Welcome to Our end of Term Portico Trust Newsletter
It has been a busy second half to the autumn term, culminating in some wonderful and exciting Christmas activities in our schools. I would like to thank you, our parent community, who work so hard on our Parents Associations, not only to raise funds for your school but to arrange fayres for families to enjoy. Father Christmas has been very active in our schools over the last two to three weeks although possibly not as busy as the elves in your houses! There is something particularly magical about this time of year and the joy of making Christmas decorations with the children, watching productions, listening to carols or just hearing the squeals of delight as Father Christmas tours the school brings children to life. I would like to thank all the staff, across all five schools, who provide the children with all this extra fun, while also planning detailed and interesting lessons. As we look forward to a new year, let us continue working together to nurture achievement, inspire opportunity and strengthen the sense of belonging that lies at the heart of our trust.
Cheryl Woolf, CEO
It has been a brilliant autumn term here at Friars! Our new Reception children have really hit the ground running and all of the children have settled in brilliantly. In addition to all of the great learning, we have enjoyed many whole school events such as our fundraiser for Children in Need and all of our Christmas activities. This term we have welcomed parents and carers into school for phonics workshops, Learning Conversation Evenings, Christmas decoration making, the PTA Christmas Fayre and performances amongst other occasions. An exciting change this autumn has been the transformation of our Key Stage 2 Library. Not only has the library been newly decorated but it now has new furniture and seating. It looks so fantastic and it does really promote the love of reading that we believe is so important. We cannot wait for the spring term…
Festive Cheer from Friars Primary School Choir
This half term, pupils from Friars Primary School brought festive joy to the local community with a special visit to Kestrel House. The KS1 and KS2 choir delighted residents with a selection of traditional Christmas carols, creating a warm and uplifting atmosphere. A standout moment from the morning was a beautiful duet performed by two KS2 pupils, who sang Silent Night, accompanied by Mrs Witt on the keyboard. Their thoughtful and heartfelt performance was warmly received and made the occasion particularly memorable. The visit was a wonderful opportunity for pupils to connect with the community, and it left both the children and residents feeling truly festive as we head into the holidays.
Rocksteady Music at Friars Primary School
Since October, a group of pupils at Friars Primary School have been working with Rocksteady to form their own bands. During the weekly sessions, children learned to play instruments, rehearse together and develop confidence as musicians and team members. The project culminated in the final week of term with a special concert, where the bands performed to parents and carers, followed by a performance for the rest of the school. The children showcased their hard work, enthusiasm and teamwork, making it a memorable celebration of their musical journey. We are extremely proud of all the pupils who took part and the confidence they showed on stage.
It’s been a great second half to the autumn term at Hamstel Infants, where the children have gone from strength to strength both in their learning and in their understanding of our rules and routines around school. We have used the local community well with children visiting Southchurch Library and our Reception children walking to the local post box to deliver their letters to Father Christmas. Whole school events this term have included a fabulous Remembrance assembly led by our Year 2s and of course our Christmas performances, where Nursery, Reception and Year 2 performed brilliantly to packed audiences and Year 1 welcomed parents in for some Christmas crafts. Our parents have continued to play an active part in school life by attending workshops in reading, online safety and handwriting and it was lovely to welcome so many prospective parents on our school tours for children who will hopefully join us in September 2026. Following our successful fund raising events in the first part of the year, our Outdoor Learning garden project is now in full swing. We would like to wish everybody in the Portico community a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year – we look forward to seeing you all again in January 2026.
Reading Rocks Workshop – and It Really Did Rock!
What an absolute treat we had at our Year 2 Reading Rocks Workshop this half term! We were thrilled to see so many of our wonderful Year 2 families join us for a cosy, book-filled morning. We got things started with a friendly, informative chat about how reading works in Year 2 — from our whole-class reading sessions to how we help children build confidence and joy in their reading. We also shared ideas on how to keep that love of books buzzing at home (because nothing beats a good story on the sofa!). Next, we had our favourite part of the session where the children joined their grown-ups, got comfy on mats and cushions, and got stuck into a brilliant range of books. There were giggles, whispers, and lots of book chatter. Plus, our book-themed scavenger hunts and activities kept everyone busy and entertained. We were extra lucky to be joined by the fabulous Jacqui from Jacqson Diego’s Story Emporium. She brought along her magical pop-up book shop and, with her usual sparkly enthusiasm, chatted to children and adults about all things bookish. To top it all off, she ended the session with a wonderful story that had everyone hooked. A huge thank you to everyone who came along — you helped make the session special for the children.
Year 2 Traditional Christmas Show
Year 2 put on a wonderful traditional Christmas show this week, linking beautifully with their learning about Victorian Christmas traditions, where many of the customs we know today first began. The children told the Nativity story with great confidence and sang much loved Christmas songs including “Silent Night”, “Away in a Manger” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”. Each class also performed a special song of their own. Hedgehog Class sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, Otter Class performed “Once in Royal David’s City”, Squirrel Class sang “We Three Kings” and Fox Class performed “It Was On a Starry Night”. Every class sang with enthusiasm and pride, creating a truly festive atmosphere. The performance came to a thoughtful close with the lighting of the Christingles that Year 2 had made and learned about in their R E lessons. Reverend Goodliff lit the candles and explained the Christian message behind them: the orange representing the world, the candle showing Jesus as the light of the world, the four sticks marking the four compass directions and seasons, the sweets and raisins representing the good things we have in life and the red ribbon symbolising the blood of Jesus and his sacrifice. It was a memorable and heartwarming occasion and the children should be incredibly proud of their efforts.
It has been another wonderfully busy half-term at Hamstel Junior School, filled with exciting events and enriching experiences for our children. Pupils in Years 4 and 5 have been fully immersed in their history topics, enjoying their very exciting Roman and Ancient Greek days, while our Year 6 children have been developing their oracy skills through a fantastic speech and delivery workshop led by Térèse Wilmot, Oracy Lead and Mentor with the English-Speaking Union. We have also loved embracing the festive spirit. Our Year 6 carol concert at Holy Trinity Church, the Year 3 carol service, and the Year 5 production of The Amazing Advent Calendar! have all brought great joy to the school community. It has been wonderful to welcome so many parents and carers into school to share in these special performances. We wish all members of our community a wonderful holiday and look forward to offering even more exciting and enriching experiences for our children in the new year.
A Day in the Life of a Roman
This half term, pupils at Hamstel Junior School enjoyed an immersive journey into the past as Year 4 spent the day living life as Romans. Working with Marvellous History, the children had the chance to meet Roman soldier Gaius Maximus, gaining first-hand insight into Roman life, culture and military traditions. The day was packed with hands-on learning, including exploring Roman artefacts, dressing in traditional armour, taking part in chariot racing and even mastering authentic Roman battle formations. The experience truly helped bring this fascinating period of history to life and sparked excitement and curiosity across the year group.
Baloo the Hero Dog Visits Hamstel Junior School
Hamstel Junior School recently welcomed Mandy Chapman, a retired Metropolitan Police officer, along with her ex-service dog, Baloo. During the visit, pupils learned about Baloo’s remarkable story. In 2018, Baloo was seriously injured while attempting to apprehend a suspect and lost one of her legs, requiring reconstructive surgery. Mandy shared how Baloo’s resilience and determination enabled her to overcome this life-changing injury. Mandy and Baloo now visit schools and community groups to promote important messages of resilience and perseverance. Baloo also continues to support serving police officers in her role as a therapy dog. Earlier this year, Baloo’s outstanding achievements were recognised when she received the Kennel Club Hero Dog Award at Crufts. Hamstel Junior School is very grateful to Mandy for bringing Baloo to meet the pupils and for her generous donation of copies of Boo and Sarge.
Christmas has truly swept through our school this term, bringing with it a wonderful sense of excitement, creativity and togetherness. The corridors have been filled with the warm glow of Christingles and the irresistible smell of mince pies as Years 3 and 4 rolled up their sleeves to take part in some festive making and baking. Meanwhile, Years 1 and 2 stole everyone’s hearts with their delightful Nativity performance, sharing the magic of the Christmas story with smiles, courage and plenty of sparkle. Our older pupils in Years 5 and 6 brought a more reflective note to the season during their beautiful service of Carols and Lessons at All Saints Church. We are extremely grateful to the All Saints team for welcoming us so warmly and helping us continue this cherished tradition. And of course, the whole school rounded off the celebrations with a fantastic Christmas disco, filled with dazzling outfits, enthusiastic dancing and plenty of laughter. Even with all the festive excitement, our pupils have also been busy enjoying a range of enriching experiences. Their visits to Beechcroft have provided moments of inspiration and discovery, while visiting Indirock has developed the resilience and determination of our children. Our sports teams have represented the school brilliantly in various competitions, showing great determination and teamwork. And perhaps one of the most exciting developments has been the children’s growing exploration of our newly rewilded outdoor area, a space that is already sparking curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
Year 6 Reach New Heights at IndiRock
Year 6 pupils from Porters Grange Primary School kicked off their six-week rock climbing programme at IndiRock this term—and they couldn’t have enjoyed it more! The session gave children the chance to develop their climbing skills, learn about safety, and build confidence as they took on the climbing walls. The atmosphere was full of encouragement as pupils supported one another, celebrated their achievements, and discovered the impact of teamwork and perseverance. It was a fantastic start to the programme, and we look forward to seeing their skills and confidence continue to grow over the coming weeks.
Festive Mince Pie Workshop Brings Families Together at Porters Grange
This term, Porters Grange Primary School welcomed Year 3 and Year 4 families for a festive Mince Pie Making Workshop. Led by Chef David and the brilliant Pabulum catering team, the session gave parents and children the opportunity to work side by side, learning new skills while creating their own delicious mince pies. The room was filled with smiles as families rolled pastry, added the fruity filling, and finished each pie with a sprinkle of sugar. The event captured the spirit of the season perfectly—full of warmth, teamwork and festive cheer. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined and helped make the workshop such a success. The smell of freshly baked mince pies certainly brought Christmas to Porters Grange!
The autumn term is always a busy one and this year has been no different. Pupils and staff have worked incredibly hard but had fun along the way! Some notable highlights were our boys performing on stage at the Royal Albert Hall; our quiz team reaching the national final at Oxford University; and former West Leigh Pupil and comedian Amy Matthews coming in to school to speak to the children. There is always something happening at West Leigh and we wouldn’t have it any other way. However, the main focus, as always, is learning and the children continue to work hard at this every day.
West Leigh Year 6 Inspired by the Young Shakespeare Company
This term, Year 6 pupils at West Leigh were treated to an inspiring visit from the Young Shakespeare Company. A talented team of actors delivered an energetic and immersive performance of Macbeth, bringing Shakespeare’s classic tale to life and captivating the entire year group. During the workshop, pupils were invited to explore the play’s key themes, answer questions, and deepen their understanding of the story. Several children even had the opportunity to step into the spotlight, joining the actors on stage to take part in scenes and experience the drama firsthand. It was a wonderfully enriching morning that encouraged creativity, confidence, and curiosity. Our thanks go to the Young Shakespeare Company for providing an unforgettable experience for our Year 6 pupils.
West Leigh Pupils Come Together for an Exciting Team Challenge Day
West Leigh Primary School enjoyed a fantastic whole-school Team Challenge Day this term, bringing pupils together in their house teams for an afternoon of collaboration, problem-solving and fun. Children moved around the school to work with different teachers and peers, helping to build new friendships and strengthen the sense of belonging within each house. The challenge of the day was soon revealed: unlock the golden box! Working in teams, pupils completed a series of tasks inspired by the school’s Golden Values of integrity, responsibility and empathy. From crosswords to code-breaking activities, the school was filled with excitement as the children demonstrated determination and teamwork. Once all challenges were completed, each team earned the keys needed to open the box and claim the golden prizes. It was a brilliant start to the year’s Team Challenge programme—full of energy, cooperation and West Leigh spirit.