Welcome to Appledore School

Appledore School is located in the heart of an ancient fishing village, rich in maritime history, where the River Torridge meets the River Taw in beautiful North Devon.

We have approximately two hundred and fifty children, aged 3-11, taught in single age classes with names linked to the sea. Many are named after famous ships built in Appledore Shipyard and reflect our pupils’ pride in their local heritage and community.

Through a rich and rigorous curriculum, our pupils play an active part in their local community and prepare for life’s opportunities, responsibilities and experiences, now and in the future. The creative arts are of huge importance to us and our art studio, woodland and polytunnel are the creative hubs of the school and our main corridor is our art gallery! We are part of a cooperative trust of schools and a training school for student teachers.

We hope you can find the information you are looking for, but if you can’t please do not hesitate to contact us and we will do all we can to help.  And as for the quotes, they are real!

From all the staff and pupils at Appledore School

Please note, we are a nut-free school.

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Sports Day Arrangements – 17th June 2025
May 20, 2025
Good afternoon,
We are looking forward to Sports Day on Tuesday 17th of June. These are the current plans for the day, please be aware changes may be required before the day or during the day in response to the weather and unforeseen circumstances.
School will open at the normal time and parents can take their places on the field once their child has gone into their classroom.
9.30am -11.30am: races for children in Years 1-6 will take place and parents and carers of children in these year groups are very welcome to attend. Please sit behind the roped off area. After these races all children will then go back to class for a short period of time.
12pm-1pm: Parents and carers are invited to stay to picnic with their children from reception to year 6 on the field. Children in years 1&2 can be collected from their classrooms, children in Reception from the Foundation Stage Unit and children in years 3-6 will come out to meet their parents.
Please stay on the field and do not enter the wooded area.
Children in Reception and years 1&2 that do not have parents attending will eat a school dinner in the hall as per usual. They will be having a School Packed Lunch instead of the usual Menu as there will be no hot meals that day. If you would like your child to be provided with a lunch please complete this form. Children in years 3-6 who do not have parents attending will eat their home packed lunch on the playground.
12.45pm: the children are called back to class for the register
1.15pm the activities for all children from Reception to year 6 will start. Children will be placed into house teams and will take part in a number of different activities. You are welcome to move around with your child’s team and support them in their activities.
Please can children in years 1-6 come to school wearing their PE kit. If possible they can wear a t-shirt in the colour of their house instead of their usual white PE shirt.  Children in Reception to wear a house colour t-shirt if possible (please see notice board outside FSU for which house/colour) and trainers.
Please ensure your child has a sun hat, named water bottle and applied sunscreen that lasts for the day.
When the afternoon activities have finished (no later than 2.30pm) all children will return to their classroom. Parents and carers can collect their children soon after as per usual arrangements. Older children who normally walk home will not be released from school until the usual end of day time of 3.30pm.
Best wishes
Appledore School
Newsletter for the week ending Friday 16th May
May 16, 2025

Year 6 SATs week always seems to bring the best weather and this year as no exception! Well done to all our year 6 pupils who approached it with such maturity and thank you to all the staff and external volunteers who helped this week to ensure it all ran so smoothly.

Inclusive is our value for this half term and last week the theme of assemblies was deaf awareness. One of our parents has made a fantastic animated film (see here) on deaf awareness and keep an eye out for information about a community sign language club. Each week children attend a signing club in school.

It is great to see so many children cycling to school. Please be aware that some of the older children are not wearing a helmet and for the children to leave their bikes on school premises we require the children to wear a  helmet.

Dates for the Diary

  • Saturday 17th May, 10am-4pm, family friendly Festival of Nature, St Mary’s Hall, Appledore see here
  • For free after school school summer girls’ rugby taster sessions in June with Bideford Rugby Club girls in years 3-6 please see here 
  • Sports Day Tuesday 17th June and reserve date is Tuesday 24th June

Wishing you all a super weekend

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

Newsletter for the week ending Friday 9th May
May 9, 2025

Year 6 excelled with their enthusiasm during their first aid training this week and were credited by the trainer for their skills – well done year 6. The fish tank in our main corridor has been met with equal levels of enthusiasm as the children try to locate the crab and starfish each time they pass it. The tanks is linked to the children’s science learning and the Royal Society project we are running in school this year to inspire tomorrow’s climate scientists.

Yesterday, children had quiet time to reflect on the 80th anniversary of VE Day and our assembly this week focussed on Deaf Awareness Week.

Good attendance remains a priority for us all and please see here for April’s attendance newsletter.

Congratulations to Pacific/Red House for winning the House Cup for the Spring Term. Those in Pacific can wear red on Friday 16th May as their treat.

Dates for the Diary

  • Saturday 17th May, 10am-4pm, family friendly Festival of Nature, St Mary’s Hall, Appledore see here
  • For free after school school summer girls’ rugby taster sessions in June with Bideford Rugby Club girls in years 3-6 please see here 
  • Sports Day Tuesday 17th June and reserve date is Tuesday 24th June

Have a lovely weekend

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

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