Dear Parents,
INFANT SCHOOL UNIFORM
It has quickly come to my attention that the section of my previous letter relating to Infant School uniform only served to confuse rather than clarify the situation. I am very sorry, but I was not party to earlier decisions or the train of communication prior to my arrival. It seems you have been told different things by different people. My intention was to support my Head of Infant School, Mrs Judi Pollock in her request for a reemphasis of the uniform in Key Stage 1 and Early Years.
The change that went out in July was established for good reason and I am sorry you received something to the contrary at the beginning of term. The idea is that we want to maximize the class time for children and the teaching time for early years teachers. My aim is, as of next year, to go to double PE lessons which will mean time for changing at the beginning of the lesson and time to shower and change at the end, but still provide for a meaningful period of instruction. However, with the timetable set, for this year that is not possible. In the meantime to get every pupil showered and changed for the next lesson, having changed during the end of the previous lesson is not practical. I do not believe that people of between ages 3 and 6 sweat in such significant amounts that a shower is absolutely necessary immediately after sport. In an ideal world they would shower and next year they certainly will, but until that time I would ask that changing in school is kept to the bear minimum at this age.
For those of you who already have a shirt and tie in Year 1 and 2, for this year only (until Year 3 when the tie will come in handy again), children are allowed to wear the shirt and tie. I do not in any way think that the uniform will be less smart at that age, when in fact the uniform can get very scruffy when you are asking a young man of 5 to tie a tie and do up a number of buttons, so again reducing time during the day for delivery of the curriculum. My main priority is to maximize quality teaching time.
I do, however, now recognize that an error was made on the uniform list I sent out last week because Reception was grouped with Nursery and Pre-nursery, when it should have been grouped with Years 1 and 2. The original list sent out in July is in fact correct and should be adhered to. I can only apologise for the error and take responsibility for it as a result of my ignorance of the history of the correspondence!
I therefore detail the actual uniform below.
Lastly, on this note, can I stress that I in no way intend to cause you more expense. My intentions are in fact distinctly opposed to the current expense of the uniform, with my aim to ensure you can buy the uniform in school at cheaper prices and a higher quality from next academic year.
DAYS OFF, 7TH AND 12TH OCTOBER
A reminder that there will be no school on either Thursday 7th October or Tuesday 12th October. The first occasion is in recognition of a local Torre Pacheco fiesta and the second occasion is to celebrate a national fiesta.
Lastly, can I repeat my apology for the confusion caused? My intention is to ensure that communication at King´s College does not serve to confuse, but rather to clarify and even enlighten!
Best wishes
Robin Silk
