Welcome to William Gilbert School from our headteacher Mrs Helen Britten
William Gilbert Endowed C of E Primary School and Nursery is a very special place to learn, grow and achieve.
We want our children to become creative, independent, and confident young people able to forge their own future and have a positive influence on the wider world.
We hope that our website will give you a taste of the life and learning at our school; an exceptional school in which Christian values and ethos permeate and underpin all that we are and do. William Gilbert School is proud to be a Church of England Primary School and part of the Derby Diocese Multi Academy Trust.
We are a thriving community of over 240 children, aged between 4 and 11, plus a 26 place Nursery. The normal catchment area is the Ecclesiastical area which covers mainly the village of Duffield, but pupils are welcome from outside the area if a place is available.
Our vision for excellence at William Gilbert Primary School is a safe and healthy learning environment where everyone is happy, motivated, challenged and with a thirst for learning. We aim to equip young learners with the confidence, skills, attitudes, and qualities to thrive within a Christian setting as encapsulated in John 10:10, “I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness.”
Staff, supported by governors, work hard to deliver a rich and challenging curriculum; to prepare children for their future education and to help them acquire the skills and enthusiasm needed to pursue learning for the rest of their lives.
Our Christian values ensure that our children have a sound understanding of the respect and kindness needed to get along with everyone in and around our community. We take our responsibility to promote community cohesion seriously and foster a respect for diversity and individual rights. We provide opportunities for pupils to explore their own culture and have a clear understanding and appreciation of the wide range of cultural influences that shape modern Britain.
Close partnership between home and school is a recipe for a child’s success and this website is just one link in this important relationship. Our strong supportive culture is due to the real sense of partnership between home and school.
From their very first school experience, our children benefit from a highly dedicated team of teachers, support staff and governors who strive tirelessly to provide a caring and supportive environment which enables all our pupils to flourish. I am extremely proud to lead a team committed to achieving high standards and providing the very best opportunities for the children in our care. We very much believe that happy learners make successful learners. Every child is special, and we celebrate their unique strengths and abilities.
Latest News
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To promote our participation with Derbyshire’s Travel Smart Week we are offering pupils the opportunity to take part in a school led competion with super prizes for their bike or scooter. All pupils can enter by making a poster to promote healthy, active and safe journeys to school. See the post for further details. Closing date is Friday 24th May.
Y6 are hoping for better weather tomorrow! Please can Y6 children come to school in PE kits tomorrow. Many thanks
Next week William Gilbert pupils will be taking part in Derbyshire’s Travel Smart Week. Monday 20th – Friday 24th May. Please support us by walking, scooting or cycling to school. See the letter below for more information. Your child will be coming home with a Travel Smart Flyer this week with further information and how to participate.
Please join us on Friday 17th May (tomorrow) for our annual SUMMER FAYRE. 5-7pm £3 entry for adults (primary children FREE) We have Anthony Andrews BBQ, Glitter Tatttoos, Face Painting, Tombola, Vegan Chilli Kitchen, Chocolate Fountain, Book Stall, Ernie Jackson on the Piano, Jolly Jars, Raffle, Bar, Doughnuts, Bluebells Ice Cream, Maunder’s Hair Salon, Craft Stall, Hook a Duck and more…… PLEASE BRING CHANGE!! 💰 Advance ticket entry : https://wgpta.sumupstore.com/ Online Raffle tickets: https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/raffle/summer-fayre-raffle-ticket
REMINDER PLEASE NOTE - Due to an external competition, the Dodgeball club after school for Year 1 on Wednesday 15th May has been cancelled. Thank you School Office
REMINDER - Bridge the Gap - Coffee Morning Our first coffee morning will be held in school on Friday 10th May 2024 9am – 10am in the school hall. Everyone is welcome! There will be refreshments provided and a chance to meet the professionals from Bridge the Gap. They will talk you through what it means to be a Bridge the Gap school, how you can access the online parent portal and other free and privately funded services at their Bridge the Gap Centre in Derby. It would be wonderful to see lots of you there so spread the word!
WHAT…..A…..DAY!! to say we’re proud of our dodgeball team would be an understatement….taking gold at the Derbyshire round @BritDodgeball tournament on Tuesday! Bring on North West Regional Finals in June. Follow our journey on Twitter/X @wgessport Mrs Reed
Artist of the Month - May 2024 This month's artist is: Max Ernst (1840 – 1926) In KS2 this month there is a German Culture Day, where the children will learn about different aspects of German culture and lifestyle. Therefore, this month we have selected a German artist to learn about. To enter you need to respond to the artist however you choose. Put your entry into the ‘Artist of the Month’ basket next to the art gallery display or email it to enquiries@williamgilbertend.derbyshire.sch.uk with the title 'Artist of the Month'. Please enter by Friday 24th May 2024 (the last day of term).
Message from Duffield Community Association Carnival week starts on Monday 24th June with family activities all around the village from the Duffield Run, BBQ to Sports Spectacular ending on Saturday 29th June with the Carnival Parade and Carnival Fun on Eyes Meadow. There has always been a Willy Gilly Tug of War team organised by parents. If there is anyone who would like to organise a team please get in touch with Jenny Sykes or paul.mccracken1962@gmail.com Many thanks, DCA
Latest events
View allTo enter you need to respond to the artist however you choose. Put your entry into the ‘Artist of the Month’ basket next to the art gallery display or email it to enquiries@williamgilbertend.derbyshire.sch.uk with the title 'Artist of the Month'. Please enter by Friday 24th May 2024 (the last day of term).
Artist of the Month - REMINDER
May 18th, 2024Travel Smart Week
Make Vicarage Lane Traffic Free on Tuesday 21st May 2024
During our last traffic free day in the Autumn, we had 98% of families supporting us to make Vicarage Lane a car free road on the journey to school. We hope to equal or better this on Tuesday 21st May. However, within our parental body I am aware that some of you, or your extended family members, may have specific circumstances and disabilities that require you to park closer to school. Although space is limited along St Alkmund’s Close, parking here is acceptable under those circumstances. I ask that other parents are sensitive to older family members with limited mobility or those with disabled badges who need to park closer to school.
Travel Smart Week
May 20th, 2024Year 1 and Year 2 – Temporary Change of PE Days for the last two weeks of this half term ONLY
Year 1 Monday 13th May and Thursday 16th May
Monday 20th May and Thursday 23rd May
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Y1 PE Kits
May 20th, 2024TODAY
We will be doing water safety. Your child will need their usual full swimming kit, hat, goggles plus a pair of pajamas, preferably t shirt style fabric, no onesies please, to use in the water to represent them swimming in their clothes.
We are pleased to inform you that your child will commence swimming lessons after Easter at Allestree Woodlands on the following dates:-
Tuesday 16th, 23rd & 30th April
Tuesday 7th & 21st May
Tuesday 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th June
Your child will need to bring their swimming kit to school for a session at Woodlands School on Tuesday 16th April. Swimming costume, cap and towel are required for lessons at Woodlands School. PLEASE NOTE Bikinis or long voluminous shorts are not acceptable. Only swimming costumes, trunks or lycra shorts. Swimming caps must be worn and earrings removed. Swimming caps can be purchased at Woodlands, please send £2.50 in a named envelope should your child need to purchase a swimming cap on Tuesday.
Swimming Summer Term 2024
May 21st, 2024Year 2 – Temporary Change of PE Days for the last two weeks of this half term ONLY
Year 2 Tuesday 14th May and Wednesday 15th May
Tuesday 21st May and Wednesday 22nd May
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Y2 PE Kits
May 21st, 2024With this in mind, Tuesday 21st
May it is ‘Move More on Traffic Free Tuesday’ We would like to make all of Vicarage Lane a traffic free zone on this day and activelyurge you to support this if you are physically able to. This will make the roads feel safer and the air cleaner. On ‘Traffic Free Tuesday’ we have Rob Bounds, Senior
Transport Officer in school with his ‘pedal powered smoothie maker’.
Traffic Free Tuesday
May 21st, 2024To promote our participation with Derbyshire’s Travel Smart Week we are offering pupils the opportunity to take part in a school led competion with super prizes for their bike or scooter. All pupils can enter by making a poster to promote healthy, active and safe journeys to school. See the post for further details. Closing date is Friday 24th May
.
Poster REMINDER
May 22nd, 2024Year 1 and Year 2 – Temporary Change of PE Days for the last two weeks of this half term ONLY
Year 1 Monday 13th May and Thursday 16th May
Monday 20th May and Thursday 23rd May
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Y1 PE Kits
May 23rd, 2024On Thursday 23rd May, I will be taking Year 6 pupils to visit the University of Derby to attend a Primary Explorers Day.
As the event starts at 9.00am, your child will need to arrive at school by 8.15am for us to depart by coach and arrive at the
University of Derby in time to begin the day’s programme. Pupils will be back at school for the end of the school day and will
leave school normally at 3.30pm via the KS2 entrance.
Children will need a packed lunch for this trip.
Y6 - University of Derby
May 23rd, 2024