The Roundup - Edition 104

D Group (Year 6) combined scientific enquiry with an unforgettable residential experience this week. In Science, students took on the role of marine biologists, researching organisms found at the Hunstanton Sea Life Centre and practising scientific classification skills in preparation for their visit.

Their learning was brought vividly to life during an overnight trip to the Sea Life Centre, where students enjoyed a range of hands-on experiences, including stroking a starfish and interacting with fascinating coral species. Students also explored the thoughts and emotions of passengers preparing to board the Titanic through drama activities, deepening their understanding of historical events and human experiences. Highlights of the residential included a movie night, sleeping beneath the shark tank, meeting and naming a stick insect called Sunny, and enjoying time on the beach. It was a memorable experience that combined learning, teamwork and adventure in equal measure.

We were also delighted that some of our D Group (Year 6) students spoke to the whole Junior School on World Oceans Day. They shared their poetry and persuasive writing about deep sea mining with the school. They all spoke confidently and passionately about the topic, with a thorough understanding of why it is so important to protect our oceans.

E Group (Year 5) travelled back in time during an engaging Ancient Greece workshop led by the Museum Service. Students examined replica artefacts, including shields, helmets, swords and pottery, using them as evidence to learn more about life in the ancient world. They also explored the story of the Trojan War and discovered how these tales were passed down orally for centuries before being written down.

Inspired by Greek mythology, E Group (Year 5) created pictographic representations of original myths before using them as the basis for imaginative descriptive writing. In PSHE, students also began exploring the topic of growing and changing, learning about hygiene, puberty and the physical changes that occur during adolescence. They approached these discussions with maturity and curiosity, asking thoughtful questions and engaging respectfully with the subject matter.

This week, F Group (Year 4) focused on important discussions about growing up as part of their PSHE learning. Students explored how feelings and emotions can change as they get older and considered the ways in which hormones can influence mood during puberty.

Through role play and discussion, F Group (Year 4) examined situations that can sometimes lead to disagreements between young people and their parents. Students explored the concept of compromise, learning how listening to different perspectives and finding common ground can help resolve conflicts. They approached these conversations with maturity and thoughtfulness, developing valuable skills that will support them as they continue to grow in independence.

G Group (Year 3) has enjoyed a rich and varied week of learning across the curriculum. In English, students drew inspiration from Oi! Get Off Our Train by John Burningham, writing thoughtful letters in role as endangered animals. Combining their creativity with carefully researched facts, they demonstrated empathy and a growing awareness of conservation issues.

In mathematics, G Group (Year 3) strengthened their understanding of fractions, developing confidence with numerators and denominators and recognising when fractions are equivalent to a whole. Meanwhile, their rainforest topic came to life through a wet felting project, with students creating striking abstract rainforest scenes. Forest School also provided opportunities for exploration, with students tasting home-grown sugar snap peas, observing dragonflies, baby newts and toadlets, and discovering a caterpillar nest among the apple trees. It has been a wonderful week of independence, creativity and outdoor learning.

H Group (Year 2) had an exciting trip to Woburn this week, where students enjoyed a memorable day learning about animals and their habitats. A fascinating talk about giraffes and adaptation helped deepen their understanding of how animals survive and thrive in different environments, while the sight of monkeys climbing onto the minibus roof proved to be a particular highlight of the visit.

In the classroom, H Group (Year 2) explored the work of South African artist Esther Mahlangu. Students created their own Ndebele-inspired patterns, carefully combining bold colours and intricate designs. Their artwork demonstrated both creativity and attention to detail as they developed their understanding of artistic traditions from around the world.

J Group (Year 1) enjoyed an unforgettable adventure in Frinton this week, making the most of beautiful weather during a day at the beach. Students spent time building sandcastles, digging in the sand, paddling in the sea and flying kites they had carefully made themselves. Learning practical outdoor skills, they used lashing techniques and overhand knots to construct the first stages of their kites before proudly testing them by the coast.

Back at school, J Group (Year 1) continued their outdoor explorations in Forest School, where students discovered a fascinating variety of wildlife, including baby toadlets, newts and pond skaters. They also stepped into the role of historians, examining photographs from the Victorian era and presenting their findings to the class. It has been a week full of adventure, discovery and hands-on learning.

K Group (Reception) have been busy preparing for their upcoming Gathering performance. Students have chosen to sing a French song and have been enthusiastically practising both the lyrics and accompanying actions during their French lessons. Already familiar with the song, K Group (Reception) has approached rehearsals with confidence and enthusiasm. Their preparation has not only supported their language learning but has also helped to develop their performance skills as they look forward to sharing their work with families in the coming weeks.

As part of their SCARF learning in PSHE, K Group (Reception) also explored what it means to lead a healthy lifestyle. Through discussion and questioning, students considered different types of food, the importance of exercise and how physical activity helps to keep our bodies healthy. They also learned about caring for their teeth and why good dental hygiene is important. Inspired by their conversations, students decided to create their own booklets to demonstrate and celebrate their understanding of healthy living.

Monte (Nursery) embraced the great outdoors this week, making the most of every opportunity to explore, investigate and play in nature. Students proudly checked on the vegetables growing in the nursery garden, noticing just how much they had grown and helping with a little weeding along the way. Forest School provided plenty of opportunities for movement and discovery, with balancing on logs, rearranging natural materials and spotting wildlife, including a baby newt that had recently completed its transformation from a tadpole.

The students’ creativity shone through as they developed their own imaginative games, experimented with making fishing lines using overhand knots, and worked together to create a swing from carefully chosen branches. Even when the rain arrived later in the week, Monte (Nursery) remained undeterred, enjoying sheltered adventures in the orchard where students built, explored, chased and experimented. It was a wonderful week of curiosity, collaboration and outdoor learning.