Welcome back to the final academic term of the year. I hope you all managed to enjoy some sunshine and valuable family time over the break. It’s always lovely to see the children return with renewed energy and plenty of stories to share.
We’ve started the term on a high note with school photos and the much‑anticipated launch of House Choir. This year’s theme is songs from the musicals, and today the children met in their houses to discover which piece they’ll be performing. Do ask them about it at home — and if you’re very lucky, you may even get a preview performance. The House Choir Final takes place next Thursday, and we will be recording each performance so that families can enjoy them too.
On Tuesday, we welcomed Steph Matthews from the Local Authority to carry out an external safeguarding review. While much of the meeting time was spent with Mr Antonious (our DSL), Mrs Willett (DDSL), and myself, the review also included valuable pupil voice. Children were asked questions about feeling safe in school, their understanding of consent, and their awareness of online safety. Their responses offered meaningful insight into how our safeguarding culture is experienced day‑to‑day and will help us continue strengthening both practice and policy.
Throughout the week, different year groups have visited the fantastic Cheltenham Science Festival. We are incredibly fortunate to have such opportunities on our doorstep, and it’s wonderful to see how these experiences bring real‑life science to life for the children — sparking curiosity, excitement, and a deeper understanding of the world around them.
On Wednesday, Year 4 embarked on their much anticipated Evacuee experience at the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway. Our children and staff looked incredible as they left school dressed as evacuees, complete with gas mask boxes and name labels. The attention to detail — and the children’s enthusiasm — set the tone for what became a truly immersive day of learning.
Travelling by steam train gave the children a powerful sense of what it might have felt like to leave home during the Second World War, not knowing where they were going or when they might return. They learned about the challenges faced by families separated by war and the experience deepened their understanding of displacement, resilience, and community — themes that are central to our history curriculum.
Beyond the historical facts, this trip offered something even more valuable: empathy. Stepping into the shoes of children their own age from a very different time helped them connect emotionally with the past, ask thoughtful questions, and appreciate the impact of national events on individual lives. Experiences like this enrich classroom learning immeasurably, and we are grateful to the staff and volunteers who made the day so memorable.
https://wardenhill.gloucs.sch.uk/year-4-wwii-evacuee-experience/
On Wednesday morning, we welcomed our Reception 2026 cohort for their second Stay and Play session. It was lovely to see them exploring their soon‑to‑be indoor spaces and enjoying the activities on offer in the classrooms.
Also on Wednesday, we held our whole‑school statutory safeguarding training, delivered face‑to‑face by the Local Authority. While the content is always a stark reminder of the importance of professional curiosity and shared responsibility, the feedback from staff has been excellent. It is reassuring to see such commitment to maintaining a strong safeguarding culture across our school.
On Thursday, I met with Mrs Ruth Redman to discuss our Relationships and Sex Education curriculum. From 1 September 2026, updated guidance for primary pupils places a stronger focus on online safety and wellbeing, accurate terminology for body parts (including genitalia), and personal safety around water, roads, and railways. There is also greater emphasis on helping children understand change and loss — including bereavement — as well as developing communication skills, assertiveness, and confidence in expressing personal needs and boundaries. We will be updating our policy and scheme of work to reflect these statutory changes and will share these with you as part of a consultation process. As reassurance, much of this content is already embedded within our current curriculum.
Thursday afternoon saw the fabulous Year 5 assembly on the theme of Crime and Punishment through the ages. One of our Year 2 children summed it up perfectly at the end: “That was amazing.” I then invited some of our Year 3 pupils to share what they had enjoyed, and it was wonderful to hear how much they had absorbed. It truly was a showcase of their learning — and the best part was seeing how much of the assembly they had created themselves as a collective – well done year 5 and thank you to Mrs Prew and Mr Herbert for their support.
That just leaves me to say: have a wonderful weekend.