Senior School Weekly News
News from Senior School this week: 26th January 2024
Mrs Séguier
Deputy Head of Senior School
This week was packed with all sorts of events both onsite and off site!
We had a taekwondo demonstration in our Year 3-6 assembly on Wednesday morning which the children really enjoyed! Master Daniel and Master Nathaniel showed us a few impressive moves and got some of the pupils involved in their demonstration, to the enjoyment of everyone!
Year 4 went to Forest School on Wednesday afternoon where they had the opportunity to explore creating a variety of objects ranging from dens to items of jewellery using pieces of wood.
This morning, Year 3 pupils went to visit the House of Parliament to find out a little more about the concept of democracy and how it is implemented. They really enjoyed visiting the building and developing their understanding of democratic processes.
In addition, one of the Transport for London teams came to visit Year 6 pupils this morning as well. They discussed and taught them about how to keep safe when taking public transport.
One final event took place this morning. This one was dedicated to our older students: our second Careers Fair took place in the theatre, and you can view pictures from this below. 13 guest speakers from a large variety of backgrounds volunteered to meet with our Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 and Year 10 students. After finding out a number of thought-provoking facts about the world of work, they reflected on the idea of “Success” and what it means, the fact that success is a very personal concept that differs from one person to another and that, regardless of it, not just hard work, but adaptability and resilience are key.
The students then worked in groups and talked with each of our speakers to find out about their jobs, what it is like to work in the job they have, as well as their studies/paths to get to where they are now. This was followed by a really interesting session during which our pupils got to ask questions they hadn’t had an opportunity to ask when they first talked with the speakers.
Our wonderful guests were then asked what the next step was for them. This prompted more reflections around the idea of continuously learning and growing throughout life. All these opportunities are wonderful for all our pupils as they enable them to learn, apply what they have learnt, and grow outside of traditional classroom settings.
As per communicated earlier this week, next week we will be celebrating Children’s Mental Health week. The topic of this year is “My voice matters”. Next Friday we will host a “Dress to Express” day where we invite the pupils to come to School dressed in a way that expresses who they are, in exchange for a suggested donation of £2 which will be given to the charity “Place 2 be”.
Also as per communicated earlier this week, our Cross Country races will be taking place throughout the week during the pupils’ Games lessons. A big thank you to the APA for their traditional provision of hot chocolate after the events.
As always, thank you for your continued support. All the best for the weekend!
Year 3
Our action packed week began with a trip to Forest school, the children excitedly explored the West Woods of Holland Park and began looking for signs of winter. They thoroughly enjoyed identifying the different vegetation and wildlife they could see in comparison to their previous visit. The class then used their shelter building skills as they selected appropriate materials for a variety of woodland creatures and they impressed us with some very solid woodland shelters.
In Science, the children enjoyed exploring the strange and wonderful world of reflective light. The children investigated which materials are most reflective and unleashed their creativity when designing a reflective book bag. Learning to record their observations clearly and logically, they have certainly deepened their understanding of light!
Learning to debate in History, the children examined how Alexander the Great’s Empire grew and the effects of this. With some very convincing arguments, it was great to see some true team work as they helped each other strengthen their opinions and thoughts with evidence.
In Maths, the children began to explore the topic of measurement by exploring millimetres, centimetres and metres. In English, the children generated impressive vocabulary to describe the opening of The BFG and they loved learning how to use coordinating conjunctions to write longer more impressive sentences.
We finished the week by visiting the Houses of Parliament and the children enhanced their debating skills by learning how to structure a group debate. Our guided tour of the House of Commons and the House of Lords was fantastic, but it has to be said that the sight of Big Ben was certainly a highlight for many.
We certainly look forward to what next week will bring…
Best wishes for a great weekend - Mr Ward
Year 4
Another busy week of learning in Year 4! In Science this week, we have continued with our Electricity and Electrical Safety topic. The children were introduced to the components of an electrical circuit and were given the challenge of making circuits with wires, battery holders, batteries, bulbs, motors and buzzers. They will use this knowledge to learn the symbols for the different components and begin drawing their own circuit diagrams. Next week they will test different materials in a circuit to find out if they are conductors or insulators. They will also be set the task of designing switches which will break and close their circuits and allow buzzers, lamps and motors to be turned on and off!
In English, the Year 4s have been identifying all the features of a play script. Knowing these features will help them to use their own Emerald Crown scripts with more confidence. They have become familiar with stage directions, prompts in parenthesis, colons for characters, narration, theatre words and the organisation of scripts by scenes.
In Geography, we have continued to explore the rainforest topics. The students researched different indigenous tribes using slide shows and National Geographic’s website. They learnt about external threats to their existence, and the skills and knowledge they have acquired to survive solely on the resources of the forest habitat. Later, this learning will be included in a rainforest pop-up book containing bridge, sliding, hinged, spinning and spring mechanisms.
On Wednesday afternoon the Year 4s visited the Forest School. In addition to exploring the woods, building forest dens and finding mini-beasts, they also enjoyed whittling elder tree twigs, hollowing them out and threading string through to make necklaces and woodland decorations.
Have a lovely weekend! Kind regards, the Year 4 Team
From the English department
Year 5
We are delighted to share with you the fantastic progress Year 5 has made in English during the start of the New Year. It has been an exciting journey filled with exploration and creativity.
In our English lessons, Year 5 has enthusiastically embraced our novel study of "Holes" by Louis Sachar. The class has shown remarkable confidence in their engagement with the novel, delving into its themes and tackling complex inference-based comprehension questions. It has been truly impressive to witness their ability to make personal connections and offer their own interpretations of the story.
One highlight from our novel study was the exhilarating court case-style debate. We divided the class into the defence, prosecution, and jury, challenging them to determine the sentence of the main character from the book. The passion and dedication displayed by both sides during their arguments and rebuttals were truly commendable. After a close and intense trial, the jury ruled in favour of the main character, declaring them innocent. It was a captivating learning experience for all.
As an additional note! Year 5 recently completed a fascinating project in Art on abstract and surrealism art. Inspired by Salvador Dali's iconic artwork, "The Persistence of Memory," students crafted their own melting clocks using cardboard and paint. This hands-on project allowed them to explore the world of art and express their creativity in unique ways.
Thank you for your continued support in nurturing our students' love for learning and creativity in English and beyond. We are looking forward to the exciting adventures that the rest of the year will bring.
Year 6
Year 6 has kicked off the term with enthusiasm and engagement in our English lessons. Our focus has shifted to a captivating new unit centred around the novel 'Floodland.' The students eagerly delved into the narrative, beginning with a thought-provoking analysis of the initial image on the book's first page. Even before reading a single word, we encourage the pupils to make predictions, sparking lively discussions about the potential setting, time and themes of the novel.
Our exploration led us to the dystopian genre, allowing students to draw connections with other literary works and films they have encountered in the past. As we began reading the novel, we unravelled the tale of Zoe, a resident of Norwich, living in a city transformed by rising sea levels into a precarious island. The novel opens with Zoe's daring escape in a rowing boat, pursued by a desperate group facing similar predicaments.
Upon reaching land, Zoe encounters the Eels, a group of children whose less-than-friendly demeanour adds a layer of suspense to the story. Our classroom discussions extended to a deep dive into Zoe's character after reading the first three chapters. For homework, Year 6 creatively expressed their understanding by drawing Zoe and exploring her thoughts through thought bubbles, leading to insightful reflections on what they would do if faced with similar challenges.
The intriguing revelation about the Eels' name stems from the city they inhabit, Ely, with their shelter being the cathedral. In our writing lessons, students honed their descriptive skills by contrasting the cathedral's former grandeur with its current state—broken masonry, shattered stained glass windows, and malnourished children huddled in the corners.
The students' enthusiasm is palpable as we eagerly anticipate uncovering the twists and turns that lie ahead in the novel. We are confident that this unit will not only enhance their literary skills but also spark their imagination and critical thinking.
Year 7
Year 7 have started a creative writing unit, focusing specifically on the art of crafting story openings. The students have looked into the world of narrative hooks, exploring various techniques that writers employ to engage readers from the very beginning.
Our journey began with thought-provoking questions, such as: How do writers infuse tension and suspense into their narratives? How do they create characters through the art of showing rather than telling? How does language appeal to the senses, engaging readers on a visceral level? To address these queries, throughout the unit, we will look at various Young Adult novels and specifically focus on the openings.
Diving deeper into the intricacies of narrative hooks, the students analysed different types, including the startling hook that prompts a second thought, the suspense hook that induces tension, the atmospheric hook that sets various moods and the direct speech hook that implies action and a fast pace. Through the study of novel openings, we categorised them based on the type of narrative hook employed, unravelling the strategies writers use to capture their audience's attention.
We looked at Neil Gaiman's novel, 'The Graveyard Book.' Students identified the techniques Gaiman employed to create tension and suspense.
Eager to put their newfound knowledge into practice, the students started to work on their own startling hook openings. Using short sentences, withholding information strategically, employing unsettling adjectives, metaphors, similes and personification, the students employed techniques to make their writing more engaging.
Taking our exploration further, we looked closely at the creation of villainous characters. The focus shifted towards describing characters through showing, not telling, allowing students to paint vivid portraits that go beyond words.
We look forward to witnessing year 7s growth as storytellers throughout this unit.
Year 8
During this first Spring half-term, year 8 have been exploring Morpurgo’s novel ‘Private Peaceful’, which centres on themes of friendship, familial love and the tragedy of war. The class have already showcased their excellent terminology knowledge, as they strive to be ‘Inference Detectives’, making assumptions about the characters we are introduced to; the students have already expressed their admiration for Charlie and Big Joe. However, they certainly dislike the characters Grandma Wolf and Colonel Roberts and have debated the morals surrounding their actions.
After exploring historical context, the students have begun to delve deeper into the potential authorial intention. In order to elevate our vocabulary choices, the class has considered advanced synonyms to describe emotions and the presentation of themes.
The class have already tried to read ahead, as they seem hooked on the novel!
An enthusiastic and positive start to English from year 8.
Year 9
Year 9 have started the new year by exploring crucial non-fiction writing skills, geared towards future GCSE English Language requirements. During this unit, the class will explore the three most common non-fiction text types: speeches, articles and letters.
In order to develop their powers of persuasion, the class have revised ‘DAFOREST’ non-fiction devices. As an extra challenge, we have studied the ‘Aristotelian Triad’ of persuasion, encouraging the students to balance techniques which relate to ethos (ethics/ trustworthiness), pathos (emotional appeal) and logos (logical and factual evidence) in unison to craft the most effective argument. This proved successful when I challenged the class to apply their techniques to sell me a broken down car, adding a little humour too - the students were certainly persuasive!
An engaged and thoughtful start to the year, as they are starting to be exposed to GCSE content - well done Year 9!
Year 10
In English Language iGCSE, the students have completed their first creative writing NEA coursework draft, inspired by the overall theme of ‘conflict’. They are now exploring a more challenging, poetry and prose unit, exploring a range of texts from various cultures and backgrounds. During the course of the unit, they will analyse language and structural devices in detail, relating the texts back to the overarching themes of loss, suffering and identity. The NEA coursework pieces combined will contribute to 40% of their overall final grade, so it is excellent to see the students’ conscientious attitude and dedication, as they have challenged themselves to develop their responses. A great start to Year 10 - well done!
In English Literature iGCSE, the class has begun the course by exploring modern prose, studying Priestley’s play ‘An Inspector Calls’. They have crafted extended NEA essays focusing on the theme of power and responsibility and lacing in detailed historical context surrounding Socialism vs Capitalism, to engage deeper with the playwright’s intent and further understand Priestley’s social commentary.
After completing the first draft focused on a modern text, we will be returning to the traditional tragic Shakespearean play ‘Macbeth’ and crafting our extended essay responses to maximise our marks. Similarly to the Language iGCSE, the two NEA extended responses combine to 40% of their overall exam marks. It should instil the students with confidence that they will already have some indication from their coursework where 40% of their grade is headed and that they have had the opportunity to consolidate their understanding of close language and structural analysis through this task. I have been impressed by the perceptive and thoughtful comments the class have expressed already - a great start to the year!
