Welcome to Our half term Portico Trust Newsletter

Dear Parents & Carers,

As all my colleagues have noted, it's been a short half-term, but one in which everyone has worked really hard. The children are probably quite tired and ready for the half-term.  My best wishes for an entertaining week, including eating lots of pancakes. The children return to school on Tuesday 24th February, as the teachers are attending the Portico Conference on Monday.

Cheryl Woolf, CEO

Portico Mini Bus

This half term, we are delighted to share some exciting new developments to support learning beyond the classroom. We have taken delivery of our brand-new 16-seater minibus, which will be available for all five of our schools to use. The minibus will play a key role in enhancing opportunities for our pupils, making it easier to travel to sporting fixtures, swimming lessons and enrichment activities. It will also support small group trips, targeted interventions and visits that help bring learning to life in a practical and engaging way. By sharing this resource across the Trust, we are not only improving access to experiences that broaden horizons, but also making transport more efficient and flexible for our schools.  And if you happen to spot our new minibus out and about in the local area, be sure to give us a wave!

A very short half-term has reached its conclusion… six weeks have really flown by and we have now passed the midway point in the academic year. It is hard to believe that next half-term is even shorter at just five weeks! Despite being a short half-term, we have managed to cram a great deal into our time. Exciting new topics, sports events, a Year 6 cake sale and the Year 5 assembly have filled our weeks with lots of fun. We are always looking to make the best of our amazing environment and that continued with the completion of our new Key Stage 2 Library. Next half-term we have Careers Week, World Book Day, the Infant Music Festival, Y3/4 Sportshall Athletics, the Year 3 assembly to parents, and our Learning Conversation Evenings. It almost doesn’t sound possible.

Year 4 visit Imperial War Museum

Pupils in Year 4 at Friars recently enjoyed an exciting and memorable visit to the Imperial War Museum, bringing their history learning to life in the heart of the capital. The journey itself added to the excitement, as pupils travelled across the iconic Tower Bridge and passed the historic HMS Belfast. On arrival, the group gathered beneath the impressive cannons outside the museum for a group photograph before beginning their exploration. Inside, pupils spent several hours engaging with a wide range of exhibits. They started in the main hall, learning about different vehicles and taking part in a scavenger hunt that encouraged them to look closely and think carefully about what they observed. Hands-on experiences such as exploring the Enigma machine, stepping into air-raid shelters and walking through a trench simulation helped deepen their understanding of life during wartime. The visit sparked curiosity and thoughtful discussion, with pupils returning full of questions to explore further in their classroom learning. It was a fantastic day that combined education, engagement and inspiration.

Friars’ New Library Opens

Friars is delighted to share that the school’s new library is now complete and ready for pupils to enjoy. The space has come together beautifully and will provide a welcoming environment to support reading, learning and a love of books across the school. We would like to extend a huge thank you to the PTA, who part-funded the development of the library, as well as to everyone who continues to support PTA events throughout the year. Their generosity and commitment have played a vital role in bringing this wonderful resource to life. Our thanks also go to the children and staff who worked so hard to organise and arrange the books, a huge task that was tackled with enthusiasm and teamwork. The new library is already proving to be a valuable space for the school community, and we look forward to seeing it enjoyed by pupils for many years to come.

Although by Hamstel Infant terms it may have felt like a quieter half term in some ways, the children have been working incredibly hard and showing a truly brilliant attitude towards their learning every day meaning that the half term has been filled with fantastic learning, enrichment opportunities and community involvement.  We were delighted to welcome so many parents to our Maths Workshops this half term including those who came along to see our Maths Mastery lessons live in the classroom. It was lovely to share how much the children enjoy learning maths and to showcase the confidence and enthusiasm they bring to their lessons. We also hosted a very successful SEND Coffee Morning, giving families the opportunity to connect, share and learn together. It was a valuable and supportive event for our school community.  Team work has been a focus at Hamstel with our sports teams taking part in the Panathlon Bowling Event and a KS1 football competition, with both events being thoroughly enjoyed by all involved. Huge congratulations also go to our ECO Team, who won the Clean Air Project Poster Competition. Their hard work and commitment to helping our environment is inspiring and we are very proud of their achievement. Learning has extended beyond the classroom too! Our Outdoor Learning Project is moving forward at an exciting pace and the children have loved spending more time learning outside and making the most of our developing outdoor spaces and we have been out in the local community with children visiting one of our local churches. The half term finished in style with us taking part in Children’s Mental Health Week, and finishing with a truly fabulous Science Day full of investigation, curiosity and fun.  We hope you all have a wonderful half term break and we look forward to seeing everyone back for an even busier half-term ahead!

Einstein Science Workshop

Hamstel Infants recently enjoyed a highly successful Infant School Science Day, made even more exciting by a visit from the wonderful Einstein Entertainers. Children from Nursery through to Year 2 took part in fun, age-appropriate assemblies filled with awe, wonder and hands-on learning. Through a series of interactive experiments, pupils explored concepts such as gravity, learned the chemical name for water and discovered how science shapes the world around us in memorable and engaging ways. Highlights included fascinating dry ice demonstrations and a dramatic, yet completely safe, experiment where ‘Professor Pea’ appeared to set his hand on fire, leaving the children amazed and full of curiosity. The day sparked excitement, thoughtful questions and a real enthusiasm for science across the school, providing a wonderful example of learning brought to life beyond the classroom.

Parents enjoy live Mastering Numbers Lesson

Hamstel Infants was delighted to welcome families into school this half term for a series of engaging maths events, celebrating children’s learning and strengthening home–school partnerships. In Reception, parents and carers took part in a hands-on maths workshop, gaining insight into how mathematics is taught in school. Children enthusiastically shared their learning through practical activities, including weighing and comparing objects, practising number formation and enjoying creative tasks inspired by Numberblocks. In Key Stage 1, families were invited to observe a live Mastering Number lesson, where pupils confidently demonstrated their developing fluency and mathematical understanding. Children used Rekenreks to support their thinking, clearly explaining how they worked through problems and showing impressive progress. We would like to thank all families who attended and supported these events. The children’s enthusiasm, confidence and growing skills in maths were wonderful to see, and it was a pleasure to share their learning journey together.

Our children have been working incredibly hard this half term and have fully immersed themselves in their learning across the curriculum. Year 3 have been enjoying their topic Mission Cleopatra, exploring what life was like in Ancient Egypt. The children (and staff!) are already looking forward to their Ancient Egyptian Day next half term, when they will spend the day as archaeologists and follow in the footsteps of Howard Carter. Year 4 have been studying different types of settlements, which has provided a fantastic foundation for their topic There's No Place Like Home. The year group is now beginning preparations for their Easter production, which will take place at the end of next half term. Year 5 have been delving into their Earth and Space topic, producing some striking artwork inspired by the style of Peter Thorpe. Their enthusiasm and creativity have really shone through. Year 6 have been exploring their topic Mission Impossible, linked to their class text Stormbreaker. This has inspired some excellent writing and science work, with several classes proudly sharing their learning during assemblies for parents. They rounded off the half term with a visit from a star musician, Roseanna, who guided the children in composing their own music using mood boards based on Stormbreaker. With children across the school working so hard and truly engaging in their learning, it has certainly been a productive and rewarding half-term.

Clean Air Competition

Nine Hamstel Junior School pupils have been recognised in this year’s city‑wide Clean Air competition, celebrating their fantastic creativity and commitment to improving local air quality. The school submitted a range of eye‑catching posters encouraging everyone to help keep our city’s air clean, particularly by switching off car engines while waiting at traffic lights. We are delighted to share that nine children from Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 were chosen as prize winners, each receiving either a brand‑new scooter or a free climbing session at Indirock. Congratulations to all our talented young designers for their inspiring work and for helping to promote a cleaner, healthier future for our community.

British Sign Language Club

We are very proud of the wide range of clubs we offer at Hamstel Junior School, from crochet and knitting to Bake Off and debating club, our children participate in a wide range of activities. This half term, our British Sign Language Club had a very exciting visit from Daniel Dominey, who works with Sign Away BSL, and his communication support worker, Emma. Daniel and Emma showed the children lots of new signs and spent time chatting with them using BSL. The children asked some fantastic questions and learned more about what life is like for deaf people and why BSL is such an important way to communicate.  We were very grateful to Daniel and Emma for spending time with our BSL club.

This has proved to be an exceptionally busy and enriching half term, filled with sports, cooking, musical experiences and much more. The children continue to show great enthusiasm for learning and have built on the positive relationships formed during the Autumn Term, both with staff and with one another. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow and their teamwork flourish across all year groups. Through a wide range of cooking activities, sporting events, workshops and music-based sessions, pupils have embraced new challenges with energy and focus. They have demonstrated sportsmanship, collaboration and resilience, all while further developing their personal and social skills. Despite the changeable weather, classes have also enjoyed exploring the local community. Whether taking part in local walks, sourcing ingredients for cooking, visiting the beach, or going on park visits linked to current topics, these experiences have strengthened the children’s sense of belonging and highlighted the important role they play within the community they attend school.

Spring Term Sports

Children from across the school have taken part in a fantastic range of sporting activities and competitions. From team games to individual challenges, the children have had the opportunity to develop new skills, build confidence, and enjoy being active. Classes have taken part in: • KS1 Football • Sitting Volleyball • Year 3 & 4 Football • Panathalon Bowling • Year 2 Tennis These sporting sessions have been a brilliant way for pupils to try something new, work together as teams, and challenge themselves. We are incredibly proud of their enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and determination throughout.

Culinary Skills from Porters

Several year groups, this half term, have been busy developing their culinary skills through a range of exciting cooking activities. Year 4 embraced the flavours of Latin America by preparing fresh salsa and assembling their own enchiladas. Meanwhile, Year 6 explored a variety of herbs through tasting sessions, practised cutting carrots into different professional styles, and created delicious vegetable pasta with homemade tomato sauce. These hands-on sessions have not only helped pupils build confidence in the kitchen, but have also encouraged teamwork, independence, and a growing appreciation for healthy, homecooked food.

Family Reading Workshop

Families at Porters Grange recently came together for a successful Family Reading Workshop, celebrating the joy of reading and the important role of home–school partnership in supporting children’s learning. The session began with a recap of Phase 2 phonics before moving on to introducing Phase 3 and Phase 4 sounds. Children and their grown-ups explored new phonics skills, tricky words and practical strategies to help build confidence and fluency in reading. It was a pleasure to see pupils proudly demonstrating how they read in school, with families sharing books and practising phonics together in a positive and encouraging atmosphere. The workshop concluded with a shared reading of the much-loved story Room on the Broom, which the children thoroughly enjoyed. The hall was filled with enthusiasm as everyone joined in with the repeated phrases and actions, bringing the story to life. This engaging afternoon highlighted the power of working together to support children’s progress and foster a love of reading. We would like to thank all the families who attended and helped make the event such a success.

Beach Visits

Pupils at Porters Grange have enjoyed several enriching visits to the beach this half term, using the local environment as an exciting outdoor classroom to support learning, curiosity and teamwork. During a recent visit, children began the day in school by learning important beach safety rules and boundaries. They discussed how to respond safely to unfamiliar situations, including encountering dogs, and learned to identify different types of shells such as mussels, cockles and oysters. New vocabulary, including tide and estuary, was also introduced to support their understanding of the coastal environment. Once at the beach, pupils took part in a range of engaging activities, including boundary games and a ‘treasure hunt’ to find natural objects that interested them. They gathered together to share their discoveries, discussing shells, sea glass, sea sponges and other seaside finds. The children then demonstrated excellent thinking skills by sorting their objects into different categories of their choice. When challenged to organise their findings in more than two groups, pupils showed creativity and problem-solving by suggesting new ways to sort their collections. The session ended with a calm, mindful moment, listening to birds and watching the clouds — a peaceful and reflective close to a valuable outdoor learning experience. These beach visits have provided wonderful opportunities for hands-on learning, teamwork and developing an appreciation of the natural world.

As we reach the end of a busy half term, it’s a pleasure to reflect on just how much our pupils have experienced and achieved in the past few weeks. From enrichment opportunities to memorable trips, the children have thrown themselves wholeheartedly into every moment. A particular highlight was our School Council’s visit to the Houses of Parliament, where pupils had the opportunity to question MPs on key issues that matter to them. Their confidence, curiosity, and thoughtful engagement made us immensely proud. Another standout experience was our visit to the English National Opera. Children were given a fascinating behind‑the‑scenes look at the inner workings of this world‑class institution, and were delighted to try on some of the remarkable costumes used in professional productions. Meanwhile, preparations for this year’s West Leigh production, Newsies Junior, are continuing at full pace. The energy and enthusiasm from our budding performers, musicians, and production crew are already promising an outstanding show.

Visit to English National Opera

Pupils from West Leigh Junior School recently enjoyed a fantastic opportunity to visit the English National Opera at the London Coliseum, with fifty children from Years 5 and 6 taking part in this inspiring cultural experience. During the visit, the children explored the largest theatre in London’s West End and learned about the world-renowned opera company, which is currently preparing productions including HMS Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan and Così fan tutte by Mozart. The day included an engaging opera workshop led by a vocal coach and repetiteur, where pupils learned about music from Carmen by Bizet and developed a deeper understanding of how opera is created and performed. They also toured the theatre, going behind the scenes and even onto the gantry to see how a production runs during showtime. One of the highlights was meeting a professional opera singer, who shared how she projects her voice to fill the theatre without the use of a microphone. Pupils also heard from a milliner in the costume department and were given the chance to try on a range of costumes and accessories, a memorable and hands-on experience for all involved. The children and adults were truly spoilt by such a magical experience. Experiences like this reflect our Trust’s commitment to enriching learning beyond the classroom.

School Council visited the Houses of Parliament in Westminster

Pupils recently took part in an engaging and educational visit to the Palace of Westminster, where they explored the rich history of one of the UK’s most important buildings and learned about the development of democracy and law-making in Britain. During the tour, the children discovered that King Henry VIII was the last monarch to live at the Palace and learned how the building has been used by royalty throughout history. A particular highlight was visiting the Royal Robing Room, where King Charles III prepares for the State Opening of Parliament. Pupils also had the opportunity to enter both the House of Lords and the House of Commons, gaining a deeper understanding of the red and green benches and how laws are created in the UK. After taking part in their own mini debates, the children met with the local MP, giving them a valuable chance to share their views on issues affecting the community around their school, including parking and dog fouling. This inspiring visit provided meaningful insight into citizenship, politics and democracy, bringing classroom learning to life. It was a memorable experience that encouraged pupils to think about their role in society and the impact they can have in the future.