Welcome from the CEO
Adrian Ball
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to our 2025 Spring edition of We are DEMAT!
As the days grow longer and signs of spring emerge, we enter an exciting and inspiring term across our Trust. This season is a time of both preparation and celebration, with our pupils, staff, and school communities coming together to embrace challenges and mark remarkable achievements.
For our Year 6 pupils, the journey towards their KS2 exams is well underway. Their dedication, resilience, and determination are evident, and we are immensely proud of their hard work. Our schools are providing them with every opportunity to succeed, ensuring they feel confident and ready for this important milestone. To all our pupils - keep striving and believe in your abilities!
Beyond the classroom, this term has seen a wealth of inspiring activities from across our 39 schools. Pupils have showcased their innovation and teamwork by participating in the First LEGO League competition at Perkins Peterborough, engaging with realworld engineering challenges. Meanwhile, the newly opened Holy Cross preschool has welcomed its first cohort, offering a nurturing start to early education.
St Luke’s pupils have made history, quite literally, by crafting a stunning Quilt of History in celebration of their local church’s 150th anniversary. In collaboration with renowned artist Jane Frost, they have created a beautiful piece of art that connects past and present, school and community, in a truly meaningful way. Similarly, Babraham pupils delved into the fascinating world of immunology through a Science Enrichment visit from researchers at the Babraham Institute, igniting a passion for discovery and learning.
Sport and the arts continue to thrive across our schools. Some primary and nursery pupils have been working alongside Northampton Saints Rugby Club, fostering teamwork and physical education. Others took to the stage with their vibrant adaptation of Madagascar, bringing energy and joy to their school community.
Our annual phonics conference continues to drive best practices in early literacy, while termly staff recognition letters highlight the outstanding contributions of our dedicated team.
Amongst these celebrations, we have also taken the time to reflect and recognise excellence within our staff. Looking ahead, we are excited to launch our long-service recognition initiative in the 2025-26 academic year where staff will receive lanyard buttons for every five years of service - a small but heartfelt way to honour the commitment of those who dedicate their careers to education.
Finally, our Trust continues to grow, with preparations underway for Alconbury Weald Church Academy, set to open in 2027. This secondary school project represents our ongoing commitment to providing excellent education and opportunities for future generations.
As we embrace the remainder of this academic year, let us celebrate the successes of our pupils and staff and look forward to all that is yet to come. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Together, we continue to inspire, educate, and transform lives.
Adrian Ball Chief Executive Officer
Message from the Chair
Helen Jackson
It is a pleasure to share in welcoming you to another edition of We are DEMAT!
I hope you enjoy reading about some of the very inspiring things happening in our schools in this term’s We are DEMAT. I was lucky enough to be invited to the 150th anniversary of St Luke’s local church which is described within this edition – it was wonderful to hear what a significant contribution the school has made to the life of its community over so much of that time.
While the children continue to thrive and do the exciting things described in these pages, the hard work behind the scenes continues. As Trustees we are very grateful to Headteachers, Clerks and Governors for embracing the new “Playbook” which has recast and codified the role of Governors in DEMAT. This has been the product of considerable thought and discussion with Governors by Trustees and hard work on the part of our Governance team. DEMAT’s Governors play a vital part in the governance of our Trust and your continued commitment to our schools is greatly appreciated.
This is also an opportunity to welcome our first DEMAT Head of IT, Russell Lambert. The arrival of the Bromcom system in our schools is providing a wealth of helpful management information, and while this preceded Russell, we are looking forward to his bringing a new level of expertise and focus to the transformation of the IT systems which are so critical to DEMAT’s activities.
Finally, inspired by our strapline, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13), I’ve been talking with one or two colleagues about the role of prayer in underpinning the work of the Trust. As a church MAT we do and always will welcome people of all faiths and none, at all levels, if they are accepting of our Christian ethos. However, if you are an adult who prays, and you are perhaps already praying with others for your school, or you have ideas about coming together with others to pray, we would love to hear from you. Do drop us a line at sandra. hill@demat.org.uk and include ‘prayer’ in the subject line.
I do wish all of you a wonderful Easter break when it comes!
Helen Jackson Chair of Board of Trustees
In the spotlight
Rachael Foggarty
- Going the extra mile
Rachael joined the Facilities Team at the end of 2023 as a Procurement Apprentice. Since then, she has successfully passed her written exams and is now a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS).
Rachael has quickly become a valued member of the Central Facilities Team. Always willing to go the extra mile, she plays a vital role in supporting schools and colleagues with their procurement needs. She has been instrumental in launching several key procurement projects across the Trust, delivering both efficiencies and cost savings. Notable projects include the retendering of electricity contracts and Phase 1 of the MFD contract, which has enabled participating schools to track printing data and gain greater control over costs. She is now leading Phase 2 of this project, set to continue throughout 2025.
In addition, Rachael is working on improving how schools manage their stationery spending, aiming to provide a better service at a lower cost. Another significant project this year is the re-tendering of the Trust’s catering services, which is scheduled to go live towards the end of the year.
Committed to her professional development, Rachael plans to continue her studies and grow her career within the Trust.
We wish her every success for the future!
DEMAT Phonics Conference 2025
A Commitment to Confident Readers
This January, over 60 educators gathered at the Maltings in Ely for the DEMAT Phonics Conference, reaffirming the Trust’s commitment to ensuring every child becomes a confident and competent reader.
Scaling phonics success
Catherine Lock, Director of Education, opened the event, followed Scaling Phonics Success
Catherine Lock, Director of Education, opened the event, followed by Trust Curriculum Lead Tricia Moss, who detailed the successful large-scale implementation of the Sounds-Write programme across DEMAT schools. The conference plays a crucial role in strengthening this initiative, equipping teachers and school leaders with effective strategies to support literacy development of all our pupils.
The role of phonics associates
Each DEMAT school designates a phonics lead, supported by a team of phonics associates who receive additional training in instructional coaching and leadership. These associates conduct termly network meetings, and this year, their review visits with linguistic phonics expert Charlotte MacKechnie shaped the conference workshop content.
Key sessions with Charlotte MacKechnie
Charlotte led three insightful sessions, addressing common development points identified during school visits:
One Sound, Different Spellings:
This session emphasized helping students recognize when mispronunciations don’t fit the context and adjust accordingly. Educators explored how Lesson 10 in Sounds-Write enhances this understanding.
Key takeaway: Ensure Lesson 10 is embedded in weekly or fortnightly planning.
Error Correction:
Teachers examined the distinction between code and skill errors and practiced using structured scripts to guide students in correcting spelling mistakes.
Key takeaway: Use precise prompts to support students in identifying and correcting errors.
The Spelling Voice:
This session focused on supporting children in spelling through the concept of the “spelling voice,” helping them detect elided sounds and schwa vowels.
Key takeaway: Encourage students to say words in syllables, adjust for schwa sounds, and reinforce accurate pronunciation.
Interactive workshops & collaboration
Following each session, phonics associates led workshops, providing attendees with opportunities for discussion, deliberate practice, and reflection on their school-wide phonics strategies. Delegates left with workbooks and materials to implement learning back at their schools.
Key conference takeaways
Relentless Commitment to ALL children becoming competent and confident readers.
The conference reinforced a vital question: Do we do what we say we do? Attendees were urged to be relentlessly bothered about any child not making expected progress, ensuring consistent, high-quality phonics instruction.
Special guests & accreditation milestone
The event welcomed phonics leads and school leaders from across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and even Kent. A highlight was a session by Sounds-Write founder John Walker, who challenged traditional views on split spelling and engaged educators in a thought-provoking Q&A, “Saying goodbye to the split spelling”.
A proud moment for DEMAT came when Sounds-Write invited schools with phonics associates to join the inaugural cohort of accredited Sounds-Write schools. Congratulations to Catherine Wilkinson (St Botolph’s), Lucy Fraser (St Christopher’s), Katie Crawley (Orchards), Alison Sheridan (Stanground St John’s), and Amy Sidhu (Wisbech St Mary) on this outstanding achievement!
Looking Ahead
The DEMAT Phonics Conference continues to be a cornerstone in advancing phonics instruction across the trust. With a shared vision and unwavering commitment, DEMAT educators are driving literacy success, ensuring no child is left behind in their reading journey.
Photos John Walker leading a Q&A session at the conference.
Our phonics associates leading workshops:
SW2 – Catherine Wilkinson - SW3 – Alison Sheridan - SW4 – Amy SidhuSW5 – Katie Crawley - SW6 – Lucy Fraser - SW7 - John Walker
Service to education is recognised across DEMAT
We are excited to further celebrate the incredible dedication of our staff in education with special lanyard buttons!
Designed to honour years of service in five-year increments, these buttons acknowledge the commitment and impact our staff have on pupils’ lives, both past and present. Eligible staff will receive their buttons this autumn term - Headteachers will present them in schools, and central colleagues will also receive theirs at the same time.
We encourage you to wear them proudly as a symbol of your dedication. This initiative is one of the many ways we are recognising and appreciating achievements across the Trust.
Making a difference: staff recognition letters
Launched at Easter 2024, our new staff recognition initiative shines a spotlight on excellence across our Trust. Each half-term, headteachers and Central Team leaders nominate colleagues who have gone above and beyond in their roles. Those selected receive a personalized letter of recognition from our CEO, Adrian Ball, celebrating their outstanding contributions.
So far, 110 staff members have been honoured, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the value of recognizing dedication, excellence, and achievement within our Trust. Among those celebrated this Spring was Nicole Moreman from Stanground St. John’s, whose hard work and commitment truly embody the spirit of our community.
List of staff recognition letter nominations 2024-25
Spring 2 2024
Samantha Hannay Anthony Curton C of E Primary School
Hannah Golden Babraham CE (C) Primary School
Lizzie Jones Bury Church of England Primary School
Carla Mayo Bury Church of England Primary School
Alice Francis Ermine Street Church Academy
Monika Taran Guilden Morden CE Primary School
Katie Crawley Orchards Church of England Academy
Harriet Chapman St John’s C of E Primary School
Pauline Walker Thriplow CE Primary School
Alice Williams Tilney All Saints Primary School
Shona Milne William de Yaxley Church of England Academy
Summer 1 2024
Katie Webb All Saints Academy
Molly Akers All Saints Academy
Diane Beetlestone Anthony Curton C of E Primary School
Hannah Golden Babraham CE Primary School
Jasmine Bunten Duchy of Lancaster Primary School
Charlene Ferrara Holme Church of England Primary School
Rosalind Eyres Milton CE Primary School
Freyja Hoadley St Luke’s CE Primary School
Louise Hannan St. Andrews Church of England Primary School
Aimee Prichard St. Johns Primary School
Helen Smallman Stilton Church of England Primary School
Rebecca Brumby Stilton Church of England Primary School
Tiffanie Colberg Weeting CofE Primary School (Trinity Partnership) Summer 2 2024
Kari-Anne Jordan Anthony Curton C of E Primary School
Sadie Allen Anthony Curton C of E Primary School
Elle Houghton Babraham Chirch of England Primary School
Kelly Clucas Duchy of Lancaster Primary School
Jackie Mills Elm Church of England Primary School
Laura Foster Elm Church of England Primary School
Mary-Ann Short Elm Church of England Primary School
Natalie Broda-Kaye Elm Church of England Primary School
Jo Kerridge Ely St Mary’s Junior School
Patrick Noble Ely St Mary’s Junior School
Rebecca Gilpin-Davies Ely St Mary’s Junior School
Rebekah Gardner Ely St Mary’s Junior School
Clare Cottage Ermine Street Church Academy
Aira Palisaite Guyhuirn CofE Primary School
Sarah Tegerdine Guyhuirn CofE Primary School
Sharron Beale Marshland St James Primary and Nursery School
Julie Carlile Orchards Church of England Academy
Claire Cox St Botolph’s CofE Primary School
Jessica Morrish St John’s Church of England Primary School
Catherine Sargeant St. Andrews Church of England Primary School
Audrey Embling Wisbech St. Mary Church of England Academy
David Barrett Wisbech St. Mary Church of England Academy
Katie Abrams-Stebbings Wisbech St. Mary Church of England Academy
Sarah Hunt Wisbech St. Mary Church of England Academy
Steph Thulborn Wisbech St. Mary Church of England Academy
Sue Ridgewell Wisbech St. Mary Church of England Academy
Vicki Bradshaw Wisbech St. Mary Church of England Academy
Autumn 2024
Julie Smither All Saints Academy
Katherine Howe All Saints Academy
Beverly (Bev) Payne Babraham Church of England Primary School
Megan Hanslip Diocese of Ely Academy Trust
Nicky Fyfe Diocese of Ely Academy Trust
Tracy Iuliano Diocese of Ely Academy Trust
Mary-Ann Short Elm Church of England Primary School
Rebekah Gardner Ely St. Mary’s Junior School
Lauren Barnard Holme Church of England Primary School
Amelia-Jane Wootton St Botolph’s Church of England Primary School
Chloe Brown St Christopher’s Church of England Primary School
Tina Rodda St John’s Church of England Primary School
Phil Davies St Martin at Shouldham Primary Academy
Lauren Steels Stanground St John’s Church of England Primary School
Andrew Wallace Stilton Church of England Primary School
Laura Underwood William de Yaxley Church of England Academy
Linda Nelder William de Yaxley Church of England Academy
Autumn 2 2024
Jackie Mills Elm C of E Primry School
Katelyn Hemsley Elm C of E Primry School
Nicki Handscomb Ely St. Mary’s C of E Junior School
Maisie Marchetti Guilden Morden C of E Primary Academy
Marianne Gordon-Farleigh Guyhirn Church of England Primary School & Pre-School
Rachael Weeks Holme C of E Primary Academy
Susan Belcher Marshland St James Primary and Nursery School
Kate Sayer Milton CE Primary School
Katie Crawley Orchards C of E Primary School
Ryan Rouse Orchards C of E Primary School
Ann Purnell St Johns Primary School
Rachel Beasley St Martin at Shouldham Primary Academy & All Saints Academy
Mel Prendergast St Peter’s Junior School
Tina Rawling St Peter’s Junior School
Steph Williamson St Peter’s Junior School
Megan West St Peter’s Junior School
Janine Neave St Peter’s Junior School
Gemma Brown St Peter’s Junior School
Katie Fenn St. Andrew’s C of E Primary School
Caroline Harding St. Martin at Shouldham
Angie Harwood Stanground St John’s Church of England Primary School
Kay Dee Stilton C of E Primary Academy
Lisa Tew William de Yaxley CE Academy
Spring 1 2025
Fiona Lambert All Saints Academy
Rachel Tomlinson Babraham CofE Primary School
Joseph Glozier Bury CofE Primary School
Leyna Case Bury CofE Primary School
Tasha Reay DEMAT Central Team
Katie Frech Duchy of Lancaster CofE Primary School (Trinity Partnership)
Jemma Pooley Duchy of Lancaster CofE Primary School (Trinity Partnership)
Lucy Daybell Ely St Mary’s CofE Junior School
Beverley Cawston Guyhirn CofE Primary School
Tara Prance Mepal and Witcham CofE Primary School
Jeanette Biggadike St Andrew’s CofE Primary School
Leanne Hase St John’s CofE Primary School
Lisa Peel St Martin at Shouldham CofE Primary Academy
Rachel Brodie St Mary’s CofE Primary School
Edward Redmile St Peter’s CofE Junior School
Karina Hazeldine St Peter’s CofE Junior School
Nicole Moreman Stanground St John’s CofE Primary School
Jade Hoggins Weeting CofE Primary School (Trinity Partnership)
Julie Howe William De Yaxley CofE Academy
DEMAT announces opening of Alconbury Weald Church Academy in 2027
DEMAT is thrilled to announce the planned opening of its new secondary school, Alconbury Weald Church Academy, in September 2027. Located at the heart of the Alconbury Weald estate in Huntingdonshire, the academy will provide a high-quality, traditional curriculum designed to help every child thrive. Additionally, DEMAT is committed to ensuring a smooth and supportive transition for pupils from across the local area.
The school will launch with four forms of entry, with an adaptable design allowing for expansion to eight forms of entry in response to future demand. Key facilities will include:
• Sports pitches and outdoor playing courts
• A sports hall and playing fields
• A state-of-the-art performing arts centre In line with DEMAT’s commitment to sustainability, the academy will be built using energy-efficient design principles, reducing energy demand and minimizing CO2 emissions.
Adrian Ball, Chief Executive of DEMAT, expressed his enthusiasm for the project:
“We want to ensure all children and young people in Cambridgeshire have opportunities to thrive. I’m delighted that Alconbury Weald Church Academy will provide those opportunities for the current and future residents of Alconbury Weald.”
For more information, updates will be shared with local primary schools and available on the DEMAT website: www.demat.org.uk/ alconbury-weald-church-academy---our-new-secondary-school.
St Christopher’s
A
day
in the
life of ‘Dylan’ - an early years child at St Christopher’s
Today was a really good day as my tooth fell-out last night whilst I was in bed and I couldn’t wait to show Mr McDonald and all of the rest of my class. I’m not sure how much money I am going to be left when the Tooth fairy comes, but it is the third tooth that I have lost so it might be a lot! We started the day by choosing our lunches. I chose to have a Roast dinner but sometimes I have cheese or ham wraps, and once I even had a jacket potato!
We had collective worship next with all of the bigger children in the school. Mr Goddard told us all about ‘Respect’ which is one of our school Pride values. I made a Pride Hand award for my friend Evie yesterday by drawing around Mr Smith’s hand. We get given real PRIDE hand awards in our celebration assemblies each week and I got one once for ‘Independence’ when I first started at school.
After collective worship, we had phonics which is my favourite. Mr Smith built the word ‘bum’ on the whiteboard, and we all laughed but then he added the ‘p’ on the end to build the word ‘bump’. I think he did it on purpose as he always does funny things like that in phonics. Afterwards we learned all about odd and even numbers and I was really good. We had to add counters to tensframes to see if they all had pairs or not. If the counters all had a pair, the number was an even number. If there was one leftover in the tens-frame, we knew that it was an odd number. I’m 5 now which is an odd number, and my dad just had his birthday, and he was 34 which my teacher helped me work out was an even number. I might tell my dad that.
Next, we had snack and playtime which was great. I made an International Space Station outdoors using the wooden blocks and I orbited Earth like the real space station. I really want to visit Jupiter one day as it is my favourite planet because it is the biggest one in our solar system and has a storm on it. Did you know that there are over 100billion planets in our galaxy and that our galaxy is called the milky way? I got to dress as a real astronaut today as it is non-uniform day, and it was really fun because I then wrote a list of all of the things that an astronaut has to take to space with him. After lunch, we did lots of learning about the Mars rovers which are just like robots, and we found out that there are two up there on Mars right now! I really wanted to build my own Mars rover out of the junk-modelling but first I designed it using a special ‘rocket design’ sheet that Miss Fraser had made for us. I haven’t coloured it in yet, but I did write labels on all of the parts I need so I’m hoping that Mr Smith has a Pringles tube or maybe a bottle that I can use. Next, we wrote sentences and this is something that I’m really good at. The teacher tells us the sentence and he always does silly voices first. Then he tells us each of the words that we need to write for our sentence and I always get them right. We need to remember our finger-spaces, capital letters, and full-stops too, and some of my friends need to remember about writing on a straight line and also keeping all of the writing the same size as sometimes it gets giant! I once did my mine teeny-tiny and Mrs Fisher said that it was so small that she couldn’t even read it! I got it right though.
At home time, we get to see our mums and dads again! My mum always picks me up but sometimes it has been my dad too. I love coming to school and I can’t wait to see how much money I get from the Tooth fairy later! Bye!
Holme and Stilton Submergedthe First Lego League Challenge
In preparation for the First Lego League Challenge, teams from Holme and Stilton began their journey in October 2024, working tirelessly to hone their skills and push themselves in time for competition day.
This year’s competition was themed ‘Submerged’, focusing on the challenges our oceans face worldwide. The day was packed with exciting activities, including:
• Creating pit displays showcasing their teamwork and creativity.
• Taking part in a team challenge to test problem-solving skills.
• Competing in the Robot Game, where students coded and built robots to complete LEGO-based tasks within a set time.
• Delivering presentations to a panel, sharing their innovative projects inspired by this year’s theme.
The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience, working hard to develop unique solutions to ocean-related problems. A special highlight was the opportunity to speak with a marine biologist, who provided valuable feedback on their ideas, bringing their innovation projects to life!
The event was great fun, and we couldn’t be prouder of both teams. Their dedication paid off, with Holme winning the Best T-Shirt Design award and Stilton taking home the Best Pit Display trophy!
A huge well done to everyone involved! We are already looking forward to next year’s challenge!
William de Yaxley
A panto, a visit to O2, sporting medals and a residential – oh yes!!
It would not be Christmas without a pantomime – oh no it would not! The lovely FOWDY team arranged for a theatre company to perform Aladdin to everyone to help them get into the Christmas spirit. They also purchased a wonderful set of figurines to go on display in their reception area, along with some frescos. As part of their artwork year 6 painted a nativity scene with a triangular composition directly onto plaster.
The school choir had an amazing visit to O2 in London at the end of January. This was such a fabulous event for them to take part in – they sang their hearts out with hundreds and thousands of other school children and danced along to popular tunes accompanied by a live band.
The WDY sports teams have had a great start to the year. Our football teams took part in the DEMAT Peterborough Hub Football league. The A team won the league and were unbeaten in all seven of their games – well done boys! Our B team had a slower start but really picked up and won the last three of their matches. Well done to all for showing determination and resilience and not giving up!
A team of children who have additional needs recently took part in a Panathlon (mixed sports event) at Jack Hunt school and won! This is the second consecutive year that WDY children have come back to school with gold medals and smiles a mile wide, making us all so proud. Soon they will be taking part in the county championships. Good luck everyone!
Year 4 children looked forward to their residential trip to Burwell House at the end of February, which for many was the first time they had stayed away from home and not been with a family member or relative – a big step! Whilst at Burwell they took part in lots of fun activities in the house and grounds and got to spend time filming in a television studio. They also explored the village of Burwell and made comparisons with Yaxley.
Anthony Curton Year 3’s exciting trip to King’s Lynn Museum
Recently, our Year 3 pupils embarked on a fascinating visit to King’s Lynn Museum to deepen their PKC learning about the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings. From the moment they arrived, the children were captivated by the incredible SeaHenge before splitting into groups to explore a variety of hands-on activities.
One of the highlights was playing traditional Viking games, which proved to be a huge hit! The children had so much fun that we are now considering recreating some of these games for wet playtimes. They also put their minds to the test with AngloSaxon riddles and pastimes—surprisingly, they were even better at solving them than the adults! Their enthusiasm for riddles has continued back at school, where they now enjoy creating and sharing their own daily.
Another favourite activity was wool-weaving. While tricky at first, the children persevered and were proud to take their weavings home to complete. They also had the rare opportunity to handle historical objects, marvelling at their weight and unexpectedly well-preserved condition.
The visit concluded with an exploration of Viking warriors, where some lucky pupils even got to try on helmets and shields—much to their surprise, they discovered just how heavy chainmail armour really is!
Overall, the trip was an incredible learning experience, bringing history to life in an exciting and memorable way.
Tilney All Saints Celebrate Plough Monday
On Monday 13th January, the children, staff and wider community of Tilney All Saints Primary School celebrated Plough Monday.
Plough Monday is celebrated on the first Monday after the 12 days of Christmas and traditionally marked the start of the agricultural year. On this day, farm workers were supposed to go back to work but they did not. Instead, they took a plough around the village and were given sums of money by local residents. At certain points in history, the “plough boys” performed songs and / or dances. The Reverend Bloomfield, who wrote a History of Norfolk, published in 1775, said that the money was used to keep a “plough light” burning all year to bring blessings upon the rural community and that after the Reformation, they kept the money for themselves. Tilney was certainly one of those villages that kept giving the plough money or “Plowsilver” to the church.
The village of Tilney All Saints has some of the very oldest records of Plough Monday in the whole of the country. The children of Tilney All Saints, with the help of Mr. Wilkinson, pushed the plough through the village as local people did in 1452.
As part of our celebration, we were incredibly lucky to be joined by the Ouse Washes Molly dancing troop. The children performed three dances: Cross Hand Polka, Birds-a-Building and the Broom Dance, followed by performances from the Ouse Washes Molly.
The children, staff and community had a fantastic morning celebrating at the church and are hugely grateful to the support from the Rural Dean (Reverend Richard Hines), Mr Kitchen and Ouse Washes Molly.
Babraham Science enrichment
Researchers into Immunology from the Babraham Institute visited school recently and led a workshop for Years 5 and 6. The pupils learnt about different types of cells, how the immune system changes as we age, and the role of antibodies.
This was a further example of the strong links we have with our community; we are very lucky to be able to access the outreach provided by such an amazing institution.
Holme School Games Mark – gold award!
Holme has proudly achieved the gold award in the School Games Mark for the last academic year, though we had to wait a little while for our pendant to arrive!
As a school, we have worked incredibly hard to raise the bar in our sports provision, and this prestigious award is a testament to our efforts. We are committed to ensuring that all children get their daily active minutes, encouraging them to embrace physical activity and develop a lifelong love for movement.
This achievement reflects our dedication to promoting physical literacy, well-being, and a positive relationship with sport. Well done to everyone involved in making this possible!
Farcet
Exploring Space: an inspiring journey for Earhart Class
During Term 3 PKC lessons, Earhart Class (EYFS Reception) embarked on an exciting journey beyond our planet, into the vastness of Space. The children were fascinated as they discovered a wealth of facts about the universe. They explored the role of the sun in warming our planet, learned the names of the planets, and delved into the wonders of stars, constellations, and gravity.
Their learning extended to famous astronomers like Galileo and Caroline Herschel, as well as inspiring astronauts Mae Jemison, Neil Armstrong, and Tim Peake. They were particularly captivated by Tim Peake’s six-month mission aboard the International Space Station! The excitement continued as they explored Mars Rovers, inspiring them to design their own, sparking scientific curiosity and deeper thinking about space exploration.
Mrs. Masi (EYFS Reception Class Teacher) shared: “All of the children have embraced our Space topic, but for one child, Rufus Zielenow, space has been truly captivating! He even created a galaxy at home using magnetic sand—just one of many engaging activities. His family has gone above and beyond to support his learning and curiosity at home.”
Rufus’ mother also shared her delight in his enthusiasm for the topic: “The Space topic this half-term has truly ignited Rufus’ interest. He comes home eager to extend his learning - borrowing books from the library, visiting the National Space Centre over half-term, and diving into creative projects. We’ve made planet paintings, created a galaxy with colourful sand, and even put together a scrapbook of our Space Centre visit. It has been a joy to watch his excitement, and we’ve learned so much alongside him!”
The Space topic has been an incredible source of inspiration for the EYFS Reception children at Farcet CofE Primary School. Their enthusiasm for learning continues to grow, setting a strong foundation for curiosity and discovery in the years ahead.
Stilton Financial capability workshops
Pupils in Year 6 at Stilton Primary Academy recently took part in a second financial education workshop which supported the work they were doing in their Financial Capability unit in PHSE.
The workshop started with the pupils learning about the history of money. They learnt about savings, how to save and setting goals, with the aim of supporting future monetary wellbeing. The first session, back in November during Talk Money Week, looked at budgeting and earning.
Delivered by financial education experts WizeUp, the interactive session emphasised the importance of making informed choices, with the pupils engaged throughout. They were encouraged to think about how money affects their everyday lives and were very keen to learn about the number of ways in which money impacts their lives.
Michael, who led the workshops, was most impressed with how much knowledge the children had, how much they learnt and the questions they asked. We are very grateful to Michael from WizeUp for delivering this informative session and to Platform for making it all happen.
Thriplow
A skipathon and hockey tournament
All the children at Thriplow took part in a Skipathon in February to raise money for Hearing Dogs for Deaf people. They raised over £500 for a charity that they themselves had selected. It was great to see the children so enthused, enjoying themselves whilst keeping fit and healthy, and raising money! Lots of the children have shared that they have improved their skipping skills so hopefully they’ll keep going with it!
Our Key Stage 2 Hockey team had a fantastic afternoon at the South Cambridgeshire School Sports Partnership hockey tournament in Cambridge. They won some, lost some and drew some,
Most importantly they had fun, worked well as a team and tried their best!
Stanground St John’s SEND coffee morning
The SEND coffee morning hosted in early January 2025 brought families together to connect, share experiences, and gain valuable insights. It was a great success!
Our work to support children with SEND is directly linked to our school vision, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34) The session focused on three key areas:
• Our Local Offer – We provided information on the support and resources available in our community for children with SEND, ensuring families are aware of the services they can access.
• Classroom Adaptations – We discussed the strategies and adjustments made within our classrooms to support all learners, ensuring an inclusive and nurturing environment.
• Practical Tools for Home – Families received useful tips and strategies to help support their children’s learning and development at home, reinforcing consistency between school and home life.
Holme
The morning was a fantastic opportunity for open discussions, questions, and shared experiences. Thank you to all the families and Ms Steels for organising this event. We look forward to continuing these valuable conversations!
Peterborough Hub football league
During the Autumn term, a Peterborough Hub Football League tournament was arranged by the Holme assistant headteacher, to give the children the opportunity to represent their school steam against other local DEMAT schools within their hub. Parents supported the transport to away fixtures and teams from Holme, Stilton and Bury and two from William De Yaxley took part.
The teams played 8 fixtures during the autumn term, playing all teams at home and away once. The children thoroughly enjoyed this experience, and it was great to see an improvement in play as the tournament progressed. PE leads, coaches and teachers sent in their weekly scores to update the league table. Congratulations to William De Yaxley who, as worthy winners, received a trophy to keep for the year. Well done to Holme for finishing in second place and to all those who participated!
Hopefully this event will be arranged again in Autumn 2025 along with a similar tournament for netball players in the summer term 2025.
Stilton Pre-school celebrates its first birthday
This spring, we joyfully celebrated the first birthday of our wonderful Pre-school Duckling class at Stilton C of E Primary Academy! It was a delight to mark this special occasion with our pre-school families during a fun-filled afternoon stay-and-play session, complete with exciting party activities and plenty of delicious cake.
Providing this new early year’s provision for our local community has been an incredibly rewarding journey, and we are so grateful for the support and kind messages we’ve received from those who have become part of our Duckling family. From welcoming our very first pre-schooler, Porter, to watching our class grow over the past year, we couldn’t be prouder of every Duckling and the progress they have made.
We look forward to many more years of nurturing and supporting our youngest learners in the heart of our community!
St Andrew’s Matty Long brings Super Magic Happy Forest workshops to school!
At the beginning of term, St Andrew’s in Soham was delighted to welcome Ely author and illustrator, Matty Long, who enthralled the children with fantastic drawing workshops featuring his super awesome characters. Matty, a Master’s graduate from Cambridge School of Art, is the creator of the hilarious ‘Super Happy Magic Forest’ books, which have recently been adapted into a TV series for CBBC.
School English Lead Donna Kitching explained, “The children loved finding out about how Matty came up with and developed his ideas, proving very eager to explore their own artistic abilities by following Matty’s step-by-step instructions to create memorable characters.” Year 4 pupil, Mai Isbell said, “I loved it because Matty showed us how to draw by turning basic shapes into brilliant characters.”
Matty’s career continues to go from strength to strength thanks to the recent exciting CBBC adaptation of ‘Super Happy Magic Forest,’ on which he was associate producer. Featuring an allstar cast of vocal talent including comedians Julian Barratt and Judi Love, the TV series builds on numerous accolades Matty has received throughout his career, such as winning Cambridgeshire ‘Libraries Read it Again!’ award and being shortlisted for the 2016 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize.
The children and staff of St Andrew’s were thrilled to have a rising star of children’s literature in their midst, and Matty’s energy, enthusiasm, and skill will undoubtedly help nurture the next generation of writers and artists.
Anthony Curton Celebrating Word Book Day
Students and staff at Anthony Curton School had a fantastic time celebrating World Book Day by dressing up as their favourite book characters. The school was filled with an array of creative costumes, including princesses, Peter Rabbits, Black Panther, Spider-Man, multiple Matildas, and Mary Poppins!
Everyone truly embraced their characters, making the day both exciting and memorable for all!
Trip to Cambridge Science Centre’s pop-up venue
At the beginning of February, Fox class were lucky to be able to participate in a fully funded trip to Cambridge Science Centre’s pop-up venue in Horsefair Shopping Centre, in Wisbech.
Linking perfectly with our unit on the geography of the UK, the session developed children’s understanding of the Fenlands surrounding our school. Children explored the natural habitats of the Fens by investigating the past, present and future of this ecosystem. After learning about the turbulent history of the Fens, the children split into groups and created small working parties to decide what the future of the Fens would look like. Taking on the roles of town planner, farmer, ecologist and business manager, children used their own experiences, case studies and research to find STEM solutions to environmental challenges. Children were able to practice research skills, critical analysis, and data-driven decision making as they balanced the Fenland’s future priorities.
Not only did the children enjoy this workshop, but they also had the opportunity to explore displays brought into the pop-up venue by the Cambridge Science Centre, further developing their understanding of various scientific concepts. Children were engaged in the learning throughout our session and were excited to share their learning back at school.
This was a fantastic opportunity for our children to get hands-on experience of their learning!
St Luke’s - a quilt of history
St. Luke’s Church marks 150 years with a collaborative creation
In a celebration that combines tradition, community, and creativity, St. Luke’s Church in Cambridge has unveiled a remarkable tribute to its 150th anniversary.
A story quilt, designed and crafted by the children of the local school in collaboration with renowned artist Jane Frost. This colourful piece of art will not only stand as a symbol of the church’s long history, but also serve as a lasting connection between the church, the school, and the people who have been part of its journey.
The idea for the quilt was sparked by a visit from Mrs. IrelandCurtis, the Headteacher, who saw a similar quilt created church building itself.”
With this rich history in mind, the children were encouraged to contribute their thoughts on what was most important to them about their school experience. Their ideas were woven into the quilt’s design, making it not only a work of art but also a collection of personal reflections on learning, friendship, and community.
The creation of the quilt was a true community effort, with everyone from teachers to children and church members participating in the sewing process. A particularly touching feature is that every child has their handprint sewn onto the quilt, symbolising their contribution and place in the ongoing legacy of the church and school. In addition, the quilt has been designed with space to add the handprints of new members of the community as they join the school, ensuring that the quilt will continue to evolve and grow for generations to come.
“This really is a very special project,” says Mrs. Ireland-Curtis. “It celebrates the strong bond between the church and the school, and it’s something that will be cherished for many years to come. Who knows, maybe it will even be part of the church’s 250th anniversary celebrations!”
Marshland St James Partners with Northampton Saints Rugby Club
Since September 2024, Marshland St James
Primary and Nursery School has been working closely with Northampton Saints Rugby Club, bringing an exciting sporting experience to its pupils.
During the autumn term, Year 5 and 6 students enjoyed a full term of rugby training led by coach Ben Scully, developing their skills, teamwork, and love for the sport. This half term, Ben has extended his coaching to Years 1-4, giving younger pupils a fantastic introduction to the world of rugby.
Looking ahead, a group of KS2 pupils will have the incredible opportunity to visit Cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens at the end of March 2025. The day will include an exclusive training session and a behind-the-scenes stadium tour, offering a memorable experience and deeper insight into professional rugby.
We are thrilled to be working with Northampton Saints and look forward to seeing our pupils continue to develop their rugby skills!
Guilden Morden
Sports For Schools – great athletes event!
With great excitement, we welcomed top GB athlete Sean Rose to our school for an actionpacked day of fitness and inspiration! The event kicked off with a sponsored fitness circuit, where Sean put the children through their paces, followed by an inspiring whole-school assembly that left everyone motivated to chase their dreams.
The goal of this event was to boost physical activity, well-being, and academic success by introducing children to a real-life sporting role model. It was also a fantastic fundraising initiative, with most of the funds raised going towards new sports equipment for the school.
Sean is a world-class athlete and adventurer. A double Winter Paralympian, he made history by winning Britain’s first Ski World Cup Downhill Gold and later became a World Water Ski Champion. After a ski accident in 2000 left him paralysed, Sean refused to let it hold him back. He went on to become Britain’s most successful alpine ski racer before retiring in 2013. Today, he is an inspirational speaker, adventurer, and pilot - proving that resilience and determination can overcome any challenge.
During the Great Athletes event, children enthusiastically took part in a range of fitness tests and activities, encouraging each other to push their limits and try new movements. The assembly that followed gave them the chance to hear Sean’s incredible journey, learning how he overcame obstacles to achieve success. They also had the opportunity to ask exciting questions, making it a truly engaging experience.
The event was a huge success, with the children’s sponsorship efforts helping the school raise over £860! These funds have been used to purchase vital new sports equipment, supporting greater physical activity and well-being for all.
A huge well done to all the children for their fantastic fundraising efforts - you’ve made a lasting impact on our school’s PE curriculum!
Holy Cross Local primary pupils Inspired by GB Rugby Sevens Star Georgie Lingham
Pupils at Holy Cross Church of England Primary School in King’s Lynn have been embracing the world of rugby through weekly training sessions, thanks to a West Norfolk Rugby Club initiative aimed at encouraging more girls to take up the sport.
These free sessions, led by coach James Burroughs, have been a fantastic opportunity for pupils in Years 3-6 to develop their skills and confidence. Adding to the excitement, the children recently took part in a special training session with Great Britain rugby sevens player Georgie Lingham and Ellen Collison, the Youth Girls Head Coach at West Norfolk Rugby Club.
Following the training, Georgie held a Q&A session where she shared insights into her journey as a professional athlete. She also presented the children with certificates and generously donated a signed shirt to the school.
What Did the Pupils Think?
Jasmin: “It was really fun learning how to tackle during the sessions with Georgie.”
Ivy: “The sessions were great! We learned so much about teamwork. It was fun to ask Georgie questions and hear about her training.”
Archie: “I really liked the Q&A session - she told us lots of interesting details about her career.”
Harry: “Using the tackle bags was really fun! It was also cool to hear how Georgie played football as a child and only started rugby at 21.”
Mrs. Zeil, Headteacher at Holy Cross Church of England Primary School, which is part of The Diocese of Ely Multi Academy Trust (DEMAT), highlighted the lasting impact of the initiative: “These rugby sessions have given our children the chance to be taught by specialized coaches, and it has been particularly inspiring for many of our girls. Having Georgie visit was the pinnacle of the experience - it showed our pupils firsthand what they could aspire to achieve.”
With newfound enthusiasm for the sport, many pupils are now eager to explore further opportunities at West Norfolk Rugby Club, proving the success of the initiative in sparking a passion for rugby.
St Martin and All Saints
Paul Sturgess, world’s tallest basketball player, visits the Academy!
On 7 January, pupils and staff at St Martin and All Saints were in for a huge treat; a visit from the tallest man in basketball, Paul Sturgess. Paul measures 7ft 7in and is currently also the tallest actor in Britain.
Paul visited the schools to perform tricks, basketball skills, and to share his experience growing up as uniquely tall. The Guinness World Record holder spoke about the difficulties he faced, and how he managed to turn something unique and different, into a positive, which as a result has produced spectacular opportunities throughout his life!
Paul ran class workshops throughout the day. His focus was on his height, and how it was a challenge for him growing up. He expressed that he was only 6’4 until the age of 14, then just carried on growing and growing. He understands that he is interesting to look at and treats that difference as a positive. “I know people look at me and see me as being different to others. But I have chosen to make the most of this gift and am proud of myself for that.”
During each workshop, he showcased some of his basketball videos from his time in the NBA, where he played against some of the game’s greats like Lebron James. He played for the Harlem Globetrotters for three years, touring the world, and has starred in films including Avatar 2, Lord of the Rings and Fantastic Beasts, with an upcoming feature in next year’s Stranger Things series. To conclude each session, Paul invited some pupils to try out some basketball tricks which included, spinning the ball on your finger, and spinning the ball on the end of a pen!
He taught the pupils how to dribble with the importance of keeping your head up and dribbling with both hands. He also gave the pupils photo opportunities and spent time completing a Q&A with each year group.
Every child was given a signed photo from Paul to remember their day, and pupils left school full of excitement, enthusiasm, and courage to be whoever they aspired to be. Both schools across the partnership would like to thank Paul for his valuable and memorable visit!
St Andrew’s Madagascar at St Andrew’s!
St Andrew’s in Soham was thrilled to stage their 2025 production, Madagascar Junior!
The stage adaptation of the popular Dreamworks film took the audience on a musical adventure from New York’s Central Park Zoo to the wilds of Madagascar.
The show, directed by teachers Abby Egan, Mel Bell and Donna Kitching, was packed with fantastic showstoppers and many laugh-out-loud moments, which the children enjoyed bringing to life. St Andrew’s drama club had been rehearsing the show since the Autumn, with teaching assistant Catherine Sargent hard at work making and collating the extensive costume and props, during this time too.
The show was a massive hit with parents and children, and staff were so proud to see a variety of children from across the school community having their moment to shine.
(Photos by Kate Amann)
St Botolph’s Triumphs at First LEGO League competition!
In early February, a group of talented pupils from St Botolph’s C of E Primary School competed in the First LEGO League competition at Perkins Peterborough, a renowned local engineering company.
For weeks, our LEGO Club has been meeting twice a week under the guidance of Mrs. Bingham, Miss Javed, and dedicated volunteers from Perkins. Our budding engineers and programmers take this competition seriously, and this year was no exception!
The latest challenge required them to design, build, and code a robot to complete a series of complex tasks, including navigating a course, tipping obstacles, moving objects, and executing precise drops. While the team spent weeks carefully programming and rehearsing, the competition day was about much more than just robotics.
Alongside their technical skills, the children had to showcase their research and presentation abilities, confidently explaining their projects to a judging panel. Their ability to articulate their findings with such depth and clarity was truly impressive.
Next came the blind teamwork challenge, where they had just 90 seconds to strategise and solve a surprise task. Rising to the occasion, they demonstrated quick thinking, problem-solving, and outstanding teamwork.
Regional Champions – on to nationals!
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that, thanks to their exceptional performance, our team was crowned regional winners and will now advance to the national finals in Harrogate on 3 May! The next stage will be themed ‘Submerged’, where teams will use LEGO technology and creative problem-solving to explore the layers of the ocean.
The judges were so impressed with our pupils’ performance that they took a moment to tell our teachers, “You should be incredibly proud of your children.” The school staff couldn’t agree more!
A huge congratulations to our team - we can’t wait to see them take on the nationals!
Holy Cross Welcomes pre-school pupils
Holy Cross CofE Primary School is delighted to announce the opening of its brand-new preschool, providing a fantastic early years experience for local families. We now welcome children from age 3, offering morning and afternoon sessions as well as full-day placements from 08:30 – 15:30.
To help families explore our pre-school provision, we invite parents and carers to join our ‘Stay and Play’ sessions on Monday mornings. These sessions offer a wonderful opportunity for under-5s to play, enjoy snacks, sing songs, listen to stories, and make new friends in a safe and nurturing environment. Parents and carers can also experience firsthand what life is like at Holy Cross while engaging with our early years team.
Additionally, ‘Stay and Play’ provides an exclusive opportunity for families to learn more about the exciting opportunities available at Holy Cross, and how our pre-school supports children in building a strong foundation for their educational journey.
Parents and carers interested in pre-school placements or ‘Stay and Play’ sessions can visit our website for more details or contact the school to arrange a personalised tour.
Emma Zeil, Headteacher at Holy Cross CofE Primary School, said: “We are thrilled to open our pre-school provision, supporting families across King’s Lynn and giving our youngest learners the best possible start to their education. Our dedicated early years team ensures children are well-prepared for their transition into Reception, so they can thrive from day one.”
“Our Stay and Play sessions have also been a huge hit, allowing parents to see their children happily playing, learning new songs, and building friendships in a welcoming setting. We understand that choosing the right primary school is a significant decision, and we encourage families to visit us, meet our passionate staff, and see how we help every child flourish.”
We look forward to welcoming new families and supporting every child in their exciting early learning journey!
Babraham Babraham Girls crowned small schools’ champions!
At a recent tournament in Cambridge, our Y5/6 football team was unbeaten, and the girls returned to school with medals and a trophy. The entire school was buzzing with excitement, and we gave the girls a guard of honour as they arrived.
As we travel along The Babraham Way, we try our best every day, and this week the girls were rewarded for their efforts!
