Year 4 are currently working on their Leaver’s Service. It is a time of mixed emotions for the staff. We are proud to see the progress of these children – it only seems a moment ago when they were tiny 4 year olds shyly standing at the edges of the playground. So much has happened over the five years that they have been with us and they have grown and matured to the children they are now. Some have joined us on the way but most have been with us the whole time.

Now they are confident and demonstrate leadership qualities. They comfort the younger children and lead them in games at playtimes. They take responsibility and support staff in school.

In a few days they will leave us and move on to Selwood. They will be the youngest again. But they will make their mark and continue to grow and develop. We wish them all the very best and the greatest success for the future.

Imagine thirty four 7,8and 9 year olds each with a violin, viola or cello. Then add a satisfyingly large audience of parents, grandparents, little brothers and sisters and friends. Into this mix add a music teacher and you will have Badgers class on Friday afternoon.

Year 4 have been learning their instrument for two years and Year 3 since September. The room was filled with music and the standard was gratifyingly good.

We will really miss Hywel Jenkins – Mr J – as he is leaving to open a music shop.

We have really appreciated his lovely calm and patient manner and his excellent teaching skills.

This week the Badgers have been working on division problems in numeracy! ‘Oh no!’ I can hear you all groaning , ‘not division!’. Well in Badgers there was not this reaction because we have had lots of fun dividing!!

We have played a range of games; lotto and snap, games on the computer and TARZIA which is a puzzle game which I make especially for each group. We have played brilliant games on the laptops which have required some pretty quick thinking and some of us have had a go at some mental maths Speaking and Listening activities which also involved division.

We have also done some recording but not too much as the main point was to practise dividing as much as possible in our heads.

Luckily over the week I had help from Mrs Perry, Mrs Pang, Mrs Wheeler, Mrs Jeffery, Mrs Harding and Mrs Snell [ not all at once!] which meant that we could really differentiate the activities finely and we all saw the children making good progress and HAVING FUN!

Today we had another of our ‘WOW’ days and for me it was the most perfect day. The rain held off which was a blessing as in the morning we were visited by an archer who set up his targets on the school field. He demonstrated his skills to us and some children were able to have a go. Olivia scored a bullseye with her first arrow! We all brought medieval style lunches and wore amazing hats and crowns that we had made.

In the afternoon we met the armourer. He brought a range of ring mail, helmets, plate armour and weapons. The children were able to try some of the items on and impressed the armourer with their knowledge of medieval weaponry and of how to attack and defend a castle.

Then we met the falconer. He brought two Harris Hawks and two different owls. They flew around the field, skimming over our heads and causing great excitement.

As a teacher I think this was one of my favourite days of the year, and believe me there have been lots of great ones! So I am sure that the children must have really enjoyed themselves. They are certainly very fortunate – such a memorable and wonderful day can only enhance their education and give them a real enthusiasm for learning!