Image of Peer Mediators - Meet the Team!
3 Jul

Peer Mediators - Meet the Team!

Following two days of intensive training and a rigorous application process, our newly appointed peer mediators were officially ready to begin their important work this week! Easily identifiable in their bright high-visibility jackets, these dedicated students were a visible presence on the playground, poised to offer support and facilitate peaceful resolutions for any minor conflicts that arose.

Image of Year 5 Church Visit for Holy Communion
3 Jul

Year 5 Church Visit for Holy Communion

This week, Year 5 had the special opportunity to join the Holy Communion Service at our church. A student thoughtfully read about the Lord's Prayer and how Jesus taught it to his disciples, setting a reflective tone. Many children courageously shared their own heartfelt prayers, asking God for guidance and help with global challenges such as wars and climate change. Following the service, we enjoyed a communal lunch at the church before returning to school, a wonderful end to a meaningful morning.

Image of Year 5 Geography - Oceans
3 Jul

Year 5 Geography - Oceans

In Geography lessons, Year 5 has been delving into the vital topic of oceans. This week, our focus shifted to practical solutions for preventing plastic pollution in our seas. We thoroughly explored ways to reduce our personal single-use plastic consumption and discussed innovative methods for repurposing and reusing plastic items. Building on this crucial understanding, we are excited to visit the seaside next week, where we will investigate our local beaches to assess litter types and quantities, and identify the diverse flora and fauna that inhabit the area.

Image of Year 5 English: Planning a Narrative based on Journey to the River Sea
26 Jun

Year 5 English: Planning a Narrative based on Journey to the River Sea

Our Year 5 English lessons have been brought to life by the captivating narrative of Eva Ibbotson's Journey to the River Sea. Students have been diligently planning their unique, innovated stories, drawing inspiration from the novel's themes and adventures. We are excited to see these creative narratives unfold as they begin their writing journey this week.

Image of Year 5 Worship - How we Help Our Friends
26 Jun

Year 5 Worship - How we Help Our Friends

In a meaningful Class Worship session, Year 5 engaged with the powerful story of the paralysed man, which they then creatively retold in engaging cartoon strip form. Building on this narrative, students reflected deeply on past instances where they've supported a friend and, inspired by the story's message, thoughtfully made personal pledges for how they intend to offer help and kindness to their friends in the future.

Image of Online Safety - Nintendo Switch 2
25 Jun

Online Safety - Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo’s long-awaited Switch 2 has finally arrived, blending fresh hardware with fan-favourite franchises. From Mario to Pikachu, the familiar mascots are back – but so too are evolving online features, in-game purchases, and potential exposure to mature content. As ever, it’s essential that parents and educators understand the risks to young players. Among these are GameChat voice communication, camera-based gaming, and potential access to mature-rated titles. This guide outlines what to watch out for and how to keep children safe, engaged and having fun.

Image of Year 5 Art - Visual Notes in Response to an Artist
19 Jun

Year 5 Art - Visual Notes in Response to an Artist

This week in Art, Year 5 embarked on an exciting exploration of Set Design for the Theatre. They meticulously studied the innovative work of Rae Smith, particularly her acclaimed designs for Michael Morpurgo's powerful production of War Horse. Inspired by the artist's unique style and vision, the children then translated their observations and ideas into their own creative 'visual notes.'

Image of Online Safety - Youtube Kids
18 Jun

Online Safety - Youtube Kids

YouTube Kids promises a safe, child-centric experience with colourful visuals, age-filtered content, and robust parental controls. Designed to appeal to younger viewers, the app has grown rapidly, being used by tens of millions of children worldwide. But is it as safe as it seems? Despite YouTube Kids’ safeguards, reports have highlighted worrying issues, such as inappropriate content slipping through filters, subtle advertising, and the use of manipulative design to keep children engaged. Our guide explores how to navigate these pitfalls, offering practical advice for making sure children get the most from the platform – without the risks.

Image of Year 5 English: Roleplays - Journey to the River Sea
18 Jun

Year 5 English: Roleplays - Journey to the River Sea

Year 5's English lessons have been brought to life by Eva Ibbotson's captivating novel, Journey to the River Sea. Students explored characterisation through a dynamic role-play, recreating Maia's significant first encounter with the twins. They focused intently on using their actions and facial expressions to communicate the characters' emotional states. Following this, they independently crafted compelling letters from Maia's point of view, sharing her Amazonian adventures and personal feelings with her friends back in England.

Image of Forest  School Training
17 Jun

Forest School Training

Forest School learning is an inspirational and specialised approach to outdoor education that focuses on developing confidence, self-esteem, and holistic growth in learners through hands-on experiences in natural environments. This week our teachers have been on a Forest School adventure. Learning all the different skills to become Forest School leaders. Bringing back to school the philosophical understanding, practical skills, and confidence to unlock the vast educational potential of the outdoors, ultimately creating richer, more engaging, and more beneficial learning experiences for our pupils.

Image of Year 5 Science - Leapfrog Game: Facts about Frogs
12 Jun

Year 5 Science - Leapfrog Game: Facts about Frogs

This week, our Science lesson hopped into the fascinating world of amphibian life cycles, specifically focusing on frogs. Year 5 thoroughly enjoyed discovering diverse frog life cycles, including the intriguing South American tree frog, which uniquely lays its eggs on leaves rather than in water! To consolidate our learning, we then took our studies to the playground for a lively game of 'Leapfrog Life Cycle'. Students answered questions about frog development on their whiteboards; a correct answer meant a fun leap, with the number of jumps determined by a dice roll! This highly engaging and active session led to much correct recall and, consequently, a lot of enthusiastic jumping!

Image of Year 5 Music - Responding to Music with Art
12 Jun

Year 5 Music - Responding to Music with Art

This week in Music, Year 5 engaged in a wonderfully creative exercise, listening intently to various pieces and translating their auditory experiences into abstract drawings. Their artwork beautifully captured both the sounds they heard and the emotions the music evoked, resulting in a collection of truly interesting and unique interpretations.