Term 6
IMPS Trip – John Radcliffe Hospital
Year 6 had a fantastic time on their visit to the IMPS (Injury Minimisation Programme for Schools) at the John Radcliffe Hospital. During the day, they toured the children’s A&E department, explored real x-rays, practised the recovery position, and even had a go at CPR! It was a brilliant hands-on experience that helped them learn how to respond in emergencies and stay safe. A huge thank you to the IMPS team for giving our Year 6s such an important and memorable opportunity ahead of their transition to secondary school.
Art
We have absolutely loved planning, designing, and creating their very own rucksacks this term! From sketching initial ideas to choosing suitable materials and carefully stitching pieces together, they’ve shown fantastic creativity and problem-solving skills. The final products are not only functional but full of personal flair which is perfect for their upcoming trips!
Well done Year 6, we can’t wait to see your rucksacks in action!
IntoUniversity
Year 6 thoroughly enjoyed their transition workshop with IntoUniversity this week. The session gave them the chance to reflect on the big move to secondary school, from thinking about what they’ll need to pack in their bags, to discussing the subjects they’re excited to try, and the things they might be nervous or curious about. It was a fantastic opportunity to prepare for the next step with confidence, and we’re so proud of how thoughtfully and maturely they approached it.
Thank you, IntoUniversity, for delivering such a valuable and engaging session!
Transition Workshop
Year 6 took part in a fantastic transition workshop last Thursday, led by the Oxfordshire Chaplaincy Team. The session focused on helping pupils prepare for their move to secondary school, exploring the emotions they might feel – from excitement to worry – and how to manage them with confidence.
The children reflected on what they’re looking forward to, what might feel a little scary, and how they can stay positive and prepared for their next steps.
A big thank you to the Oxfordshire Chaplaincy Team for delivering such a supportive and thoughtful workshop.
Water Fight Fun!
Year 6 enjoyed a fantastic afternoon taking part in a water fight to celebrate all their hard work this term. It was a well-deserved treat, and the perfect way to cool off and have fun together. There were plenty of smiles, laughter, and soaked t-shirts creating memories the children will remember for a long time!
Oriel Jack Peers
Year 6 Oriel recently enjoyed a fantastic day at Jack Peers Outdoor Centre. The children took part in a wide range of engaging activities, including tree climbing, key ring making, watercolour painting, and navigating a challenging obstacle course. It was a brilliant opportunity for team building, creativity and outdoor learning. We’d like to thank Paul and Michelle for facilitating such a memorable experience.
Music
Year 6 had a brilliant morning rehearsing some very special songs as part of a fantastic music session. A huge thank you to Headington School for hosting us and making it such a memorable experience – the children absolutely loved it!
Memory Box Art
Year 6 had a lovely afternoon creating their end-of-year memory boxes. They enjoyed decorating and personalising them, ready to fill with special mementos from their time at JHN. The excitement is building as they look forward to collecting memories that celebrate their journey through primary school!
Term 5
Spanish: Talking about Pets
This term in Spanish, Year 6 have loved learning all about pets. They’ve been practising how to name different animals in Spanish and can even tell you whether each animal is a masculine or feminine noun!
Why not ask them to show off their skills at home—they might surprise you with how much they’ve learned!
Music: JHN Leavers’ Song Compositions
Year 6 have begun their final music unit, focusing on composing and performing their own leavers’ songs. They explored some classic farewell tunes for inspiration and discussed what makes a great leavers’ song—thinking about meaningful lyrics, memorable melodies, and emotions they want to capture.
It’s been a creative and reflective start, and we can’t wait to hear what they come up with for their Leavers’ Assembly!
Prayer Space
Year 6 had a fantastic time at Prayer Space last week. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to take a moment to relax, be calm, and reflect in a peaceful and welcoming environment.
A heartfelt thank you to the Prayer Space Team for creating such a thoughtful and supportive space for our pupils. It was truly appreciated.
Term 4
Karate with Sensei Chris
Year 6 had a fantastic time in their Karate session today! They always look forward to their Friday sessions with Sensei Chris, and today was no exception. The children practised their kicking techniques and also took part in some fun and challenging fitness activities to build strength and stamina. It’s been great to see their skills and confidence grow each week.
K’nex Engineering Challenge
Year 6 worked brilliantly in teams to tackle an exciting K’nex engineering challenge. Their task was to design and build a formation strong enough to hold a variety of objects for a set period of time. The activity encouraged teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving, as they tested different structures and made improvements to strengthen their designs. It was fantastic to see the collaboration and determination in action—well done, Year 6!
Science – Bubbles Workshop
Year 6 thoroughly enjoyed their bubbles workshop yesterday! They explored the science behind bubbles, learning how the molecules of soap and water mix together to create a perfect bubble solution. Through hands-on experiments, they observed how bubbles form, why they take on a spherical shape, and what makes them pop! It was a fascinating and fun-filled session, sparking curiosity and excitement for science.
Daffodil Art for the Daffodil Breakfast
Year 6 have thoroughly enjoyed preparing some beautiful daffodil artwork for the upcoming Daffodil Breakfast next week. They began by carefully observing real daffodils, studying their shapes and details, before putting their sketching skills—developed during their sessions at Magdalen College—into practice. The results are fantastic, and we can’t wait to see their artwork on display!
Thought-Provoking Challenge: The Toothpaste Experiment
This week, Year 6 were faced with a unique challenge! They were asked to empty out their toothpaste tubes and then attempt to put the toothpaste back in using only toothpicks. As expected, this task proved to be nearly impossible! After the activity, we gathered together to discuss its deeper meaning. We explored how our words and actions—whether kind or unkind—can have lasting effects on others. Just like the toothpaste, once something is said or done, it can’t always be taken back completely, even if we apologise. The children had some brilliant discussions about the importance of kindness, respect, and thinking before we speak or act. A big well done to Year 6 for engaging so thoughtfully in this activity and recognising the power of their actions!
Year 6 ‘Make Me Smile’ Workshop
Year 6 had a fantastic time taking part in the Make Me Smile workshop, delivered by the 180 team. They learned valuable strategies for managing their mental health, understanding emotions, and knowing who to talk to if they ever need support. The session focussed on emotional regulation and ways to handle difficult situations in a positive way. Now, Year 6 are preparing to deliver the same project to Year 3, passing on their knowledge and helping younger students develop these important life skills. A brilliant workshop with an important message!
Spanish: Talking About Our Homes
This term, Year 6 have been learning all about how to describe their home in Spanish. This week, they explored new vocabulary for different types of areas, including fields, mountains, cities, and beaches. Why not ask us how to describe our homes in Spanish? We would love to share our new language skills!
Term 3
Year 6 Take on Handball!
This half-term, Year 6 have been diving into the exciting world of Handball—a brand-new sport for them! They’ve worked hard to learn the rules, develop new skills, and most importantly, have fun while getting active. From fast-paced passes to powerful shots on goal, every session has been filled with energy and enthusiasm. Well done to everyone for embracing a new challenge, stepping out of their comfort zone, and giving it their all!
Cracking the Code in Year 6!
This week, Year 6 took on a secret code challenge! Our teachers carefully reviewed our books and identified key areas for improvement. Instead of just giving us the answers, they created coded feedback for us to decipher. We worked together to crack the code, identify our next steps, and improve our work. A fun and engaging way to take ownership of our learning! #GrowthMindset #CrackTheCode
Mastering Ratio in Year 6!
Year 6 wrapped up their final lesson on Ratio today with a hands-on approach! Using physical manipulatives, they explored how ratios change depending on the question, deepening their understanding through practical application. They also practiced using the inverse to check their answers, reinforcing their problem-solving skills. Fantastic work, Year 6!
Art at Magdalen College
Year 6 had a fantastic time at Magdalen College, taking inspiration from the artist Jasper Johns for their artwork. They explored how to outline numbers using stencils, learning key techniques to create bold and structured designs. Next week, they will take their work even further by adding detail with a combination of different mark-making tools. We can’t wait to see their finished masterpieces! #Art #MCS ✨
Spanish: Talking About Birthdays
Check out Year 6’s impressive Spanish speaking skills! This week, they focused on learning the months of the year and practiced saying when their birthdays are. The children enjoyed putting their new vocabulary into action through interactive speaking activities and games. Well done, Year 6—your Spanish is coming along brilliantly!
Science: Making Periscopes
Year 6 had an amazing time constructing periscopes in their science lessons this week! They delved into the fascinating world of light and reflection, learning how light from a distant object hits the top mirror and is reflected at a 90-degree angle down the periscope tube. At the bottom, the light strikes another mirror and is reflected directly into the viewer’s eye, allowing them to see objects from hidden angles. ️ It was a hands-on, engaging activity that helped bring the principles of light and reflection to life. Fantastic work, Year 6! ✨
Music: Exploring Sensory Sounds
This week in Music, Year 6 explored the fascinating world of sensory sounds. The children watched famous film clips and analyzed how the music shifted and enhanced the mood of each scene. They discussed how different sounds evoke emotions, build tension, or create excitement, and they learned new vocabulary to describe these musical effects. It was a fun and inspiring lesson that gave everyone a deeper appreciation of how music can transform storytelling!
Maths Magic: Fractions, Decimals & Percentages
Over the past two weeks, Year 6 have been diving into the world of fractions, decimals, and percentages. The children have been working hard to master the connections between these concepts, solving tricky problems and applying their learning to real-life scenarios. Be sure to check out our vibrant working wall, showcasing their fantastic progress and methods! It’s filled with brilliant examples of their work, strategies, and top tips. Well done, Year 6—keep up the amazing effort!
Year 6 Computing: Cracking the Code
This term, Year 6 are diving into the fascinating world of coding in their computing lessons. The children kicked off the topic by learning valuable digital skills and exploring new online concepts and vocabulary, building a strong foundation for the weeks ahead. As the term progresses, they will be introduced to text-based programming, exploring how apps are coded and the logic behind them. The students will also tackle self-paced programming challenges, fostering independence, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Year 6 are off to a brilliant start, and we can’t wait to see the amazing coding projects they produce by the end of the term!
Year 6 Gymnastics: Balancing Fun
Year 6 thoroughly enjoyed their first gymnastics lesson on Friday. They explored a variety of balances and practiced performing them in pairs and small groups. The children showed great teamwork and focus as they supported one another to master each pose. It was a fantastic start to their gymnastics journey!
Spanish Dates
Year 6 have been learning all about the date in Spanish. They now confidently know the days of the week and can discuss the date of the day in Spanish. ¡Qué impresionante! Their hard work is paying off as they continue to build their language skills.
Term 2
Oxfordshire Mind visit Year Six Boys
We were fortunate to welcome Hemashu from Oxfordshire Mind, who delivered an insightful session on how boys can look after their mental health. He shared five key strategies: talking, exercise, learning new things, spending time in nature, and connecting with friends, alongside the importance of sleep, hydration, and a healthy diet.
To further support this valuable cause, we will be participating in a Santa Dash around the school site next week. Funds raised will go towards helping Oxfordshire Mind continue their incredible work.
Spanish
Year 6 have been thoroughly enjoying their weekly Spanish lessons! This term, they have been learning how to talk about their families. This week, they focused on naming specific family members and explored the use of the four different words for “the” in Spanish.
Keep up the fantastic work, Year 6!
Art
Check out Year 6’s incredible final art pieces created this week! They have worked hard all term to identify the feelings and hidden emotions artists portray in their work, while reflecting on the reasons behind them. Building on this, they drafted, sketched, and designed their own paintings, each showcasing hidden meanings and thoughtful creativity. A brilliant effort by all!
Secret Code Marking
Year 6 worked hard this week to crack the code when editing their setting descriptions. They collaborated brilliantly, identifying their next steps and thinking carefully about how to level up their work. Fantastic teamwork and perseverance!
Writing
This afternoon, Year 6 had the exciting opportunity to post their letters! They worked incredibly hard to ensure their letters were formal, thoughtful, and well-written. We’re eagerly looking forward to any responses and will keep you updated!
Come dine with me
Oriel had an absolutely fantastic time this morning cooking their very own three-course meal! The children prepared homemade garlic bread, lasagne, and cookie sandwiches, showcasing their impressive cooking skills. Our judges thoroughly enjoyed the meal and commented on how delicious everything tasted. It’s Exeter’s turn next week, and then the judges will decide the overall winners. Good luck, Exeter!
Magdalen College School
On Tuesday, we had an exciting visit to Magdalen College, where we took part in some amazing Science experiments! The children had a fantastic time working scientifically and investigating a variety of different materials, sparking curiosity and deepening their understanding of the world around them.
Term 1
Computing
Year 6 had a fantastic time last week diving into the world of internet addresses and exploring how to find the IP addresses of various websites. Afterward, we gathered as a class to discuss our findings and shared what we noticed about the patterns and similarities in IP addresses. Great job, Year 6, for engaging so thoughtfully with this topic!
Reading for Pleasure
Year 6 thoroughly enjoyed their first “Reading for Pleasure” lesson today! They took time to choose books that piqued their interest, then settled in with a cozy biscuit, reading in a calm and welcoming atmosphere. It was the perfect way to relax, explore new stories, and enjoy the simple pleasure of getting lost in a good book.
Science – Dissection
Music
This term in Year 6 Music, we are exploring the topic of Music in World War II. In today’s lesson, we began by discussing key vocabulary related to the music of this era and how it connected to life during the war. We’re looking forward to diving deeper into the sounds, styles, and cultural impact of World War II music in the coming weeks!
Magdalen College School – Bridges
Oriel had a fantastic time with visitors from Magdalen, who led them in exciting science investigations! The children loved building bridges, weighing different objects, and collaborating in teams with some of the Magdalen College School students. A brilliant day of hands-on learning and teamwork!
Olympian Visit
A huge well done and thank you to these amazing children for their help and support with our sporting event this morning! They demonstrated excellent teamwork, encouraged all participants, and contributed to making the event run smoothly. We’re incredibly proud of their dedication and positive energy, which made the experience even more enjoyable for everyone involved.
