Half-termly topics

This half term, we traveled in time to the Medieval Age, a period spanning roughly from the 5th to the late 15th century. This era, often referred to as the Middle Ages, was characterised by feudalism, the rise of kingdoms, and the dominant influence of the Church. It was a time of knights in shining armour, grand castles, bustling marketplaces, and significant social change. The students were eager to explore this vibrant period, and our engaging curriculum aimed to bring this period of history to life.

 

As always, we explored the era through a range of multi-sensory activities, ensuring this half-termly topic was engaging and accessible for students with diverse learning styles and needs.

 

In art, students crafted their own shields, with patterns reminiscent of knights’ emblems and coats of armour. This project helped them to understand the importance of heraldry and personal insignia in medieval society, making the period not just a subject in a textbook but an experience they could touch and see.

 

In science lessons, we focused on innovations of the era. Students explored medieval inventions such as the astrolabe, water mills, and mechanical clocks, learning how these advancements shaped the world and improved daily life. Engaging experiments showcased the principles behind these inventions, making complex concepts accessible and fun.

 

Storytelling sessions were also pivotal, as we transported the children to bustling medieval marketplaces and grand castles. Through tales of valiant knights and clever peasants, we fostered their understanding of social structures and the monarchy while nurturing their imagination. Students created their own stories based on the period, which helped cement their knowledge of real historical events.

 

This journey through the medieval era has been full of engaging and creative learning experiences, with pupils building their knowledge and understanding of this vital period and its influence on the world we live in today.

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This half term, as part of our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programme, we celebrated a range of cultural and educational events, spanning everything from religious holidays to advocacy days.

 

To kick off, we celebrated Empathy Week between 9-13th March. This week provided an excellent opportunity for students to develop their understanding of others' experiences and emotions through various activities such as role-playing and reading literature that highlighted diverse voices.

 

Following this, we observed Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday. We learned about the significance of the date in the Christian calendar, marks the end of the pre-Lenten period

 

World Book Day was next on our calendar, which saw us celebrate literature from a range of diverse backgrounds. Students dressed up as their favourite characters and enjoyed a day of reading stories and sharing their favourite books.

 

We also celebrated International Women's Day, which falls on March 8th, commemorating the fight for equality for women and learning about the women's rights movement.

 

As we moved forward, we marked Holi, the festival of colours. Students learned about the significance of this event in the Hindu calendar and enjoyed creative projects which celebrated Spring’s abundant colours.

 

Sign Language Week highlighted the importance of communication accessibility, and saw students continue their learning of basic sign language.

 

Finally, as we entered Ramadan, we explored the significance of fasting for Muslim communities, shared healthy recipes for Iftar, and celebrated the values of community and togetherness that underpin this important holiday.

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We’ve enjoyed a range of school trips and visits this half-term, borne out of our strong community connections. One of the stand-outs was our participation in a New Age Kurling competition. It was fantastic to meet students from other schools, coming together for a fun day of friendly competition in this unique sport.

 

We continued our focus on swimming and water safety, with Classical class heading to the local pool for weekly lessons. Students made significant progress in their water skills, and it has been great to see their confidence grow.

 

Another highlight was a visit from award-winning pantomime artist and storyteller, Mama G. She captivated us with her fabulous costume and wonderful stories, and students particularly loved the sing-a-long aspects of the session!

 

And finally, we were thrilled to take part in the West End in Schools programme this term. This dance and drama group brought literature to life, as we used our bodies to explore characters and stories in an engaging, interactive workshop.

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This half term we participated in two lovely competitions hosted by the ISA.

 

First up was a book cover design competition, where students took inspiration from the theme, ‘under the sea,’ to craft their own unique designs. It was great to see the range of creative interpretations of the theme, and to see students flex their artistic talents.

 

Next, we took part in the Easter egg competition, where students designed and decorated their own eggs. This was a fun and creative way for students to celebrate the Easter season, and the range of patterns and colours was great to see.

We are looking forward to many more opportunities to showcase their talents in the future!