Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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On Wednesday 22nd April, we celebrated Earth Day together!
Throughout each year group, children completed a range of activities! This helped them to understand the importance of looking after the world around us. The theme this year was: Our Power, Our Planet. The focus was on clean, renewable energy and on sustainable environmental protection.
The work the children have completed is displayed in classroom windows.
This Thursday 12th March 2026, the children and staff were able to enjoy the nursery's first trip. We walked in small groups to the bus stop, got on the number 5 bus, and went around Popley before getting off at Oakridge Road and walking back to the nursery.
The children were fantastic, listening carefully and following instructions, ensuring that they were holding the grown-ups' hands and staying safe near the road. When we got onto the bus, the children enjoyed looking out of the windows and talking about what they could see. We of course had to sing 'The Wheels on the Bus' with other passengers joining in and the driver beeping the horn and swishing his wipers.
It was an enjoyable experience for all, and the children were a real credit to us, with members of the public commenting on the amazing behaviour and manners.
On Wednesday 11th March some of the junior choir took part in the first Basingstoke Vocal Roadshow. It took place at South View Junior school with 5 other schools and the children were led by Charles McDougall of ABRSM Voices (a world-renowned vocal coach) in some super warm ups and workshop rehearsals. After this, the schools joined forces to sing 3 songs together and then each school was able to show case a song they had been practising at school. Our choir performed brilliantly with a challenging song and were exemplary in their behaviour and as an audience to the other schools. They should be really proud of their achievements; I know they learnt a lot from the experience!
We celebrated World Book Day on Friday 6th March.
As always, we came dressed up as book characters and each year group had a 'Battle of the Books'. We wanted to try and share as many stories as possible, so as well as hearing a story in our morning assembly, over the course of the day, each class shared 3 picture books. By the end of the day, the children had to decide which book they had liked best. Over the coming weeks, in our Tuesday Oracy Assembly, each class will give the rest of the school a taster of their favourite book. We hope that by the end of the year, everyone will feel inspired to try out some new books, as recommended by their peers in the federation.
The battling books were selected from picture books that have been shortlisted or have won awards:
Year R
Going to the Volcano
This Bear, That Bear
I am Bear
Year 1
Goldilocs
Pooems: A Book of Pooey Poetry
The Smart Cookie
Year 2
The Dreamies
Who Ate Steve?
Troll
Year 3
Penguin Huddle
Our Tree
Where The Bugaboo Lives
Year 4
The Search for The Giant Arctic Jellyfish
The Mushroom of Doom
Leon and the Place Between
Year 5
The Remarkables
Wolves
Black Dog
Year 6
Don't Trust Fish
The Lost Thing
The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods
Year 5 had a fantastic Geography trip to the Living Rainforest in Newbury this week. The children were an absolute credit to the school – they were extremely well-behaved, respectful and enthusiastic throughout the day.
On Tuesday 10th February, we recognised Safer Internet Day across both schools. The theme this year was Smart Tech, Safe Choices – Exploring the Safe and Responsible use of AI.
Throughout the day, we were introduced to the concept of AI and learnt about what it is. We discussed how it can be used safely and positively, and we talked about strategies to use if we felt unsafe using AI. We now know there are positives and negatives to using AI. Some of us didn't realise that smart speakers are programmed by AI, or that AI can recommend new films or TV shows based on what we have watched - how cool!
Some examples of completed activities included designing a new smart speaker, going on a technology hunt, and creating a chatbot in Scratch.
Overall, Safer Internet Day reminded us that the internet is a great place to learn and have fun, but we all have a responsibility to use it safely and carefully. We all agreed that we need to tell an adult if we do not like something that we see online.
On Tuesday, we went on our trip to the Winchester Science Centre. We explored the different exhibits around the centre. This included areas focused on sound, space and forces. We also had a visit to the Planetarium, and we watched a show about space. We loved seeing the constellations and linking this to our previous learning about the Greeks in History. Also, the planets were pretty cool to see up close and learn more about. Finally, we had a workshop which focused on our current learning of States of Matter. We revisited solids, liquids and gases and tested this knowledge out by making slime!
On Friday 13th February 2026, our school was awash with colour, creativity and plenty of laughter as pupils and staff took part in Mad Hair Day 2026 in aid of St Michael’s Hospice.
On Friday, 6th February, each class went for a walk around the local area to discover the human and physical features around us.
Here are some of the features that we found whilst out on our walk.
When we got back into the classroom, we talked about the importance of these features that we found throughout the community. We talked about different human features used and why some physical features are so important.
On Friday 6th February, children across the school took part in our exciting annual Number Day Challenge. The day was designed to celebrate maths in a fun and engaging way, with activities carefully adapted for each year group from Reception through to Year 6.
This year, the children were transported to the mysterious Island of 6–7, where they had to complete a series of mathematical challenges in order to escape. Each year group faced tasks suited to their age and ability, ensuring that everyone could take part and be challenged appropriately. Activities included solving missing number problems, exploring shape and space, tackling number calculations and spotting patterns. These tasks encouraged children to use their reasoning skills, work collaboratively and apply their mathematical knowledge in different ways.
Throughout the day, pupils rotated around a range of station activities, with each completed challenge earning them a special code. These codes were needed to unlock the final stage of the adventure. Some children tested their speed and accuracy by battling against classmates on Times Tables Rock Stars, while others completed loop challenges that required careful thinking and teamwork to solve. The atmosphere around school was full of excitement, problem-solving and determination as children worked their way through the activities.
The day concluded with a whole-school assembly, where classes that had successfully cracked their codes were rewarded for their efforts. Each class was invited to choose an envelope from the treasure chest as they escaped the island. The prizes inside ranged from dojo points to extra break time, which were met with cheers and huge smiles from the children.
Number Day was a fantastic opportunity for pupils to see maths as something enjoyable, creative and rewarding. It was wonderful to watch them rise to the challenges and support one another throughout the day. A fun time was truly had by all, and we are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and effort shown by every class.
On Monday 19th January, Year started their new geography unit, Winding Rivers, Misty Mountains. As part of this learning, pupils took part in a local fieldwork visit to Eastrop to explore the River Loddon.
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Wow, what a fantastic day! The children have enjoyed their Christmas lunches today! All of the teachers were in the halls to lend a hand and make this a special experience for the children. The children particularly enjoyed the Christmas sing-along songs, which we played in the halls to add a more festive atmosphere. Thank you to the kitchen staff for preparing the fantastic food that the children enjoyed.
