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.
Year 6: English
Year 6 have been writing a story opening, which creates tension and builds atmosphere for the reader. We focussed on including action, dialogue and description as a hook to grab the reader's attention immediately. L.O: To write an effective opening to a narrative (modelled write).
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.
Year 6: Maths
After our main maths lessons, year 6 have been enjoying working on their mental arithmetic by playing dice games. They have been recognising number bonds at speed to try and win the game.
School Games Gold Award Winners!
We’re proud to announce that Darwen St James has been awarded the GOLD School Games Mark! This brilliant achievement is a reflection of the perseverance, courage, and hope shown by our pupils—and the dedication of our PE and Extra-Curricular Sports Team, who work tirelessly to promote sport and physical activity across our school. This year we have participated in netball, football, cross country and cricket to name a few! The School Games Mark is a national award that celebrates a school’s commitment to PE, school sport, and competition, both within and beyond the school gates. It also supports schools in reviewing and strengthening their provision. A huge thank you and well done to Mrs Cookson and all the staff for making sport such an exciting and important part of life at Darwen St James. We’re incredibly proud of our pupils for stepping up to every challenge with determination and team spirit. Keep going, keep growing! ???? #TeamDSJ #DSJFamily
Year 6: Leavers (Chip Party!)
Year 6 were introduced to Chip on Monday, who will be leading our final worship at Blackburn Cathedral. We practiced some songs we will be performing in the final week of term, and had chips!
Year 6: Science
L.O: To explain why there are differences within a species. This week year 6 have started a new unit of learning, focussing on evolution, inheritance and adaptation. We looked at variation within the same species, and thought about why this happens and what the biological purpose of variation is.
Online Safety - Violent Content Online
Around 70% of teenagers say they’ve seen real-life violence on social media in the past year. Violent content online isn’t just something young people are occasionally stumbling across – in many cases, it’s becoming a routine part of their digital world. From fights and stabbings to toxic ideologies , disturbing videos are often just a click away on social media or group chats. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide highlights the unseen risks this poses to children’s mental health , sense of safety, and social behaviours. With insights from a leading expert , it offers practical ways for parents and educators to respond with empathy and support – not punishment or panic.
Year 6: Maths - Measuring and Classifying Angles.
This week year 6 have started their unit on geometry. We have started by learning to classify angles by sight, and to measure them accurately using a protractor. L.O:
Year 6: English - To Use Adjectives to Effectively Describe a Setting.
This week Year 6 are responding to the animation 'The Eye of The Storm'. Today they began by analysing the setting, and writing a highly descriptive setting description using powerful adjectives.
Year 6: History - Summarising Learning.
In history year 6 have begun to finalise their learning on the Maya Civilisation by summarising the learning from each of our lessons, and presenting it to the best of their ability in a creative double page spread.
Year 6: SATs Week
This week has been SATs week for Year 6, we have started each day with a class breakfast and completed our final preparations together. The class have worked so hard, and this has been a great opportunity for them to showcase their learning!
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