Headteacher's News
All the most recent news from Edith
Wednesday 15th October 2025
Dear parents and carers of Stepney Park Primary School.
As we reach the end of a very successful first half of the Autumn term, I wanted to thank you all for your continued support. The school has felt very settled and productive, and it’s been wonderful seeing our pupils fully engaged in their learning and demonstrating our school values and learning behaviours daily.
Year 5 and 6 Residential trip success
We are thrilled to report on the fantastic residential trips that Year 5 and 6 have completed at Gilwell Park and Mersea. The children had a great time and challenged themselves with activities that have taught them invaluable life skills. We are especially proud of how they demonstrated resilience and independence, two key school values, throughout the days they were there. These are experiences that will truly help them grow into confident young people.
Important reminders: uniform and weather
We appreciate your efforts in supporting our school uniform policy, which helps maintain a positive and focused learning environment. We do, however, need to clarify two specific points ahead of the new half term:
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School trousers: We have noticed an increase in girls wearing black flared trousers. Please remember that our policy requires children to wear either grey school-style trousers, grey skirts or grey dresses. Black flared trousers are not permitted.
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Branded items: A reminder that the only uniform items we require to carry the school logo are purple T-shirts, cardigans, and jumpers. Other items, such as bags, do not need to have the school logo.
As the weather is now significantly colder and wetter, please ensure your child comes to school every day with a warm, waterproof coat. We want to ensure all children are comfortable and dry during outdoor play and break times.
Children’s wellbeing and support
We understand that recent weeks have involved rising tensions in the local area, which can sometimes cause anxiety in children and families. Please remember that our school is a place of sanctuary and support.
If you have any concerns at all about your child's wellbeing, or if you notice your child is showing signs of worry or anxiety, please do not hesitate to contact their class teacher or the school office. We have dedicated staff and resources available to offer support and ensure every child feels safe and secure.
Parents' Evening
Please ensure you book a time slot for our parents' evening, which will take place on Wednesday, November 19th. This is a vital opportunity to discuss your child's progress with their teacher.
Please note that school will close early for all children, at 1:00 pm on November 19th, to allow time for these important meetings.
Term-time holidays
Finally, I would like to remind all parents that term-time holidays are not permitted and will be marked as unauthorised absence. Our policy, aligned with the Local Authority, states that we cannot allow leave for family holidays during the school year, as consistent attendance is crucial for your child’s educational progress.
We wish you all a restful and enjoyable half-term break, which will start on Friday Oct 17th at 3.30 pm. We look forward to welcoming the children back on Monday Nov 3rd at 8.50 am. Have a wonderful autumn break!
Kind regards,
Edith Philipsen
Headteacher – Stepney Park Primary School
