This Week’s Headline Story…
Daughter Fuels Racing Driver Dad’s Green Dreams
22nd March 2024
A pointed conversation about the environment has led to a man who restores and races vintage cars to have a radical rethink on green fuel. William Medcalf, founder of Vintage Bentley in Hill Brow, nea…
Nursery Swimmers Pool Their Resources
In Nursery, the undoubted highlight of the week was the opportunity for the children to demonstrate how far they have come with a swimming demonstration to parents. Swimming is an important part of the nursery curriculum and is one of the key areas that highlights the important life skills we aim to nurture, such as determination, perseverance and the ability to face a challenge. Many children feel a slight sense of trepidation when they first experience the pool, but with encouragement and support from their teachers they soon learn how much fun they can have. And the results of their efforts were clear to see as they impressed their parents with their newly-acquired water skills.
Sam Forster, Head of Nursery
Reception Get A Taste For Campfire Cookery
The Reception children got a taste for cooking over the campfire at forest school this week. The inquisitive young learners were delighted to discover that they could make mini bread rolls using just two ingredients – flour and Greek yoghurt. Having carefully digested the recipe, the children set about working together to mix the dough before rolling it into little balls for Mrs Jakeway to cook over the fire. And having waited patiently for the rolls to cool down, keeping a very close eye on them as they did so, the children decided it was an ideal snack after a busy afternoon in the woods!
Natasha Jacklin, Reception Class Teacher
Year 1 Go To Great Lengths To Master Measuring
With our maths topic being length and height, Year 1 have spent the last week exploring how to measure. We began by comparing differences in height and lengths of objects around the classroom, using key words such as longer, longest, shorter and shortest. The children used cubes to help them equate measurement before moving onto rulers to measure each other’s feet. Teamwork is always central to everything Year 1 do in and out of the classroom and the children worked effectively together to answer questions about length, taking real pride and gaining a sense of achievement in supporting each other’s learning.
Hannah Feery, Year 1 Class Teacher
Year 2 Spring Into Action With Daffodil Study
In science this week, Year 2 were tasked with identifying and naming the different parts of a daffodil and gaining an understanding of their purpose. To do this, and after the plant was carefully dissected by a teacher, the children used magnifying glasses to explore the tiny elements which can be found in this colourful spring flower, such as the ovule (where the germ cells are stored). After studying their plants, the children showed great attention to detail by sketching pictures of a daffodil and carefully labelling the key parts.
Charlie Millsom, Head of Year 2
Year 3 Hold Court As They Tackle Basketball
Year 3 took to the basketball court in PE this week. The objective was to teach the children the set-shot technique and then apply this to a conditioned game, and it had the desired effect as the focused children met with a good deal of success when aiming for the basket, proving that rewards can be gained through practise, effort and enthusiasm. As well as gaining confidence through more accurate shooting, Year 3 also gained a greater insight into the rules of the game and discovered that they could move up the court more effectively when passing the ball and playing as a team.
Jo Gordon, Head of PE
Hokusai The Inspiration As Year 4 Tackle Printing Process
Year 4 have this week been learning how to prepare a print in art, using Japanese artist Hokusai as their inspiration. Hokusai is best known for his work the Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, which includes the iconic print The Great Wave off Kanagawa. The children followed careful instructions to use the bottom end of a pencil or a paintbrush to indent the scene of the great wave within the polystyrene, which formed the printing plate, before adding colour. The children displayed a great understanding of the process and showed great patience, especially when the task didn’t quite go to plan.
Olga Houghton, Head of Art
Legendary Lesson For Year 5 Storytellers
Year 5 have been reading Beowulf this term, looking at the myth and legend of the monster Grendel and how he terrorized Heorot, the great Mead Hall. Inspired by Beowulf’s heroics in saving the Danes and King Hrothgar from their terrible ordeal, Year 5 have been creating their own legend. Letting their imaginations roam free, the children included a monster, a hero or heroine and a sorrowful king in their impressive tales which were set long, long ago. The children discovered that meticulously planning their story was key, carefully considering the elements needed for a successful story such as language and description.
Robert Grech, Year 5 Class Teacher
Year 6 In Wonderland As Alice Comes To Life
Young actors in Year 6 showed real versatility with a wonderful performance of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale Alice in Wonderland. Joined by Year 5 for what turned out to be a colourful and spectacular play, the older children performed not just one role but two as they were split into an ‘Alice’ cast and a ‘caterpillar’ cast to ensure that each child got to perform in a major role at least once. The children showed real resilience, determination and enthusiasm to learn their lines, learn dance moves and bring their characters to life. The performances were a real tour de force on what was a tough week for the children, with two full dress rehearsals to pre-prep audiences and then three performances of the ‘real thing’ in front of parents. The children brought real flair, charisma and charm to their roles, as well as getting the chance to use so many brilliant props that they had lovingly made themselves.
Sarah Baird, Head of Drama
Resilient Year 7 Crack The Code
Using their new Version 2 Micro:bits, Year 7 have been learning how to write a program and transfer it to what is essentially a mini computer. The programs can be written to sense, measure or log areas such as light, temperature, sound or movement. The children showed great initiative and curiosity to get to grips with the explore buttons, light-emitting diodes, networks and simple circuits. As with any new tech and coding, it wasn’t all plain sailing, but Year 7 showed great resilience and determination – even when faced with the dreaded syntax errors!
Richard Dunn, Head of ICT
The U13As ended their season with an impressive 5-1 victory against Barrow Hills. The girls have made great strides with their football throughout the season, and Wednesday’s win followed hard on the heels of victory over Westbourne House the previous week. Imogen K was at the heart of things once again, scoring a hat-trick and leading the team by example. But all the girls played their part in securing the win. Amelie K scored her first goal of the season while Ella G completed a flowing team move to round off the scoring. Daisy A made some fine saves in goal while Polina D and Sophie Z impressed in defence.
Danny Parkinson, U13A Girls’ Football Coach
Impressive teamwork and a strong passing game helped the U13B girls to a fine 3-0 win against Lambrook on Wednesday. The girls have demonstrated real enthusiasm and togetherness all season and this was the perfect way to end what has been a good season during which the girls have improved their all-round games week on week. Good levels of communication between the players throughout matches, as well as taking on board instruction during half-time team talks, has been central to the continued improvement.
Jo Gordon, U13B Girls’ Football Coach