26th June 2026

All schools in England are expected by the Department for Education to actively promote what are known as the fundamental British Values. These are democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

In all English primary schools, these values are introduced and explored in ways that children can understand and connect to their everyday lives. Democracy means helping children to recognise that their voices matter, while also learning to listen respectfully to the views of others. The rule of law helps them to understand why rules exist and how fair rules protect us and keep our communities safe. Individual liberty teaches children that they should be free to make choices, express themselves and develop their own identities, while recognising the responsibilities that accompany those freedoms.

Mutual respect and tolerance mean learning to value others, including those whose lives, families, backgrounds or beliefs may be different from our own. At Ashton Gate, we believe this should go beyond simply tolerating difference. We want our children to appreciate and celebrate the rich diversity of the community in which they are growing up.

Although promoting British values is a national expectation, these principles are not something we teach simply because we have been instructed to do so. They reflect the community Ashton Gate serves and the kind of school we are proud to be. We seek not only to teach these values but to uphold them, model them and hold them in the highest regard through our words, decisions and actions.

With this in mind, throughout June, we have been embracing and celebrating Pride Month across the school. Assemblies have been led by Mrs Dowlman in Key Stage 2 and by Mrs Gerolemou in Key Stage 1, alongside daily and weekly presentations shared with class teachers. These have introduced the children to a range of well-known and influential people from the LGBTQ+ community and have helped to develop their understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion.

There has been a real buzz around the school, and the children have shown a genuine enthusiasm for learning more and discussing the issues raised. Recently, Mrs Dowlman shared a poem and a number of posters that children had independently created at home and brought into school. These were shared with all of the Key Stage 2 children and were received with great interest and appreciation.

It has been particularly encouraging to see how self-motivated the children have been to continue these conversations. Celebrations, activities and thoughtful discussions have taken place across the school, helping to raise awareness and reinforce the importance of ensuring that everyone feels respected, represented and welcome.

Sadly, Pride flags displayed outside the After School Club were torn down a few weeks ago. The incident was reported to the police and a man was subsequently arrested. While we are unable to comment further on an ongoing police matter, we want to be completely clear that actions of this nature have no place at Ashton Gate or within the inclusive community we work so hard to create. Removing or damaging a symbol intended to communicate equality, welcome and belonging does not reflect Ashton Gate or the community we seek to create. We will always challenge prejudice and discrimination, while continuing to teach our children about kindness, respect and the importance of standing alongside others.

Ashton Gate is, and will remain, a safe and welcoming setting for everyone. Whatever your race, ethnicity, faith or beliefs; whatever your family background, disability, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity; and whatever your individual circumstances, you are welcome here.

Every child, every family and every member of our community belongs at Ashton Gate. Everyone is valued. Everyone is welcome.

Mr Jones 

Year 3 enjoyed an Ancient Roman Day last week. Throughout the day, the children made Roman shields, learned about Roman numerals, discovered the role of gladiators, created mosaics, and explored Roman music. It was wonderful to see the children so engaged in their learning. A huge thank you to all families for the amazing effort with costumes – they helped make the day even more memorable!  

We are excited to inform you that the KS2 choir and some of our pupils who take part in Bristol Beacon music lessons will be performing in the Summer Concert. The Summer Concert will be on Tuesday 14^th July 2026 at 18:30 – 19:30 and will be held in the Hall on the Upton Site. All are welcome to come and watch! 

We have alot of prescription glasses in lost property on the Upton site, please pop in if you think they may be yours

The survey can be accessed at the link below:

Sea Cadets currently have spaces available for young people aged 10-12 in our Junior Sea Cadet Sections and we’d love the chance to share this exciting opportunity with your school community.

 Why Choose Sea Cadets?

Sea Cadets offers so much more than an after‑school activity. Young people dive into a world of adventure, challenge, and personal development, all set within a fun, nautical environment inspired by the proud traditions of the Royal Navy.

Through Sea Cadets, young people build:

 Life Skills – Leadership, teamwork, communication, confidence, and motivation
 Positive Values – Respect, self‑discipline, commitment, honesty, and integrity
 Educational Engagement – Supporting enthusiasm for learning and practical skills for the future
 Qualifications – Opportunities to gain recognised awards such as First Aid, Duke of Edinburgh, and water‑based qualifications

Regular school attendance is one of the best ways to help your child succeed. When children come to school every day, they keep up with their learning, build confidence in their skills, and develop good routines that set them up for the future. Every day at school matters—it helps your child stay on track and get the most out of their education.

It is also important to arrive at school on time. If a child arrives late to school every day, their learning begins to suffer. Below is a graph showing how being late to school every day over a school year adds up to lost learning time over one academic year.

Please remember to order your child’s lunch before 10pm on a Wednesday. If your child only has a meal once a week, you will still need to book this.

We are still having a lot of children who do not have a lunch booked with no packed lunch. Please remember the default meal is always salad bar. No other option will be available.

Please remember not to order a school lunch if your child is on a school trip, where a packed lunch is required. If you have already booked a meal for this date, the meal can be cancelled by the payer until 10pm on a Wednesday for the following week. As all food is pre-ordered there will be no refunds issued for non-cancelled meals.

A reminder that we are a nut free school. Please do not send your child to school with snacks/packed lunch with items containing nuts. This includes items such as Pesto, filled crepes and chocolate spread.

We are now on Facebook. Please like our page, we will be using this page to celebrate events and learning moments taking place across the school. We encourage you to invite other parents and family members to join as well, so that too can be part of our vibrant school network. Rest assured, our Facebook page will prioritise the privacy and security of our children. We will follow all the necessary precautions and guidelines to protect identities and ensure a safe online environment.

Studybugs is no longer in use. Please record any illnesses/medical appointments using the Arbor parent portal app. For planned absences please complete the online form on the attendance page of our website.