Whitchurch.
Congratulations, Benny, on this fantastic achievement. We are incredibly proud of you and wish you every success for the future!
Karen Hunt Sports Awards 2026
Our Sports Awards for Year 6 pupils have been renamed the Karen Hunt Sports Award in recognition of the incredible contribution Mrs Hunt made to sport during her many years at the school.
Congratulations to Annabelle and Mollie, who were the recipients of the awards this year. Annabelle has participated in and attended every sporting event available over the last couple of years, and her dedication has been crowned by her outstanding victory in the 800m at the District Sports Championships.
Mollie has also taken part in every event available and has been a real trailblazer for girls’ football at our school, becoming the first girl to play alongside the Year 5 and 6 mixed team. We are sure both girls will go on to achieve even greater things in the future - we may even have an Olympic athlete or a professional footballer in our midst! Well done to both girls for their fantastic achievements.
More Sporting Success!
We are delighted to celebrate more sporting success from our pupils.
Annabelle and Eliza have successfully progressed to the second round of County Netball Trials following an impressive first round of selections. This is a fantastic achievement, and we wish them both the very best of luck in the next stage of the process.
We are also thrilled to share that Ruby (Year 5) has been selected for County Netball after taking part in a highly competitive and rigorous selection process. This is a tremendous accomplishment and reflects her hard work, talent and dedication to the sport.
Anvitaa (Year 5) also took part in the County Netball trials. Although she was not selected on this occasion, reaching the trial stage is an achievement in itself, and we are very proud of her efforts and commitment.
Well done to all four girls for representing the school so positively. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and wish Annabelle and Eliza every success in the next round of the county selection process.
David Meakin Creative Arts Award
This year, we were proud to introduce the David Meakin Creative Arts Award in memory of the late Reverend David Meakin, a much-loved former vicar and supporter of our school.
The award recognises children who have demonstrated creativity and artistic talent throughout the year, whether through Art, Design and Technology, creative dance, music, drama, or other creative pursuits. It celebrates those pupils who have embraced the arts and shown imagination, originality and a passion for creativity. Thank you to David's wife, Heidi, and daughter, Tatiana, for coming in to present the trophy.
Congratulations to our class winners:
Reception: Charlotte
Year 1: Finn
Year 2: Sienna W
Year 3: Elliot
Year 4: Oliver
Year 5: Violet
Year 6: Eliza
A special congratulations goes to Eliza, Year 6, who was selected as the overall winner of the David Meakin Creative Arts Award 2026.
Eliza has consistently demonstrated an outstanding commitment to dance and performance. Not only does she dance brilliantly outside of school with KaSo Academy, but she has also showcased her talent and enthusiasm in school, where she has helped Mrs Hutton lead dance classes in Year 6. She is a real role model for her peers!
Well done, Eliza, and congratulations to all of our award winners. We are incredibly proud of your creativity, dedication and artistic achievements.
School Trips
Our exciting programme of school trips has continued well into the summer term, providing pupils with memorable experiences and enriching learning opportunities beyond the classroom.
Recent highlights have included:
Year 4's visit to Verulamium, where pupils stepped back in time to explore the fascinating world of the Romans.
Year 1's trip to Whipsnade Zoo, giving children the chance to learn about a wide range of animals and their habitats.
Year 6 Summer of Fun – Gravity Trip, where pupils enjoyed an action-packed day of activities with friends.
Year 6 Summer of Fun – Lunch at The White Swan, a special opportunity for pupils to celebrate the end of their primary school journey together.
These trips have been filled with learning, laughter, and new experiences, creating wonderful memories for all involved.
To find out more and see photographs from these fantastic visits, head to the School Trips page on our website!
At the beginning of July, we were delighted to welcome PC Helen Gardner, who is also a parent of one of our Year 5 children, to lead a fascinating and interactive assembly about her work as a Police Officer at Heathrow Airport!
PC Gardner explained how curiosity is one of the most important skills in policing, helping officers and forensic scientists investigate incidents, gather evidence and solve crimes. She also introduced the children to some of the science behind catching criminals, including how fingerprints can be used to identify suspects.
The children learned about the many different careers available within the police service and the pathways people can take to become police officers. They were fascinated to discover the wide range of roles that help keep our communities safe.
The highlight of the assembly was a mock crime investigation that took place right in our school! The crime scene involved a broken glass in the Reception outside Mrs Berridge's office, with Mrs Rose, Mrs Evans and Mrs Norder all identified as suspects. The children were even given the opportunity to choose the correct forensic tools needed to investigate the crime, making the experience highly engaging and interactive.
Using forensic techniques, the children gathered evidence, took fingerprints and consulted the results from the "crime laboratory". With PC Gardner's expert guidance, they carefully pieced together the clues to solve the mystery. Turning the investigation into a hands-on activity captured everyone's attention, and it was wonderful to see the children so enthusiastic and eager to uncover the culprit.
After a thorough investigation, the evidence revealed that Mrs Evans was the culprit! With the help of Emily from Year 4, PC Gardner arrested Mrs Evans and led her away to the delight of the audience.
A huge thank you to PC Gardner for delivering such an exciting and memorable assembly. It perfectly reflected our school vision of "Growing Today, Ready for Tomorrow", inspiring many of our children to think about future careers in policing and forensic science.
Emily, Year 4, said:
"We knew Mrs Evans would be the criminal(!), but it was really great to learn about the different jobs in the police force."
Year 6's Fantastic Performance of Gigglebox!
A huge well done to Year 6, who put on a brilliant performance for their parents last week with their production of Gigglebox, inspired by the popular Channel 4 television programme.
The show featured a variety of hilarious sketches, including Strictly Fun Dancing, Celebrity Cake-Off, and Survivors – starring a crack team of midday supervisors! The children's comic timing and confidence were outstanding, and they had the audience in absolute hysterics from start to finish.
Annabelle said, "We loved how Gigglebox related to the real-life television series and we all loved singing the Pritt-Stick song, especially with Eliza - it was really funny!"
A very special thank you goes to everyone who helped bring the production to life. We are incredibly grateful to:
Mrs Brentnall
Mrs Ledwith, who choreographed the dancing
Mrs Evans, who managed the props, lighting and music
Reece, one of our former pupils, who returned to help Mrs Evans with the music and lighting
Mrs Hutton and Mrs Bareham, who oversaw and coordinated the entire production
The show was a wonderful celebration of the children's talents and hard work, and it was clear how much effort had gone into every aspect of the performance.
Congratulations to Year 6 and everyone involved for putting on such a memorable and entertaining show!
Guitar Stars Shine in Whole School Performance!
In July, our talented guitarists, led by the wonderful Mr Allen, performed to the whole school and their families in a fantastic showcase of their musical achievements.
A special congratulations goes to our Year 2 guitarists, who performed in front of an audience for the very first time. They showed tremendous confidence and enthusiasm and were simply amazing!
Arthur and Dougie performed Wild Thing brilliantly, while William, Finnian, Layla and Lily delighted the audience with their performance of Sunday Morning. We were incredibly proud of all of them.
Dougie commented:
"Learning to play the guitar with Mr Allen is fun and enjoyable. He's a great teacher."
We were also treated to a performance from Tristan, who has been learning guitar with Mr Allen for over two years. Tristan performed Rock Me Mama, a traditional blues piece, showcasing excellent skill and musicality.
Tristan said:
"Mr Allen doesn't just teach you the pieces of music; he teaches you lots of different techniques for when some of the pieces get tricky. He also lets you learn electric guitar pieces too – we even had an electric guitar session together, which was so cool!"
Mr Allen's enthusiasm, expertise and ability to inspire young musicians have helped our guitarists grow in confidence and develop a real love of music. From beginners in Year 2 to more experienced players in Year 6, he supports every child to achieve their best and enjoy their musical journey.
If your child would like to learn the guitar, lessons are available from Year 2 through to Year 6. For further information, please contact Mrs Berridge in the school office.
Well done to all our guitarists, and a huge thank you to Mr Allen for his outstanding teaching and dedication!
A Busy and Exciting July at School!
July has been a wonderfully busy month, with lots of exciting events taking place across the school. Our children have enjoyed a range of opportunities to learn, compete, perform and celebrate their achievements.
Some of the highlights have included:
PGL Assembly
Year 4 Cricket at Stewkley
Year 3/4 Football Friendly
Reading Olympics
These events have provided fantastic experiences for our pupils and have helped to create many special memories as we approach the end of the school year.
Please visit our School Events page and Sports Pages to read more about these activities and see what our children have been getting up to throughout July!
Meet the Teacher Sessions
Earlier this month, our children had the exciting opportunity to transition into their new classes for a morning, where they met their new teachers and began to familiarise themselves with their classrooms ahead of September.
It was wonderful to see the children approaching this change with such enthusiasm, and we know that these transition sessions have helped them feel confident and prepared for the new academic year.
We would also like to say a big thank you to all the parents and carers who attended our Meet the Teacher sessions. We hope you found the meetings both useful and informative, and that they provided a valuable opportunity to learn more about your child's new class and the year ahead.
There is a real sense of excitement across the school, and we know that both teachers and pupils are looking forward to September and all the opportunities the new school year will bring. We can't wait to welcome everyone back and begin another fantastic year of learning together.
A Big Thank You to Our Wonderful School Community!
As it is now tradition at Whitchurch, we love to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone who helps make our school such a success.
Whether it's our hard-working Governors and PTA, our parents who support sports coaching, our work experience hosts, our volunteer readers, Chris Wilkie and Single Mode Networks who provide our high-speed internet, parents who have provided air-conditioning units in the recent heat wave, or the many others who give their time and expertise, you all play an important role in making our children's time at Whitchurch so special.
We were delighted to welcome so many of our supporters to our annual thank you event. Guests enjoyed tea, coffee and delicious cake, along with a variety of wonderful performances from our children, wonderfully hosted by Mrs Mobbs.
Your continued support, encouragement and generosity make a real difference to our school community, and we are incredibly grateful for everything you do.
Thank you for helping to make Whitchurch such a special place to learn, grow and thrive.
Annual KS2 Speech Competition
On Monday, we held our annual Speech Competition for children in Years 4, 5 and 6. Each child prepared and delivered a presentation featuring a two-minute extract and a two-minute discussion about a favourite book or topic of their choice.
Following the class rounds, four children from each year group were selected to perform in front of their parents and the wider Key Stage 2 audience. The standard was exceptionally high, and all of the finalists spoke with confidence, clarity and enthusiasm, fully engaging their audience throughout their presentations.
A huge thank you goes to Mrs Carson and Mrs Mobbs, who had the very difficult task of judging the competition.
Year 6
For the first time ever, the judges could not separate the top two speakers, resulting in joint winners:
Lily W and Erin – Joint Winners
Tommi and Olive – Finalists
Year 5
Bartie – Winner
Affan – Runner-up
Roisin and Amelia – Finalists
Year 4
Tristan – Winner
Hannah – Runner-up
Sofia and Brooke – Finalists
Congratulations to all the children who took part. The confidence, preparation and speaking skills on display were outstanding, and we are incredibly proud of everyone involved. Well done to all our finalists and winners for making this year’s competition such a success!
House Cup Winners 2025–2026
A huge well done to Mentmore House, led brilliantly by Ottilie and Tom, for winning the House Cup for 2025–2026!
Throughout the year, children from across the school have worked incredibly hard to earn Dojos and House Points, making a fantastic contribution to their house totals. Their dedication, perseverance and positive attitudes have made this year's competition both exciting and closely contested.
We are delighted to announce that Mentmore House finished at the top of the leaderboard, securing the House Cup for the second year running, having also been crowned champions last year. This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the teamwork, commitment and enthusiasm shown by all members of the house.
A special congratulations goes to Ottilie and Tom for their excellent leadership throughout the year, encouraging their fellow house members to always do their best.
Well done to everyone across the school for taking part and contributing to this year's house competition. Every Dojo, every House Point, and every act of hard work, kindness and teamwork helped make this another successful year.
Congratulations, Mentmore House – House Cup Champions 2025–2026!
Ottilie with the House Cup!
S4A Summer Holiday Club – A Summer Full of Fun!
S4A will once again be running their Summer Holiday Club at Whitchurch Combined School, offering children a fantastic programme of activities throughout the summer break. With exciting themed days and a wide range of activities, there will be plenty to keep children active, engaged and entertained all summer long.
Some of the themed days on offer include:
Lazy Day
Water Day
Wheelie Wednesday
Carnival Day
Garden Party
Cooking Day
The holiday club is based at Whitchurch Combined School and provides a fun, safe and welcoming environment where children can enjoy a variety of activities and make lasting memories with friends.
We hope many of our children will take advantage of this fantastic opportunity for a summer full of fun, friendship and adventure!
We hope you all have an amazing summer holiday and enjoy spending quality time with family and friends. Thank you for your continued support throughout the year and for helping to make it such a successful one for the children.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Wednesday 2nd September 2026, ready for an exciting new academic year. We wish all our families a fantastic summer and look forward to seeing you in September.
