Wraparound Care is coming to St Barnabas!
š Exciting News! On-Site Wraparound Care is Coming to St Barnabas! š We are delighted to announce that starting in September 2026, we will be offering our own on-site wraparound care service, exclusively for our children! We have partnered with Progressive (formerly Progressive Sports) to deliver high-quality, activity-focused care right here on school grounds. Progressive is the perfect fit because: They provide a strong sports element, creative, wellness, and discovery activitiesāall popular choices from our parent survey! We will be working closely with them to ensure their provision meets the same high expectations for behaviour and support that we maintain during school hours. Affordable & Flexible Options: Weāve negotiated affordable rates and flexible sessions for our families: Breakfast Club (7:30 amā8:55 am, including breakfast): Ā£5.00 per session. After School Club (3:20/3:30 pmā6:00 pm, including a snack): Ā£8.00 per session. Reduced Session Price: Only Ā£6.00 if attending after a school enrichment club! A 10% sibling discount is available, and Tax-free/Universal Credit childcare vouchers are accepted. Progressive will also offer holiday clubs during some school breaks. We are confident this new service will offer affordable, convenient and high-quality care. Please read the attached letter for further information.
DPSSA Netball League
This evening Team B took part in their second evening of netball fixtures. First we played against Sudell and came away with an 11-0 win and then we played St Josephās which was a super tight game but we managed to secure a 6-5 win in the end. A great evening of superb play and sportsmanship by every member of the team- well done!
Year 5 - History
In History, we concluded our study of Ancient Greece by learning about some of the great philosophers including Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. We then looked in greater depth at the trial of Socrates and how his anti-democratic stance and questioning of authority created powerful enemies. The children were then asked to decide if they thought Socrates was deserving of his punishment.
Year 5 - Smart School Council
The Year 5 members of Miss Kachwallaās school council convened a meeting to discuss the latest issues brought up at the last council discussion. The children participated in group discussions before sharing their thoughts and ideas to the councillors, who recorded them. Year 5 proposed sensible improvements to school life at St Barnabas, such as new clubs and alternative uses of the school grounds. These ideas will go forward and be considered by the council.
Whole School Worship - Pentecost
This week, Tuesdayās worship focussed on the Christian celebration of Pentecost. Mrs Ham began by asking the children what they remember about Pentecost, to which some children replied, āWhen the Holy Spirit cameā, āFire on peopleās headsā and āWhen they spoke in different languagesā. We watched a film about a group of pandas waiting for a special gift of some new musical instruments. They woke very early for the delivery but they had the wrong day and the gift wasnāt due until the day after. They had a bedtime story about Jesusā disciples waiting for a wonderful gift, but they were unsure when it would arrive. Suddenly a strong wind blew and they all had flames on their heads and a warm feeling inside, they knew Godās power had struck them and he was living inside their hearts. Jesus will always be with them and he asked them to always be with him as he was with them. They ran into the streets and Peter shouted to the people that Jesus had rescued them and that Jesusā love is never breaking and always and forever. Even though not everyone could speak the same language, they all still understood Peterās words. Mrs Ham told us that Pentecost is also known as the birthday of the church. We all then sang one of our favourite hymns, āHe Is Aliveā to finish our Pentecost celebration.
Year 5 - Money Matters
Debt Aware: Money Matters visited Year 5 today to talk about banking, including the names of high street banks and building societies as well as their role in providing loans and deposit accounts. The children learned about the growth of online banking and the decline of cash as a payment method. Different types of saving accounts were discussed as well as the role of interest.
.jpeg)
Year 5 - Science
We learned how levers and pulleys allow you to lift objects more easily before making our own simple and compound pulley systems. By using cereal boxes, pencils, string and paper clips, we discovered that adding more wheels to our pulley system reduced the effort to lift a weight. The children then extrapolated this information to other pulley systems with more wheels. I owe thanks to all the children who brought in cereal boxes and to Mr Fairbanks who allowed us to use his washers.
Mad Science After School Club-Cosmic Bubbles
In the final lesson for the after-school club today, our future scientists explored the final frontier. They looked at planets, stars, and crashing meteorites before the children invented and named their very own galaxies. They then used straws to blow bubbling, frothy cosmic art to represent their creations. It was a wonderfully messy and out-of-this-world way to finish a fantastic term of 'Mad Science Club'.
Year 5 PGL
š§āāļø What an Unforgettable Adventure! š¹ 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! š). From the moment they arrived, the energy was electric. Over the last three days, our young adventurers threw themselves into every challenge, including: ā¢ Raft Building: Testing their teamwork (and their buoyancy!) š ā¢ Archery: Finding their inner Robin Hood šÆ ā¢ Problem Solving: Using those brilliant brains to crack tough codes š§© ā¢ Survival Skills: Learning how to thrive in the great outdoors š² ā¢ Climbing & The Giant Swing: Reaching new heights and facing their fears head-on! š¢ š 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! š A Huge Thank You This trip wouldnāt 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 upāyouāve certainly earned it. š¤āØ #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
.png)
Smart School Councillors Raise Ā£163 for 'The Brain Tumour Research'.
A huge thank you to all the parents and children for your incredible support at our recent bake sale; thanks to your generosity, we successfully raised Ā£163.00 for ' The Brain Tumour Charity'. Our Smart School Councillors did a fantastic job organising the event and helping with the baking, resulting in an impressive spread of 180 biscuits and 100 fairy cakes. These funds will make a huge difference, allowing us to pay for 10 DNA preservation tubes and provide much-needed comfort to a child following their diagnosis by sending them a Brainy Bag and a cuddly bear. We are so proud of our students hard work and grateful to our wonderful community for helping us provide this vital support.
Year 5 - PE
We continued our athletics lessons by adding sling shots to our repertoire of throws. The children had to sling a hoop as far as they could, focusing on keeping their arm straight, rotating the body and releasing at the right moment. We also carried out a sequence of three standing jumps, hops and leaps, with the children experimenting by changing their stance and motion.
Amazing Attendance Award- Top 10% Nationally
š Weāve Struck Gold -Amazing Attendance Award š We have officially been honoured with another National School Attendance Award for the 2025/26 Spring Term to go with our 2025/26 Autumn Term Award. Thanks to the incredible dedication of our children and the unwavering support of youāour parents and carersāwe have been ranked again in the Top 10% of all FFT primary schools in England. Excellent attendance isn't just about a certificate; itās about ensuring our children have every opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed alongside their friends. Being in the top 10% nationally is a massive achievement and speaks volumes about the value our families place on education. š A Heartfelt Thank You š We know that getting the children up, ready, and through the gates every morning takes effort. This award belongs to you and your children just as much as it belongs to the school. Letās keep this amazing momentum going into the Summer Term! š #StBarnabasProud #AttendanceMatters #TopTenPercent #SchoolSuccess