Archive
Reception 2025/6
Teddy Bears Picnic - 10th June 2026
This half term, our Reception children had a wonderful time taking part in a Teddy Bear Picnic on the school field. They walked sensibly to the field, showing excellent listening and road safety skills, before enjoying a range of fun games with their favourite teddies.
The children loved sharing their special friends with their classmates and were excited to have their lunch outdoors together. As the rain began to arrive, we had great fun trying to beat it back to school! It was a fantastic experience that created lots of smiles and special memories for everyone.
May 2026
Reception class have spent this half-term exploring the fascinating topic of Minibeasts. The children learnt about many different types of minibeasts and discovered interesting facts about them.
They investigated how many legs different minibeasts have and compared insects and spiders. The children also enjoyed searching for minibeasts in the garden and were excited to see what they could find. Throughout the topic, they created lots of lovely minibeast crafts using a variety of materials. In writing, the children completed descriptive pieces all about their favourite minibeasts. They also learnt many new facts and vocabulary linked to the topic.
To finish the half-term, Reception went on an exciting trip to Call of the Wild Zoo. During a workshop, the children learnt the difference between insects and arachnids and even got to see some minibeasts up close, along with many other animals. The children were extremely well behaved throughout the trip and absolutely loved the experience.
March 2026
This half term, our Reception class has been learning about the season of Spring. The children enjoyed spotting signs of spring and describing what they could see in pictures.
They explored their creativity by painting spring flowers using templates and creating their own designs on cardboard boxes. We also learned about animals seen in spring, making colourful butterflies and linking this to our story, The Hungry Caterpillar, to understand the caterpillar lifecycle.
The children learned new vocabulary such as “cocoon,” “daffodil,” and “tulip,” and showed great enthusiasm throughout the topic.
Reception and Year 3 also took part in a special buddy activity to celebrate the start of the St Francis Jubilee Year.
We focused on the word “Compassion” and explored how we can show kindness and care to others. The children created heart-shaped cards, each with a thoughtful and kind message written inside. They then decorated their hearts beautifully before gifting them to someone as an act of compassion.
It was a lovely opportunity for the children to work together across year groups and spread kindness within our school community.
February 2026
Reception class have recently begun their exciting new topic all about Pirates. The children have been really engaged and have enjoyed learning lots of new pirate-themed vocabulary, such as Jolly Roger flag and cutlass. They have taken part in a wide range of fun and creative activities linked to the topic. In writing, the children described pirate pictures using their imagination and new vocabulary. In Maths, they combined two amounts of pirate treasure to practise their number skills. They also made pirate ships and decorated their own pirate hats, which they were very proud of.
We also looked at the word 'Compassion' and showed compassion to other people by making a heart for them with something nice wrote in the middle. The children then decorated their hearts and gifted them.
December 2025
This half term, Reception’s topic has been all about Castles, Knights and Dragons, and the children have truly embraced the magic and adventure it brings. They have enjoyed exploring images of different kinds of castles, noticing their shapes, towers and features, and using these ideas to inspire their own creations. Both at home and in class, the children have designed and built their own castles with great enthusiasm, showing wonderful imagination and creativity.
The topic has also inspired the children to design their own dragons, knights, princes and princesses, each one unique and full of character. A highlight of the term was their trip to Maldon Library, where they discovered a range of stories about castles, brave knights and mythical dragons. The children loved listening to and exploring the books, and they even had the chance to make their very own crowns to take home. It has been a fun, engaging and inspiring topic for everyone involved.
October 2025
Our Reception class have been exploring the wonderful season of Autumn this half term. The children enjoyed going on an exciting autumn scavenger hunt, searching for signs of the changing season. They created beautiful paintings of autumn trees, using warm, vibrant colours. The class also used crayons and leaves to make colourful leaf rubbings, capturing the textures and patterns of nature.
Year 1 2025/6
July 2026
In our final term of Year 1 the children have worked hard to ensure we have finished off all of our curriculum subjects despite the summer heatwave and high temperatures. We have embraced fractions, time and money in maths along with our daily tough 10 and fluent 5 challenges to continue practising our quick arithmetic skills. We also learnt to write letters for our Grandad’s Island story in English which has show how much the children have progressed with their sentence construction and writing since the start of the year. It makes me so proud to see how much they have achieved this year with their numeracy and writing – well done Year 1!
Design and Technology:
Our class love practical learning and particularly enjoyed our design and technology lessons where we looked at what is a healthy snack. The children first tasted different fruits including bananas, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, cucumber and tomatoes, some of which they were tasting for the first time! They had to say if the fruit was crunchy, soft, or juicy and if they liked it or not with tomatoes being the least favourite and cucumbers/ strawberries being the most liked. This helped form a basis of what fruits they thought would be best to create their own fruit kebab healthy snack. The children first drew and labelled their kebabs on paper and then had the opportunity to create their designs for real! They were very careful to follow their designs and push their fruits onto the kebab sticks safely to enjoy with their families at home although many of the creations didn’t last much beyond the school gates.
Class Trip to Abberton Reservoir
What a fabulous class trip we had in June to Abberton Reservoir to support our learning about plants and weather in our science and geography topics this term. We started the day with a very excited trip on a huge coach which was a first experience for some of the children. The day was met with many well-constructed education activities including a nature walk to spot and identify birds and find colours in nature. Following this, the children had to work in small groups to create their own bird nests from leaves, sticks and grass for the birds to live in. There were many different imaginative designs and structures, each offering a safe place for their birds to rest in. Returning back to our base camp before lunch time the children all took part in identifying the different parts of a flower and used themselves to create a human version of a flower with Mrs Gilbank being a friendly bee visiting them to collect her pollen! The children found this very funny and loved each having a part to play.
After a yummy picnic lunch, we went on another walk to the wildflower meadow to identify and draw flowers before finishing the day with a bug hunt! Different equipment including nets, bug collector containers, spoons and tweezers were used to collect various insects with a lot of screams from both parents and children on finding bugs such as grasshoppers, ants, woodlice, and spiders!
It was a fantastic day filled with fun, laughter, and memorable experiences for everyone. Year 1 thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to take their classroom learning outdoors, where they were able to apply their knowledge through engaging, hands-on activities in a real-life environment.
May 2026
Class assembly
Year 1 have made me so proud with their class assembly at the end of this half term. They worked so hard during our rehearsals to learn their lines and placements. We covered many subjects including English where we showed what parts of a sentence we have learnt this year and performed a Maths times tables routine to help us learn our 10 times tables.
We discussed our investigation of materials for science and showcased our singing and dancing for our round and round song we had learnt in Music. Finally, we showed our parents what we have been learning in R.E including how God created the world and loves us so much he sent the Holy Spirit to guide us to make the right choices along with a reenactment of Palm Sunday.
All children performed amazingly and we definitely have some who are set for the stage in the future! Thank you to all the parents and guardians that were able to attend – your children were all superstars and I hope you enjoyed their performance as much as we did delivering it for you. Well done Year 1!
Science
Year 1 have really enjoyed this half term’s science topic of plants. They have learnt the main features of a plant and each of their functions including how the roots soak up the water and nutrients from the soil and that leaves use the sunlight to help the flower grow. We also looked at how a stem needs to grow straight and tall so will need support from a bamboo rod or stick as the stem transports the water and nutrients to the rest of flower.
In addition to the features of a plant we have also looked at wild plants understanding that these grow without any human help. The seeds from wild plants get carried by the wind and the natural rain and sunshine helps them to grow. Finally, we went on a walk around school to identify evergreen and deciduous trees - the children looked at the leaves on the trees and compared how the trees looked now and in winter to help them decide what type of trees they could see.
To support our learning the children have all planted a sunflower seed into soil which we have watched grow each week identifying the new parts of the plant that appears. We have had daily watering plant monitors and ensured they have been in the sunlight. It has been amazing to see just how big some of the sunflowers have grown already producing leaves in just a few weeks! The children can now take care of their plants at home and are eager to tell me how tall their sunflowers grow.
March 2026
Maths
This half term in maths we have progressed from our tens times tables to learning
our two times tables. We have used different methods including choral chanting of 1x2 = 2, 2x2 =4 etc… and creating doubling bridging fingers as a mirror image with our partners to help the children visually see how multiplying by 2 is just having 2 of the same number. The children enjoyed a small group practical activity of grouping cubes into twos again to visually represent the multiplication with some children challenging themselves to go past 10x2 to make both 11x2 and 12x2 independently.
In addition to our times tables practise we have focused on the difference between height and length with children learning how to use a ruler correctly to measure the length of classroom objects. We have more recently progressed to looking at mass and what is heavier and lighter using scales for practical application to support the learning. The children had fun finding out how many multilink cubes a glue stick, pen, and an apple weighed and then found their own objects including our St Francis R.E bear!
R.E.
We have explored all about Lent this half term in our R.E lessons starting with Ash Wednesday then moving through to Holy Week including Palm Sunday, the Last Super and the crucifixion of Jesus. To support our input and worksheets the children have re-enacted Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey where they laid down their robes (coats) and palm leaves as he entered. The children were given a “wow”moment when the Year 1 classroom was transformed into the Last Supper. We all became disciples of Jesus and shared both bread and blackcurrant squash to represent the body and blood of Jesus as to recreate this pivotal moment in the lead up to Easter.
Year 1 have also taken part this term in a new type of lesson called class collective worship where we are present in that moment with God. It allows us time to sit still, be calm and reflect on our bible scripture of the week. We explore our thoughts and feelings in our own quiet time and personal space and fosters a deeper more spiritual connection with God.
February 2026
Exploring our local area!
This half term for Geography the children have been learning about our local area of Maldon. We have looked in depth at maps of Maldon and what places make up our town, identifying these with map symbols. We also explored the types of houses and the different jobs that people have in Maldon with some parents giving a recount of their working days.
To accompany this learning we had our Travelling Ted called Jamie Bear visit
various locations in Maldon. The children waited with anticipation each week to see what adventures he had been up to with their favourites being Morrisons to help with Mrs Tsai’s shopping and stopping at Costa for a special treat!
We consolidated the geography learning with a walk around Maldon where the
children followed their map to walk around the town in their groups. They had to
complete worksheets based on the locations they could find and identify which street the place was on and its relevant map symbol. They also had to spot the different types of houses we had learnt about with all children eager to point these out correctly. We also had a lovely opportunity to go inside All Saints Church and look at the font, stained glass windows, organ and saw where Maldon’s famous fat man Edward Bright was buried.
The children were a credit to St Francis and themselves especially in the cold
weather behaving well and enjoying the outing around their local town. They even got to warm up with some chips from the local chip shop as a treat once we returned to school.
R.E.
This half term we have been following our Red Branch 3 scheme called Galilee to
Jerusalem and learnt about how Jesus was as young boy and the importance he had to others to help them follow him and the right ways of God. There is only one small part of scripture (Luke Chapter 2 verses 41-50) that talks about Jesus as a young boy where he was left at the temple in Jerusalem for Passover. The children created their own temples from wooden blocks and recreated this story.
Furthermore, they have used their creative role playing ideas to re-enact the story of Zaccheaus, who was a tax man and took more money from people than he should. Zaccheaus sat waiting to see Jesus high up in the tree and was called down by Jesus to spend time with him. Following which Zaccheaus was a changed man and repented for the wrongs he had done by giving the people back their money 4 fold that he had taken.
Finally, the children created some wonderfully colourful fish which we have displayed on our classroom wall to represent the story of Peter recasting his nets following the orders of Jesus and becoming one of his disciples.
December 2025
Maths
In maths this half term we have had a big focus on our number work and have
extended our learning to include numbers 1 through to 20. We have played games where we have had to match the number to its word name and used the parachute to hide numbers for the children to then run under when lifted to identify the number called.
Further to this we have been strengthening our addition skills and Year 1 children
can confidently use four different methods to add numbers together including using their fingers, a number line, counting objects and part whole models. Worksheets have been completed to cover these four methods with practical activities to support these methods including jumping on a number line which the children drew in chalk on the playground and pretended to be our frog jumping from number to number for the sum given. We also created a “pond” for our lucky ducks and created islands with bridges to represent our part whole models – the children had to use their maths and addition skills to put the right number of ducks on the islands (the parts) and then add them together to cross the bridges to make a total (the whole). With a sound understanding of the methods above, we were then able to use these to start our learning of subtraction. This can be a daunting topic for children as it is the reverse of everything they have just learnt for adding, however the children have impressed me so much by how well they have been able to adapt their thinking and transfer this into subtraction problems. Super well done Year 1!
History
The children have enjoyed learning all about how toys have changed over the years. We have looked at toys they play with now, toys when they were a baby, toys their grown ups including grandparents played with and then even further back to the Victorian Era. The children understand what a timeline is along with new vocabulary such as past, present, before, now, old and modern. We had great fun looking at their baby pictures and trying to guess who the child was in the photo and discussing their favourite toys which a lot of them still play with today. They have been able to compare what toys were like in the past to those they play with now looking at materials used, colours, complexity verses simplicity, and range of toys available.
The children were shocked that when their grown-ups were little there were no ipads or internet, just basic toys and colouring books to keep us entertained!
To finish this topic we have had the pleasure of being able to invite History off the
Page into school for a workshop on Victorian toys. This has been an excellent
addition to support our learning as it has given the children a hand on experience of seeing what toys were like in the past and how they were played with in their own Victorian Toy Museum. Children were able to play with the artefacts and explore the materials, functions, colours and sizes comparing them to what we have today. In the afternoon the children were very excited to become toy makers themselves and were able to make their own toys including:
Thaumatropes – 2 images either side of paper (for example a bird on one side and a cage on the other) which when spun quickly on string come together to show the bird in the cage.
Clothes Peg dolls made from wooden clothes pegs and fabric.
Pecking toys – the children coloured in two sides of a bird which when attached
round a straw and fed through an elastic band. When the elastic band was stretched this allowed the bird to peck down it.
Spinning tops made from wooden sticks the children sharpened to a point and
attached a circular piece of card.
Boats from cork with paper sails.
Ball catch – a polystyrene ball was threaded onto a piece of string and attached to the top of a paper cone the children coloured in.
The children thoroughly enjoyed this workshop and had lots of fun. It was a great
way to complete our topic of the history of toys and a valuable contribution to their learning. The lady running the workshop commended all the children for how well they behaved, how respectful they were with the toys and equipment and how amazing they had been throughout the day which made us very proud.
October 2025
This half term in Science the children have been learning about different animal classifications. Children know there are 5 groupings of animals – mammals, reptiles, fish, birds and amphibians and can confidently name an animal that belongs to each group. This was demonstrated during a practical activity where the children sat in a circle with a range of animals and they each had a turn of putting an animal into the correct classification.
Everyone got their chosen animal correct – well done Year 1!
We also played a game outside to differentiate which animals are carnivores,
herbivores and omnivores where the children had to find animal cards around the
playground and name whether their animal ate meat, plants or both.
As part of the topic of animals the children have been learning about the human
body and discovered that we are mammals too! We discussed that mammals such as dogs, cats and elephants have legs, arms, skin, fur (our hair) and drink milk as a baby just like we do as humans. Further to this we have learnt our body parts through movement and song and also identified each of the 5 senses links to a different body part. We played a sound bingo game to test our listening and used a feeling bag of assorted items and textures to test our sense of touch.
We also enjoyed an activity where the children had to use their noses to try to guess the smell of different jars without seeing the item inside. Full pictures of these activities can be found on Google Classroom.
This topic has allowed the children to broaden their knowledge on animals and
humans through both written work and interactive activities and they are well on their way to being super scientists!
Year 2 2025/6
Southend Educational Visit
On Friday 19th June 2026, Year 2 enjoyed a fantastic trip to Southend Beach to conclude our Geography topic, At the Seaside. We began the day with a visit to the Sealife Centre, where the children were fascinated by the wide variety of marine animals. Our favourite exhibits included the playful penguins, the impressive sharks and the graceful stingrays.
In the afternoon, we made the most of the beautiful weather by spending time on the beach. The children had great fun paddling in the sea, blowing bubbles, enjoying delicious ice creams and, to make the day even more special, singing "Happy Birthday" to Clayton.
It was a wonderful day filled with laughter, excitement and memorable experiences. The children represented St. Francis beautifully with their excellent behaviour, and we hope they will look back on this trip as one of their happiest memories of their time in Year 2.
May 2026
This half term, Year 2 have been thoroughly enjoying their Science topic on plants. We have carried out two investigations over the half term and have been recording our results each day/week.
Our first investigation was looking at when a seed starts to grow. We put 4 seeds on a piece of wet paper towel inside a clear plastic bag. We then attached the plastic bag to the window so that the seeds would get lots of light. We observed our seeds every day for 7 days and noted down the changes that we observed. The first shoots appeared on day 2 which we were very excited about! We have included photos of Mason and Arlia's seed diaries for you to see.
Our second investigation was looking at what conditions help a plant to grow well. We could choose from two different investigations, water or light. We decided to investigate if a plant grows better with or without light. To set up our experiment, Mrs Willsher bought 2 identical plants. We watered both plants with the same amount of water and then put one on the windowsill and one in the cupboard. We predicted which plant we thought would grow best and drew a picture of each plant at the start of our investigation. We left the plants for one week and then observed them both. We noticed the plant on the windowsill had 4 buds and one pink flower. The plant in the cupboard had only one flower and it was white instead of pink. We recorded our findings and then put the plants back. We are really excited to observe them again just before half term and see what has changed. We have included photos of Zachary, Safia, Saoirse and Molly's recordings.
Well done Year 2 on being super scientists!
March 2026
This half term, Year 2 have been thoroughly enjoying their History topic all about the Great Fire of London. We began by exploring London past and present, helping the children to develop an awareness of how the city has changed over time. They loved comparing old pictures of London with what it looks like today and spotting the differences!
We then moved on to learning about life in the 17th century. The children were fascinated to discover how different everyday life was in 1666 compared to now. They explored homes, jobs and daily routines, and had some brilliant discussions about what they would and wouldn’t enjoy about living in the past.
Our learning then focused on the key events of the Great Fire of London. The children worked hard to understand what happened and practised putting the events in the correct order. They showed great enthusiasm and curiosity, asking thoughtful questions and demonstrating a growing understanding of this important historical event.
We also explored how we know about the Great Fire. The children learned about different sources of information, including diaries and historical records. They were particularly interested in how people from the past recorded events and how this helps us learn today.
Later, we looked at what happened after the Great Fire and how London changed as a result. The children were able to explain some of the improvements that were made and how these changes helped make London safer.
To finish the unit, the children reflected on everything they had learned, describing London before, during and after the fire. We have been incredibly impressed with how much knowledge they have gained and how confidently they can talk about it.
In Guided Reading, we have been enjoying a range of reading comprehensions linked to our topic. The children have worked hard on developing their understanding skills, including retrieving information and answering questions in full sentences. It has been wonderful to see their confidence growing.
We would also like to say a big thank you for your continued support with homework. It really makes a difference to the children’s learning. We have been especially impressed with the fabulous houses the children have created at home—so much creativity and effort has gone into them!
Well done, Year 2, for another fantastic half term of learning!
February 2026
Expressive Art
This Spring term, Year 2 have been developing their understanding of expressive art, where the focus is on looking closely, exploring ideas and enjoying the creative process, rather than aiming for perfect results. The children have been inspired by the work of Charlie French, Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh. Through drawing and painting, pupils learned how artists respond to everyday subjects using colour, shape and brushwork. They also explored colour mixing, blending primary colours to create secondary colours, and using these expressively in their artwork. It has been wonderful to see the children’s confidence, focus and enjoyment grow throughout the term.
Sensational Safari!
During our Sensational Safari topic, the children have enjoyed learning about Kenya and the Maasai Mara. We explored what a National Park is and why these protected areas are important for wildlife and the enviroment. The children learned about the Maasai tribe, discovering aspects of their culture and traditions, and comparing daily life in Kenya with their own experiences. We also looked at what life can be like for children living in Kenya, helping pupils develop curiosity, respect and understanding of different ways of life. As part of the topic, the children learned some Swahili words, including hello (Jambo) and thank you (Asante), which they enjoyed using in class. We shared and enjoyed stories from Tinga Tinga Tales, which explore traditional African-style tales explaining how animals got their special features.
December 2025
This half term, we have explored some of the key beliefs and deepened our understanding of the Christmas story. The children have worked with enthusiasm, curiosity, and great reverence as we journeyed together through our unit on Mary, Advent and the birth of Jesus.
We began by learning that Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. The children reflected thoughtfully on Mary’s courage and trust when she said “yes” to God. Together, we talked about how we can also say “yes” to God in our own lives by choosing to live like Jesus and Mary. The children shared wonderful examples of what this looks like in practice—helping others, being kind, giving to charity, and remembering to speak to God in prayer. This led to some class discussions about the choices we make and how small acts of love can make a big difference.
As we moved on to the Nativity story, we focused on our belief that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. One of the highlights of the term was our group project where the children worked collaboratively to create model representations of Bethlehem using construction bricks. They took great care considering the journey Mary and Joseph made—the distance they travelled, how long it may have taken them, and how they might have felt along the way. We also enjoyed singing the much-loved song “Little Donkey,” which helped us imagine Mary riding patiently on her journey.
During Advent, we learned that this season is a time of waiting and preparing for Jesus’ coming. The children observed that in many Nativity scenes, the manger remains empty until Christmas Day, reminding us that we are waiting for Jesus’ birth. To help us reflect on this important message, the children created their own small mangers using lolly sticks and hay. These simple but meaningful crafts encouraged them to think about patience, hope, and the joy that comes with anticipating something precious.
We concluded our learning with our wonderful Nativity performance, I’m Gonna Shine. The children sang beautifully and retold the story of Jesus’ birth with such respect and understanding. We were incredibly proud of their confidence and the care they showed in portraying this special story. A huge thank you also goes to Mrs Stone for her support in helping the children learn the songs so well.
As we come to the end of this busy term, we would like to wish you all a peaceful New Year. Thank you for your continued support - we look forward to an exciting term ahead.
October 2025
Science
This term in Science, our class has been exploring the fascinating topic of "Animals and Living Things." Our learning journey focused on understanding the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive. The children have done a fantastic job investigating and asking questions to deepen their understanding of the natural world around them.
We spent time learning how animals and plants are suited to the habitats they live in, and how those habitats provide for their basic needs. The children identified a variety of animals and plants in different environments, including some very exciting discoveries in microhabitats around the school grounds!
Earlier this week, we had an incredible outdoor learning experience at Danbury Country Park. The children explored a range of natural habitats and worked together brilliantly during our team challenge to build dens — a fun and creative way to end our Science unit. They demonstrated fantastic teamwork and applied their learning to real-life environments.
This unit has been a great opportunity for pupils to engage with nature, build curiosity, and work together as scientists. We are so proud of their enthusiasm and the knowledge they have gained.
Art
This term in Art, Year 2 has been exploring the exciting world of collaborative creativity. We've discovered that art doesn’t always begin with a pencil or paintbrush — it can be made with all sorts of materials!
The children have enjoyed working with string, clay, and natural resources to create imaginative group pieces. Much of this work has taken place outdoors, where the space and surroundings have inspired the children to move, explore, and work together.
Learning outside has provided the perfect environment for these activities — offering both natural materials and the freedom to experiment. It’s been wonderful to see the children express themselves in new ways and discover that art can happen anywhere!
PE
This term, the children have enjoyed a fantastic variety of physical activities in PE. We’ve been fortunate to welcome specialist rugby coaches into school, who have supported the development of key skills such as coordination, teamwork, and spatial awareness through fun, energetic sessions.
In addition, a specialist dance teacher has been leading ballet lessons, introducing the children to the discipline and expression of dance. These sessions have helped improve posture, balance, and musicality, while giving pupils a chance to explore movement in a creative way.
Year 3 2025/6
Colchester Castle Trip
Year 3 visited Colchester Castle to support their history topic on the Romans. During this interesting visit, the children were able to search around the castle to find some historical artefacts and learnt all about how the Romans built the city of Colchester. Cece said: “When we walked in, we could see the dragon holding the crown and were able to look at old coins.”
They also experienced what life was like living in a roundhouse and tried on some costumes. A highlight of the day was a guided tour of the underground vaults which were the foundations of the original Roman temple. Esmai said: “I liked going under the castle because you got to see all the armour and we learnt lots about the Romans.” Finley added: “We held the shields in a turtle formation like the Roman army did. They felt very strong and heavy. I felt very protected!”
Finally, the children had a hands-on experience of building a Roman villa and role played what it was like for the Iceni tribe as they camped in the woods. This was Hallie’s favourite part: “I liked building the roman villa because it was really big and I enjoyed working with my friends.”
Everyone really enjoyed the trip and all the children were very well-behaved. Alice said: “It was a really, fun fascinating trip because we learnt really cool facts. For example, Boudicca burnt down the temple but the Romans made all the Celts that survived rebuild the whole entire temple.”
May 2026
In Year 3, we have been spending the month of May reflecting on the importance of Mary and deepening our understanding of prayer and devotion. Our Worship Team worked incredibly hard to prepare and lead five different class worship sessions, each focusing on one of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Through drama, discussion and prayer, the children helped one another to learn more about these special moments in Mary’s life and their significance within our faith. The class have especially enjoyed gathering together each week to pray the Rosary, with the prayers confidently and thoughtfully led by their classmates. As part of our May reflections, we also created a beautiful class prayer chain. Each child wrote their own special prayer, thinking carefully about hopes, thanks and intentions they wished to share. In the centre of the chain, we added a blue link to represent Mary and to remind us of her love, guidance and intercession. It has been wonderful to see the children show such reverence, teamwork and enthusiasm throughout these prayerful activities, helping us all to grow together in faith during this special month dedicated to Mary.
Year 3 enjoyed also an exciting trip to Maldon Library, where they were given a guided tour of the children’s area and introduced to the wide range of books available. The children had the opportunity to explore and read a variety of books, sparking lots of interest and enthusiasm. They also took part in a fun game of Dingbats, where they worked out book titles from picture clues, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Throughout the visit, the children were exceptionally polite, well-mannered, and highly engaged. They asked the librarian many thoughtful questions, showing great curiosity and enthusiasm for
Please visit their webite: https://libraries.essex.gov.uk/digital-content/our-library-locations-and-opening-times/maldon-library
March 2026
Students Enjoy Exciting Learning Adventure at Hyde Hall
Pupils from our school recently had an exciting and educational trip to Hyde Hall, where they explored the wonderful world of plants and nature. The children were highly engaged throughout the day as they took part in a variety of hands-on activities and discovered how plants grow and survive.
One of the key topics the pupils learned about was seed dispersal. They discovered how seeds travel from one place to another using wind, animals, or water. To bring this idea to life, the children even made their own “seed helicopters”, which demonstrated how some seeds spin through the air to reach new places to grow.
Another fascinating part of the day was learning about bee pollination. The students found out how bees move pollen between flowers, helping plants to grow fruits and seeds. This helped them understand just how important bees are for our environment.
The class also explored different types of plants, observing their shapes, leaves, and flowers while walking through the beautiful gardens. The outdoor setting made it easy for the children to see these ideas in real life.
During a fun nature treasure hunt, the children searched for natural objects around the gardens. Afterwards, they used their discoveries to create colourful nature bookmarks, which they proudly took home as a reminder of the day.
One of the most exciting activities was planting seeds. Each child planted their own seeds in small pots to take home, where they will be able to watch them grow over time.
The trip to Hyde Hall was a fantastic opportunity for our children to learn outside the classroom. Through creative activities, exploration, and teamwork, the children developed a deeper understanding of plants, pollination, and the importance of nature.
Everyone returned to school inspired, with new knowledge and a greater appreciation for the natural world.
February 2026
Year 3 took part in an exciting and memorable cross-curricular lesson where they mummified tomatoes as part of their science and history learning. The activity helped the children explore the Ancient Egyptian belief in preservation and the afterlife, while also giving them the opportunity to observe and discuss changes over time. Pupils carefully prepared their tomatoes and used salt to replicate the mummification process. We can't reveal the results yet as we have to leave the tomatoes for 40 days to allow the mummification process to take place.
In English, the children built on this experience by writing clear, step-by-step instructions explaining how to mummify a tomato. They focused on using imperative verbs, time connectives and precise vocabulary to ensure their instructions were easy to follow. The lesson allowed pupils to deepen their understanding through hands-on learning while making meaningful links across subjects.
December 2025
Year 3 have being doing lots of work about the features of a church. To start the topic off, we spent some time learning the names of special items such as the tabernacle, altar, votive candles and lectern. To help with this learning, they made models of the Sanctuary area of the church complete with miniature versions of the things they had been finding out about.
Next, we had a really interesting visit to The Assumption of Our Lady Church in
Maldon. When we arrived, the children went on a ‘treasure hunt’ to find all the
objects we had found out about during our lessons. Seeing the items in real life really helped them to put meaning to their learning. We looked closely at the stained glass windows in the church, noticing the colours used, how they are different from normal windows and the images they depicted. We were really grateful to the parents who helped us on our walk to and from the church!
Finally, we used our observations of the stained glass windows to design and create our own. We were so impressed with the creativity shown by the children during this activity. They had full choice over the shape and images shown in their windows and the finished artwork is beautiful. The stained glass windows are now being proudly displayed in our classroom.
October 2025
As part of our celebrations for the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, our school community came together to create a vibrant and meaningful collaborative mural, inspired by the messages of Laudato Si’. Using a wide range of art resources and techniques, all pupils from year 3 contributed to the design and creation of this beautiful piece, which now proudly adorns one of our school walls.
The mural captures key themes from Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, including care for our common home, gratitude for creation, and our shared responsibility to protect the Earth. Children expressed these values through imagery of nature, wildlife, water, and people working together in harmony with the environment. The collaborative nature of the project itself mirrored the message of unity and stewardship that St. Francis so passionately embodied.
We then wrote our own class pledge which all children signed, agreeing to follow the promises to care for all of God's creations.
Throughout the creative process, pupils were deeply engaged and excited to share their ideas. From painting and drawing to using recycled materials in imaginative ways, the mural became a joyful expression of faith, care, and creativity. Staff also noted how the project helped deepen students’ understanding of both St. Francis’ legacy and the ongoing importance of environmental action.
We are incredibly proud of the mural and all those who contributed. It stands not only as a beautiful artwork, but also as a reminder of the call to live simply, love generously, and protect the world around us.
Year 4 2025/6
July 2026
Year 4 have been exploring sculpture in Art through an exciting project inspired by natural objects. The children began by carefully observing and drawing a range of natural forms from real life and photographs, developing their observational drawing skills. They then used their ideas to design a unique 3D sculpture before creating a maquette (a small practice model) using Play-Doh to test and refine their designs. Finally, the children explored and experimented with a variety of clay techniques, including shaping, joining, and adding texture, before using these new skills to create their finished clay sculptures. We are very proud of their creativity, perseverance, and the beautiful artwork they produced.
May 2026
This half term in Year 4, we have been learning about how to pray the Rosary, especially focusing on the Glorious Mysteries. We explored the meaning of each mystery: the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Coronation of Our Lady.
As part of our learning, we looked at both classical and modern artwork that represented these special events. Inspired by what we had seen, we created our own pieces of art to show our understanding of the mysteries.
We also enjoyed making our own rosaries using beads. We carefully arranged the beads into decades for the Hail Mary prayers and selected single beads for the Glory Be and Our Father prayers. This helped us understand the structure and importance of the Rosary in a creative and meaningful way.
In Science, we have been learning about Electricity. We explored different electrical appliances and discussed the importance of electrical safety. We followed diagrams to build working circuits and then used our knowledge to draw our own circuit diagrams using the correct scientific symbols. We enjoyed investigating how circuits work and developing our understanding through practical activities.
March 2026
Year 4 recently took part in a Viking workshop, where they spent the day exploring what life was like during the Viking era. The children learned about village life and how people lived day to day, gaining a better understanding of homes, jobs, and routines.
They had the chance to try on Viking clothing, which helped bring the experience to life, and also worked hard grinding flour to make bread, just as Vikings would have done. The workshop included handling and examining real artefacts, which gave the children a more hands-on connection to history.
One of the more interesting parts of the day was learning about a Viking burial and what it tells us about beliefs and traditions at the time.
The children clearly enjoyed themselves, particularly when they were introduced to some Viking weapon techniques and had the opportunity to re-enact a battle! It was an engaging and memorable day that helped deepen their understanding of the topic.
February 2026
This half term in Year 4, we have been immersing ourselves in the world of Still Life in Art. The children have explored the work of both contemporary and classic artists, carefully observing and discussing the differences in colour, style, form, tone and expression. It has been wonderful to see them developing their artistic vocabulary and confidence when talking about art.
Using these artists as inspiration, the children created their own close observational drawings of natural objects. They then moved on to composing a full still life arrangement featuring pots, vases, flowers, plants and fruit. During these sessions, we placed a strong focus on careful observation, paying particular attention to shade and tone using sketching pencils to create depth and form.
In the following lesson, the children selected a section of their still life drawing to ‘zoom in’ on. This allowed them to concentrate on finer details and composition, using oil pastels to produce a bold and focused final piece. The vibrant results beautifully captured texture, colour and contrast.
We have also explored mark-making using charcoal sticks, experimenting with different techniques and surfaces to create a range of effects. The children thoroughly enjoyed discovering how charcoal can be smudged, layered and blended to enhance light and shadow.
In our final session of this unit, we will bring together all of these techniques to create strong and expressive still life images using charcoal. We are impressed by the creativity, focus and artistic growth the children have shown throughout this topic.
During Children's Mental Health week we have also used art for wellbeing and mindfulness; we created a piece of collaborative art entitled 'My Happy Place' after making collage maps and writing about places, people and objects that make us feel happy.
PHOTO_GRID_{3194}
December 2025
Year 4 had a fantastic trip to the Museum of Power this half term, linking perfectly our science and geography learning on the Water Cycle. The children explored water through exciting hands-on experiments, including making and testing their own water filters and creating water wheels, which they loved testing with water guns! They discovered important facts about how we use water and ways we can save it, before heading into the impressive engine hall to activate and observe the original pistons that once supplied Maldon with water. A visit to the magical Fairy Garden, 'Astaria' was a real highlight, then we enjoyed clever magic tricks, science experiments and investigations into energy, even seeing a 3D printer in action, with the resident magician. It was a brilliant day – the children were super engaged, their behaviour was commendable, and we all learned a lot!
PHOTO_GRID_{2935}
October 2025
R.E. Exploring Creation Through Art
This term in RE, one of our focuses has been the story of Creation as described in the Book of Genesis. We read the Bible story where God created the world in seven days, and we spent time reflecting on the beauty and wonder of the natural world.
To help bring the story to life, we explored the work of both classical and contemporary artists. We looked closely at Creation artwork by Michelangelo, Bill Bell, and Australian indigenous paintings and compared their styles.
On St Francis feast day we read ‘The Canticle of the Creatures’, a prayer written by St Francis worshipping God for all the wonders of his creation.
Inspired by these artists and St Francis’ prayer, we created our own watercolour paintings to show what the story of Creation means to us. Everyone chose different parts of the Creation story to represent — from the separation of light and dark, to the creation of animals, plants, and people. The children’s thoughtful and expressive pieces show both creativity and understanding.
Well done to all for their hard work and thoughtful reflections. We are proud of the way they have engaged with this topic both spiritually and artistically.
Anglo-Saxons
As part of our history topic this half term, we’ve been learning all about the Anglo-Saxons — who they were, how they lived, and what their culture was like.
We looked at real examples of Anglo-Saxon coins discovered by archaeologists, especially those found at Sutton Hoo, the famous Anglo-Saxon burial site in Suffolk.
The children were amazed by the detail and craftsmanship of the ancient artefacts. Inspired by what we saw, we designed our own Anglo-Saxon-style coins. First, the children carefully sketched their designs, thinking about the symbols, faces, and patterns that might have appeared on coins long ago. Then, using string relief technique, they created a raised design before covering their coins with silver foil or bronze craft paper to give them a realistic metallic
finish.
The results were brilliant! Here are some photos of our work in progress and the finished artefacts - we think you’ll agree they look like real treasures!
PHOTO_GRID_{2643}
Year 5 2025/6
Walk around Maldon
This half term, Year 5 enjoyed a fascinating local history walk around Maldon. During our trip, we visited the Edward Bright plaque, the Old Moot Hall and the Maeldune Heritage Centre, where the wonderful volunteers shared interesting talks about the town's history. We also explored the Maldon Tapestry and discovered the fascinating stories it tells about Maldon's past. After a busy morning of learning, we enjoyed lunch at the Prom before having lots of fun in the park. It was a fantastic day out, and everyone had a wonderful time while learning more about our local area!
St. John Payne Taster Day - 2nd July 2026
We are looking forward to our Year 5 visit to St John Payne Catholic School on Thursday 2 July.
Please find below the arrangements for the day:
- 8.30am: Children will leave St Francis by coach. Please be at school, in full school uniform, by 8:15am for registration.
- 9.30am: Arrival at St John Payne.
The children will take part in a fun and interactive programme designed to give them a taste of life as a secondary school student.
Timetable
- 9.55am – 10.45am: Lesson
- 10.45am – 11.05am: Break (juice and a biscuit will be provided. Please note that St John Payne is unable to cater for allergies during break.)
- 11.05am – 12.45pm: Taster lessons
- 12.45pm – 1.30pm: Lunch (please ensure your child brings a packed lunch and a drink)
- 1.30pm – 2.20pm: Taster lesson
- 2.30pm: Optional information session for parents and carers in Aquinas Hall
- 3.00pm: End of the school day
Collection Arrangements
Parents and carers are invited to attend an optional information session at 2.30pm in Aquinas Hall (there is also an evening session at 6.00pm for those who are unable to attend during the afternoon).
If attending the 2.30pm session, please report to the main reception to sign in.
Please note: There is no parking available on site for the 2.30pm session.
If you are not attending the afternoon information session, please collect your child at 3.00pm from the Merici entrance.
We hope the children enjoy this exciting opportunity to experience a day at St John Payne.
Newhall Retreat
This half term, Year 5 had the pleasure of visiting Newhall School for a special retreat day. Throughout the day, the children took part in a range of activities, including Mass, PE and art, which allowed them to reflect, be creative and enjoy working together outside of the classroom environment. The retreat provided a wonderful opportunity for the children to strengthen friendships, develop teamwork skills and take part in new experiences.
The class thoroughly enjoyed the day and represented the school beautifully with their enthusiasm and excellent behaviour.
March 2026
This half term, Year 5 enjoyed an exciting trip to London! We visited the Wonderlab at The British Science Museum, where the children explored a range of interactive experiments and investigations, sparking their curiosity and enthusiasm for science. In the afternoon, we headed to the Theatre Royal to watch Hercules on stage, which was a fantastic experience for everyone. It was a wonderful day, and the children thoroughly enjoyed every moment!
February 2026
This half term, Year 5 took part in CPR training, where the children learned the important steps of DR ABC and had a go at performing chest compressions. Everyone was enthusiastic and keen to learn, showing great focus and teamwork throughout the session. The children learned how to stay calm, to check if someone needs help, and to understand what to do in an emergency. It was an exciting and empowering experience that helped the children build their confidence and learn new skills that could one day help save a life.
December 2025
This half term, Year 5 have been exploring their new geography topic, ‘Enough for Everyone’.
As part of our learning, the children investigated different renewable energy sources, focusing in particular on hydropower and why it is considered renewable.
They had a fantastic time designing and creating their own water wheels — and even managed to make plenty of mess along the way!
October 2025 - Play Leader Training!
On Wednesday 8th October, the Year 5 children had the exciting opportunity to take part in Play Leader training. Throughout the day, they explored the key skills needed to become effective play leaders, including leadership, organisation, communication, and—of course—fun! The children participated in a variety of engaging games and activities designed to help them practise these skills in a supportive and enjoyable way. It was a thoroughly positive and enriching experience, and the children are now well prepared to take on their new roles as Play Leaders during break and lunchtimes.
D.T. and Computing inspired by Ancient Greece!
This term, children have been designing adventure maps inspired by Greek mythology. Using their knowledge of myths and legends, they created maps featuring heroes, gods, and mythical creatures, then programmed Beebots to navigate them. They explored different materials to build obstacles and challenges, combining design technology and computing.
They also reimagined Monopoly as ‘Mythology’, redesigning each square to represent places, characters, and artefacts from Greek myths. Community Chest and Chance cards were rewritten with rewards and penalties linked to these legends, adding an exciting twist to the game.
The children will now use this work to plan and write their own stories, drawing on ideas developed in class and in small groups. This project has given them opportunities to be creative, work collaboratively, and apply their knowledge across subjects. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm as they brought Greek mythology to life through storytelling, programming, and game design.
D.T. and Art - Seasonal Produce and Ecological Architecture
In D.T. pupils have been learning about seasonal foods in the UK. They explored where our food comes from and how choosing seasonal produce can help reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability. The children took part in a food tasting session, sampling a range of seasonal vegetables, and used what they learned to design a nutritious meal using only seasonal fruits, vegetables, and proteins.
In their Art lessons, Year 5 have been exploring architecture - inspired by striking ecological designs. They’ve created detailed sketches focusing on form, structure, and materials. Next, we’ll begin an exciting new project exploring fashion design!
History - Ancient Greek Workshop - March 2025
Medusa, Aphrodite, Ariadne, Trojan soldiers, and Greek royalty all made an appearance at the Year 5 Ancient Greek workshop!
Pupils delved into the rich history and fascinating myths of Ancient Greece, bringing legendary tales to life. They marched in formation, wielding shields and swords, and marvelled at the sheer length of the soldiers' pikes.
Throughout the day, they enthusiastically re-enacted key moments from The Iliad, fully immersing themselves in the world of ancient warriors and gods.
Year 5 were truly spectacular!
Year 6 2025/6
World War II Workshop
Year 6 had a fantastic time taking part in a World War Two workshop, bringing their history learning to life. They discovered how propaganda was used, learned about evacuation and food rationing, and experienced the dramatic sound of an air raid siren.
The children also enjoyed handling a range of wartime artefacts, using their historical knowledge to work out what they were and how they were used. It was an engaging and memorable day that helped deepen their understanding of life during World War Two.
Crucial Crew Event - 10th June 2026
Year 6 pupils recently attended the Crucial Crew event at Maldon Fire Station, hosted by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, Maldon District Council and Essex Police. The interactive workshop helped children learn about important topics including online safety, bullying, county lines, exploitation, and the dangers of drugs and alcohol, preparing them for the transition to secondary school. Pupils enjoyed taking part in practical activities, asking questions and discussing ways to stay safe both in person and online. A particular highlight was the opportunity to explore and sit inside a police car and a fire engine!
SAT's and 'Yes Day'
Year 6 should be incredibly proud of themselves for the hard work, determination, and positive attitude they showed throughout their SATs week. To celebrate completing their tests, the children enjoyed a well-deserved “Yes Day” filled with fun and relaxation. They came to school in their own clothes, enjoyed a picnic lunch together, and took part in exciting team games out on the field. In the afternoon, everyone relaxed with a film while indulging in a selection of shared sweet treats. It was a fantastic way to celebrate the end of a busy week and recognise all of the effort the children have put in this year.
Hilltop Residential 2026
Year 6 had an unforgettable time on their recent residential trip to Hilltop, where they embraced every challenge with enthusiasm and determination. Throughout the visit, the children were encouraged to take part in “challenge by choice” activities, helping them to build confidence and resilience while supporting one another. They enjoyed a range of exciting experiences, including team-building games, the thrilling big zip wire, and an adventurous tree-top trail high above the ground. The pupils also took part in bushcraft activities, learning valuable outdoor skills and working together brilliantly. It was wonderful to see the children stepping out of their comfort zones, encouraging their friends, and thoroughly enjoying every moment of the trip.
March 2026
Year 6 have been exploring Japanese-inspired art this term, taking delicious inspiration from sushi! The children began by creating careful observational drawings, studying the shapes, textures and details of different sushi pieces. They experimented with a range of art mediums, including pencil, pen and colour, to develop shading, pattern and texture in their work. The highlight of the topic was designing and making their own model sushi pieces from salt dough. The class thoroughly enjoyed shaping, painting and decorating their creations, showing great creativity and attention to detail. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and pride in their finished pieces.
February 2026
Year 6 students created still life drawings of shells using charcoal. They focused on carefully observing shape, texture, and proportion while experimenting with light and shade. Students practised blending, smudging, and layering charcoal to show form and depth, and used highlights and shadows to bring their drawings to life. The activity helped develop confidence with charcoal and strengthened observational drawing skills.
The children in Year 6 have also been learning to write a non-chronological fact file based on the Literacy Shed Plus unit. They created an imaginary creature from
Pandora, focusing on organising information into clear sections rather than telling a story in time order. The children included key features such as a title, subheadings, factual language, and descriptive details about the creature’s appearance, habitat, diet, and special abilities. This work helped them develop their research, organisation, and non-fiction writing skills while using their imagination creatively.
December 2025
Year 6 have been diving into the fascinating world of the circulatory system.
Pupils explored how the heart, blood and blood vessels work together to
transport oxygen and nutrients around the body. Through hands-on activities
and lively discussion, they developed a strong understanding of how this vital
system keeps us healthy and energised.
To bring their learning to life, the class also created their own representations
of blood. Using everyday materials to model red blood cells, white blood cells,
plasma and platelets, pupils built colourful mixtures that showed the different
components working together. This creative task helped them visualise what
blood is made of and why each part is so important.
Year 6 showed fantastic curiosity and teamwork throughout—well done to all!
In our R.E. lessons this term, Year 6 have been learning about the significant role women have played throughout the history of salvation, especially within traditionally male-dominated contexts. Through a combination of research, role play, and class debate, pupils explored the influence and contributions of key female figures and deepened their understanding of their importance in faith history.
October 2025
What a busy half term this has been...!
Year 6 Explore Maldon’s History
As part of their preparation for next term’s history topic, Year 6 have been
delving into Maldon’s fascinating past. Their journey began at All Saints Church,
where they discovered the story of the building and even had a go at bell
ringing.
They then visited Moothall, uncovering the many roles the building has played
over the centuries – from family home and prison to police station, courtroom,
and more recently, council chambers. The children were especially intrigued by
tales of prisoners escaping over the exercise yard wall and the surprisingly
harsh punishments once given to children for minor offences.
The trip concluded with a walk to the Promenade, where they learned about the
legendary Brythnoth, whose steadfast bravery defended Maldon against Viking
invasion.
The children returned both tired and inspired, full of fascinating facts and
eager to build on their knowledge in the classroom next term.
Leadership Through PE
This term in PE, the children have been building on the Playleader training they
completed last year by stepping into more active leadership roles during lessons.
As well as developing physical skills, the focus has been on qualities that will
support them far beyond PE: effective listening, giving clear and confident
instructions, showing respect, and demonstrating resilience.
By taking responsibility for leading warm-ups, activities, and cool-downs, pupils
are not only strengthening their understanding of physical education but also
gaining valuable life skills such as teamwork, communication, and self-
confidence. These experiences are helping them grow into capable and
responsible young leaders.
