On Wednesday, our STEM partners came into school to help us understand the SuDS systems that Yorkshire Water have installed. (STEM is Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics)

SuDS stands for Sustainable Drainage Systems.They slow down the flow of rain water into the drainage systems helping to prevent the drains being overwhelmed during very heavy rain events.

Our STEM partners from COWI were Oriana, Bhawna, Michaela and Mark. After introducing themselves and explaining a little bit about their roles they explained how SuDS worked and were needed to help manage water in a world of Climate Change.

We then took part in an activity to explore how different materials slow down the rate of flow of water. This video explains how:

And here are some photos of the workshop:

A huge thank you to our STEM partners for giving up their time to come and share with us.

This week, our Year 5 scientists have been busy investigating the fascinating world of shadows! Using everyday objects, pencils, and torches, the children explored how shadows are formed and how they change in size and direction.

We started by using different objects to see how they block light, creating shadows on our tables. Then, we experimented with torches to understand how light travels and how moving the light source changes the shape and size of a shadow. To deepen our learning, we used the torch as a stand-in for the sun, helping us understand how the position of the sun affects shadows throughout the day.

Last night, 5LS took to the stage at the Leeds Carriageworks Theatre, delivering an unforgettable performance of Macbeth—with a twist! This wasn’t just any Shakespearean tragedy; our class put on an Italian Bugsy Malone-themed adaptation, blending classic drama with 1920s gangster flair.

From the moment the curtain rose, the audience was captivated. The children embraced their roles with confidence, bringing Shakespeare’s words to life with energy, emotion, and a touch of vintage charm. Their portrayal of power, ambition, and betrayal had everyone on the edge of their seats.

Impressive staging and a fantastic sense of teamwork, 5LS truly made the play their own. The performance was met with huge applause, a testament to their hard work and dedication.

A huge congratulations to all the children for their amazing performance and to the staff and parents who supported them along the way. 5LS, you should be incredibly proud!

This year, our school celebrated World Book Day with a theme of Traditional Fairy Tales! The highlight was a writing competition where students created twisted versions of classic tales.

Our class winner was Cameron, who put a darkly humorous spin on Hansel and Gretel. Instead of facing a wicked witch, the siblings overindulge in the candy house and succumb to Candy-Induced Shock Syndrome!

The competition showcased incredible creativity, with students reimagining classic stories in unique ways. Alongside writing, we enjoyed dressing up, storytelling, and book-inspired activities.

Congratulations to Cameron and all participants for making the day unforgettable!

Today, some of our Y5s attended a Drama workshop with the actors from the theatre company ‘Wrongsemble’. They are a Leeds-based company and offered us a session to explore and consolidate Macbeth. It was wonderful timing, given our performances are next week and the children loved it. The teachers also commented on how brilliant the actors were and how enthused our pupils were. We will definitely be exploring using Wrongsemble again in the future for workshops and performances in school!

Today, we did a science experiment to test which spoon – metal, plastic, or wooden – is the best conductor of heat. We put a knob of butter on each spoon and placed them in a pot of boiling water.

After a few minutes, we observed that the metal spoon melted the butter the fastest. This shows that metal is a better conductor of heat than plastic or wood.

It was a simple but fun experiment!

Yesterday, our class embarked on a magical journey to Narnia. We attended a captivating performance of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” at the Leeds Playhouse.

The production was truly breathtaking. The innovative stage mechanics, particularly the awe-inspiring way the White Witch was lifted into the sky, left us spellbound. The life-sized, mechanical Aslan was equally impressive, bringing the beloved character to life. The dazzling lighting design further enhanced the immersive experience.

We thoroughly enjoyed the performance and can’t wait to share more details about it with you all.

Year 5 were treated to a very exciting, hands-on afternoon today coordinated by Mr Magnall our sustainability lead and Aqua Consultants (engineers) as part of our 18-month Royal Society biodiversity project. The children worked on 4 projects across the afternoon: building hedgehog houses, bird boxes, insect hotels and composting. There was plenty of opportunity to get involved with the power drills, hammers and saws and the children were fantastic at following instructions and working collaboratively. Who knew there was so much Maths in building… from measuring, angles, shape, depth we discussed so much throughout the afternoon.

Year 5 were treated to a very exciting, hands-on afternoon today coordinated by Mr Magnall our sustainability lead and Aqua Consultants (engineers) as part of our 18-month Royal Society biodiversity project. The children worked on 4 projects across the afternoon: building hedgehog houses, bird boxes, insect hotels and composting. There was plenty of opportunity to get involved with the power drills, hammers and saws and the children were fantastic at following instructions and working collaboratively. Who knew there was so much Maths in building… from measuring, angles, shape, depth we discussed so much throughout the afternoon.

This week was a special one at our school! We hosted a fantastic Curriculum Marketplace, where our school governors and parents had the opportunity to explore our school and witness the amazing work of our students.

The event was filled with exciting activities. Visitors were able to admire subject displays showcasing the diverse curriculum we offer. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the awe-inspiring choir performance that left everyone mesmerized.

Perhaps the most exciting moment was the inauguration of Room 17, a brand-new collaborative space. This innovative space will foster creativity, learning, and community engagement.