Year 4 - World Book Day Hook
The children are really looking forward to World Book Day, especially following this survival kit activity based on our first class novel, The Explorer. We watched the news report of the plane crash from 2023, in which 4 children ended up stranded in the Colombian jungle. The children instantly recognised the similarities between the incident and the events of The Explorer. Following this the children spent time in groups, using their talk tokens and debating the four most important items to pack in their rucksack for their survival. Each group had a brilliant discussion about why some things are more essential than others and how important it is to meet basic needs first. The children are going to love the activities planned for Year 4 for World Book Day.
Year 6 - Macbeth Commentary
Today, Year 6 focused on developing their oracy skills through an engaging sports commentary task. The children explored how to use pitch, tone, pace and purposeful pauses to build suspense and engage an audience, just like professional commentators. Applying these techniques to their English learning, they created a live-style commentary of Macbeth being crowned king in Macbeth. The children carefully considered how their voices could reflect the atmosphere of the moment — from the tension leading up to the crowning to the dramatic announcement itself. They then performed their commentaries to the class, confidently embodying their roles as commentators. It was fantastic to see them experimenting with expression, projection and timing to bring their writing to life, demonstrating both creativity and growing confidence in their speaking and listening skills.
Year 5 - English
Having completed our persuasive letters promoting Fair Trade products, the children had the opportunity to read their letters out loud. The aim was to be as persuasive as possible, using techniques learned from famous speeches of Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King. The children considered how language choice, repetition, pauses, volume and body language can engage an audience and convince people of your argument.
Year 4 Lead Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week Worship
This morning, Year 4 led a truly inspiring Whole School Worship, centering their message on Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. It was a colourful and vibrant start to the day, as all the children arrived 'Dressed to Express.' It was wonderful to see the hall filled with different outfits showcasing the children's unique personalities, hidden talents, and favourite colours—a perfect reminder that being ourselves is key to our wellbeing. The children did an amazing job showcasing their oracy skills. They projected their voices clearly and confidently, ensuring their important message was heard by everyone. The other classes were captivated, listening intently as Year 4 explained the vital link between kindness and mental health. They highlighted how simple acts of kindness are not just good for others, but also boost our own happiness and sense of belonging. The class reminded us all that kindness is a superpower that supports a healthy mind and a happy school community. We brought the worship to a close with some beautiful, thoughtful prayers and raised the roof singing along to ‘My Lighthouse.’ A huge thank you to the parents and carers who came along to support the children; your presence made the morning even more special.
Year 3 Present Their Learning: A Journey Through Victorian History to Year 2
Today, Year 3 had a fantastic opportunity to showcase their historical expertise by presenting their learning to Year 2. The children transported their audience back in time, sharing insightful details about the harsh realities of the Victorian era and the reformers who fought for change. The children shared fascinating facts about: The Factory Acts: They explained how these new laws finally made it illegal to employ children under the age of nine and limited the gruelling hours older children could work. Lord Shaftesbury: The class spoke about his tireless work as a reformer who believed every child deserved a childhood and an education. Ragged Schools: They described these free schools that provided food, clothing, and lessons to the most vulnerable children who couldn't afford a traditional education. Working Conditions: The children painted a vivid picture of the dangerous health conditions in Victorian factories, from the lack of ventilation to the "scavenging" roles children often performed under moving machinery. Whether presenting individually or in small groups, every child rose to the challenge, providing a brilliant boost for our Voice 21 initiative. It was a joy to watch them grow into confident speakers, using their oracy skills to teach others about the differences between the past and the present. Well done, Year 3.
Year 4 - Safer Internet Day: Cyber bullying
In Year 4, we spent Safer Internet Day focussing on a very common issue that many of our school family will probably experience as their internet usage increases: cyber bullying. The topic was introduced to the children sensitively with a look at what cyber bullying may look like. As a class, we read some hypothetical scenarios of unkind messages and shared how we thought the recipient might have felt. We then shared some examples of advice we could give to someone affected by cyber bullying. The children realised that there is a subtle difference between messages aimed at hurting others and those that can be misconstrued. The children were introduced to three options for resolving an issue: block, ignore and tell a trusted adult. They developed skills to help them think critically about what they see online.
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Year 4 - Smart School Council
We were practising using our talk tokens in our Smart School Council session this week. The debate was about our favourite way to spend February half term. After a great discussion with some compelling arguments, the second most popular vote was for spending time with family, but the overall winner was having fun with friends.
Year 6 - E-Safety
Today, the children’s e-safety focus was on Roblox and how to stay safe online. The children explored some of the potential risks linked to online gaming, including communication with others and in-game content and discussed how these risks can be reduced. Using their talk tactics, the children confidently shared their ideas, identified their top risks and explained sensible strategies for staying safe online, such as protecting personal information and knowing when to seek help from a trusted adult. This session helped to develop the children’s understanding of responsible online behaviour and how to make safe choices in the digital world.
Year 6 - Presentation of Learning
Today, Year 6 presented their English learning to Year 5, all centred around Mary Poppins. The children confidently shared a range of work, including detailed character descriptions, thoughtful book reviews and vivid setting descriptions that brought the story to life. The children also performed imaginative kenning poems inspired by Mary Poppins, using expressive language and performance skills. This presentation celebrated the children’s creativity, reading comprehension and writing skills, while also giving them the opportunity to speak clearly and confidently in front of an audience. Year 5 were a fantastic audience and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the high-quality work produced by Year 6.
Year 6 - Smart School Council
During our class debate, the Smart School Council led the session based on the question: Is a new year actually a new you? The children shared a range of ideas, including whether people really change or simply make better choices over time. Some children felt a new year offers a fresh start and motivation to set goals such as being kinder, improving behaviour or trying harder at school. Others suggested that people stay the same but can improve habits gradually through effort and perseverance. The children discussed the importance of realistic goals, resilience when things go wrong and how support from friends and adults can help positive change.
Reception: Helicopter Stories
Reception class have really been exploring pre writing skills. They have been learning to orally tell a story using adjectives and sentences. The children told a story about a dolphin called Charlie who was looking for a home. Luckily Bob the whale helped him to find somewhere to live in the ocean. The children acted the story out and did a wonderful job. Well done!
Year 6 - Geography
Today in Geography, the children began the lesson with a diagnostic question exploring why people might choose to live in London. Using talk tokens, they practised their oracy skills by sharing ideas, listening carefully to one another and building on responses within their groups. This supported thoughtful discussion and helped pupils justify their opinions. The lesson then moved on to exploring how human activity has shaped and changed the landscape. The children examined key concepts such as urbanisation, agriculture and erosion management, considering both the positive and negative impacts humans can have on the environment. They used examples to deepen their understanding and made links to real-life locations, developing their geographical vocabulary and critical thinking skills throughout the session.