Weekly Bulletin:Friday 22nd May 2026
Headteacher’s message to parents/carers
Dear Parents/Carers,
Wow, it’s the end of term already! Who would have thought that 5 weeks could fly by so quickly?
Two of my favourite moments in the last week have to be our amazing TSA events, which have been a lot of fun for everyone. Last Friday afternoon, Team Tunbury went truly multi-coloured! Out first ever colour run was a huge success and I could tell that all of our participants really enjoyed it. It was lovely to see the whole Tunbury community getting involved: Tunbury children, Tunbury parents, Tunbury teenagers, Tunbury teaching assistants and Tunbury teachers! One of our Year 2 children summed it up perfectly just by saying, “THAT was SO much fun!”
Then yesterday afternoon, we had our annual Tunbury’s Got Talent. Our superstar children, their audience and the staff taking part in The Masked Teacher all had a wonderful time showing off their talent (or in my case, some dubious dancing skills). Congratulations to all of our participants and special congratulations to Mr Mills, Miss Thompson and Mr Mitchell for taking part. On my part, the job of a Headteacher is a mixture of extremes, from lots of serious stuff to getting splattered in paint powder or dancing to the YMCA dressed as a giant elf, it’s all in the job description!
Please take a look at Facebook for some photos of these events, and as always, thank you to our TSA volunteers for giving their time and energy to make these events possible.
Also this week, we had two school trips, with Year R going to Tyland Barn for some nature activities including pond dipping. Children were excited to tell me about what they found. Impressive looking beetles, apparently! At the other end of the school, Year 6 went to Kent Life for a World War II experience day, where they met some time travelling soldiers and got immersed in History for the day.
We hope that all of these types of events create special and long-lasting memories for our children. Tunbury staff really do ‘go the extra mile’ to make school life include layers of different experiences, so I’d like to recognise this dedication and commitment by saying thank you to everyone in the Team Tunbury staff team, for giving your all.
Our annual parent/carer survey closes today, so if you haven’t already shared your views, please could you do so today? We would love to hear what matters most to you, as well as giving you all the opportunity to acknowledge any special events or people which have made your child smile, achieve or thrive. Tunbury Parent/Carer Survey 2026 – Fill in form
Whilst Term 5 has been full of life, it’s now time for a short rest before we embark onto Term 6. Remember that Monday 1st June is our final INSET day of the year, so we look forward to welcoming children back to school on Tuesday 2nd June for our David Attenborough STEAM week. (STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths.)
Over half term, if you can, please help your children to get into the spirit of STEAM week with our Home Learning challenge. This is to create a David Attenborough inspired video about the wonders of the natural world. For some inspiration, Miss Golding-Wood has created one to show you what we mean in Planet Duck. Brilliant!
Have a lovely half term everyone.
Best wishes
Ruth Austin
Headteacher
Notices
Staffing news: Two important congratulations to share this week.
Firstly, special congratulations to Deputy Headteacher Mrs Davies who has been successful at securing a Headteacher position at her own school in September. Our loss is very much their gain, and we know that Mrs Davies will bring her warmth and professionalism to the children and families at her new school, just like she has done here in Team Tunbury.
Secondly, huge congratulations to our Year 3 teacher Mr Sheppard, who is getting married this afternoon! Mr Sheppard is taking his new wife’s name, and so when he returns to school after half term, he will be known by his married name of Mr Nice. Everyone at Tunbury sends our very best wishes to the happy couple.
Parent survey: You can access our annual parent/carer survey at Tunbury Parent/Carer Survey 2026 – Fill in form
Thank you to everyone who has already responded. We always pass on positive feedback or special thanks directly to named staff members, so could you give a shout out to someone who has improved your child’s school experience this year and deserves a big thank you?
So far, we have 162 responses and the average time taken to complete the survey is still just 7 minutes. Please do take a moment to share your thoughts.
STEAM week: This year, during STEAM Week (2nd–5th June), we will be celebrating Sir David Attenborough through the exciting theme of “The Natural World.” Please find below a link to information about STEAM week. We hope your children enjoy this week and we thank you in advance for your continued support and engagement.
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During STEAM week, the children will be engaging with a variety of educational activities within the subject areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. |
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We look forward to seeing you in school on Friday 5th June, 3 pm – 3.45 pm to celebrate some of the children’s work from steam week.
Strive Holiday Club: Looking for a fun way to keep your child active this May break?
https://www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Parents/Holiday-Clubs/
Please be reminded that Strive PE and Sport May Multi-Activity Camp at Tunbury is now open for booking! Designed for children aged 5–11, their teacher-led camps are packed with sports, games, and exciting activities to keep children moving, laughing, and making new friends — exclusively for current Tunbury pupils only.
Why children love Strive Holiday Club camps:
• A huge mix of fun sports and optional themed activities
• A great place to make friends and build confidence
• Sibling & FSM discounts available
Wednesday 27th May - World Cup Theme Day (Optional) - Wear a national team shirt or bright colours!
Children will enjoy:
- A World Cup Goodie Bag (England flag, mini chocolate balls, bubbles, whistle & sticker tattoo)
- Inflatable Football Goal penalty shootouts
- World Cup Tournament in the afternoon
- Arts & Crafts, including England flag decorating or creating World Cup designs
Ready to join the fun? Booking is easy — secure your child’s place by clicking the link below: https://pbbl.uk/3P4KxRs
If you’d like to find out more about Strive PE and Sport, including their other camp venues, please visit: www.strivepeandsport.co.uk
Strive PE and Sport can’t wait to welcome your child for an action-packed day!
Stay and Play sessions: Our next Stay and Play yesterday is on Thursday 11th June. This is for pre-school and nursery children (1.5-4 years old) and their parents – so it includes children who will start school in September 2027 as well as those starting in September 2026. The session lasts an hour and will take place in our Reception classrooms and outdoor learning areas. Whether you already have older children with us or are joining us for the very first time, we'd love for you to come along and see what makes Tunbury so special. Please follow the link to get signed up - https://forms.office.com/e/Z2kzSRaxyd
Music lessons: We are delighted to continue developing the music provision at Tunbury School in partnership with The Math Music Academy, offering both individual singing and keyboard lessons for pupils.
Learning a musical instrument is about far more than music alone. Research from the Department for Education has shown that children who participate in musical learning often develop stronger concentration, faster reaction times, improved memory and greater confidence. Music also supports social development, creativity and self-expression.
Studies have demonstrated that children receiving musical training can perform significantly better academically, with many pupils achieving higher outcomes in subjects such as Maths, English and Science compared with their non-musical peers. Singing and keyboard lessons help strengthen important neurological pathways that support learning across the whole curriculum.
To give children the opportunity to experience lessons first-hand, The Math Music Academy will be offering FREE 15-minute trial sessions during the week beginning 18th June.
During the trial sessions:
Singing
- Basic vocal warm-ups and exercises
- Note recognition activities
- Introduction to songs and repertoire
Keyboard / Piano
- Introduction to the keyboard
- Basic fingering and hand positioning
- Simple musical activities and exploration
Students who choose to continue lessons will also have opportunities to:
- Perform in school concerts and performances
- Build confidence through live music-making
- Work towards graded examinations with the ABRSM and Trinity examination boards
To arrange your child’s free trial lesson, or if you would like any further information, please contact our music teacher: Sophie Hyde sophiehyde@aol.com
We look forward to helping your child discover the joy and benefits of music.
Weekly Class Attendance: This is a weekly feature on our bulletin to highlight and celebrate good levels of attendance. This week our KS2 winners are Amber class with an amazing 99.50%. Our KS1 winners are Owls class with a fantastic 97.12%. Absolutely brilliant work from Amber and Owls class! Keep up the great work everyone!
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Class |
Weekly Attendance Percentage |
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Amber |
☆99.50%☆ |
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Indigo |
99.14% |
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Magenta |
98.66% |
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Ruby |
97.50% |
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Owls |
☆97.12%☆ |
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Azure |
96.63% |
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Scarlet |
95.63% |
|
Bears |
94.71% |
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Crimson |
94.20% |
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Blue |
94.17% |
|
Red |
93.75% |
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Violet |
92.74% |
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Lavender |
92.50% |
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Emerald |
92.08% |
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Pink |
92.08% |
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Sapphire |
92.00% |
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Lilac |
89.67% |
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Turquoise |
89.66% |
Tunbury Primary School Facebook: This week we’ve posted about our netball tournament, building our bug hotel, STEAM week, the TSA colour Run and much more! Please take a look at Tunbury Primary School | Chatham | Facebookand follow us to keep up to date with all things Team Tunbury.
Team Points: At the end of Term 5, after a Team Point Race filled with twists and turns, it’s Hawking who took the win. Blue Team celebrated their win with extra time on the field, in the sandpit and at the mud kitchen this morning.
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Rowling |
Attenborough |
Holmes |
Hawking |
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4509 |
4676 |
4166 |
5058 |
Dates for your Diary
Term dates for 2025/26: www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Parents/Term-Dates-25-26/
Term dates for 2026/27: www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Parents/Term-Dates-26-27/
Term 5
Friday 22nd May – Year R Open afternoon – 2.15 pm
Friday 22nd May – Last Day of Term 5
Term 6
Monday 1st June - INSET DAY – School Closed for pupils
Tuesday 2nd June – First Day of Term 6
Tuesday 2nd – Friday 5th June - STEAM Week
Tuesday 2nd June – RSE resources review for Year 6 parents in Violet classroom, 3.15-4.00 pm NEW
Friday 5th June – Parents’ visit to look at our work following STEAM week, 3 pm – 3.45 pm NEW
Thursday 11th June - Stay and Play sessions for pre-school/nursery children (1 ½ -4 years old) / parents,
9-10 am
Thursday 11th June – UN International Day of Play – Opal Open Afternoon 1.30 pm
Monday 15th June – New Entrants meeting (for parents of children due to start in Year R in Sept) 3.30-4.30 pm
Tuesday 16th June – Year 5 visit to Wildwood
Tuesday 16th June – Year 4 Open afternoon
Tuesday 16th, Wednesday 17th June – Gifts for Him Present Room (TSA)
Thursday 18th June – Year 2 Open afternoon – 2 pm
Wednesday 24th June – Tempest Photographers: Class group photos
Thursday 25th June – Year 3 Open afternoon – 2 pm
Friday 26th June - Sports Day
Monday 29th June – Tuesday 7th July – Bikeability Cycle training for some of Year 5 pupils
Wednesday 1st July – Stay and Play session for New Entrants 12.45 or 1.45
Friday 3rd July - Reserve Sports Day
Monday 6th July – Year 5 Open afternoon – 2 pm
Wednesday 8th July – Whole school transition day, followed by Open Classroom sessions 3.15-3.45
Wednesday 8th July - New Entrants transition sessions at 9.30 or 1.00
Thursday 9th July – Year 3 visit to Wingham Wildlife Park (please note 4 pm return time)
Friday 10th July - End of Year Reports sent home
Saturday 11th July - TSA GlasTunbury
Wednesday 15th July – New Entrants class visits / parents’ phonics workshop: 1.45 pm
Thursday 16th July – Year 6 Production: 2pm and 6pm
Friday 17th July – Dare to be Different Day (TSA)
Friday 17th July – Year 6 Prom
Monday 20th July – Year 6 Open afternoon – 2 pm
Tuesday 21st July – Year 6 Leavers' assemblies: Emerald - 9am / Violet - 9:45 am / Crimson - 10:30 am
Tuesday 21st July - July end of term/ academic year
Class Assemblies
Class assemblies will be held in the school hall on Friday afternoons. Parents/carers and family members from each class are warmly invited to join us in school for these events, as our children love to share their learning with you. Please come to the front of the school and wait outside the hall entrance doors. You will be invited in at just before 2.50pm. The assembly will begin at 2.50pm and last for about 10 minutes, finishing in time for you to collect your children at the end of the school day, as normal.
Friday 12th June – Magenta Class Assembly
Friday 19th June – Bears Class Assembly
Friday 3rd July – Owls Class Assembly
