Happy Summer holidays to all. Children are back to school on Thursday 3rd September. Please remember the school gates will now be closing ay 8:45am and all children are expected to be in school by that time.
If you are interested in your child starting at Quainton please contact the office and Mr Vernon would love the opportunity to show you all we have to offer. office@quainton.bucks.sch.uk
End of Year Message from Mr Vernon - July 22nd 2026
Dear Parents and Carers,
As we reach the end of another busy and rewarding academic year at Quainton, I want to take a moment to reflect on our successes, celebrate our pupils, and share some key updates as we look ahead to September.
Year 6 Leavers
Our wonderful Year 6 pupils are preparing to take their next steps, and we send them on their way with our very best wishes. It has been a joy to behold their journey over seven years at Quainton — the first cohort, as Head, I have had the privilege of seeing all the way from EYFS to Year 6. Their attitude, positivity and kindness will undoubtedly lead them towards a bright future. They have excelled themselves in SATs and have achieved results that considerably exceed national and local authority averages. Special thank you to the Year 6 team for all their hard work and to everyone who has contributed to their success over the years.
The Lion King Production
We must also celebrate the truly outstanding Lion King production. The talent, confidence and teamwork shown by the children were exceptional, and it was wonderful to see the school community come together to enjoy such a memorable performance. My sincere thanks go to the staff for their creativity, commitment and countless hours of preparation. It was a triumph.
OPAL Play
We introduced Opal Play to Quainton 18 months ago. It has transformed lunchtimes by creating rich, inclusive, imaginative outdoor experiences that boost children’s wellbeing, social development and readiness to learn. Last week we had our final independent audit by OPAL Play and we achieved platinum status, the highest grading possible. A proud moment for the school and further evidence of the progress we continue to make. Thank you to all involved.
Progress Against Our Key Priorities
Priority 1: Quality and Effectiveness of the Curriculum
This year we have continued to refine and strengthen our curriculum. Key developments include:
- A renewed focus on spellings and foundational skills across KS1 and KS2
- Adjustments to non‑core planning to make lessons more engaging while maintaining fidelity to the skills progression These changes are already having a positive impact on pupil outcomes and classroom consistency.
- Introduction of structured continuous provision into Year 1 from September. Year 1 parents will be invited into school in the new year to see this provision in action.
Priority 2: Professional Learning Culture
We have delivered tailored, high‑quality CPD throughout the year, enabling staff to further enhance their teaching and take ownership of their professional growth. This remains a central part of our school improvement strategy.
Priority 3: Narrowing the Disadvantaged Gap
We continue to work hard to ensure disadvantaged pupils achieve as well as their peers. Though still provisional our Year 6 SATs results show a massive leap in achievement this year.
Priority 4: Attendance
Attendance has improved this year, and the gap between disadvantaged and non‑disadvantaged pupils has closed due to the strength of our offer and the support we provide. However, there is still work to do to raise attendance overall. Next year, we will be tightening expectations around term‑time holidays. Further information will be shared before the new academic year.
Priority 5: Meeting the Needs of Pupils with SEND
Mrs Ellis has taken on the work previously led by Mr DeSilva and continues to drive our SEND provision to new heights. We are a proudly inclusive school, committed to offering all we reasonably can to support pupils emotionally, socially and academically. Our SEND offer remains a significant strength of Quainton and further work on inclusive teaching and environments will be prioritised next academic year.
Summer Works
During the summer break, we will be completing several improvements to the school environment, including:
- Installation of new external doors
- Painting and refreshing classrooms
These works will help ensure our learning spaces remain safe, welcoming and conducive to high‑quality teaching.
From September we will be making a small adjustment to the school day. The gates will open, as always, at 8:30am but will be closing at 8:45 and we expect all children to be in school by then. This will ensure we can start your children’s learning earlier. Thank you for your understanding.
Finally, my heartfelt thanks go to our governors, for their guidance and strategic support. Our staff, for their dedication, professionalism and care and of course our children, who bring joy, curiosity and energy to every day. And last but certainly not least thank you to you, our parents and carers, for your continued support and partnership.
I wish you all a wonderful summer. We look forward to welcoming the children back to school on Thursday 3rd September.
Kind regards
James Vernon
Headteacher
Quainton Church of England School
‘You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others.’ Matthew 5:16
Welcome Message
I am delighted to welcome you to Quainton Church of England School, nestled peacefully in the rolling countryside of the Aylesbury Vale. We offer a safe learning environment, dedicated to achieving success for all who walk through our welcoming doors.
Above all else, Quainton Church of England School is a happy school with a friendly and positive atmosphere permeating throughout and, fantastically motivated children who want to give everything a go to succeed. We have a dedicated team of staff, all proud of our school and what it has achieved in recent times and, more importantly, what it can achieve in the future.
