News
More harvest festivities this week (last week years 3-6, this week years 1&2 and next week Turtles and Dolphins) and a really good set of performances at a local cross country event. Well done everybody and please read on to find out what has been happening in each year group.
Dates for the diary
- Turtles and Dolphins harvest festival will take place on Tuesday 2st October at 2.30pm in our school hall
- Cake Sale after school on Friday 24th October. Cake donations on the morning of the sale please.
- Xmas disco Friday 28th November Reception 7 Years 1&2 @5-6pm and Years 3-6 @6.30-7.30pm
- Xmas fair Friday 12th December 3-5pm
- Wishing you all a lovely weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
A lovely busy week that included trips and much, much more, so please read our Around the Classes section to find out.
We have been made aware of the following information regarding the series Spy Dogs/Pups and Spy Cat books written by Andrew Cope. These books contain a link to a website which contains highly pornographic content. The book asks children to explore the website to find more about the characters in the book. It appears the website identified (on the back or inside page) has now been compromised and takes users to a pornographic website with no age verification.
For our September attendance newsletter please see here.
Dates for the diary
- Year 1 and 2 Harvest festival will take place on Thursday 16th October at 2;30pm
- Xmas disco Friday 28th November Reception 7 Years 1&2 @5-6pm and Years 3-6 @6.30-7.30pm
- Xmas fair Friday 12th December 3-5pm
- Wishing you all a lovely weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
For details of half term and December football holiday camps, please see here and here. And for those children who play instruments who want to play with other musicians, please see here.
St Mary’s Church, Appledore, have a family service on Sunday at 3pm where you can take your pets. Now that does sound interesting!
Dates for the diary
- Harvest festival years 3-6, 2pm 8th October, St Mary’s Church (please see around the classes section for more details)
- Year 1 and 2 Harvest festival will take place on Thursday 16th October at 2;30pm
- Xmas disco Friday 28th November Reception 7 Years 1&2 @5-6pm and Years 3-6 @6.30-7.30pm
- Xmas fair Friday 12th December 3-5pm
- Wishing you all a lovely weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff
At this time of year we require school permissions from you to be reconfirmed please. To do this in the MyChildAtSchool app, please see Parental Consent section. Please note it is very important this this completed each year.
The entry window for Rotary Youth Competitions 2025-2026 has opened and the categories are; Young Artist; Young Photographer; Young Writer; Young Environmentalist; Young Musician and Young Chef. There is also a Junior Youth Speaks competition. For more information see here and for entry forms, coordinated by Bideford Rotary Club, contact bidefordrotary@gmail.com
Further to the email sent out about the annual nasal flu vaccination, available for all children from reception to Year 6, please be aware NHS nurses will be in school to administering the vaccination for in school on Thursday 13th November 2025 to those who have been given consent for. If you want your child to be vaccinated and have not already completed the consent form it is available here along with information about the vaccination. Please note that consent is required by midday Tuesday 11th November 2025. Even if you don’t want your child to have the vaccine please complete the form but tick ‘no’ for consent, so we know you do not want your child to have the vaccine and haven’t just missed the email.
Dates for the diary
- Friends of Appledore School meeting at 7pm, October 2nd at the school and all are very welcome to attend.
- Harvest festival years 3-6, 2pm 8th October, St Mary’s Church (please see around the classes section for more details)
- Year 1 and 2 Harvest festival will take place on Thursday 16th October at 2;30pm.
- Wishing you all a lovely weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
FOAS (Friends of Appledore School) is our parents association that play a vital role in fundraising for projects and activities that benefit the school. A small group of kind parents run various activities throughout the year and new faces are required to help with the current programme of events and to bring new ideas. There will be a meeting to discuss the year ahead at 7pm on October 2nd at the school. See here for more information.
Further to the email sent out about the annual nasal flu vaccination, available for all children from reception to Year 6, please be aware NHS nurses will be in school to administering the vaccination for in school on Thursday 13th November 2025 to those who have been given consent for. If you want your child to be vaccinated and have not already completed the consent form it is available here along with information about the vaccination. Please note that consent is required by midday Tuesday 11th November 2025.
Dates for the diary
- To find out how you can help hedgehogs as part of a big project underway in North Devon and Appledore, see here for more information on 20th September
- Friends of Appledore School meeting at 7pm, October 2nd at the school and all are very welcome to attend.
- Harvest festival years 3-6, 2pm 8th October, St Mary’s Church (please see around the classes section for more details)
Wishing you all a lovely weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
The end of our first full week and I think everyone is ready for a weekend. A new school brings so much change and new experiences and the children are adapting well. Please do speak to your child’s teachers if you are unsure about anything or you have any concerns about something. We are all here to help.
Open days and evenings for secondary school are organised (or will be soon) and information is available here for Bideford College, Great Torrington, Chulmleigh, Park, Pilton, Kingsley, West Buckland and Shebbear College.
Appledore Library had a great summer with lots of children signing up for the Summer Book Quest and encourages them all to finish by collecting their stickers, certificate, keyring and free book. Please note the last day to finish by is Saturday 13th September which is also the same day as the Appledore Book Festival Family Fun Day and the library will be open longer than normal and holding a sea themed Lego & craft session with a curiosity table run by the North Devon Maritime Museum.
Volunteers have been working hard in our woodland to prepare the area for our new outdoor area for our nursery children (thank you all) and cameras motion sensor cameras installed to capture wildlife. So far, there have been sighting of a range of animals (eg foxes and squirrels) but as yet no hedgehogs… despite our best efforts to create a hedgehog friendly environment. We will be participating in a big North Devon hedgehog project soon and more information can be found about that in the Dates for the Dairy section below.
Dates for the diary
- For Book Quest and Lego and crafts activities this Saturday at Appledore Library please see here and here
- For North Devon Biosphere family fun activities this Saturday as part of the Book festival see here
- To find out how you can help hedgehogs as part of a big project underway in North Devon and Appledore, see here for more information on 20th September
- Harvest festival years 3-6, 2pm 8th October, St Mary’s Church (please see around the classes section for more details)
Wishing you all a lovely weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff
PS – apologies if last week’s newsletter wasn’t published when we messaged you about it! Please do read it too for useful information. (more…)
Welcome back to all our existing families and a warm welcome to all our new families. School has started well and it is great to have the children back ready and raring to go for all this term brings. And Autumn term is very busy (and long) one!
At the beginning of term there is always so much information to take on board, so please do ask us if you are unsure about anything. A letter was emailed this week with some general information, but if you missed it a copy is available here.
Please do check in to our website on Fridays, because this newsletter is posted during the afternoon and will include information that we would not want you to miss. To find out what has been happening in your child’s class that week, please ensure you read the Around the Classes section. For a summary of what your child will be learning this year please see Dolphins, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 and for more detailed information please see there subject plans here.
Dates for the diary
- Harvest festival years 3-6, 2pm 8th October, St Mary’s Church (please see around the classes section for more details)
Wishing you all a lovely weekend
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
Thank you for such an enjoyable year. We wish all our children and families who are leaving us, moving to other primary schools around the country or onto secondary school, every success and happiness. Today we will say goodbye to our Year 6 at their afternoon leavers’ assembly as we wish them well for the next stage of their life. They have been a fun group of children and we hold many special memories of their time here.
Every year Devon County Council send out a Parent’s Childcare Survey to parents living in Devon to find out information about their use of childcare. Here is this year’s Parents Childcare Survey, please complete it yourself if you are a parent of a child or young person.
Well done to Pacific (red house) for winning sports day, closely followed by Indian (yellow), Arctic (blue) and Atlantic (green). It was a lovely day and thank you to all the participants and to all who came to see us.
Please see below for information about various summer holiday activities:
- Full on the 8th of August, but a few spaces remain on 22nd August for a woodland holiday club here at Appledore School. See here for more information
- HAF holiday club in Barnstaple see here
- Football holiday camp in Bideford see here
- Learn how to sail at North Devon yacht club, Instow, see here
- Events at Appledore Library see here
This week, Hannah Walters, the manager of our breakfast and after school club, died at North Devon Hospice. In memory of Hannah and her kindness and compassion we are renaming AOOSC Hannah’s Breakfast and After School Club from September and referring to the club simply as Hannah’s. This will be reflected in the communication we have with you regarding the club as we strive to continue the quality of service the club provided under Hannah’s leadership.
Please read on for the last posts from each class teacher to find out what your children have got up to this week.
Wishing you all a very happy summer and for those returning we look forward to seeing back on Wednesday 3rd September.
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff
A busy week for all and certainly for year 6 who received their SATS results and performed their play to their parents on the same day – both a HUGE triumph and success. Well done Year 6.
We have received from Devon County Council a warning over a widespread WhatsApp group titled ‘add everybody you know’ that is circulating inappropriate material. Please see here for more information and have a conversation with your children about the need to remain safe if they are WhatsApp users.
For information about cricket summer camps at Bideford Cricket Club for children aged 6-13, please see here
Free family fun day at ARC (Atlantic Racquets Centre), Bideford, Saturday 12th July. See here or here for more information
For a free, fun North Devon Biosphere activity on Appledore Quay where you can meet the creatures that live on our shores see here
Wishing you all a super weekend.
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff
Today is our School Fete 3.30-5pm and we hope to see you there!
For an informative guide on supporting children and young people’s transition to secondary school, please see here.
- Girls cricket @Bideford Cricket Club free turn up and play sessions information see here
- Free family fun day at ARC (Atlantic Racquets Centre), Bideford, Saturday 12th July. See here or here for more information
- Football summer camps at Bideford Blues see here and Moreton Park, Bideford, see here
Wishing you all a great weekend.
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
Year 6 returned from Lundy all in one piece and certainly packed their sea legs! It was a pleasure to open my inbox on Monday morning to see a number of emails from the other passengers on the boat from the general public who wanted to praise the manners and behaviour of them.
Next Friday children will be spending time with the teacher they will be having next year. The teachers will be as follows: Dolphins (ie Reception), Mrs Bannister; Year 1,Mrs Wilkins and Mrs Malyn; Year 2, Mrs Stanbury and Mrs Stephens; Year 3,Mrs McMorine and Mrs Evans; Year 4, Mrs Avery; Year 5, Miss Truepenny and Year 6, Mrs Mitchell and Mrs Evans.
For a parents guide to ensuring children’s use of Nintendo Switch is safe, please see here
Next Friday (4th July) is our School Summer Fete on the field 3.30-5pm. cakes, refreshments, bouncy castle, tombola, raffle and games. we hope to see as many of you as possible.
- Girls cricket @Bideford Cricket Club free turn up and play sessions information see here
- North Devon BioBlitz Friday 27th and Saturday 28th June is free to all. Please see here and here for information.
- School Fete after school on Friday 4th July
- Free family fun day at ARC (Atlantic Racquets Centre), Bideford, Saturday 12th July. See here or here for more information
- Football summer camps at Bideford Blues see here and Moreton Park, Bideford, see here
Wishing you all a great weekend.
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
Sports day was a really lovely day and thank you to you all for making it such a success. Your support was greatly appreciated by the children and staff and thank you to FOAS for providing the refreshments (£621 raised!). And be warned, we will be much stricter in the application of the rules in the parents’ races next year!
In addition to sports day, this week has seen: an educational trip to Coldharbour Mill, Early Years library visit; a fabulous performance from our singers and dancers at a music festival on The Big Sheep stage; a good showing at an athletics meet and the continued growth of our dragon egg/ Please read on for more information…
Dates for the diary:
- Girls cricket @Bideford Cricket Club free turn up and play sessions information see here
- North Devon BioBlitz Friday 27th and Saturday 28th June is free to all. Please see here and here for information.
Wishing you all a great weekend.
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
Inspirational is our value for this half term and in our launch assembly Fran and Dan Mapp, Appledore School parents, came in to tell us all about representing GB in the Aquathlon and Duathlon World Championships very soon. To follow their progress, visit mrandmrsmapp on Instagram. Thank you Fran and dan for your visit and quiz prizes for the children!
It’s sports day next week and FOAS are attending to sell refreshments such as bacon rolls and cream teas. Please see here for more information.
Do you know what the emojis children use mean? Are you sure? Please see here to find out more and here for a podcast about emojis. For our most recent attendance newsletter please see here
Dates for the diary
- Girls cricket @Bideford Cricket Club free turn up and play sessions information see here
- Sports Day is next week, Tuesday 17th June, and the reserve date is Tuesday 24th June please see here for information
- North Devon BioBlitz Friday 27th and Saturday 28th June is free to all. Please see here and here for information.
Wishing you all a great weekend.
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
It has been great having the children back after the break and how has this year gone so quickly that we find ourself in the last half term?
This week Year 5 walked to the slipway on Tuesday morning where they sang for a host of Bishops. Appledore had been chosen as the location where Moira Aston was announced as the new bishop of Crediton and we were invited along to sing to show the community spirit of Appledore. The children sang three songs beautifully in the sunny yet windy conditions. We had inadvertently selected the new bishop’s favourite song in our programme and she enthusiastically accompanied the children in their rendition of “From a Distance”. This is the song the choir will be performing at the Big Sheep and a google form has gone out to choir members for you to let us know how many people will be attending the festival. There are no physical tickets this year!
Atlantic Racquet Centre in Bideford are running a number of beginner tennis classes for children and adult and for more information please see here and here.
Dates for the diary
- 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
- North Devon BioBlitz Friday 27th and Saturday 28th June is free to all. Please see here and here for information.
Wishing you all a good weekend.
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)
Sports Day is fast approaching and details were emailed out earlier this week. The details are also available here.
Term dates for 2026-2027 have now been published, available here, and please be aware that the children return to school on Tuesday 3rd June after the half term.
The children have been enjoying taking part in activities with rangers from the Northam Burrows Country Park over that past few weeks and asking if they can get involved in more activities over half term, well they can and please see here and here to find out what is on offer,
A message from Liz Clough, Torridge Citizens Advice, ‘We know the school holidays can be an expensive time – with the kids at home more, you may end up spending more on energy. Our dedicated energy team can run through tips to help you cut your bills, as well as look at making sure you have enough money to pay for your ongoing usage by checking your entitlement for benefits or seeing if you can claim any grants. If you’re on a prepayment meter, we might also be able to issue you with vouchers to keep you topped up over the holidays‘. For more information and to contact our energy advisers, call 01237 879 233 and leave a message.
Dates for the Diary
- Saturday 17th May, 10am-4pm, family friendly Festival of Nature, St Mary’s Hall, Appledore see here
- Tennis Camps @ Westward Ho! tennis courts. Thursday 29th & Friday 30th May 9am-3.30pm. Full days and half days, subsidised by Northam Town Council. £14 for the full day, £7 for the half day.
- 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 lovely half term and please remember we return to school on Tuesday 3rd June.
From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff
