In May, Year 6 SATs took place. Every morning year 6 were allowed to come in early and have breakfast and chat with friends. After, year 6 would get sat down and start. On Monday they did grammar and spelling, on Tuesday they did arithmetic paper one, Wednesday they did reasoning  and on Thursday they did reasoning paper three and then had finished their papers. On the Friday they went on a trip to celebrate finishing SATs. We are very pleased with our Year 6 children and their enthusiastic approach to their SATs learning. Well done, Year 6!

By Abbie 

On Tuesday the 25th of February,Class 3 went on a trip to Wildwood escot. 

While at Wildwood Escot, class 3 pupils were able to dress up like they would in Anglo Saxon times (this included wearing war paint!). Pupils took part in making bread just like in the Anglo Saxon era. The way bread was made was a fascinating experience for the pupils. They made the flour by hand,they used a flour grinder and had to twist it by hand.  Class 3 were able to make a copper brooch,this was used to fasten clothing. They created mallets by hammering metal into the shape.

Class 3 saw some cool things on their visit, for example they saw a compost toilet! These were very eco-friendly.                                                        While at Wildwood Escot,The saw multiple animals and wildlife, they go as the following :

• Wolves
• Wild cats
• Peacocks
• Wild boar

Class 3 created a sign saying : Witheridge Academy. Pupils were able to see a stone, bronze and  iron age hut.

By Ebony

On  Friday the 31st of January, class 4 had the opportunity to go to Chepstow Castle.

Chepstow Castle is located on the edge of Wales in Monmouthshire. Chepstow Castle is the oldest post-Roman fortification. Built in 1067 Ad, Chepstow was a Norman fortress along the winding River Wye. It was built 1 year after the Battle of Hastings by Earl William FitzObsbern – The first earl of Hereford, after  permission from William The Conqueror. Whilst building, there was a secret door somewhere around the perimeter. The upper bailey was originally built by the Normans and was then added to by the Tudor era. The Tudors built the lower bailey.  

Did You Know ?

During a civil war,  one of the  walls was knocked down and was then rebuilt with a diagonal pillar on both sides and metal wires to maximise the possibility of it not falling down.

The toilets were mainly on the right side as the waste would fall down into the the river.

Musket holes and arrow slits were used to defend the castle. it was difficult to let arrows in but easy for them to go out.

Throughout the day, class 4 went on a self-guided tour. We saw the original doors which were very well preserved. All of the castle grounds were incredibly. We ate lunch in the magnificent  courtyard. During the afternoon, class 4 did some artwork. we were focusing on the work of Has Holbein. We  all chose a specific area in the courtyard and sketched it out. We focused on the line work like Hans Holbeins ‘dance of Death’. Some people drew the Great doors, others the windows and just the brick work around the area.  Unfortuately  there was work in some of the castle so we were unable to go further in. 

We ended the day with scaling the perimeter (we even climbed the massive hill and some people tripped coming down!)

Everybody in class 4 was exceptionally grateful for the opportunity we had. Everybody had great fun throughout the entire (and very long) day. 

This year we did our normal choosing of the school council. On UK parliament week we voted for our school councillors in our year. This year we voted for: reception-Toby, Year 1- Georgia, Year 2- Lily E Year 3- Hazel, Year 4-Ollie Year 5- Alfie and Year 6- Molly. We also have our head boy and head girl who are heads of our school council and are both in year 6. 

Emma

This half term class 4 are doing Peasants, Princes and Pestilence for our topic. This will be focusing on the Tudors and Medieval times. We will look at key figures in history such as William the Conqueror or Wat Tyler. We will also be learning about the black death and the peasants revolt. Pupils will learn about how medieval times came to be and the battle of Hasting in 1066. I am really looking forward to learning about black death.

The Battle of Hastings was between the Anglo Saxons  and the Normans.

Ebony and Abbie

the nativity for this year was straw and order the children worked very hard and were very dedicated to make this the best nativity we have ever performed The main roles went to class four like judge grumps, Mrs correct, Mr proper, the wise men, narrator etc

Judge Grumps: Emily

Naz the Narrator: Abbie

Mr proper: Cody

Mrs correct: Evie

Wise men

Balthasar : Alfie

Melchoir : Tate

Caspar: Zack

All the children had so much fun making it 😀

by Paige and Ebony

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we paid our respects. In our school we had our two minutes in the hall to remember the incredible people who lost their lives in our country’s name. We all think they served us proud and were the sort that would save us again and again and again. After our silence, we read the famous speech ‘they shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old: age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. We will remember them.’ So why don’t you take a moment to remember them.

Emma

Due to bad weather conditions,our Christingle service took place in school. We sang 3 songs with our Christingles. Sue brought a large orange with a candle to be lit by Emma,our head girl. Some pupils in class 4 were chosen to hold up letters to spell out Christingle. The children read out each meaning from the letters in the word Christingle. Sue read out prayers as did Miss Ratcliffe, Cody, Emma and Molly. We read the Lord’s Prayer to end our service.

By Abbie and Ebony

The Wave Project is an incredible oppurtunity that pupils in the trust were able to take part in. The Wave Project is a charity designed to help build confidence within children. It is a six week course helping us learn how to surf.

Week 1 :

On the first week we were introduced to the volenteers and the instructors. We all practised  getting onto the board. Once we got into the water a few people we able to stand up!

Week 2 :

On week 2, we all got our wet suits on and did a practice as we do every week. After that, we went into the water. Some people that week were able to stand up on the board. Everybody had loads of fun and enjoyed themselves!

Week 3 :

On week 3, we put our wet suits on and had a practice on getting on the surfboards and standing up, although we weren’t able to go in the water. This was due to water pollution as the water was too dirty for us to go in. Instead we went onto the beach and had a sea creature building competition. After that we looked at a bunch of life guard equipment.

Week 4 :

Thankfully on week 4 we were able to in the water again. We put our wet suits on and practised getting on and standing up on the surf boards. This week even more people were able to stand up on there boards ! We have so much fun going surfing! We all are very happy and grateful for this oppurtunity.

Week 5:

Sadly on week 5 we weren’t able to go into the water due to pollution like on week 3. Instead we got to go down to the visitors centre and the sand dunes. We had our own staff member help us around the sand dunes. While in the dunes we played sand dune bingo. This was where we went around the dunes and looked for different plants and creatures. One person found a very hairy caterpillar and put it in their pot of things we could collect.  Despite the fact we couldn’t go in the river we all had and excellent day and were exited for the next week of surfing.

Week 6:

Week 6 was our final week of the wave project. Luckily we were able to go in the water. As normal we put our wet suits on and had a practice. After that we walked down to the beach. We went down into the water .We had loads of fun this week and really enjoyed our time. Some people managed to do some tricks and others stood up. At the end of the session we had a little ceremony where Jaz gave us a certificate of achievement for getting to complete the Wave Project. At the end of the day we got back into the bus and left for the final time.

We are all ever so thankful for being able to go to the wave project. None of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for Mrs Bowels and Miss Loosemore.

by Ebony

Class 3 were able to go on a trip to Barnstaple Museum to go and see some art work from JMW Turner. And they also saw the mouth of the river Taw and Torridge Estuary.