Chaipel have had a very D.T heavy week this week. We designed some functional gears using a range of different materials before selecting the one most fit for purpose. We then investigated how pulley systems work and created a system which could 'tidy up the floor of our classroom'. Verity and Elsie did an amazing job and created a pulley system that accurately fitted the design criteria.

Y6s have been working hard on their Leavers' assembly: we have had a couple of run-throughs this week and it is going to be a real tear-jerker! 

In other news, Sean has been in for our last Orwell Project art lesson where we created cards out of our creations to sell at the exhibition in the Autumn. The project has taken us on an incredible journey and the children are really proud of what they have achieved!

Congratulations to ARIA for being our Person of the Week; displaying our school values and being a role-model to her peers.

That's all from Team Chaipel: Miss Randle, Mrs Clary, Mrs Hodge and Miss Colton.

Hello everyone!

In this warm weather, we have managed to have 2 swimming sessions this week, which has helped us to cool down, as well as practicing techniques used for different swimming strokes. 

On Monday, we spent some more time with next year's Reception children who will be joining us in September. We also enjoyed a transition day on Tuesday, and had a taste of what it will be like to be in Year 1, or Year 2 in Penhallow next year. We discussed our favourite moments of being in Reception or Year 1 this year, and thought about what we would like to get better at next year.

Another highlight of this week, has been learning about the artist and designer Orla Kiely. We found and used different objects for printing with paint and rollers, looked at different patterns that have been created by the artist and sketched our own Orla Kiely designs, ready to print next week. 

Have a lovely weekend!

From The Penhallow Team

On Saturday 12th July, we held an open morning to show off our fantastic Early Years provision to prospective families. Over the two hours we were visited by multiple families whose children had the opportunity to explore the many wonderful delights of the classroom and outdoor area with their parents and carers. We were thrilled with the turnout and hope we will see all these families join Harrowbarrow in the future. A huge thank you to the Class 1 team for efforts in putting on this event and thank you to the PSA members who provided refreshments.





Music
Well done to all our junior children for their end of year performance last week. They had a lot to learn in a very short space of time and did an amazing job at learning words for the songs, the script and then all the dance and actions. Thank you to families who helped with costumes and, of course, thank you to Rachel Lane for her efforts to put the show together - it is a huge job. As you know, Rachel will be leaving at the end of term. It is fair to say, when we reflect on what she does for the children, Rachel is irreplaceable. Several parents have asked what is happening with music provision at the school next year. Abi Flashman will be the subject leader for music and we will continue to provide peripatetic music lessons through Harvey (guitars), Julie (brass) and Josh (piano). If you are interested in your child learning to play an instrument, please contact the school office. We also hope to continue the relationship Rachel has established with the Cornwall Music Service, who provided flute lessons to all our junior children this term through teacher Sally Butlin. These lessons culminated in Class 3 and 4 performing brilliantly to their parents and carers on Friday morning. Rachel has also had a teaching commitment which we have covered from September. I will be teaching both Class 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and Ati Charlesworth will become fulltime, teaching Class 2 on Wednesday afternoons. Other provision delivered by Rachel will be considered in September, once we have had time to reflect on our capacity to deliver some of these things.

Staffing
Rachel Lane has been a feature of Harrowbarrow School for a long time and we will miss all she contributes. She has built a reputation for music provision at the school, which you would be hard to find in many similarly sized schools in Cornwall. We thank Rachel for many years of dedicated and passionate music teaching on top of all the other things she has done during her time at the school. We wish Rachel all the very best for the future.
Next year, we are able to increase our support staff provision across the school, which is always welcomed as teaching assistants play a vital role working with all children as well as those who require additional support. I am delighted to announce the appointment of Sarah Marley to the posts of teaching assistant and lunchtime supervisor from September. As a qualified teacher, with a background in STEM and environmental projects, Sarah's appointment will add a lot of additional expertise and we welcome her to the team. She will mostly work in Class 3 and Class 1.

Pupil Progress
Whilst academic outcomes in maths and English are only one way of measuring the impact a school has on children's education, they are an important indicator. This year, the children have risen to the high expectations of staff and performed strongly in many areas. I am pleased to share some of the highlights below.

EYFS: percentage of children securing a Good Level of Development - above the national average
Year 1 Phonic Screening Check: percentage of children passing this check - above the national average
Year 2 Writing: percentage achieving the expected level - above the national average
Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check: the average score for the cohort was above the national average
Year 6 Reading: percentage achieving the expected level - above the national average

Thank you to all the staff and children in achieving these fantastic results.

As we edge towards the end of term there are still some exciting events to look forward to:

14 - 18.7.25: Year 6 residential to Brecon Beacons
14.7.25: Choir to sing to Harrowbarrow Luncheon Club
21.7.25: Infants to sing to parents/carers in the covered playground (we will using this occasion to say a final farewell to Rachel Lane and present her with some gifts so please feel free to join us)
21.7.25: Year 6 leavers presentation in Class 4
22.7.25: Last day of term for pupils - please note school finishes at 1.30pm

Lappa Valley

We had a super time today at Lappa Valley! Have a look at some of the pictures below! In particular, thank you to Mrs Hood, Miss Marjeram, Miss Smith and the Polperro staff for all your help too!

This week, we have enjoyed Music lessons with Mrs Butlin and creating our clay pilchards in Art. We will be painting these next week! 

On Tuesday, we had our transition day. Year 3 had a wonderful time in Talland and are eager for their move to Year 4 in September. In Landaviddy, we reintroduced the expectations for next year as Year 3, had a go at portrait painting and created our peg and tray labels. We cannot wait for what Year 3 will bring. 

We hope you have a lovely weekend and look forward to seeing you next week!

Mrs Wilkie, Mrs Phillips, Miss Bowden and Miss Colton

Blisland Triumph at Harrowbarrow Cricket Match!

Blisland Primary is celebrating a fantastic sporting achievement after winning a cricket match against Harrowbarrow Primary School! On a sunny afternoon, nine pupils from Years 4, 5 and 6 travelled to Harrowbarrow to take on their Year 6 cricket team in a friendly but competitive match.

The team showed great determination and teamwork throughout the game. There were some brilliant moments with the bat, with several players scoring confidently and showing excellent technique. However, it was Blisland's superb bowling performance that truly secured the victory. Each player bowled with focus and accuracy, keeping Harrowbarrow's batters under pressure and limiting their scoring opportunities.

The sportsmanship, encouragement and team spirit on display made us incredibly proud. It was a great example of how our pupils rise to a challenge and support one another.

A huge thank you goes to Mr Smith and Kelly for coaching the team and organising transport to the match. Their support helped the players feel confident and prepared. Well done to all the players who took part-you represented Blisland with pride and showed real sporting excellence. We're looking forward to more cricket success in the future!

TALLAND'S CLASS BLOG 11.7.25

Another end to another fun-filled week! It was lovely meeting all the new children coming (and staying) in Talland class next year and it sounded like all the Year 5's had a great time in Chaipel - getting ready for their next adventure. It sounds like they were asking really good questions and were enthusiastic which was lovely to hear! We had Sean (the artist) back in for his final lesson with them. The children created some brilliantly creative cards to complete our Orwell Project. They should be proud of their final creation!

Maths:
Year 5 are back on shape and have been learning how to use a protractor. They can also identify the different types of angles... why not quiz your child on the different types of angles they can remember...
Year 4 have been delving deeper into money problems - they'll be sorting out your mortgages, insurances and taxes in know time!

English:
We have created some really powerful writing this week where the children have tried their best to include writing techniques that we have been incorporating throughout the year. The descriptions of the giant and Jack have been great!

PE:
The weather has been glorious this week so we've taken full advantage of the pool and got in not once but twice! Lots of fun games and stroke technique. The children's confidence has grown along with ability which is fantastic!

Well done to Arnie and Tabbi this week for their enthusiasm and determination to learning this week - it never goes un-noticed! 

That's all from us this week so we hope you have an amazing weekend and can't wait to see you on Monday!

Signing off from Mr. Langley, Mr. Bishop and Miss. Colton. 

 

So many highlights to choose from this week. On Tuesday morning, our pupils spent time in their new classes, finding out about their friends and their teachers and teaching staff. We have enjoyed getting to know the new pupils who will be joining us in September.

Y6 received their SATS results on Tuesday and we are hugely proud, not just of their amazing results, but of the way they took the whole process in their stride. Well done year 6!

Reports This year, end-of-year reports have been sent out via email, and we will continue to use this method moving forward. Your child will bring home their previous reports at the end of next week, unless they were not returned last year.

Books Your child will be bringing their schoolbooks home at the end of next Friday. Please provide them with a carrier bag to help carry everything.

Clubs Reminder that clubs have now finished for the year except for wraparound (breakfast and after school club).

Sun Safety During this amazing weather, we want to make sure all children stay safe in the sun. Please make sure your child brings a sun hat and sun cream to school every day. We follow a 'no hat, no play' policy, and we've noticed some children often come without one. Thanks for your help with this!

Summer Activities Please find attached leaflets about Time2Move bikeability courses and Softball Cricket courses to be run over the summer break.

End of term 1:30 finish Reminder that school will finish for pupils at 1:30pm on Tuesday 22nd July.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Mrs Hillman

Friday 11th July

Look at the amazing butterflies we made during outdoor learning this week.

We worked together to find some leaves that represented butterfly wings. We then painted these leaves together. Once they were painted, we printed them on the paper around the butterfly's body!

We had great fun, but wow it was hot, so we stayed under the trees where it was a lot cooler!

We wish you a wonderful hot weekend and hope you have lots of fun in the sun!

We are looking forward to our last full week in Foundation!

The Foundation Team 

Thank you so much for your continued support again this week. It has been a busy week with trips, wonderful learning opportunities and, of course, our Summer Fair. Please find all the latest news and events from the past 7 days in our Brunel Bulletin.

July

Hooray ... we had an amazing time on our school trip. The weather was fabulous. We arrived in the minibus and walked down to the beach where we all sat and had a morning snack. It wasn't long and everyone was in the sea. The children loved floating and splashing around. We spent some time filling our egg cartons full of interesting things that we found on the beach, including a crab shell, feather, lots of different shells, seaweed and sea glass. Before we left we built sandcastles, had a last dip in the sea and hurried back to school to enjoy an ice cream. 

Our year 6's have been busy this term getting ready for their new secondary school. They have had visits from their new teachers and enjoyed spending time and meeting other students and teachers in their new setting. To celebrate the end of their time at Coppervalley Academy we are excited for our visit to the Aquarium next week.

The year 6's are also very busy preparing for their end of school goodbye assembly for their parents. 

Its is a very emotional time, as we have three of our children leaving us for Secondary school and we wish them all the best in their next adventure.

June

We had a super sporting month in June. A whole week of sport activities ending with a traditional sports day with family picnic. The sun kept on shinning all week.  

The Art exhibition was also in June and the children created sea pictures from the under the water theme we have been following this term. The children were very proud of their Art.

This term the weather has been lovely, so we have been taking advantage and using the outside to enrich our learning. Our garden is flourishing with growing tomatoes, basil and beautiful summer flowers. The environmental area has been a great resource to explore, climb and create dens. Looking at nature has been great fun as we found the items on our Scavenger hunts. 

We are excited for July and our school trip to the beach. 

Tregantle Class: Summer Fair, Music Magic & Transition Day!

What a whirlwind of fun and learning this week in Tregantle! Here's a look back at our highlights:

Summer Fair Extravaganza:
• Face Painting galore: From butterflies to superheroes, creative designs transformed every smile.
• Wet Sponge Fun: A firm favourite! Mr Woolner and Mrs Grinsted bravely took to the stocks for a bombardment of wet sponges!
• Games & Cake Stalls: From beanbag toss to winning a cupcake, the laughter and cheers filled the playground.
A big thank you to all volunteers who helped make it such a hit!

Musical Fun with Sally Butlin  - We were delighted to welcome Sally Butlin, our music specialist teacher, who led an energetic and joyful music session. Each child had the chance to play xylophones, creating merry melodies together. It was heart-warming to see their concentration and delight as they discovered rhythm and harmony.

Transition Session -  To wrap up the week, we had our Transition Session: all children spent time in their new classroom with their new teachers. This gentle introduction helped everyone feel excited-and a little less nervous-about moving up. The children explored their new spaces, met new classmates, and got a taste of next year's routines.

This week we have been talking about going on holiday. The children have been discussing whether they have ever been on holiday, where they went, what the did and how they got to their holiday.
We have been studying the globe and atlas and picking out different countries we might like to go to.
The children decided collectively that they would like to go to the beach for their holidays and they enjoyed playing in the beach themed tuft tray and decorated ice lollies.
They used clay to make shell imprints and have been playing in the role play area with the paddling pool, buckets and spades.

At story time we have been reading the stories "What he ladybird heard at the seaside" and "amazing aeroplanes". 
In phonics we have been practicing our voice sounds and exploring the way our mouths move as we say different words. We have been sorting groups of items with the same initial sounds and we went on a listening walk outside on the grassy area.

In maths we have been sorting and grouping objects and comparing how many and have been writing numbers on the big chalk board.

Have a great weekend

Julie and Sarah

Thank you so much team St Cleer for another great sports day. Parents/carers really came out and supported us all today in the heat. Well done to everyone for a fantastic day and congratulations to Cheesewring who are the winning team this year! Our values in action today at their best!

We've had a wonderfully busy and productive week in Year 3 and 4 - even with the soaring temperatures! The children have shown real resilience and maturity in coping with the heat, staying positive and focused in their learning. Here's a snapshot of what we've been up to this week...

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English - Non-Chronological Reports

In English, we've been diving into the world of non-chronological reports. The children have been learning to use generalisers such as most, some, and usually to make their writing more informative and formal. We've also been focusing on using clear subheadings to organise our ideas and are in the process of planning our own reports, which we're excited to begin writing next week.

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Geography - Where Does Our Food Come From?

In Geography, we've been exploring the journey food takes to reach our plates. From tropical fruits to locally grown vegetables, we've discussed the different climates and countries that produce the food we eat, and the impact of food miles. It's been a great way to link our geography skills to everyday life!

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Maths - It's Time to Tell the Time!

Year 3 pupils have been practising telling the time to the nearest five minutes, both on analogue and digital clocks. We've been using real-life contexts to help the children understand why time is such an important skill. Year 4s have been consolidating their time knowledge too - keep an eye out for time-related challenges at home!

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Science, Computing & Online Safety

In Science, we've continued exploring teeth and digestion, while in Computing, we've had important discussions around online safety - understanding how to stay safe and responsible when using the internet and digital devices.

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PE - Rounders in the Sun

Despite the heat, PE has been a highlight this week. We've been developing our skills in rounders, practising batting, fielding, and team strategy. The children showed great sportsmanship and determination - well done all!

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Art - Abstract Flowers

Our stunning abstract flower art continues to blossom! The children have been inspired by famous artists and have created some truly beautiful pieces. Be sure to take a look at the photos - their creativity is really shining through!

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Music, French & More

In Music, we've been rehearsing for music of the afternoon which takes place on Wednesday afternoon-we hope to see you all there!

French lessons have included learning new vocabulary and simple conversations. We've also been weaving in PSHE and topic discussions throughout the week - it's been full of variety!

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Transition Time

This week, we've had our class transition swaps, giving the children a chance to meet their new teachers and get a taste of what next year might look like. It's been exciting and reassuring for the children, helping them feel confident about the changes ahead.

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Coming Up - Brunel's Got Talent!

A quick reminder - on Monday, we'll be holding class auditions for Brunel's Got Talent! Children are encouraged to bring in any props or music they might need. We can't wait to see the range of talents in our class - from magic tricks to musical performances, it's always a joyful event.

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Thank you, as always, for your support. Please make sure your child continues to bring a water bottle and hat each day, especially while the warm weather lasts.

Have a lovely weekend!

 

A Creative Day with Local Artist Louise Kidd

On Monday, we were very fortunate to welcome local artist Louise Kidd into school for a full day of creativity and inspiration.

In the morning, Louise introduced the children to two exciting forms of printing: block printing and gel plate printing. The children had a wonderful opportunity to explore these techniques, experiment with different materials, and truly immerse themselves in the process. Their enthusiasm and effort were clear to see, and they produced some truly fantastic prints.

In the afternoon, we took the artwork to the next level by using the printed pieces to create a collaborative underwater scene. The children worked together beautifully to bring this colourful and imaginative scene to life - you can see the final result in the photos!

It was a fabulous and inspiring day for everyone involved, and we're so grateful to Louise for sharing her time and talent with us.

At Storytellers Nursery, we fully embraced World Chocolate Day on Monday, and things got deliciously messy! The children had a fantastic time making their chocolate lollipops, discovering that science can be sweet (and very sticky!). As they melted the chocolate, they learned about the process of solids turning into liquids. With lots of giggles, they observed the cooling process as the lollipops hardened in the fridge, though some children were much more interested in "helping" finish off the leftover chocolate. Who knew scientific exploration could involve so much taste testing? Sticky fingers, chocolate smiles, and a whole lot of learning made for a perfectly sweet celebration!

   This hands-on activity helped the children understand reversible changes, temperature effects, and the fascinating science behind everyday materials-all while enjoying the magic of chocolate!

In June we showed some of our art work in the school Art Exhibition. We also enjoyed looking around at the pieces of art that other classes had created to inspire us.
We have been learning to use the virtual Beebot robot on the Beebot app on the ipads. We have learnt how to program and describe directions to get to a destination.
We took part in Sports Week. We played games with other members of our coloured teams and raced against other children in our class. We showed lots of determination, courage and kindness. 
In Maths we have been learning to use money. 
For DT we designed, made and ate some colourful fruit kebabs. We learnt how important fruit is in a balanced diet and tasted a range of fruits to find our favourites.