Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• World Book Day

  Thu 03 Mar 2016
  We all had great fun celebrating World Book Day (Thursday 3rd March 2016). Please have a look in the Gallery and Class pages for more fabulous phots!

  

• Admission Consultation

  Mon 09 Nov 2015

  Consultation on admission arrangements 2017-18 for schools

  in the Wigan Borough

   

  There are proposed changes to the admission arrangements for some Wigan schools for 2017 - 2018.

   

  If you are:

   

  • a parent with a child aged between 2 and 18 years old; or
  • a local community group
  • other interested person

   

  you may be entitled to comment on the proposed admission arrangements for Wigan schools for admission to Reception and Year 7 in September 2017.

   

  You can view the proposed admission arrangements by visiting www.wigan.gov.uk.  Alternatively, if you are unable to view these online you can request a paper version or other format of the consultation by contacting the School Organisation Team on 01942 486036.

   

  The consultation lasts for six weeks.  Any comments must be submitted to Wigan Council no later than 11 December 2015. 

   

  Let us know your comments:

  • by email to consultation@wigan.gov.uk
  • or in writing to Wigan Council, School Organisation Team, People Directorate, 3^rd Floor, Waterside House, Waterside Drive, Wigan WN3 5AZ.

   

   

• Message from Chair of Governors

  Wed 04 Nov 2015

  2.11.15 An appeal from the Chair of Governors

   

  Your school needs your support.

   

  Hi Everyone,

  I understand from what has been written in the local press and from comments made by those who are on social media sites that while most parents are happy that Mr Nash and his staff are doing the very best they can for your children, a few feel differently. As a parent and grandparent myself I totally understand that it is natural to be very concerned about the welfare of children. However I am writing this to appeal to those very few of you who are airing your grievances in public to consider giving Mr Nash and myself the chance to hear your points and respond to them in private instead.

  Mr Nash and his staff are having to work even harder than usual in order to keep everything as normal as possible because they are in a different working environment without many of their usual resources. It is therefore demoralising for them to hear that these efforts are not being fully appreciated. Similarly, Mr Pollard and his staff at the high school are being exceptionally accommodating yet are hearing these negative comments. 

  Gilded Hollins is a wonderful primary school, a view shared by members of our local community as proved if we ask them for support, for example, with Arts Week, when people are very happy to help such a successful school.  It would be very sad if these comments were to affect how others view our school and, ultimately, our reputation and standing in the community. By all means express your concern and ask whatever questions you need to in order to feel reassured that your children are being kept safe, well educated, nurtured, warm and properly fed, but please do it to those who are best placed to help you.

  Finally, thank you again for all the expressions of support from so many of you. They are much appreciated.

  Liz Haworth

  Chair of Governors.

  I can be emailed at: liz_howarth@tiscali.co.uk

• Update for week beg. 19.10.15

  Fri 16 Oct 2015

  Dear Parent / Carer,

   

  We would like to take this opportunity to update you on developments at Gilded Hollins in light of the letter circulated on Wednesday from James Winterbottom, Wigan’s Director of Education.

  We will be at Lowton CE High for the whole of next week. Obviously, our aim is to return to Gilded Hollins as soon as possible. However, this date of return is dependent upon the outcome of further air quality tests set for Tuesday 20th October, and on subsequent remedial works being completed. As Mr Winterbottom outlined, works planned for school will include replacing carpet tiles, installing new windows to provide for additional air flow, and fitting a brand new ventilation unit to supersede the old model recently taken out.

  We shall relay information on a projected return date at the earliest opportunity.

  We continue to liaise with Public Health England throughout this process and will discuss with their representatives the outcome of our latest tests as soon as the results are available. The samples that will be taken on Tuesday will require a number of days’ analysis in the lab.  Hopefully, this further testing will finally establish what the issue has been within school.

  Only once we are satisfied that the problem has been resolved will we return to Gilded Hollins.

  Mr Winterbottom will write to parents next week with a further update and details of the latest timescale for a return to school.

  In the meantime, all our staff are working tirelessly to provide ‘business as usual’ while we remain at Lowton. Your children continue to receive our high standards of education and have responded brilliantly.

  There is an incredible sense of community among all of us connected with Gilded Hollins and Lowton CE High. We are greatly in their debt for the assistance they, and Lowton J and I (in whose kitchen we are preparing our school lunches), have provided.

  It goes without saying, also, that your continued support, co-operation and patience during this period are greatly appreciated.

   

  Please note that the Friends of Gilded Hollins Halloween Disco planned for next Thursday 22^nd October will not now take place. We shall also be in touch about rescheduling Parents’ Evenings once we are back at Gilded Hollins.

   

  If you have any questions about any of the above please feel free to call into school to speak to us, or catch us outside at Lowton CE High before or after the school day.

  Many thanks,

  D Nash 

• Update for week beg 12.10.15

  Fri 09 Oct 2015

  Dear Parent / Carer,

   

  As I am sure you are aware, work has been taking place at Gilded Hollins over recent days to extract an old air handling unit from the roof space, remove ducting and build a new section of ceiling. A deep clean of the entire building has also been completed.

  We have also been awaiting the results of various air quality and bacterial tests carried out around school. Those results were finally received this Wednesday afternoon (a week later than originally promised). Having spent a large part of yesterday working through the data, then liaising with Mr Ian Jones (Chair of the Governors’ Building Sub-Committee) and subsequently meeting during the evening with Mrs Haworth (our Chair of Governors) the decision has been made to remain at Lowton CE High School for at least a further week.

  As we have stated before, this is never a decision to be taken lightly. The reason we are not able to re-occupy school just yet is that we feel some of the air analysis results require further investigation. This will obviously take time.

  We appreciate how supportive and understanding parents, children, staff and Governors have been throughout this process. Like you, we want to return to Gilded Hollins, but will only do so when we are 100% certain the building is safe for your children and our staff.

  Our continued thanks to Mr Pollard and his all staff at Lowton CE High School, and also to Lowton J and I School for allowing use of their kitchen. All the help we have received is very much appreciated.

• Update for week beg. 5th October

  Thu 01 Oct 2015

  Dear Parent / Carer,

  An update for week beginning Monday 5^th October.

  Contrary to reports in one of the local newspapers, and to our own hopes expressed in our previous update, we will not be able to return to Gilded Hollins just yet. We will, therefore remain at Lowton CE High School for a further week.

  Unfortunately, work to remove dozens of metres of overhead ducting, along with a very bulky Air Handling Unit that has to be cut up while still in the ceiling void, has taken longer than originally anticipated. Once this has been completed, ceilings will be replaced and reinstated and then a deep clean of the entire building will be instigated, which will in itself take between two to three days.

  In addition, at the time of writing this, we still await the results of the swab tests we were promised by Tuesday this week.

  These results are crucial to our decision making. As we have stated from the outset, we will not expose our children, staff and parents to risk. 

  Thank you, as ever, for your patience and support.

   

   

  A message from your Chair of Governors

  I would like to thank Mr Nash and his staff for their professionalism and their determination to maintain their usual high standards in what could have been a very difficult situation. Mr Nash has managed the situation so very well, proving himself to be an excellent leader, and we are very lucky to have such a committed team of staff supporting him. They are working even harder than usual, to adapt to teaching in a totally different environment so the children continue to learn and progress.

   

  I would also like to thank you for your continued tolerance. It has been wonderful to hear the many comments of support made by you for the way in which the situation is being handled. I can assure you that as soon as we get information Mr Nash passes it on to you. We are very much in the hands of the experts who have been carrying out the tests and the company doing the work at school at the moment, so there is often nothing to report. As Mr Nash has already said, we are still waiting for more results which we were expecting to receive by Tuesday this week. Everything possible is being done to keep life as normal as possible for the children. If anyone wants to discuss the problem with me in person please do not hesitate to contact me via email or school.

   

  Mr Pollard and his staff at Lowton CE High have been wonderful. They could not have been more accommodating, welcoming and supportive. The pupils have also been wonderful with your children, treating them with respect and kindness and displaying impeccable manners. An added bonus of being based at the High School is that your children are able to access specialist facilities such as food technology and art rooms and equipment, so further enhancing their learning experience. I’m sure they will remember this as an adventure. Thank you so much to all at the High School.

   

  Last but certainly not least, thank you to your children, who have taken the change in their stride without breaking step. They are a credit to you and the school and as usual we are very proud of them.

   

  Liz Haworth 

• News for next week

  Thu 24 Sep 2015

  A meeting took place this afternoon with the various parties attempting to resolve the air quality issue we are currently experiencing in school. Representing Gilded Hollins were D Nash, Headteacher, Mrs E Haworth, Chair of Governors and Mrs J Boardman, Caretaker and Health and Safety Governor.

  Also in attendance were representatives of the local authority, including the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Officer, representatives of School’s property consultant NPS, and the Resource and Environmental Consultants Ltd., who have been conducting analysis tests in school.

  As a result of this meeting it has been agreed that we shall remain at Lowton CE High School for a further week.

  All the compounds for which we already have results have returned within acceptable levels. The final outcome from more detailed analysis is due back by Tuesday.

  In the meantime, a range of measures have been put in place to provide ongoing updates on the environment within our building. Among these are air composition sensors that will remain in school indefinitely.

  Next week, we intend to remove an old Air Handling Unit in the school ceiling void and the ducting connected to it. This should be completed by the middle of the week.

  On Wednesday, everyone who met today will gather again for feedback on the detailed analysis that has taken place this week.

  Then on Thursday and Friday a deep clean team will enter school in preparation for, it is envisaged, a return on Monday 5^th October.

  Obviously, we hope to be back at Gilded Hollins as soon as possible and we are doing all in our power to ensure the building is safe for your children, and staff, to return.

  In the meantime, Mr Pollard and everyone at Lowton CE High School continue to be incredible hosts. Nothing is too much trouble and they have gone out of their way to make us welcome and help us maintain the quality education to which our children are accustomed. We can’t thank them enough for everything they have done for us and our children.

  A thank you, also, to you for your continued patience at this difficult time.

• Update for Monday 21.9.15

  Mon 21 Sep 2015

  Update for 21.9.15

  School meals provider, Dolce, have agreed to make hot lunches available at Lowton CE High School from tomorrow (Tuesday). Lowton Junior and Infant School have very kindly agreed to share their kitchen facilities, and our staff will cook meals at their site and then transport them across to Lowton CE High School. A reduced menu will be available and for further details please visit www.live-kitchen.co.uk To assist us in providing the meals we ask that wherever possible you order in advance via the Live Kitchen website. We currently do not have access to the Live Kitchen console so minimising the number of pupils ordering their meal in the mornings will help reduce paperwork.

  Anyone experiencing problems with the Live Kitchen website, or with ordering, can call 0150 630 0310 for further information.

   

  For those of you who have enquired about P.E. days to enable you to send in a sports kit with your child, please see below:

  Reception – no kit required

  Year One –    Tuesdays and Thursdays

  Year Two -     Tuesdays and Thursdays

  Year Three - Tuesdays and Wednesdays

  Year Four –   Wednesday and Fridays (Swimming kit for Friday, please)

  Year Five -     Mondays and Thursdays

  Year Six -       Mondays and Thursdays

   

  The Year One and Two After School Multiskills Club tomorrow (and the Year Three and Four Multiskills on Thursday) will go ahead at Lowton CE High School this week. Academy of Sports will run the multiskills sessions in M Block, next to the all weather pitches at the top of the car park. They will get the children changed at hometime and escort them to M Block along with their belongings. Please collect your child from M Block at 4.30pm if they have previously received a note from school allocating them a place.

  Plans for an Active Kids Club on Wednesdays have now been shelved until after the half term break.

   

  Lowton CE High School’s Headteacher, Mr Julian Pollard, is inviting our Year Six and Five parents to a meeting tomorrow at the end of the school day. The meeting is intended to relay to parents his vision for the future of Lowton CE High School, and will be an excellent opportunity to find out more about the school. Your children will also be very welcome to attend. We’ll meet you at the usual collection point at the end of the day tomorrow to take you to the meeting room.

   

  An update on Gilded Hollins: A second tranche of air quality tests have been set up at various points in the building today with a view to identifying the cause of our recent issues. We’ll keep you up to date as more information becomes available.

   

  Finally, a huge thank you to those of you able to attend the rearranged Autumn Fayre in Pennington Park on Saturday. The weather was kind to us and there was plenty to keep young and old entertained. The Friends did an amazing job of relocating at short notice. I’m sure it was a stressful time for them, but they did us all proud – superstars one and all! 

• Update for week beg. 21.9.15

  Sun 20 Sep 2015

  As you are aware, we will be at Lowton High for at least the coming week while further analysis takes place at Gilded Hollins. We are hoping to have further updates on air quality by the middle of the week.

  We have arranged for usual P.E. lessons to take place this week. Please could you send your child with a kit on their P.E. days. This can be any T-shirt and shorts (including football kits) and pumps / trainers. We will ask the children to return these home the same day and then bring them back for their next P.E. lesson. Transporting 210 P.E. kits over from Gilded Hollins last week was not feasible as we have nowhere to store them at Lowton.

  A meeting has been set up with school meal provider Dolce on Monday morning to explore the possibility of using the canteen we have been allocated to provide hot meals. The canteen does not have equipment to cook meals on site, but we may be to use the kitchens of neighbouring schools and deliver hot food to Lowton. In the meantime, please provide a packed lunch and drink for Monday.

  Tomcat individual photos due to take place this week have been rearranged for 30^th November / 1^st December and the Friends’ AGM set for tomorrow evening has been cancelled. In addition, the Year Six Macmillan Coffee Afternoon due to take place on Friday will now be pencilled-in for later in the year. Music lessons have also been cancelled next week.

  A reminder that a Gilded Hollins breakfast club starts tomorrow at Lowton High. As you arrive at the school gates turn right before entering the car park, walk up the path and knock on the door of the J Block canteen. Our staff will be waiting for you there. The usual breakfast will be available from 7.45am.

• Latest update Thursday 17.9.15

  Thu 17 Sep 2015

  Dear Parent / Carer,

  An update on plans for tomorrow and next week.

  The air analysis tests carried out this week have unfortunately proved inconclusive. As we have stated previously, we are not prepared to risk the wellbeing of your children until we have an ‘all clear’ and, as a result, we have asked for a second, broader, set of tests. These will take place over Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week, with the new results due back by the end of the week. The plan is to seal the school over those days in a bid allow the atmosphere inside to settle. As usual, we will let you know the outcome as soon as we can.

  Lowton CE High have very kindly allowed us to continue to use their facilities for the whole of next week. Just to reassure you, we will be at Lowton this coming Monday even though the site is also being used as an educational activities day for other primary schools.

  We plan to restart P.E. lessons at Lowton on the usual days next week and it would assist us greatly if you could send your child with t-shirt, shorts and pumps / trainers on those P.E days.

  We will also enter into negotiations with school meals providers tomorrow (Friday) to try to provide hot meals on site from Monday. In the meantime, please send your child with a packed lunch and drink (as well as their water bottle) for tomorrow.

  Year Four swimming will go ahead tomorrow with the coach picking up and dropping off at Lowton CE High.

  The coach bringing Year Six back from Low Bank Ground tomorrow will also drop off at Lowton CE High from approximately 3.30pm onwards.

  We are hoping to have a Breakfast Club up and running at Lowton from Monday. Please watch the website for further details tomorrow.

  From tomorrow morning we are also asking Reception, Years One and Two children to be dropped off and picked up at Lowton High’s Main Entrance (right outside B Block and opposite the car park roundabout). Everyone else please make your way up to the all weather pitches as this morning and we will collect your children there. If everyone could arrive for 8.50am tomorrow that would be great.

  Unfortunately, next week’s music tuition, including brass lessons, will be cancelled.

  Please keep an eye out tomorrow for news about the Autumn Fayre. Gilded Hollins will not be able to host the event, but an alternative venue may be available.

  One final note to thank you all for your support and good humour today. It was good to see both you and your children.

   

  D Nash