Year 5 PGL
🧗♂️ What an Unforgettable Adventure! 🏹 Our Year 5 students have just returned from an incredible three-day residential at PGL (and yes, for those wondering, that stands for Parents Get Lost! 😉). From the moment they arrived, the energy was electric. Over the last three days, our young adventurers threw themselves into every challenge, including: • Raft Building: Testing their teamwork (and their buoyancy!) 🌊 • Archery: Finding their inner Robin Hood 🎯 • Problem Solving: Using those brilliant brains to crack tough codes 🧩 • Survival Skills: Learning how to thrive in the great outdoors 🌲 • Climbing & The Giant Swing: Reaching new heights and facing their fears head-on! 🎢 🌟 Heart, Courage, and Community Beyond the activities, what truly blew us away was their courage and determination. Whether they were dangling from the giant swing or navigating the woods, the way they shouted words of encouragement to one another was heart-warming. They behaved brilliantly throughout the trip and were a true credit to our school. We couldn't be prouder of the resilience they showed! 🙌 A Huge Thank You This trip wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing staff. A massive thank you to Mr Mealor, Miss Lyons, and Mrs Faux for giving up their time and working around the clock to ensure the children had a safe and life-changing experience. Welcome home, Year 5! Rest up—you’ve certainly earned it. 💤✨ #Year5 #PGL #SchoolTrip #AdventureAwaits #ProudSchool #Teamwork #MakingMemories All of the photos can be found here: https://stbarnabasdarwen.co.uk/photo-galleries/year-5-pgl-may-2026
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Reception: All About Minibeasts
The Reception class had a truly unforgettable afternoon thanks to Fiia and her dad, Adam from the Animal Garden who introduced the children to an incredible array of minibeasts. The session was packed with tactile learning, starting with the massive Giant African Land Snails and the fascinating life cycle of Pachnoda bugs, which the children learned eventually transform into vibrant fruit beetles. The class also got a glimpse into the animal food chain by meeting Mario worms, cockroaches, and locusts—the "snack pack" typically used to feed pet lizards. The highlight for many was the tarantula gallery, featuring the Red Rump tarantula (appropriately named for its red "bum") and a South American Curly Haired tarantula affectionately known as "Chewy." The children learned about their unique defense mechanism: the ability to flick itchy hairs at predators to stay safe. By examining a discarded tarantula skin, the students were able to get an up-close look at the spider's teeth and red mouth without any risk. The excitement continued with the arrival of the sleek Asian Forest Scorpions, adding an extra layer of mystery to the day. The afternoon concluded with a wonderful takeaway about how spiders do not have a brain! They simply know how to live. Thank you so much to Adam and Fiia, we learnt so much!
Year 3: Adventure, Teamwork, and Fantastic Spirit
What a spectacular day for Year 3! Whether they were soaring on the zip line, scaling the climbing towers, or finding their balance on the low ropes, every child showed immense bravery. The river was a major highlight, with everyone splashing into canoeing and paddleboarding, while the airbag jump provided the ultimate test of nerves. Beyond the adrenaline, the children were fantastic ambassadors for the school. They showed great manners throughout the day and took real pride in tidying up after lunch, leaving the site exactly as they found it. Throughout every challenge, the children never stopped encouraging one another and cheering for their peers. It was a day filled with respect and brilliant teamwork. A huge thank you to Mrs Singleton and Miss Gregson for supporting the children every step of the way. Well done, Year 3!
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Ocean Awareness with the Marine Conservation Society
Today, we were joined by Lorna from the Marine Conservation Society for a brilliant session. The children explored the wonders of our Ocean while learning about serious challenges such as climate change, overfishing, and ocean pollution. A particularly memorable moment was learning that sea turtles often mistake floating plastic bags for jellyfish, their favourite food, highlighting the dangers of litter. Lorna inspired the children to think creatively about waste, showing them how to repurpose plastic items, such as turning old milk gallons into birds or bird feeders. The children loved sharing their favourite things about the sea, and to help us keep learning, Lorna mentioned that there are plenty of fantastic free resources available on their website to explore at home or in class.
Mad Science Club- The Light Fantastic
Today in the Mad Science after-school club, our junior scientists stepped into the brilliant world of physics for a "Light Fantastic" session! They became masters of the electromagnetic spectrum, starting with the discovery that LASER is actually an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The children explored the concept of refraction by bending light beams through different materials and went on a hunt for "invisible" energy using UV light to make hidden colors fluoresce.
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Reception: Muddy Monday
What a wonderful "Muddy Monday" for our Reception class! The children had a fantastic time exploring the outdoors at Jacks Key Reservoir, keeping their eyes peeled and ears open for the first signs of Spring. It didn't take long for our mini-explorers to spot vibrant yellow daffodils peeking through the grass and delicate blossoms beginning to bloom on the trees. Looking up, we were treated to a beautiful blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds, while the air was alive with the cheerful sound of birds tweeting. To top off our adventure, we even spotted some butterflies fluttering by, confirming that Spring is truly on its way. We are so blessed to have this right on our doorstep!
Mad Science After School Club- Exploring the Forces of Motion
In today’s After School Mad Science Club, our scientists explored the fascinating laws of physics through several "Mad Scientist" challenges. The children investigated gravity and inertia by successfully pulling tablecloths from under dishes, proving that objects at rest prefer to stay at rest. We also held exciting woodpecker races, where the students learned how vibration and friction allow a wooden bird to "peck" its way down a wire. Additionally, the children mastered the art of moving coins across fabric without touching them, using clever vibrations to overcome friction. The children had so much fun throughout the afternoon and are already buzzing with excitement for our next session!
Year 2 - RE - Rev. Ben Eucharist visit
Year 2 were visited by Rev. Ben this week. He explained about the Eucharist and why it is so important in Christianity.
Year 3- R.E- Exploring Sadness and Joy with Rev Ben
This afternoon, we welcomed Rev Ben to our class to investigate the emotional journey of Holy Week through a deep discussion. We used our oracy skills to recap the Easter story and explore how church services transform from sadness to joy. Rev Ben explained that on Good Friday, the service is solemn and quiet to reflect the sadness of the cross. However, we also talked about how everything changes on Easter Sunday, when the church bursts into a joyful celebration with loud bells and happy songs to show that Jesus is alive. By talking and listening to Rev Ben, we learned that churches use different moods, sounds, and symbols to help people feel the big emotions of the Easter story.
Mad Science After School Club- Exploring the Chemistry of Curiosity: pH Levels
We had a fantastic start to our Science club today, delivered by the Mad Scientist, Jo. Our future scientists focused on the power of pH levels, learning how to identify acids and bases using professional liquid indicators and pH paper. The children put on their safety glasses and learned the vital importance of protecting themselves while conducting experiments. From observing the chemical reactions used to clean oxidised coins to testing the acidity of common household liquids. It was inspiring to see the children’s curiosity come to life as they realised that science isn’t just found in a textbook, it is happening in their kitchen cupboards and the world around them.
Year 5 - Whitehall Park
To celebrate the end of term, after church we visited the rose garden at Whitehall Park to see the beautiful Easter crosses made by the children of St Barnabas. The crosses will be up for the Easter weekend for anyone who wants to inspect the work of our resident artists. As the weather was so nice, we stopped off at the playground and spent our break time on the swings and slides.
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Spring Chicken
We ended the term on a high with an energetic sing-along to our favourite Easter songs before a very special visit from "The Spring Chicken" (otherwise known as Mr Mealor!).