School Lane, Litton Cheney, Dorchester,
Dorset, DT2 9AU
Tel: 01308 482410
Email: office@thorners.dorset.sch.uk
Web site: www.thorners.dorset.sch.uk
Head Teacher: Mike Sitch
Term Dates Academic Year 2026-2027
Bride Valley Fledglings Pre-school meets at Thorners School, School House Lane, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 9AU .
Tel: +44 1308 482410. Opening Hours:
THORNERS SCHOOL
VILLAGE FACILITIES
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October 2026 Newsletter
This month we have to say thank you and sadly goodbye to a few people at Thorner's. First of all a huge thanks to all the
members of the TSA (our parent fundraiser group) who are stepping down after many years of tireless work! Michelle Feher,
Jo Marchant and all their associated helpers have worked brilliantly (together with Claire Moore who is staying on as
secretary) over the past few years and as well as giving the children a huge range of fun activities and competitions have
also raised an incredible twenty thousand pounds for the school in their time in charge. This group have also been
instrumental in helping put together joint school and village events such as summer fetes which have been lovely occasions
to bring everyone together. We welcome Kitti and her new team and look forward to the new things they will bring to the role!
In school, we have to say a sad goodbye soon to Mrs Hayter who is retiring in December. Jo has worked at Thorner's for
over 30 years and has been amazing working with children across the whole age range as well always leading the school in
sport and ELSA work with vulnerable pupils. I know many people reading this will have been lucky enough to have been
coached, encouraged and taught by Jo and we thank her enormously for all her dedication to the children and the school
more broadly. It is increasingly rare to find examples where people have given so much to one place of work or institution
and we look forward to making a deserved fuss of her in December when she finally steps down.
Thank you also to our teachers for arranging a great array of trips and activities these past few weeks - from an Ancient
Egyptian workshop to a theatre trip to Winchester and a bus ride into Bridport Museum for the little ones as well as a walk
round Abbotsbury Swannery for the pre-school. These activities add so much to the children's learning and we also look
forward to a trip to Bovington Tank Museum with the older pupils as well as the usual welly walks and trips to church in the
village. To add to these big trips and activities we are also introducing a new range of clubs on Friday lunchtimes for all the
children. The plan is to start a series of clubs with the children, from Reception to Eggardon, that cover some of those things
that we really want them to know, but that quite simply do not always crop up in the National Curriculum. We hope that the
sessions below will add to the other lunchtime and after school clubs that we offer and give all the children the chance to
tackle some real-life skills, and to try some new things that we can't/don't cover in lessons.
For this term we will offer: Autumn 26
Mission: Everyday Hero - how to spot dangers and save the day
Domestic Science - can you sew a button or wire a plug? Can you tie knots and knot ties?Can you make and bake?
International Pen Pals - Let's connect with pupils all over the world - finding out what their school/class and lives are like
through pen pal letters from Thorner's to schools across the world!
Campaign Sustainability - let's plant seeds of all different kinds to make our school, our environment and our world a better
place.
Junior Responder - First Aid essentials for children.
The Thorner's Union - free speech, parliament, laws - it's all up for debate! Let's hear you speak out on the issues that
matter to you!
Young Enterprise - Design, Production, Marketing, Sales - with a small bank loan from "HSBSitch" what can your company
create together to turn a profit in 6 weeks?
We'll keep you updated as to how the pupils tackle these new challenges!
Mike Sitch - Headmaster
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
09.00-15.30
09.00-15.30
09.00-15.30
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
SessionsTimes:: Morning 9.00 – 11.45 (2.75 hours)
Lunch 11.45 – 12.45 ( 1 hour)
Afternoon 12.45 – 3.15 ( 2.5 hours)
Bride Valley Fledglings
