Spring Round-up!
Read on to find out what our schools have been up to during the Spring Term
đź Whatâs On Locally This Spring Break
As you plan your twoâweek spring break, itâs worth keeping an eye out for childrenâs and family activities happening in your local area. Many places â including Wolverhampton, Tamworth, Stafford, Cannock, Worcester, Wednesbury and Dudley â offer holiday events, clubs, workshops and outdoor activities throughout the break. These often include daytime sessions and holiday clubs, which can be especially helpful for parents balancing work and childcare. Local councils, community venues, libraries, parks, attractions and event listings regularly share updated programmes online, so checking whatâs available nearby can help you find options that fit around your schedule. And for families who canât attend organised events there are still plenty of simple, flexible ways to enjoy the break together, there are some ideas below:  Enjoy Fresh Air, Adventure, and Family Time! With the arrival of spring, the two-week break is the perfect opportunity to spend time outdoors, soak up some sunshine, and enjoy simple moments together. Here are some fun, nature-inspired activities for families looking to make the most of the season. đż Nature Treasure Hunt Create your own outdoor adventure by making a checklist of natural items for children to findâsuch as feathers, daffodils, smooth stones, pinecones, or ladybirds. You can hide painted stones or wooden tokens for an extra element of surprise. đž Springtime Hop Race Set up a playful hopping race where children bounce their way to the finish line. Pillowcases make a great mini sack race alternative, or you can create hopping stations to keep little ones giggling and moving. 𧺠Fresh Air Picnic Pack a Spring-inspired picnic with fruit, sandwiches, snacks, and perhaps a seasonal treat. Spread out a blanket in the garden or local park and enjoy relaxed time together while children play nearby. đĽ Egg and Spoon Race A classic outdoor challenge! Give each child a spoon and a wooden or hardâboiled egg (or even a small ball for less mess) and see who can reach the finish line without dropping it. Ladles work brilliantly for younger ones. đ¨ Pavement Chalk Art Unleash creativity with colourful chalk designs outside. Children can draw spring flowers, insects, shapes, or even create their own imaginative obstacle course. đşď¸ Outdoor Adventure Trail Design a simple trail using arrows, signs, or footprints that lead children to small surprises or clues. It adds a magical sense of exploration to gardens, parks, or woodland walks. đˇ Planting Spring Flowers Celebrate the new season by planting bulbs or spring flowers such as tulips, pansies, or daffodils. Let children take the lead with digging, planting, and watering for a hands-on learning experience. đ Storytime in Nature Take your favourite books outdoors for a cosy reading session under a tree, on a blanket, or in a sunny corner of the garden. Fresh air pairs beautifully with imagination. đŚ Wildlife Spotting Walk Go on a gentle family walk and see what spring wildlife you can spotâbirds, butterflies, bees, squirrels, or even lambs if youâre in the countryside. Bring binoculars to spark excitement for curious explorers. 𫧠Bubble Chasing Fun Blow bubbles and watch children race, jump, and pop them. Simple, joyful, and perfect for toddlers and younger children. đ¸ Enjoy Your Spring Break! Whether youâre exploring nature, playing outdoor games, or creating new family traditions, the Spring break offers endless opportunities for fresh air fun and memory-making. Enjoy every moment together in the great outdoors!
Tillington Manor's good work was mentioned in Parliament
A few weeks ago, Tillington Manor's Headteacher, Kelly Brockhurst was contacted by local MP, Leigh Ingham, regarding healthy relationships, a topic she wanted to discuss in Parliament. Leigh did quite a long shout-out for all the good work at Tillington!
"At Tillington Manor primary school, healthy relationships are not an occasional lesson: they are woven through the culture of the school. Through a structured personal, social, health and economic education curriculum, children learn about friendship, family, communication, conflict resolution and how to recognise healthy and unhealthy behaviours. The lessons are all age appropriate, and they build year on year. They are delivered through safe discussion, role play and reflection in a safe environment. But what really stands out to me is the whole-school approach. The school has dedicated spaces, such as the nook and the hive, where emotional support is provided for children and families, and the staff are trained in emotional literacy and wellbeing. As a result, the pupils are more confident in identifying healthy relationships and more likely to seek help from trusted adults. The school has found that, as a result of the programmes, repeated conflict has reduced over time. That is what prevention can look like in practice."
You can watch the speech on Parliament Live TV (Leigh starts at approx. 14:04:30), and read it in the official parliamentary record, Hansard.
5 Star Catering âââââ
A huge shout-out to the kitchen staff at both Woodthorne and Stanley Road primary schools for achieving 5â EHO! Well done!
Berrybrook participated in Wolves Foundation's Social Action Project
During the Autumn term, all Berrybrook's Year 5 pupils took part in a Social Action Project in conjunction with Wolverhampton Wanderers' football team's Wolves Foundation. The Social Action Project is one of the annual highlights of the Premier League Primary Stars programme, and always brings out some fantastic ideas from the different schools involved. This year's challenge was to come up with a project which would help tackle air pollution around their school, in the local community or around Molineux. Two teams were chosen from the class to attend The Molineux on February 3rd to present their projects to a panel of judges and other schools. The two groups were fantastic representatives for Berrybrook school and were able to discuss their ideas clearly and answer questions confidently to help other people understand.
World Religion Day
Dunstall Hill's Year 5 really enjoyed their visit to the local mosque during World Religion Day. They were warmly welcomed and loved having the chance to look around, ask questions, and learn more about how the mosque is used. The visit brought their learning about Islam to life and, importantly, helped them to develop the World Religion Day value of respect by encouraging understanding, appreciation, and kindness towards people of different faiths and beliefs.
Tillington Manor celebrated World Religion Day in school. The children explored how stories from different religions and cultures link directly to their school values. Each year group focused on a specific value and a story that brought that value to life. After sharing the story, children discussed its message and how it linked to school values. They used activities such as drama, debate, poster-making and story mapping to deepen their understanding. Children then created a piece of work inspired by the story â including artwork, poetry, writing in role, and reimagined versions of the stories. â Hereâs what each year group explored: đ Year 1 â Inquisitive The Astronomerâs Telescope (The Monster on the Moon) đ Year 2 â Resilient The Lost Sheep đ Year 3 â Aspirational The Toad and the Tower đ Year 4 â Respectful Delightful the Horse đ Year 5 â Responsible The Two Sons đ Year 6 â Responsible The Good Samaritan It was a thoughtful and creative day of learning, celebrating stories, values, and understanding different beliefs.
Berrybrook's Twinkl Community Collection Win
Berrybrook has been fortunate to win a competition recently. The Twinkl Community Collection has kindly donated ÂŁ200-worth of non-fiction books to their school and library. The books are due to be delivered this week and they are looking forward to adding some new and exciting books to their library shelves! Thank you to the Twinkl Community Collection for supporting Berrybrook!
NSPCC Number Day at Mesty Croft
Friday 6th February was Number Day, the NSPCC's annual maths fundraising day, and Mesty Croft Primary School was awash with Maths! Their focus was around money, from the Stock Exchange in Years 5 and 6, to a Scavenger Hunt in Year 3 and coin art in Early Years and KS1. There were some very inventive Maths-themed outfits too!
NSPCC Number Day at Woodthorne
Woodthorne Primary spent a fantastic morning on number-filled activities on Friday 6th February. They had TTRS battles, magic squares, number puzzles, and of course, their annual vegetable competition! They even had a special Number Crunch Lunch!
Mother's Day Lunch at Forest Hills
Forest Hills school invited their mums and the special women in their lives for a special lunch. So many of the parents and carers attended.
Comic Relief Red Nose Day
On Friday 20th March, Stanley Road held a non-school uniform day to support Comic Relief Red Nose Day. They raised ÂŁ80.00 for the charity.
The children at Bird's Bush had a joke-a-thon to celebrate Red Nose Day. Each class ended the day by seeing how much laughter they could create.
Celebrating Children's Mental Health Awareness Week at Forest Hills, Tillington Manor and Bird's Bush
As part of Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, Â the children and staff at Tillington âcame as they areâ and celebrated by choosing to wear something that made 'us feel like us' - comfy clothes, cultural dress, favourite colours or something totally unique! This year's theme was 'This is my place' - all about helping children feel comfortable, confident and like they truly belong. We celebrated individuality, inclusion and well-being.
This year's CMHD theme was 'my place'. Forest Hills decided to adopt the theme of Harry Potter and Matilda, as they were both characters who felt safest and happiest at school.
Birdâs Bush works closely with the Educational Mental Health Support Team. Rachel Brain came in recently to talk with Year 5 about self-esteem. She gave them ideas of how to make themselves feel better.
Rudolf Run at Forest Hills
On the last day of the Autumn term, all the children, staff and some of the parents at Forest Hills took part in a Rudolf Run to raise money for St. Giles' Hospice. They ran a mile every hour on the hour. All children and staff took part in at least one run, and some did every one. In total, they raised ÂŁ190 for the charity.
Cross-Country Success at Woodthorne
A huge well done to four children who proudly represented Woodthorne at a recent cross-country event at Fordhouses Cricket Club. They ran excellent races and did a fantastic job of demonstrating our core values throughout the competition. We are very proud of their effort, attitude and sportsmanship - well done!
Dunstall Hill's Year 2s visited Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Dunstall Hill's Y2 children had a wonderful time visiting the Wildlife Art Exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery. This world-renowned exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, featured exceptional images which capture fascinating animal behaviour, spectacular species and the breath-taking diversity of the natural world. During the visit, the children explored a wide range of artwork across different categories, observing how artists represent wildlife using various styles, materials, and techniques within photography. They showed great enthusiasm, asked thoughtful questions, and engaged well in discussions about the artwork and the animals featured. The children were very well-behaved and respectful of their surroundings. Some children even got gold cards! đŤđŤ
Laches Wood
Mesty Croft Primary School's Year 6 Laches Wood Residential
This year Mesty Croft took 35 Y6 children on a week-long residential to Laches Wood Outdoor Education Centre, and my goodness, they were incredible! They each showed levels of resilience beyond belief and showed 100% commitment to each activity. We spotted some real talent for climbing, air rifle shooting and axe throwing, in particular. It was a pleasure to take each and every child and see them grow throughout the week.Â
Stanley Road's Laches Wood Residential 2026
Stanley Road's Year 6s recently spent a fantastic five days of adventure at Laches Wood Residential Centre. They challenged themselves in a range of outdoor activities and physical pursuits including climbing, archery, cycling, caving, axe throwing, hiking around Cannock Chase and high ropes! Throughout the stay the children showed teamwork, independence, resilience, friendship and passion. They will all look back with plenty of fond memories of their stay! Everyone participated brilliantly, and they should all be proud of what they achieved.
Perry Hall Primary School's Year 6 Laches Wood Residential
Year 6 pupils from Perry Hall enjoyed an unforgettable residential trip to Laches Wood in January. Throughout the visit, the children embraced a wide range of exciting challenges, developing new skills and growing in confidence. For many, it was their first time riding a bike, while others impressed with their enthusiasm and ability in activities such as axe throwingâwatch out world! Beyond the activities, the experience fostered greater independence and self-sufficiency, with pupils rising to every opportunity presented to them. The children were a true credit to Perry Hall and the MAT, consistently demonstrating their core values and making staff incredibly proud.
Bird's Bush's Laches Wood Residential 2026
A big well done to all of the children for their Laches Wood residential. It was a pleasure spending the week with them, and they should be incredibly proud! The instructors spoke to the teaching staff throughout the week about how polite and kind all of the children are and how much bravery they showed throughout the week. Everyone was massively impressed by their perseverance, teamwork and the independence they showed.
Mesty Croft's Year 6 class learnt about Road Safety
Miss Lounds from Sandwell LA visited Mesty Croft Primary School to teach Year 6 how to use a zebra crossing safely to support them in walking to and from school independently, in preparation for transition to secondary school. We were very proud of their high levels of engagement, and we are confident that they will be able to transfer these valuable skills in real life using the two new zebra crossings outside school.
Library Visits
As 2026 is the year of Reading for Pleasure, Mesty Croft pupils from Years 2 to 5 recently visited Wednesbury Library, where they learned all about becoming library members and how to find books that spark their interests. They explored the variety of activities that the library offers, completed a fun treasure hunt, enjoyed storytime, and each pupil was able to borrow a book to take back to school. It was an exciting morning filled with reading, discovery, and adventure! Well done, KS2!
Berrybrook Primary participated in Safer Internet Day 2026
On Tuesday 10th February, Berrybrook celebrated Safer Internet Day 2026 by taking part in learning activities in classrooms. This year, the theme was Smart tech, safe choices - Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI. This event aims to promote safer online behaviour, especially among children and young people, by exploring the impact of AI and providing guidance on responsible use. Various educational resources and activities will be available to help schools and youth groups engage with this important issue. As part of this day, Key Stage 2 enjoyed an assembly with their local PCSO, where they learnt about the use and misuse of AI, social media and the consequences of unsafe use of social media apps. Year 2 also enjoyed an age-appropriate workshop with our PCSO.
Dinosaurs invade Perry Hall!
This term, Perry Hall had the exciting opportunity to welcome Teach Rex for a truly memorable day of prehistoric discovery. Our nursery children took part in a hands-on workshop, where they explored the lives of dinosaursâlearning about their diets, habitats and distinctive features. A definite highlight was the chance to get up close and even cuddle the baby dinosaurs! Meanwhile, the rest of the school enjoyed thrilling assemblies featuring Jam the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Pupils were fascinated as they discovered what Jam ate, how he hunted, his unique senses, and even how he ate (apologies, Mr Chaney!). It was a fantastic day for both children and staff, sparking curiosity and bringing the world of prehistoric life vividly to life.
Perry Hall's annual STEM fair
 To celebrate British Science Week, children at Perry Hall were challenged to create their own STEM projects based on a question that sparked their curiosity. As always, they rose to the occasion, producing an incredible range of thoughtful, creative and high-quality projects. Each class faced the difficult task of selecting just two entries to represent them at our schoolâs STEM Fair. Pupils proudly presented their work to parents, members of the School Council and Mrs Sanders, our Science Lead. Judging was no easy feat, with so many impressive projects on display, but winners were selected from each year group, who were presented with a prize in our celebration assembly. A huge well done to all of Perry Hallâs young scientists for their enthusiasm, creativity and dedication!
Bird's Bush visited their local Police and Fire Stations
Bird's Bush's Year 5 pupils recently visited their local community police and fire station, where they were taught all about safety in the house, near water and how to keep their money safe. They even practised a bit of first aid.
Young Voices 2026 - Tillington Manor pupils attended the largest children's choir concert in the world
What an unforgettable experience at Young Voices 2026 for Tillington! â¨đ¤ Their incredible Y5 and Y6 children took part in the Young Voices concert, and wow⌠what a moment it was! Singing their hearts out alongside thousands of other children in a packed BP Pulse LIVE arena in Birmingham was truly magical. The energy, excitement and confidence shown by the pupils was phenomenal. They sang, danced and performed with such pride, resilience and joy, representing our school beautifully from start to finish. For many, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and one they will remember for years to come.
Worcestershire Schools Poetry Slam Final
On Wednesday 11th March, six Stanley Road Year 6 girls competed at Authors' Abroad's Worcestershire Schools Poetry Slam Final. Their poem, which had the theme of 'the play', was performed on stage at the Palace Theatre in Redditch in front of nine other schools. They were fantastic and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Well done girls - you should be really proud of yourselves!
Easter Crafts at Forest Hills
Parents and carers were invited into Forest Hills school this week to complete crafts with their children. There has been one session so far.
Sledmere Primary School truly does have talent!
Sledmere's Spring Term art exhibition was fantastic! It was amazing to see so many families enjoying their childrenâs artwork. The displays were thought-provoking and really told a story. We canât wait to see what the Summer term brings.Â
Art class at Dunstall Hill
In Y2 Art, Dunstall Hill's unit this half-term is âPortraits and Self-portraitsâ focussing on a range of artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent van Gogh. The children drew self-portraits and were able to express their representations using paint, considering tones and shades of colour. Finally, the children evaluated their self-portraits, talking about how the painting represented their personality and facial features.
World Book Day
For World Book Day, staff and pupils at Forest Hills all dressed up as their favourite book character and completed some reading-themed activities.
Bird's Bush had some cool characters turn up for school on World Book Day. The children had great fun throughout the day creating stories for their characters.
There have been lots of pupil achievements to celebrate at Stanley Road this term. Congratulations to all celebrating! Chester and Duru have completed stages 7 and 4, respectively, in swimming.
Spring message from our CEO
As we reach the end of the Spring term, I would like to take a moment to thank all parents and carers across the Trust for your continued support and partnership. This term has been a busy and productive one, and your encouragement, engagement, and commitment to your childrenâs education play a vital role in their success. We are grateful for the trust you place in our schools and for the way you work alongside us to support learning, wellbeing, and development. Your support, whether through ensuring strong attendance, helping with learning at home, or engaging with school events and communication, makes a real difference to our school communities. As we head into the break, I hope you are able to enjoy some well-deserved time with your families. Thank you once again for your ongoing support. Best regards Amarjit Cheema OBE CEO