The final weeks of term have been wonderfully festive and filled with Christmas cheer. One of the highlights of this week was the absolute treat of the Year 3, 4 and 5 performances of Bah Humbug. It was absolutely brilliant and a real joy to watch. It never ceases to amaze me how talented and courageous our children are — from learning lines and remembering cues, to singing with such gusto and confidence in front of an audience. Whatever the year group and whatever the role, every child played their part and I am incredibly proud of each and every one of them.

On Thursday, we also came together as a whole school community for our Celebration Worship, where we took time to recognise and celebrate the children’s achievements over the term. Well done to all of the children who received awards — it was lovely to see their efforts acknowledged and celebrated. It was also wonderful to read out the names of the children who were put forward for our STEP awards, recognising those who consistently demonstrate excellent manners. In addition, I had the pleasure of welcoming a group of children to join me for hot chocolate as a special ‘well done’ for always showing our school values and following our rules of being Ready, Respectful and Safe.

Our children have also been busy spreading Christmas cheer beyond the school gates. Groups of children visited Pax Hill, Dottie Tots and Bentley Lodge to sing festive songs, and it was a joy to see them representing our school so beautifully in the local community. These visits were warmly received and really demonstrated our children’s kindness, confidence and sense of belonging.

We also enjoyed our Christmas lunch together this week, which was our first with our new catering company, Caterlink. It was a lovely occasion and the food was delicious. It was wonderful to see the children enjoying the meal together and embracing the festive spirit.

We ended the term with one of my most favourite events of the year: our Christmas Service at St Mary’s Church. The Year 6 children shared the story of Christmas with confidence and maturity, the choir performed beautifully, and the sense of togetherness was truly special. It was a fitting way to end the term and left us all with that unmistakable Bentley Christmas feeling.

This has been a term that has made me extremely proud to be the headteacher of such a caring, talented and supportive school community. Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope that you are able to enjoy some precious family time over the break. I look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2026.

Vicky Hallett

Headteacher

HOUSEPOINTS                                                                                                      

This week’s housepoints totals:

234

274

313

145

 

ATTENDANCE

Governors have set the attendance target for the school at 97%. The class with the best attendance last week was Year 2 again. Well done Year 2!

Attendance figures for each class for last week are below:

 

SAFEGUARDING

We have been made aware of an important safeguarding concern regarding the children’s book series Humphrey's Tiny Tales by Betty G Birney. Several titles in this series contain a web link at the back of the book that no longer directs people to information about the books. Instead, the link now leads to highly inappropriate and unsafe material, containing pornographic content with no age restrictions.

We strongly advise that you check whether your child has access to these books and ensure they do not attempt to visit the website listed.

 

 

HOT CHOCOLATE TREAT

Congratulations to the children chosen to have a special hot chocolate treat this term:

Year R	Jesse, Ada
Year 1	Archie, Anabelle
Year 2	Robin, Alex
Year 3	Amelie L, Archie
Year 4	Rose, Rafe
Year 5	Edie, Harry
Year 6	Lauren K, Rayyan

 

CHRISTMAS QUIZ

Well done Wilberforce, who wowed us with their knowledge of all things Christmassy and won the quiz. They won lots of extra housepoints!

 

UPDATED MENU

Following feedback, Caterlink have slightly amended the menus for the Spring term:

 

YEAR R 2026 APPLICATIONS

Is your child starting school in September 2026?

If so, come and visit us here at Bentley to find out all about our lovely community-centred, village primary school and to see if we are the right school for your child. Bentley welcomes children from within our catchment area and beyond.

Applications for Year R starters in 2026 close on Thursday 15^th January. If you have a younger child who turns 4 between 1^st September 2025 and 31^st August 2026 (or know someone locally who does) we still have an open event for prospective parents on the following date:


Wednesday 7th January 26 at 9:30 am

 

Click here to book your place.

 

BENTLEY’S LIVING ADVENT CALENDAR

Step Into the Spirit of Christmas with Bentley’s Living Advent Calendar.

Looking for a reason to get outside this December? Wrap up warm, grab a friend or the family, and take a festive wander through Bentley as our village transforms into a Living Advent Calendar!

Just like the traditional advent calendar that reveals a surprise each day, Bentley’s version brings a touch of magic to our streets. From 1st to 24th December, a new Christmas window will be unveiled every day, each one lovingly decorated by a local. By Christmas Eve, there’ll be 24 unique festive displays twinkling around the village for everyone to discover.

It’s the perfect way to enjoy some fresh winter air, stretch your legs, and soak up the Christmas spirit right here in the village. Whether it’s a peaceful evening stroll after dinner or a family weekend walk with a hot chocolate in hand, the trail offers a wonderful way to connect with the community and enjoy the festivities together.

✨ A new window is revealed daily from 1–24 December

✨ Once revealed, each window stays on display until 1st January, so you can catch up on any you’ve missed

✨ You can explore the trail using the printable Trail Map PDF) or follow on Google Maps https://tinyurl.com/3n5t3rbw. A small number of paper maps will be available from the school, shop and pub at the end of November. Follow along on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/share/1C17P83LFA/?mibextid=wwXIfr

✨ Look out for window numbers and spot your favourites!

✨ Visitors are invited to make a Justgiving donation to Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice

https://www.justgiving.com/page/bentley-advent-trail

The Living Advent Calendar is more than just a festive display, it’s a celebration of creativity, community, and togetherness. So this December, pop on your hat and gloves, step outside, and enjoy Bentley at its most magical, one Christmas window at a time. Thank you to everyone taking part.

PTFA

A huge thank you to the Forresters for donating their time for the Christmas photo shoot. This was really successful!

 

If you were lucky enough to win a hamper this Christmas, please could you return the hamper to the office for us to use again. Thank you.

 You’re Invited to The Bentley Bash!

Join us for a spectacular evening at the beautiful Bury Court, a stunning local venue, as we celebrate in style with music, dancing, food, and fun.

 When?
Friday 15th May 2026, 7-11:30pm

 What’s Included:
• Live band, music & dancing all night long
• Delicious pizza & dessert (included in your ticket)
• Raffle prizes, games & extra entertainment to keep the fun flowing
• Minibus taxi service available to make your night hassle-free

 Dress Code: Dress to impress!

🎟 Tickets:
• £50 if purchased before 1st December
• £55 after 1st December
• Option to pay in two £25 instalments if booked before 1st December (final payment due by 1st February)

 Venue: Bury Court – a stunning local setting that makes the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable evening.

Don’t miss out on what promises to be a night to remember – music, laughter, dancing, and plenty of surprises along the way!

Tickets on sale now!
Www.pta-events.co.uk/bentley