School Newsletter : 19 December 2025

EYFS Extended School Day Clubs:

1. Busy Things Club focused on exploring the computer and learning how to use the mouse. The children learned how to move the arrow on the screen and click the mouse button to select items. They practiced positioning the arrow carefully before clicking and made a variety of choices while using the Busy Things activities.
2. Tiny Towns Club is where big imaginations build tiny worlds as the children design and create their very own miniature towns. They’ve been busy sculpting tiny tables and furniture out of clay, crafting mini versions of themselves from paper and other materials, and adding lots of creative details along the way. Tiny Towns is full of teamwork, creativity, and plenty of fun as each little town comes to life.

KS1 Extended School Day Clubs:

1. Storytelling Club – Once Upon a Time: This term the children have taken a magical journey through the world of traditional tales. They explored a wide range of familiar stories and learned that many traditional tales have more than one version, helping them to understand how stories can change depending on who is telling them. As their confidence grew, the children enjoyed retelling their chosen stories using puppets and through acting. These sessions were full of excitement and laughter, while also helping to develop important skills such as speaking clearly, working as a team, using expression and building confidence in front of others. Our absolute highlight was when the children became real authors and storytellers themselves., creating original stories, using both words and pictures to bring their ideas to life. Each child had the opportunity to share their story with the rest of the group, and it was wonderful to see how proud and confident they felt presenting their work. We are incredibly proud of the imagination, creativity and enthusiasm shown by all of our storytellers this term.
2. STEM Club: This term’s focus has been all about colour – and what a bright and exciting journey it’s been! The children have explored a whole spectrum of activities, starting with creating their own walking rainbows using ink and filter paper, and learning about chromatography and how a black pen is made from lots of different colours. We also made our own Skittles rainbow (just add water!) and watched the colours spread and swirl. Keeping things topical, over Fireworks Night we investigated what gives fireworks their brilliant colours, before making our own firework art using marbles, gravity and of course paint! To finish the term with a frosty flourish, we carried out a snowy science session. The children made their own fake snow using alkaline bicarbonate of soda and shaving foam, before creating magical fizzy snow with acidic vinegar!
3. Art Club, Junior Picassos has been a real highlight this term. The children have explored a wide range of materials, techniques and processes — from bold collage and mixed media to confident mark-making and expressive colour work. What has stood out most is the growth in confidence. The children have learned to take creative risks, experiment without fear, talk about their choices, and see themselves as artists. Each session has been filled with curiosity, discussion and joyful exploration, and it has been wonderful to watch their independence and pride in their work flourish. The artwork they have produced is thoughtful, vibrant and full of personality — a true reflection of how far they have come. We are incredibly proud of our Junior Picassos and the creative confidence they are continuing to build.
4. Multi-Sports Club has been full of energy, teamwork, and big smiles this term! Each week, children have exploited a variety of activities from running games and ball skills to mini team challenges designed to build confidence, coordination, and a love for being active. The sessions focus on taking part, trying new things, and celebrating everyone’s effort. It has been wonderful to see pupils encouraging one another, developing new skills, and discovering new sports they enjoy. Whether they are mastering new throws, working together in relay races, or simply enjoying moving their bodies, the children have shown fantastic enthusiasm. We look forward to welcoming more students to join us next term as we continue to promote fun, fitness, and friendship through sport!

KS2 Extended School Day Clubs

1. STEM Club had a great time this half term with a focus on light and colour. We looked at our reflections, bending light, and natural and artificial sources of light. To end our learning, we made some kaleidoscopes, which were very tricky, but we got there in the end!
2. Dodgeball Club has been a real highlight this term, bringing together fast-paced fun, friendly competition, and fantastic teamwork. Each session, pupils have practiced key skills such as throwing, dodging, catching, and strategic play building both confidence and fitness along the way. The children have shown brilliant sportsmanship, cheering on their teammates and demonstrating resilience in every game. From quick-fire warmups to exciting match rounds, the enthusiasm on court has been infectious! We’re proud of the teamwork, determination, and positive attitudes shown by all our players. We look forward to welcoming even more pupils next term as we continue to enjoy this energetic and much-loved sport together.
3. Football this term has been an exciting and energetic one. The children have thrown themselves into each session with enthusiasm, showing fantastic teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship. Throughout the term, players have taken part in fun warm-ups, skills-building drills, small-sided games, and friendly matches. They have been developing key football skills such as dribbling, passing, shooting, defending, and communication on the pitch all while learning how to work together and support one another. We have been especially proud of how pupils have grown in confidence, encouraged their teammates, and during match play. As we look ahead to next term, we’re excited to welcome even more KS2 pupils to join the fun. Whether your child is a seasoned player or brand new to football, everyone is welcome. It’s a great opportunity to stay active, make friends, and learn new skills in a supportive environment.

Other Extended School Day Clubs:

1. KS1 & 2 Cooking Clubs: This term, the children have loved getting hands-on – KS1 on Wednesdays and KS2 on Fridays. Each week, pupils tried out a new recipe, from sweet treats like chocolate bark, cinnamon scrolls and brownies, to savoury favourites such as cheese twists and homemade pizzas. Along the way, they practised key cooking skills, including measuring and portioning ingredients, mixing techniques, and understanding cooking times, as well as learning about kitchen safety. For our KS1 chefs, the sessions also focused on turn-taking, sharing roles, keeping workspaces clean and tidy, and maintaining good food hygiene. Working in different groups each week has helped pupils build new friendships while developing confidence and independence in the kitchen.
2. School Choir Club have benefitted tremendously from vocal coaching by Miss Gweni Hunting-Morris who is a professional soprano and harpist, from the Pimlico Music Foundation. She  advised us on breathing and singing techniques, helping us sing strongly and confidently. Supporting us is Ms Polly Cameron. It has been a very busy term with the choir learning Cecilia McDowall’s cantata The Girl from Aleppo, a Christmas song specially composed in collaboration with Westminster School called Christmas Bike, recorded for release on social media, and plenty of Christmas repertoire (O Holy Night, Mary did you know) as well as leading school worship every week in St. Stephen’s. There have been plenty of solo opportunities, and many children have volunteered to sing on their own. As Head Choristers, Tahlia and Max have show good leadership in helping to run the choir, and in their singing. Next term promises to be just as busy, with two singing visits to the Royal Festival Hall with Westminster School, and the Royal Albert Hall with Prom Praise for Schools, and two different repertoires planned.
3. Spanish Club says ¡Hola! as children from Years 3 – 6 explored the wonderful world of Spanish language and culture. Through games, songs and conversation based activities, they learnt how to greet one another, count, and talk about their families, favourite foods, colours and animals, all while building confidence in speaking Spanish. Each week,they recorded their learning in their Spanish journals, using drawings, vocabulary and short sentences to reflect on what they had learnt. Alongside vocabulary, pupils were introduced to key features of the Spanish language. They explored Spanish phonics, such as how ll is pronounced like a “y”, how ñ has its own sound, the differences between b and v, and how adjectives usually come after the noun in Spanish rather than before, as in English. When learning about food, pupils also discovered the famous Cuban singer Celia Cruz and her iconic expression “¡Azuuúcar!”, which brought lots of excitement and laughter to the lesson. Towards the end of term, children learnt about how Christmas and New Year are celebrated in Spain. They enjoyed watching videos of children celebrating the Catalan tradition El Caga Tió, learning how families look after the log in the weeks leading up to Christmas, feeding it, covering it with a blanket and singing songs before it “delivers” presents. Children also learnt about leaving slippers out for the Three Wise Men on the night of 5th January and discovered the tradition of eating twelve grapes at midnight while watching the clock at La Puerta del Sol in Madrid. The club ended on a festive note with pupils singing Feliz Navidad, helped by the fact that the song is sung in both Spanish and English.
4. Yoga & Pilates Club has had a brilliant term, with children enjoying a calm and cosy space to stretch, strengthen, and unwind each week. Alongside building balance, core strength, and flexibility, pupils have also been practising mindfulness and relaxation to help them feel centred and calm. One of the highlights this term has been trying out lots of new poses – from mastering Downward Dog, wobbling (and giggling!) our way through Tree Pose, and giving the Lotus Position a go. The children have also loved practising calming breathing exercises. It’s been wonderful to see pupils grow in confidence, have fun, and discover how movement can support their physical and mental wellbeing. Well done to our wonderful Yoga and Pilates Bugs – you’ve been fantastic!

On PE days, pupils must wear the school PE kit only.

This is especially important for safety.  Having the correct shoes for physical activities, and clothing that is not restrictive, for completing physical activity are essential for helping us to ensure pupils complete all PE lessons safely.

The Autumn/Winter term PE kit for all pupils from Year Reception to Year 6 consists of:

• A school navy logo t-shirt
• Navy  leggings, tracksuit bottoms or skort (no logos etc)
• Plain black trainers
• A school logo sweatshirt (not the v-neck jerseys for KS2 pupils. Sweatshirts are available from the school office in KS2 sizes).

Please note that pupils who do not have the correct PE kit will not be able to participate in their PE lesson. They will be given alternate work to do, and a note will be sent home highlighting why they were not able to complete their lesson that day.

We thank you in advance in supporting our school’s uniform policies.