Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Darell Primary and Nursery School.

I hope you and your family are well.  My name is Joe Porter and I am the  Headteacher at Darell Primary School. I am extremely proud to be in a position to lead this exceptional school.  I have been in position for over three years now and have enjoyed every moment.   

We are a welcoming and happy school. This is enabled by the work of every single member of staff.  It is important to appreciate the virtues of the people you surround yourself with and I have been humbled by the dedication and skill of every person who chooses to work at this school.  As I write, it is a lovely to hear happy children playing in Reception.  We are a small school and it has been a joy to get to know each and every one of them.  They are all special and every day they bring sunshine to my day.

The child who joins Darell will be welcomed, made to feel special and part of a community.  We pride ourselves on helping our youngest children, in Nursery and in Reception, to master the skills they need to succeed and participate in learning.  

The child who leaves Darell will have spent time in a diverse, inclusive and supportive school where the needs of the individual are recognised and nurtured.  They will have had access to a wide range of enriching experiences and in line with the schools enriched curriculum and will have had the opportunity to ‘Make a difference’ to their and others lives.  Excellent teaching will have resulted in them achieving their potential in readiness for the next stage in their learning journey. 

The parent who leaves Darell will feel like they have worked in partnership, benefitted from excellent communication and been able to have a voice in their child’s learning journey.

Positive relationships, high expectations and excellent teaching yield results and our Year 6 SAT’s results 2021-22 were significantly above the national average in all areas and also higher than the Richmond average in many areas. Results only tell a part of the story.  What we want, is for our children to have learnt about themselves and the needs of others. We will equip them with a toolbox of understanding, empathy and enquiry that fosters confidence in themselves and their abilities and enables them to thrive in our ever-changing world. 

At this point, I would like to welcome you into school to see how we make a difference. We really welcome visits to the school and I will find time to give you a personalised tour.  As a parent of three school aged children I know how important it is to get the feel of a school, see the learning and meet the staff.  I will ensure that you get this opportunity during your visit to the school. If you would like any further information or to book a tour please contact the school and I will personally get back to you in good time.

Kind regards,

Joe Porter

Headteacher