“The object of The Corporation shall be to provide at the School an education of the highest class” (Royal Charter)Chairman of the Governing Body Mr R Ringrose | Head Mrs S Kerr-Dineen MA (Cambridge) Chair of the Governing Committee of Laxton Junior School Debbie McGregor Head of Laxton Junior School Mr S Robertson MA (Cambridge) Bursar and Secretary to the Governors Mr DJ Toriati MA OBE
LJS received the highest possible judgement in all areas following a fourday ISI inspection in June 2022. The inspection covered regulatory compliance, which made no recommendations for improvement, and educational quality, which was judged as excellent across the two key outcomes.
The quality of the pupils’ academic and other achievements is excellent
Pupils have outstanding knowledge and skills across all areas of the curriculum
Pupils have excellent study skills for their ages supported by the questioning techniques encouraging hypothesis and analysis, which are a constituent part of many lessons
Pupils have excellent attitudes to learning in response to the school’s high expectations for pupil engagement, and active involvement
Pupils are outstanding communicators, competently using sophisticated vocabulary for their age when both speaking and writing
The quality of the pupils’ personal development is excellent
Pupils have excellent social skills, collaborating exceptionally effectively to achieve shared goals
Pupils are outstanding decision-makers, taking advantage of the many opportunities to make appropriate choices in their learning
Pupils demonstrate excellent levels of self-confidence and self-discipline
Pupils make excellent contributions to others in their school and local community in response to the school’s focus on kindness and caring
Pupils have an excellent understanding of the importance of mental health within a healthy lifestyle
2021-2022 has been a year of stark contrast.
As we reflect on a turbulent year with challenging events regularly in the headlines, it would be easy to forget the countless celebrations and significant milestones which have taken place at the school.
The celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the end of Covid restrictions, the opening of the Woodland Garden by Master Grocer Timothy Coleridge, music and drama competitions and performances, excellent sporting achievements across numerous disciplines, the STEM Fair, in-person chapel services and Speech Day, residentials to York, Wales and France, and many more. The school is thriving.
Of course, events in the country and globally remind us on a daily basis of the fragility of our environment, but as Mr Robertson reminds the children, Laxton Junior School is all about seeking out and embracing the opportunities available in our community. Judging by the numerous examples set out in these pages, 2021-2022 has been another stellar year. None of these achievements would be possible without the relentless hard work of the magnificent team of staff across all disciplines of the school. Their dedication and passion is what makes things happen in Laxton Junior School and this is reflected in this Review.
We say goodbye to staff and pupils who have reached the end of their time at Laxton Junior School. Our thanks to all those who will not be returning and we look forward to hearing about their new ventures and experiences as they start their life beyond Laxton Junior School.
Looking ahead is a key responsibility for governors and we have been working with the senior leadership team at Laxton Junior School to plan ahead for the long-term success of our school. There are some exciting development initiatives, which are set out in the announcement of Project 24 – Investing in our Future,
which brings together plans to modernise our offer for our early years pupils and upgrade our Science and Art facilities; this will firmly connect Laxton Junior School and Oundle School together. These exciting plans for Laxton Junior School have been made possible through the generous legacy of former Head, Sue Thomas, and the governors are delighted to be working with Mr Robertson and his leadership team to realise these plans for the school.
Changes and developments for the school require a huge team effort; on behalf of all the governors we thank staff, pupils and parents for all your contributions and commitment this year and, importantly, look forward to next year as we strive to ensure the ongoing and future success of Laxton Junior School.
We have been reminded, in recent months and years, just how fragile our freedoms and liberties are. The pandemic brought about comprehensive restrictions that detailed where and how we could go about our daily lives. Then, in early 2022, the invasion of Ukraine shook the foundations of a peaceful Europe, bringing with it a catastrophic impact on the people involved, and sending shockwaves across the world.
As we try to rationalise these global events, it is more important than ever to recognise just how fortunate we are. Laxton Junior School is such a happy and safe place, full of vibrant opportunities to learn and experience, and enriched by a community of people who care deeply about each other.
I am immensely grateful to be a part of this school and can see the extraordinary hope and happiness that it brings to the lives of all who are connected to it. This Review of 2021-2022 captures the magic of our year, celebrating the many achievements of staff and children, and emphasising the importance of a strong and supportive school community.
A key message that we have shared with the children this year is that of ‘living your best life’; where we have encouraged them to embrace each day with absolute enthusiasm and determination to ensure that they make the most of every lesson, activity, opportunity and experience. This is what we asked of them and, as they always do, our children responded spectacularly.
So, in writing this introduction, I asked children from across the school to tell me how they have lived their best life this year and, to further illustrate the fantastic content that lies ahead in this publication, I share their memories with you here. It is a positive reminder that, whatever is happening in the world around us, our children will always find a way to be happy.
Through their play experiences, the Reception children have demonstrated that imagination is the only limit to their learning. Indeed, the children enjoyed telling me all about their junk modelling creations, designing fabulous toys and robots, and their vibrant role plays where they became, amongst other things, the ringmaster of their very own circus show.
Year 1 recalled living their best lives in the great outdoors. The trip to Rutland Water was a highlight for some
children who loved using the binoculars to find different types of birds; for others, making and using maps of the woodland garden helped them understand and navigate this fantastic natural resource.
The new swimming pool was mentioned by Year 2 as being a place that brings not only great happiness and enjoyment but a wide range of firsts, too. For example, the children remembered building up their confidence enough to jump in for the first time; or how proud they were to swim their first ever width of the pool after working so hard on their breaststroke legs.
Trying out new things helped Year 3 to live their best lives, this year. The children I spoke to were so excited to tell me about the spy robots they made in Computing, complete with fantastic sound sensors that told the machine when to start and stop. Canoeing was another new experience and the children remembered how beautiful it was out on the river, drifting past swans, and accidentally splashing each other with their oars.
The Year 4 children reflected on the wonderful LJS community and how enriched school life is when surrounded by friends and teachers. They remembered receiving a Values Certificate in Celebration Assembly, and feeling overwhelmingly happy to stand up in front of the school, shake their teacher’s hand and receive the award. Playtime was a daily joy for Year 4, too; they spoke about meeting new friends, talking and playing together, and the never-ending giggles that accompany it all.
Best life moments in Year 5 featured some big events where the children were able to showcase their talents and passions. Representing the school at a tennis fixture was an exciting and nerve-wracking experience, the children told me, but they loved being on court with their friends and had a brilliant time. The children spoke passionately about their STEM Fair projects, as well, which involved lots of science-fuelled playdates and plenty of tremendous self-led learning!
The Year 6 children’s best lives were a combination of friendship and top-of-the-school experience. This included the superb production at the Stahl, which was the first time some children had ever sung a solo on stage, and they remembered the way their friends had encouraged them through the nerves. The Sports Tour was another highlight and the children told me that they had loved every single minute of being away from home, playing sport, going bowling and – most of all – having a ridiculous amount of fun with their friends.
2021-2022 has been a fantastic year for our school, where our children have certainly lived their very best lives in such a multitude of different and spectacular ways. These experiences are, of course, the product of a huge amount of hard work and inspiration from the LJS staff team, and they have my thanks – as always – for all they have done to support high-quality learning, care and opportunity.
Looking ahead, there is a great deal to be excited about as we head into a summer of change and transition. In addition to celebrating the year just gone, this Review outlines how we plan to continue growing and improving as a school; in particular, it details some fantastic new learning spaces that will be developed over the coming months as we look to raise further the quality of our EYFS and STEAM provision.
Finally, next year is, for my own family, an especially important time as my wife and I begin our own LJS parental journey. When I look at this amazing school and all that it gives to our children, I could not be more excited for my daughter and the educational experience that lies ahead of her. Indeed, there is no better preparation for a life of learning, no greater exposure to opportunities across and beyond the curriculum, no shortage of wonderful friends to be made and no doubt that LJS inspires children to live their very best lives.
“Laxton Junior School is such a happy and safe place, full of vibrant opportunities to learn and experience, and enriched by a community of people who care deeply about each other.”
New marking and feedback approach focuses on celebrating successes and identifying next steps
Teaching Assistants have received wide-ranging training and now lead group work and interventions
Opportunities to challenge our most able children have been identified and mapped out with specific provision across all subject areas
New collaborative learning spaces have been designed across the school building ready to be implemented in the new academic year
High-quality teaching underpins academic provision
Outstanding opportunities are provided across the STEAM subjects
Andy Grainger is now leading our approach to Science & Engineering
A new staff STEAM Team has been formed with a clear focus on connecting Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Maths together
The Art Room has been redesigned into an Art and Design Studio and the Science Room has been redesigned into a Science and Engineering Lab, ready for a September 2022 opening
New clubs, such as the GreenPower Racing Car experience, have brought opportunities for our children to engage in engineering activities alongside Oundle School staff
Outdoor learning sits at the heart of our approach
A grand opening for the Woodland Garden was held for the whole community in November
Existing and prospective parents have been invited to a range of community and admissions events in the Woodland Garden
1 are visiting the garden at least once a week for focused outdoor learning sessions or to enrich other parts of the curriculum; Years 3 to 6 enjoy termly outdoor learning days
The LJS outdoor learning curriculum is now fully embedded and the supporting Wild Passports are used by all children to track their own skill progression through the school
We are delighted that, as they conclude their LJS education, the following children have attained scholarships and exhibitions at their senior schools.
Bea Aitken
English Exhibition, Oundle
George Burlington
Academic Scholarship, Music Exhibition (Drums) and Music Exhibition (Voice), Oundle
Sarah Clough English Exhibition, Oundle
Isabella Elderkin Music Exhibition (Voice) and Music Exhibition (Piano), Oundle
Jack Humphrey Music Scholarship, Oundle
John Leader
Talented Athlete Development Award, Stamford School
Edward Lee Music Exhibition (Cello), Oundle
Lucy Lyons Music Exhibition (Tuba), Oundle
Lleyton Miller Talented Athlete Development Award, Stamford School
Toby Phillips Music Exhibition (Voice), Oundle
Oundle School
Kimbolton School
Bilton Grange Preparatory School
Stamford School
The King’s School, Peterborough
Maidwell Hall
We are passionate about providing an outstanding education for every child at LJS. The teaching and learning landscape over the past two years has seen much change and our shift towards a responsive approach has been incredibly successful. The brilliant relationships that exist between teachers, children and peers mean our classrooms are safe and happy places where children can confidently demonstrate what they know but equally identify what they are less sure about. Lessons are dynamic across all subjects, with lesson plans adapting and developing based on each child’s understanding and progress. This continuously shifts as little lightbulb moments happen!
• Learning objectives and success criteria are clear and concise. Interactive lesson starters allow teachers to quickly identify children’s starting points and set individual targets that adapt through the lesson based on continual observation and interaction.
• Marking and feedback takes place in the moment – enabling children to understand their next steps, there and then, in the lesson.
“We always ask WHY?”
• Exciting developments in our science curriculum see our children take a more hands-on approach to learning – they develop important and necessary skills but built within a context that compels them to be curious and inquisitive.
• A highlight this year was using the wonders of technology so children could see their internal organs projected on screen to investigate the digestive system.
• Our new STEAM club builds engineering skills and last year culminated in the production of a environmentally friendly racing car which we had great fun driving around.
• The beginning of our maths lessons continue to be a noisy affair as our Times Tables Rock Stars set the children off with a positive and rather upbeat attitude!
Sharing Oundle School’s superb SciTec facilities allowed us to experience the marvel of protozoa and single-celled organisms
• Problem solving and number fluency are key and our active approach to learning has seen children make rapid progress. Using a range of difference resources in the classroom children explain and challenge their thinking by taking different approaches to embed their learning. Can you teach it, draw it, write it out?
LITERACY
• Our new literary curriculum has been an incredibly positive addition to this core subject.
• Each half term a new book underpins all areas of literacy, allowing children to develop their vocabulary, sentence structure, comprehension and grammar whilst being immersed in the world of the specific class text.
The results of this approach have been phenomenal with average comprehension ages for the children far exceeding their chronological ages
• Our children have been taken deep into the African rainforest, tightrope walking between high towers, into Space and to magical and marvellous stories of Greek Mythology.
“Our classrooms are exciting places where a child learns without realising it!”
9The Review 2021-2022 “The infectious positivity of our children and teachers is palpable as one steps through our doors. Teaching and learning is the very heartbeat of what we do and the relationship of trust between child and adult enables us to do this so well and provide such outstanding opportunities.”
The new academic year began with a wonderful new addition to the Woodland Garden… a tepee! This superb all-weather base perfectly complements our existing spaces and provides an exciting area for a huge range of activities. The garden continues to mature and evolve with time as does our use of this special place.
All children threw themselves into a full day of outdoor activities to complement their Wild Journal in Michaelmas Term
Parents joined in the fun! Each year group welcomed their parents to share in their activities together and explore
Regular crosscurricular academic links continue to support an array of lessons, bridging the children’s indoor learning with the outdoors
Designated Outdoor Learning days during the Lent and Summer Terms –children enjoyed rope ladders, fires, den building, bird box making and lots more!
Mr Timothy Coleridge, a Governor for the Corporation of Oundle School and Master of the Worshipful Company of the Grocers, officially opened the Woodland Garden!
Laxton Junior School
We took a few moments to ask our children for their top ten moments in the Woodland Garden this year...
1
2
3
4
6
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Being partnered with someone new and finding that we got on really well
Exploring new and different things and learning about things from indoors, but outside
Staring at animals and insects to see what they are doing
Making burrows and dens
Searching for fairy holes
Making stuff out of sticks
Playing lots of games like 1,2,3 where are you?
Making a scavenger word hunt for other teams to find in the garden
Fire, marshmallows and hot chocolate
Making elder bracelets
This year saw the introduction of Wild Journals across all year groups. The journals, appropriate for different age groups, involve a variety of tasks for children to complete over the year to ensure a broad range of skills, as well as an appreciation of the breadth and wonder of nature, are developed. Scan the QR code to see an example!
It has been wonderful to see musical performances and events return throughout the academic year 2021-2022. The quality of the music making has risen to new heights and more children than ever are committing to the many music ensembles and choirs that take place each week.
• LJS Winter Concert – a new event that saw all our instrumental ensembles and choirs perform in the Great Hall at Oundle School. It was wonderful to invite parents – the first music event for over a year that involved a live audience!
• Crash into Christmas – this highlight of the Michaelmas calendar included a new musical House event: ‘House Sing’. Each House performed a Christmas-themed song for a panel of judges. Huge congratulations to Whitmore who prevailed with their rendition of Santa Claus is Coming to Town
• LJS Christmas Service – the service, held at Oundle School Chapel, started with a solo by Toby Phillips and was followed by beautiful performances by both the Junior and Senior Choir as well as rousing hymns for the whole congregation. The perfect way to end a busy term.
• Brass Workshop – children in Years 4, 5 and 6 came together with brass players from Elton Primary School to learn two brand new pieces and prepare them for a short concert at the end of the afternoon. The final performance was a huge success with pupils performing their new pieces as well as showcasing other items from their repertoire. We are looking forward to this becoming a regular event in our Music calendar.
• LJS House Music – another popular event that demonstrates the incredible breadth of talent at LJS. 104 videos, from children in Years 3 to 6, were submitted for the first round of the competition which were whittled down (no easy task!) to four finalists from each House in the Junior and Senior categories. The final round was performed to parents and we welcomed Mr Paul West, Director of Music at Bishop’s Stortford College, as the adjudicator for the event. Special congratulations go to:
o Lila Burman-Roy (Junior Musician of the Year Winner)
o Lautaro Miranda Andino (Junior Musician of the Year Runner-Up)
o Toby Phillips (Senior Musician of the Year Winner)
o Joscelyne Chapman (Senior Musician of the Year Runner-Up)
Winner of House Music Gloucester
Winner of House Sing Whitmore
• Community Concerts and Sense Sensation – our popular community events returned! Members of the wider community were invited to watch both solo and ensemble performances by our children.
• Examinations – we have been pleased to resume face-to-face exams for Trinity, ABRSM and Rock School throughout the year, with children collectively taking over 100 exams and enjoying tremendous success – 51% of exams receiving a Distinction.
“Making music together is something extremely special and a way to make new friends and develop important musicianship skills.”
“There are always a few nerves from everyone when it comes to music exams, however, they are also an excellent way of setting a new goal on a child’s instrumental journey.”
In September we welcomed Miss Haynes as Head of Music. Having completed her first year at LJS, we thought we’d find out a bit more about her, why she loves Music and what plans she has for LJS...
Where did your love of music come from?
My parents both listened to a lot of music when I was young, however, neither of them had the opportunity to play an instrument when they were younger and it was an opportunity they didn’t want me to miss out on. They bought an old piano when I was about four and it all started from there!
What is your Music background?
My main instruments are piano and cello. I started playing cello aged eight… I really wanted to play the violin, but when they started handing out instruments, they had run out by the time they got to me, so I ended up with a cello. I wouldn’t change that now! Not long after, my parents took me to watch a concert by our local Youth Orchestra – I was inspired and knew I had to be part of it! I joined their Primary Orchestra Training Group and slowly worked my way up to the Youth Orchestra. I performed with them in Italy, Austria and Portugal – memories that will stay with me forever. I had fallen in love with Music and, after years of practice, I went on to study at the Birmingham Conservatoire.
“I really wanted to play the violin... but they had run out by the time they got to me. I wouldn’t change that now!”
After I graduated I started teaching one-to-one piano and music theory lessons, with around 30 students. It was such a satisfying job – I loved watching my young piano students develop their own love of music, performing at concerts and music festivals as well as taking part in exams – and it made me realise I wanted to teach as a career. I completed my Primary PGCE and saw that many international schools advertised jobs for primary music teachers – perfect! I have been lucky to teach Reception classes through to Year 13 and making music with young people is such a privilege. Watching them discover new styles and instruments, giving them the opportunity to make music with friends and to put on some amazing performances and productions – there really is nothing like it and I cannot imagine myself doing anything else!
What attracted you to LJS?
I had been working at Dulwich College Beijing for seven years. I was ready for a new challenge and, with the pandemic, I wanted that challenge to be back in the UK so I was closer to family. The first advert I saw was for the post here at LJS, and as soon as I started doing some research into the school it seemed to be a place where I could imagine working. I liked the fact that the school put such an emphasis on Music and that the senior leadership were so supportive. The interview process was much more intense than for any other job I had applied for but, strangely, I enjoyed every minute, and I was extremely proud to be offered the post.
Was there anything that surprised you when you joined LJS?
From the moment I started at LJS, I knew that I had made the right decision. Walking into the school on that first day was nerve-wracking, but everyone was so kind and helpful. I’ve never worked in a school that is as supportive as LJS. You don’t even have to ask for help, as people will normally offer it beforehand. Then there is the sheer enthusiasm for Music by the children at LJS! It was great to see how evident that was right from the start of the year, and how it has continued to grow over the months, with new ensembles starting up and even more children getting involved. We had over 100 children take part in the Winter Concert, and when you think about the size of LJS, that’s simply incredible.
I have a number of highlights from the year but two really stand out to me. After the disruptions to all the Performing Arts through the pandemic, both my highlights are things that have seen us return to the heart and soul of what makes Music so special. The first is the Winter Concert, an opportunity for all our music ensembles to perform to a live audience after such a long time. It was a really special night, with amazing performances from individual groups and the buzz from parents and children was amazing.
My second highlight has to be the Year 6 production of A Mystery at Magpie Manor. I always enjoy working on large productions like this and, whilst we did this in a short time frame, it was so much fun. The children enjoyed it and every single child gave it their all. I know that some of them were completely out of their comfort zone, but they kept at it, they took directions on how to improve and the final performance was outstanding. We also decided to put the show on at the Stahl, and the proper lighting, costumes and props just helped to bring everything to life. It was great to collaborate with Mrs Hamilton-Charlton and Mrs Humphrey on the production and pool our ideas and experience to make the production something really special.
I really want to look at ways of doing more collaborative music making. This year, Mrs Hudson put together a Brass Workshop afternoon with Elton Primary School, which was fantastic. It allowed time for the children to come together and learn brand new music, along with giving the individual ensembles an opportunity to perform as well. I want to build on this success and collaborate more with other local schools. It is still in an early planning phase, but making music together is what really inspired me, and I hope to give similar opportunities to the children at LJS.
“It was great to see the sheer enthusiasm for Music by the children at LJS... it was evident right from the start!”
School Trips
School trips are a brilliant way of enhancing the learning process and we have enjoyed an extensive educational visits programme this year including residential trips returning for Years 3 to 6.
Trips within the local area have helped to familiarise the children with the world around them, whilst visits relevant to their topics have helped embed their understanding in the classroom and, for the older children, residential trips have helped them develop a sense of independence, collaboration, resilience and adventure.
1. They increase independence and confidence
2. They take children out of their comfort zone
3. They contribute to a wider world perspective
4. They bring classroom topics to life, making them real and exciting
5. They teach children new skills
Laxton Junior School16 “It was amazing watching the manta ray coming over our heads at Nausicaa.”
“During our Outdoor Day I particularly enjoyed canoeing as this was a completely new experience that was a lot of fun.”
West Lodge Farm, Desborough Understanding harvest and seasonal change at a working farm
Alma Bank Farm, Somerby Learning about animals on a working dairy farm
SciTec, Oundle School Learning about animals: fur, feathers and scales!
Once termly visits – hands-on learning about seasons
Woburn Safari Park
Getting up close to a range of animals – enhancing Kenya topic
Flag Fen Archaeological Park Exploring a reconstructed settlement from the Bronze Age
West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village Investigating Anglo-Saxon life to support in-class learning
Burghley House Tudor history in action
Holdenby House Living Victorian history –being a servant for the day!
Peterborough Museum Romans: hands-on history!
Frontier Centre (Wellingborough) Residential Trip Two-day residential
York Residential Trip Two-day residential
Peak District – Birchen Edge Rock climbing and abseiling
France Residential Trip Five-day residential
Naturebase (Wales) Residential Trip Four-day residential
Burbage Valley, Peak District Outdoor Adventure
Milton Keynes & District Reform Synagogue and Bletchley Park Learning about WWII and Judaism
Peterborough Cathedral
All pupils have visited various places of worship to support our work exploring different faiths.
Hussaini Islamic Centre
St Peter’s Church, Oundle
EPC Drolma Buddhist Centre
Faizan-eMadinah Masjid
Bharat Hindu Temple
17The Review 2021-2022 “At Rutland Water we saw lots of birds. It was fun seeing new birds, like the egret!”
Sri Guru Singh Sabha GurdwaraIt has been fantastic to see sport properly back in action this year and the children have enjoyed plenty of competitive fixtures with some super successes.
• Having won the LJS U11 football tournament for the first time last year, LJS retained the trophy this year –remaining undefeated throughout the day.
• The football team also represented the school at the IAPS competition and, despite several players having to miss the game due to Covid, the team powered on and finished 5th out of 8 schools.
• The U11 netball team had a brilliant performance at the IAPS competition, reaching the latter stages of the event.
• Cross country has seen some excellent successes this year, winning many of the year group categories at both the Brooke Priory, Copthill School and Ascoughfee School events. We also competed in the National Cross Country Finals, a hugely competitive event, that our children should be very proud to qualify for.
• Several swimming records were broken during galas throughout the year.
• Our Infant and Junior Sports Days were fun and competitive in equal measure! The Infants were delighted to welcome parents to LJS and to round off events with a lovely picnic on the lawn. For the Juniors, competing on the tartan athletics track at Oundle School was an experience they will remember for years to come.
LaxtonThere have been some exciting changes to Drama teaching this year. Lessons are now taught at the Oundle School Sports Centre – allowing us lots of space, and the ability to be noisy without disturbing the rest of the LJS pupils as they work!
As well as working on a range of tasks created to develop a wide array of speaking and learning skills, lesson time is also used to prepare each year group for an Assembly to be presented to parents and the school.
• Year 3 shared lots of amazing myths and facts about the Romans.
• Year 4 participated in an entertaining and informative Assembly on Scandinavia.
• Year 5 produced a thoughtful Assembly inspired by their water topic.
• Year 6 had twice the work to do as they delivered a thoughtful Remembrance Assembly in November, then collaborated on a reflective and upbeat Leavers’ Assembly in June.
In Key Stage One, Drama has also been visible across the year. Reception made an impressive start to performing in the Harvest Festival and at Crash into Christmas. Year 2 produced a singing, dancing and storytelling Assembly focusing on their Kenya topic and Year One impressed us all greatly with their production of Eddie the Penguin Saves the World! The Hall was transformed into a snowy scene and the children delivered their lines, danced and sang with great enthusiasm.
The annual Speech and Drama Competition is always a calendar highlight. We were delighted to welcome Nicola Marks, Head of Performing Arts at Prince William School, as our judge. She was blown away by the confidence, delivery, and selection of pieces to perform – no one envied her having to make final decisions! Well done to the winners in each age category:
o Zara Man
o Olivia Joyce
o Joscelyne Chapman
As well as performing in Drama this year, pupils have all also had the opportunity to visit the Stahl Theatre for a theatrical production. Key Stage One watched an imaginative and spellbinding showing of The Wind in the Willows and Key Stage Two were transported to Sherwood Forest for a performance of Robin Hood. Both experiences were a delight and everyone left the theatre buzzing with energy and enjoyment.
The school returned to the Stahl in May to watch the Year 6 production – A Mystery at Magpie Manor. Year 6 pupils had a fantastic time rehearsing and performing in the theatre and their performance was an amazing showcase of their hard work and talent.
There is a growing recognition, supported by current research, that the better the experience children have in Reception, the better equipped they are to face the challenges that lie ahead of them in all subsequent years. This is not surprising when you consider that it is in Reception that children undergo rapid cognitive development, acquiring and improving skills relating to, amongst others, speaking and listening, gross and fine motor control, and understanding themselves and building relationships.
The very best Reception experiences contain a variety of indoor and outdoor activities that target specific aspects of learning alongside the children’s own needs and interests. Children play and interact in a constant flow, moving from one activity to another, sometimes of their own will and sometimes guided by a teacher. Unlike anywhere else in the school, and at any one moment, the learning environment should contain:
Role-play corners where children can initiate imaginative play
Quiet zones for focused adult-led learning tasks
Messy and wet play areas for exploring the properties of water, ice, sand, mud, bubbles and slime
Areas for children to engage in reading, mark-making, art, construction and modelling
Outdoor areas set up for building, climbing, cycling, planting, exploring, socialising and so much more
To achieve this constantly shifting hub of learning, playing, thinking, talking, creating, listening, investigating, discovering and collaborating, our current Reception classrooms, designed in 2001, were ready to be re-imagined and restructured. The new, high-quality learning environment, with dynamic indoor and outdoor areas that flow seamlessly, will facilitate our innovative and modern approach to play and child-led learning – supporting our vision to provide the very best possible foundation for a life-long love of learning.
Laxton JuniorWe provide our children with the very best educational opportunities to prepare them for the learning experiences they will have at senior school and the life that lies beyond this. Whilst we cannot know what the world will look like in twenty years’ time or the nature of the jobs our children will undertake, we can predict the knowledge, skills and understanding that they will need to play an active and positive role in a future society.
These skills can be developed in many ways, but we know some of the most vibrant and tangible opportunities exist within the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM). Furthermore, as part of Oundle School, recognised internationally for its work in this area and with outstanding facilities provided through SciTec and the Patrick Engineering Centre, we saw the opportunity to develop a new approach in conjunction with the senior school’s wide-ranging expertise. Our approach will be underpinned by the development of our learning environment in these specialist areas:
• Our Art room will be redesigned and developed into an Art and Design Studio, facilitating superb learning in support of the Art and Design curriculum, led by Mrs Ashby.
• The Science room becomes a Science and Engineering Lab, which will have exciting new functionality such as collaborative working zones and 3D printing.
Further STEAM initiatives include Mr Grainger’s role as Science Lead being extended to include leadership of Engineering. He will form part of a new staff group called the STEAM Team, which also includes Mr Harper (Computing), Mrs Ashby (Art), Ms Marais (Maths) and Mr Marsden (Sustainability). This group will be tasked with generating new opportunities for STEAM across the academic and co-curriculum and delivering a STEAM Week in the next academic year.
21The Review 2021-2022 We are hugely excited about these developments and can see that they will have a huge impact on our children and their futures, and we look forward to their ever-improving engagement with this modern and innovative approach to a 21st century education.
Our club provision continues to go from strength to strength. We are fortunate to have an array of multi-talented and enthusiastic staff across both LJS and Oundle School to ensure our children have access to a vast number of opportunities – there really is something for everyone and many find it difficult to choose!
Some club highlights from this year have included:
Wizarding World, a Harry Potter-inspired club, run by Mrs Leeson, provided great excitement for those involved. One special highlight was going to SciTec and making potions with Mr Peverley in the Chemistry labs.
Adventurous clubs run by Mr Marsden always prove extremely popular, whether visiting the Wharf to spend time on the river, or going to the Acre to climb the walls. During these sessions the children develop their confidence and resilience as well as their ability to work in a team to ensure success.
A new and particularly exciting opportunity has been offered in Drama Club this year, as the group of children Mrs Humphrey has been working with took Lamda exams – and they were all extremely successful.
PLAYGROUND GAMES CHATTERBOX WOODLAND ADVENTURES
BOOK SNUGGLE
BOOK TO FILM SING & DANCE
BUDDY UP!
MANDARIN HARD BALL CRICKET NETS
KAYAKING
ROCK CLIMBING
NETBALL
SPANISH
GERMAN
NATURE CLUBHORRIBLE HISTORIES
BOOM WHACKERS CHESS
BUILD IT
RUGBY BOOK CREATOR CLASSICS CLUB
PLAN, DESIGN & CREATE
LATIN
SCHOOL OF ROCK
DESIGN IT, DRAW IT, Many children have continued to enjoy Chess after school. These clubs have either been delivered remotely by Mr Crook or by Community Action pupils who were themselves inspired to take up this game of skill and strategy at LJS. It is lovely to see them now passing on their knowledge and inspiring our younger children.
ART
FUN WITH MUSIC TRADITIONAL TALES AROUND THE WORLD
WORD ATTACK
LET’S GET ACTIVE! STORY At the end of the Lent term, the Scottish Dancing club were invited to join the first part of the Oundle School Ceilidh, which they loved! These children later shared their newly acquired dancing skills in an assembly for the school and their parents.
CRAFT
GREENPOWER RACING
HOCKEY TIME TO TALK
TEAM CHALLENGES BOOK ADVENTURES
SCHOOL NEWSPAPER
WIZARDING WORLD
CONSTRUCTION CLUB CRICKET CLUB
FOOTBALL ART ATTACK
MANAGING CHANGE
AFRICAN DRUMMING
STRATEGY GAMES SEASONAL ARTWORK FOR THE COMMUNITY
FRENCH TENNIS
BIBLE HEROES
CLUB
“We do fun things like painting and drawing. We get to draw outside on the playground.”
“We make stories which are funny.”
“We get to learn new sports and skills in a fun way.”
“I love writing and it is a brilliant way to use your imagination to create your own books.”
‘Draw it, Make it, Build it!
“I get to try to build what I draw. I am getting good at my building.”
“We toast marshmallows on sticks and build dens to hide in!”
“You can play with new people and new games and challenge them, and win prizes.”
“We learn new phrases and do something different each week.”
“I really like playing musical statues.”
We will be introducing a range of new technologies into the school, in the 2022-2023 academic year; these include new banks of iPads for all year groups, individual devices for Year 6 and a 3D printing facility in our new Science and Engineering Lab. Over the Covid period, our community developed a fantastic array of digital knowledge and skill, and we wish to develop this further through the provision of up-to-date technology and associated curriculum.
A new and exciting approach to Sport will begin in September 2022, which will have – at its heart – a determination that all children will love this important part of our co-curriculum. This new approach will take the very best of our current provision, which offers outstanding sporting opportunity to all children, irrespective of gender, and will ensure that this is fully balanced with every child receiving the support and challenge they require and the best preparation for the sporting offer at senior school.
A new staff wellbeing policy highlights proactive and reactive support mechanisms
Staff Wellbeing Action Group has formed and is consulted on the development of key policies
Team building events have been held across the academic year to support the reintegration of the staff community following the Covid period
Staff wellbeing is prioritised and promoted through innovation and events
Behaviour approach supports and promotes positive engagement
A new behaviour policy and pathway has been designed and implemented
Staff consultation and training have taken place across the academic year
School Council have led workshops, which have ensured pupil voice is well heard
Assemblies and PSHE lessons have introduced support structures to the children
Parents in Partnership sessions supported engagement and understanding within the parent body
Safeguarding in schools is essential for keeping children safe. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children has a role to play. At Laxton Junior School we are child-centered, meaning that at all times we focus on what is in the best interest of the child. Below are the key areas where our work is focussed –with spotlight features on some stand-out moments this year.
• The isolation of recent lockdowns has underlined the importance of little acts of consideration. A key theme in our curriculum has therefore been kindness.
o Anti-Bullying Week 2021 had the chosen them of ‘One Kind Word’. We were one of a handful of schools nationwide to contribute to the official Anti-Bullying Week song by Andy and the Odd Socks. We had a brilliant time filming in the Woodland Garden and are proud to have been part of something viewed by hundreds of thousands of people across the country. If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look by scanning the QR code.’
o Each child in the school created their one kindness rock, a rock decorated with one kind word. They are still scattered around the school, ready to bring a smile to those that find them.
o We took part in an anti-bullying-inspired drama workshop, run by Anti-Bullying Alliance associate members, OpenView Education, in which children participated in role-play scenarios and learned about power imbalance, as well as discussing kindness and friendship.
The amount of time we spend online both at work, school and home continues to increase and this presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. Our aim is to prepare children to engage with life online in a safe and appropriate way.
Our Digital Leaders have had a huge impact in supporting Online Safety throughout the school. The group, which includes pupils from Years 4, 5 and 6, meet weekly to support the LJS community in all areas of technology. This year our digital leaders have:
• Delivered a terrific assembly for Safer Internet Day
• Created an Online Safety Survey for pupils
• Helped review our Pupil Online Safety Charter.
The theme for Safer Internet Day was ‘Respect & Relationships Online’.
• All children had online safety assemblies focussed on how to be respectful online
• PSHE and computing lessons revolved around the importance of digital footprints
• In preparation for life at senior school, Digital Ambassadors from Oundle School visited Year 6 pupils and delivered an online safety masterclass
• Parents received a selection of online videos from online safety expert Alan Mackenzie that included topics such as gaming, social media and screen time.
Buildings and Environment SEND & Inclusion Health and Safety Risk Assessments AuditsOnline Safety Curriculum Policies Child Protection AttendanceGovernanceStaff Training SCAN ME!As a school we firmly believe pastoral care is one of our most important responsibilities. Strong pastoral care supports the physical and emotional welfare of each child – allowing them to reach their full potential academically and feel a sense of security as part of our school community.
The academic year 2021-2022 has seen a more normal school rhythm return to LJS, allowing older children to engage with and guide younger children – fostering a sense of family which actively runs through all year groups. A key focus of our PSHE education this year has been on selfcompassion as well as compassion for others.
The overarching theme this academic year has been the LJS Values: Care, Community, Love of Learning, Opportunity, and Quality. It has been wonderful to welcome so many visitors to our assemblies – supporting our children’s personal development and cultural capital. Judge Daber spoke to us about the British Value, The Rule of Law. Our children explored different religious and cultural traditions when Sunita Prasad spoke to us about the festival of Diwali, Ariel Skillings brought Chinese New Year to life, and Ruth Jampel shared her experiences of Judaism. A huge proportion of the children were inspired to take part in the Prep School’s Triathlon at Oundle School when Restless Development visited and told us about their work to support young women and girls to access education in Sierra Leone and around the world.
Channel 4 News sports reporter and former wheelchair basketball professional, Jordan Jarrett-Bryan, delivered an inspirational assembly, during which he explained his sporting story as well as his experiences of loneliness.
Natalie Jarvis, our Mental Health Lead, spoke with the children about loneliness, the theme for Mental Health Awareness week.
Sarah Kerr-Dineen, Head of Oundle, spoke about Community and Remembrance in Michaelmas Term, Respecting Diversity and Different Cultures in Lent Term, and Managing Change in Summer Term.
Rev Maria Coulter, our School Chaplain, took our Harvest assembly and Christmas service, speaking about the support and help we give to others and the wonder of the Christmas story, while Rev Annabel Copeland, Associate Vicar at St Peter’s Church Oundle, took our Easter service and spoke about the meaning of Easter.
Nurture Group club was offered to Year 3 and Year 4 pupils in the Lent Term. The club provided a forum for discussions around feelings and emotions, self-esteem, recognising triggers, safe spaces, networks of support and active listening. The sessions help to develop a toolbox for the future. The resource Nurture Group, from 1decision, provided the starting point for this wellbeing club.
Our sensory room is in its second year and provides a different space for reflection, 1:1 work or small groups.
Our Year 5 Play Leaders are responsible for organising new and exciting games at break times and offering care and support to our younger children.
This club educates children on the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Helping to understand how to challenge and change unhelpful thoughts around change, as well as learning coping strategies, some mindfulness and craft!
Art and Articulate meets weekly and has enabled children to chat, whilst drawing and being creative.
Managing Emotions is an intervention group which has supported children with emotional wellbeing. The group have been working together to understand changes in our emotions, how to identify them and control them, so that they feel less overwhelming.
At times, children may need support from our specialist Emotional Wellbeing Team. One:one work supports children with their negative feelings and emotions. Through gentle conversations, and therapeutic activities, children develop the ability to reframe thoughts and add strategies to their emotional wellbeing toolkit. Families have been supported by our Family Support Worker with children’s behaviours which developed post-Covid lockdown.
Our Wellbeing Mentor has further developed Mindfulness in school. Through the Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP), all children have developed strategies, such as finger breathing and tummy breathing, which helps train the attention to be more aware of what is actually happening, rather than worrying about what has happened or might happen.
Focused work has been with Year 4, completing Paws b, and Year 5 who have completed .breathe. Year 6 recapped .breathe ahead of transition to their senior schools.
• Paws b
A leading mindfulness curriculum for children exploring topics such as Our Amazing Brain, Growing Happiness and Choosing Your Path.
• .breathe
A mindfulness programme aimed at school transition years – looking at our capacity for attention, why humans worry, the importance of sleep and friendship.
How we have supported our children’s physical and emotional wellbeing
Our pupils are thoughtful and creative risk-takers who offer a unique perspective on what it is like to be a pupil at Laxton Junior School; involving them in decision-making has created meaningful change and better outcomes for all, as well as nurturing a sense of empowerment and inclusion.
Pupil-led assemblies have included:
• Performances by Year Groups
• House Captain and House Assemblies
• Pupil ensembles and individual performances
• Digital Leaders and Play Leader presentations
Ensured ‘pupil choice’ lunches feature on each menu cycle
Planned the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Brought back croutons and cheese and biscuits to the dining room!
Audited and ordered playground equipment
Contributed to school behaviour charters
Discussed and fed back on LJS’ approach to sport
Provided suggestions for extra-curricular clubs
Taken part in staff appraisal processes
School Council provides a meaningful way in which LJS pupils voice their opinions and have their views taken into account
Play Leaders
Our Play Leaders are a group of caring children who have trained alongside Mrs Ormston to organise and lead activities for other children on the playground
Introduced new and exciting playground equipment
Implemented and led new and fun playground games
Launched ‘Football Free Friday’ to promote engagement in a range of different playtime games
Our Digital Leaders focus on peer-topeer education and are empowered to champion the safe and positive use of technology at LJS
Planned and delivered Online Safety Assemblies
Reviewed and updated the Online Safety Pupil Charter
Started planning Online Safety Day 2023
Eco Team
The Eco-Team, elected by the school, are responsible for running our Eco-Schools programme at LJS
Meet regularly to review the LJS Eco-School’s Action Plan
Met with Sodexo to discuss their approach to sustainability, including food waste and cleaning products
Wrote and launched, alongside contributions from the whole school, the LJS Eco-Code
29The Review 2021-2022 Ran a whole school survey to find out how families travel to school
At Laxton Junior School, we believe in supporting, contributing to and being inspired by our community: children, staff, parents and governors are integral to the education we provide, and everyone’s input and involvement is encouraged and appreciated. Our Parents in Partnership initiative strives to ensure the academic, social and emotional success that every child deserves, as we share together the learning that takes place at LJS in partnership between all families and the school.
This academic year we have seen our Parents in Partnership sessions take place in person and remotely and there were opportunities to learn more about:
Sharing our new thematic approach to the teaching of English in Years 1-6
The Values and Mission of LJS and why they continue to underpin the education that we provide
Examples of Year 1 phonics lessons were shared with parents
Online content from an online safety expert shared with all families
An opportunity for parents to ask specific questions and get help linked to their child’s device and online safety
The importance of these curriculum areas and the progression from Year 1-6 was shared
An expert first-aid trainer with over 30 years experience delivered training at LJS
Sharing our vision and aims for sporting provision at LJS through Games, fixtures and clubs
Following the child’s lead, together families crafted a messy map visiting key areas of the children’s outdoor learning areas
Parents and children, led by the Reception team, explored the power of play together
Parents were able to watch, remotely, phonics lessons taking place
“All the sessions were extremely helpful and it’s great being a part of the school in this way.”
We were delighted to host our first open evening since October 2019 during the Summer Term. Parents had the opportunity to visit their child’s classroom and explore their learning alongside seeing all of the wonderful learning on display in the corridors!
The Committee and a band of willing helpers have worked so hard over the course of the year to provide entertainment and opportunities for the LJS community to get together socially. As well as being a key link to the community, the PFA planned, organised and delivered a wide range of fabulous events for a range of audiences.
A magnificent community event, held in glorious sunshine in September. Families and friends came together to eat, drink and be entertained and that is exactly what happened! Traditional afternoon teas, bar serving drinks of all kinds, traditional games such as coconut shy & hook a duck, beat the teacher (staff in goal), live band, inflatables, toy stall, independent artisan traders, raffle and much more. Scarecrow kits were sold and the brilliant array of scarecrows bedecked the fence for all to see.
Saturday afternoon, Infant disco followed by Junior disco in the LJS hall with glow sticks, temporary tattoos, drinks, games and a lot of dancing.
Personalised, bespoke gifts with decorations created by the children.
Children were invited to make cakes for a Bake Off competition. Sharon and Jason from the Catering department came down to taste and sight test the entries and were amazed by the high standard of the entries!
This popular service supports sustainability by allowing families to recycle their good quality second-hand uniform items.
Organised a decades display, supported with stalls during the afternoon, and a raffle. Each child was presented with a commemorative Jubilee tote bag and jute shoppers were available to buy too. The stamp designs, created on canvas by the children, provided a fabulous display alongside the path at the front of the school!
Supporting local charities raising money for the LJS 50th birthday celebrations in 2023.
In 2022-2023, we will be working alongside our equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) partner, Equaliteach, to undertake a wide-ranging audit of our school’s approach to EDI. This process aims to ensure that we are providing our children with a broad and balanced education that fully prepares them to be positive and engaged members of both their senior school community and the future society that lies beyond. It will include additional staff training opportunities, as well as workshops for children and parents.
New strategies for supporting positive wellbeing within our pupil-body will be introduced in September 2022; these include a new Wellbeing Mentor for Key Stage 1, who is responsible for delivering a mindfulness programme and running bespoke pastoral interventions, and the embedding of wellbeing assessment and tracking tools that enable us to further pinpoint where support might be needed.
Laxton
All children engage in swimming lessons at the new pool
The LJS values and vision are understood by the school community
The Oundle Sports Centre provides enriched opportunities for LJS children
Sports Centre staff provide a range of after-school clubs to our children
The Head presented the school’s philosophy and strategic aims to parents in September
Mrs Kerr-Dineen met with staff to outline the growing connection between the two schools
Dance, Drama and PE lessons make use of the outstanding facilities at the Sports Centre
Key strategic objectives have been shared with staff and with parents
Maximise our Purpose and Performance within the Corporation of Oundle School
Our Junior Houses, set in the Berrystead Gardens, are a wonderful haven for our youngest pupils to enjoy all this age has to offer; to grow and lay down the very best foundations to thrive as they move through the school.
The Berrystead is a family House where you can relax, be yourselves and form lasting friendship. What makes me the proudest as a Housemistress is to observe their fantastic journey over their two years with us as they hone and develop qualities such as kindness, empathy, respect and confidence which they then display in abundance as they move on to their Senior House.”
– Mrs Sophie Fonteneau, Housemistress, The Berrystead
This year more than ever, it has felt particularly special to see all the children together properly again; back in the Berrystead Gardens playing football, basketball, cricket, table tennis or just sitting in the shade of a tree chatting in groups or running around playing tag. The children themselves have certainly enjoyed the sweet moments of friendship during their downtime alongside embracing more vividly all the opportunities offered throughout the rest of Oundle School. Regular sports fixtures and concerts have marked the return to normal school life and made the children so proud and happy to unite in team endeavours. The production of Skellig, directed by Tom Fox, was a highlight of this Summer term in which Berrystead and Scott children have united their talent and enthusiasm to produce four outstanding performances at the Stahl.
The BerrysteadThrough the day you would struggle to tell which House a pupil belongs to but, when Scott children go home at 5pm, the Berrystead children come together to enjoy the many exciting and fun events organised for our junior boarders.
There are so many opportunities for the children to sharpen their curiosity, learn and embark on new adventures by attending electives, plays, talks, concerts, black tie or less formal dinners in the evenings. Equally, the time afforded to a boarding House means they can have a huge amount of fun with their friends and House staff – one of the most popular remains the giant water slide in the garden. Oh, to be 11 again!
*Thank you to the wonderful Berrystead Entertainment Reps for planning a superb Sunday activities programme this year!
In Year 7, I was part of Scott House, which I really enjoyed, and I made great friends from The Berrystead. Hearing their stories made me more and more curious about boarding so, when I started Year 8, I joined Berrystead! It has been so welcoming and has been an awesome place to spend my second year at Oundle. Berrystead boarder
Of course, there is no standard day and every pupil will construct their day slightly differently based on their interests and commitments. Here is a snapshot of life in Scott:
• Pupils start their day with us from 8am. They are registered as they enter the House and then have chance to catch up with friends.
• A busy morning of lessons is followed by a return to House for break and a snack – the gardens provide a perfect setting for cricket, football, Kubb or garden chess... or just relaxing by the swings.
• Pupils then head off to lessons again and return to the House at lunch.
• Lunchtime provides pupils with the chance to catch up with the staff team, play with friends, take part in music ensembles, speak with their tutor… and eat!
• It’s off to lessons again before return to House late afternoon for toast and hot chocolate in the café area. *Disclaimer: The toast quality control may vary depending on which tutor is on duty… the pupils are aware of which days to ask for additional jam!
Scott House provides a wonderful base where the pupils come home and be themselves, finding out what they like to do, whilst growing together.
Mrs Fiona Quiddington, Housemistress, Scott House
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would like to
Pupils in Scott have recently returned from two terrific trips out of school.
The First Form went to the Velo Park and BMX track at the London Olympic Park. They really enjoyed seeing the site and trying out the amazing facilities.
The Second Form went to Slimbridge, and visited the other Scott House, where Sir Peter Scott lived, at the heart of the WWT site. We learned once more about his life and aspirations for conservation. A highlight was the otter show and learning about the Nene geese. Of course, Go Ape rated highly too!
Charlotte Crawley, our Head of House and former pupil at LJS, gives a personal account of her time in Scott House, as it comes to a close:
”If I had to describe Scott House in three words they would be: welcoming, exciting and action-packed. The transition to Scott from LJS was an easy one. The House team support us at every step. Whether it was helping us manage time in our busy schedules or simply having a chat; conversation with every member of the team was full of laughter and kindness. At Scott House independence and trying new things are encouraged… and there is so much to do! Whether you enjoy academics, sport or music there will always be an activity for you. Electives on Tuesdays and Thursdays are where these opportunities are most visible and the vast range of activities to choose from is second to none. There are also a wide selection of pastimes to try within the House itself – everything from chess to table tennis and basketball. Many of these play a part in inter-House competitions with the Berrystead and the friendly rivalry between us adds to the fun!
The great aviator Amelia Earhart once said that a single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions and the roots spring up and make new trees – and “Try always to be kind” is the motto of Scott House. As pupils move through the school, the roots they have developed in Scott House should allow them to flourish in the next steps of their journey.”
Junior Houses please contact Oundle School Admissions on: admissions@oundleschool.org.uk or 01832 277125.
One of the questions often asked by visitors to Scott House is ‘what is a school day like for lower years?’
Links between LJS and Oundle School continue to deepen far beyond the use of facilities. Specialist staff from Oundle School run a number enrichment lessons and activities – from both a curricular and co-curricular perspective – providing our children with exceptional opportunities as well as ensuring staff and children are familiar with one another prior to senior school transition.
This year Oundle School staff have:
• Delivered our Latin Curriculum to Year 6 once a week
• Welcomed our children to SciTec for hands-on Science sessions
• Run the ‘Greenpower Racing Club’ at the Patrick Engineering Centre where Year 6 children have designed and built a 24-volt electric racing vehicle
• Judged entries in the annual STEM fair
• Delivered regular clubs for hockey, rugby, netball and cricket – all taking place at Oundle School Sports Centre, courts, pitches and astros and led by the Heads of Sport
“I liked it when they blew up the jelly baby.”
SciTec
“I loved the competition and finding out about everyone else’s investigations – they were all so different.“
STEM fair
• Visited LJS where language specialists have delivered German, French and Spanish sessions
• Engaged children in our ‘Managing Change’ programme. The Mental Health team are always available to offer bespoke support throughout the school
“I like Spanish Club as I get to learn a new language and become familiar with a teacher from Oundle School.”
OS Spanish Club
Hannah Boyle, a former pupil at LJS, will be Head of School at Oundle, next year. She follows in the footsteps of Toby Learoyd (2017-2018), Lily-Rose Tebbutt and Freddie Stewart (2018-2019), Marcus Stewart (2019-2020), Tara Boyle (2020-2021) and Izzy Horrocks-Taylor (2021-2022); that makes seven of our former pupils in the last six years! Congratulations to Hannah – we look forward to welcoming her back to LJS in her role as Head of School at Oundle.
As we have emerged from a period of global uncertainty and continued strain on both people and establishments, the Corporation of Oundle School, of which LJS is an integral part, has published its vision for securing the long-term security and success of the school for all pupils, from the four-year-old joining us at Reception to the eighteen-year-old preparing for life beyond Oundle.
Central to this vision is giving our pupils every possible opportunity to flourish; a fundamental commitment to the quality of our care, including physical and pastoral structures, and a profound belief in co-education. It also embraces our core identity as a boarding school and our long-held belief that boarding offers the best environment within which to realise our ambitions for all our pupils, giving us the scope and the time to offer unparalleled opportunity that simply is not possible otherwise, from the youngest to the oldest, boarders and day pupils alike
As part of this, we look forward to two key developments at LJS, both made possible, in part, by the generous legacy left to the school by former Head, Sue Thomas. At the time of printing these are still works in progress but, by the time you read this, they will be innovative and exciting learning spaces that will enrich the experience of all our children.
Significant capital investment into our Reception learning environment and Science and Art rooms will result in exciting, innovative new spaces that will further inspire fantastic learning opportunities through the EYFS and STEAM curriculums. From September 2022, the Early Years, Science and Art teams will be embedding into their new surrounds and ensuring that the lessons and activities that take place within them engage innovatively with the new learning environments.
A review of the pathway from Laxton Junior School into Oundle School was undertaken this year and we look forward to implementing some exciting changes to this process in the 2022-2023 academic year. Alongside our Oundle School colleagues, we will be introducing positive adjustments to the transitional experience into Scott House and The Berrystead, and will be sharing further details about this in the Michaelmas Term.
A new prospectus, Our Big Book of Little Details, shared the school’s vision and values through the pupil experience
Christmas and Easter themed activity packs were sent to prospective and registered parents
New admissions events brought prospective parents and children into the school for activity and information afternoons
New collaborative learning spaces have been designed across the school building ready to be implemented in the new academic year
Marketing and admissions initiatives support prospective parent engagement
The Power of Play becomes the centrepiece of our Early Years approach
The new statutory EYFS Framework was implemented in September
Staff have received training and workshops to further develop our play-based approach
A new Instagram feed, highlighting the power of play at LJS and how this can be immersed into the home environment, has been introduced
Boys Girls Total
Reception 14 22 36
Year 1 23 14 37
Year 2 21 12 33
Year 3 18 19 37
Year 4 23 13 36
Year 5 16 24 40
Year 6 23 16 39
Total 138 120 258
The aim of the Corporation of Oundle School is to provide an education of the highest quality. We believe we have a moral, social and educational responsibility to ensure that this is made available to as wide a range of children as possible. September 2021 saw the introduction of a new bursary programme aimed at supporting children entering Year 4 or above. Available to existing or new pupils, these bursaries are fundamental in making the beginning or continuation of an LJS education accessible and possible in a way that it may not have been in the past.
to find out more about The Power of Play
As well as continuing to grow our existing social media accounts, we launched a brand-new Instagram account. Focussing on play, @powerofplay_LJS had gained 100 followers in its first five weeks and allows us to share our philosophy on play in the EYFS and beyond.
Our audience is made up of educational professionals, parents (current, prospective or simply interested in play) and EYFS experts, with whom we are sharing the theory of play-based learning, examples of our own practice and beliefs and the work of EYFS practitioners such as Greg Bottrill. It is wonderful to be able to spread the word about the power of play and enables us to connect in a way that is different to our other social media channels.
In February 2021, our social media activity during the 2020 Anti-Bullying Week was recognised by Andy and the Odd Socks and we were invited to film our contribution for the 2021 event. It was all rather exciting as we were given exclusive access to the official song and children from Year 5 and 6 were let loose in the Woodland Garden to dance along. We filmed them doing the conga, popping up from behind a wall with balloons (and popping the balloons!) and generally having a jolly good time. When the One Kind Word video was released, it was eagerly viewed in assembly and many times in classrooms, as we watched out for familiar faces. What a tremendous privilege it was to be invited to take part and it all came about from a few social media posts.
After the disruptions of the last couple of years, it has been a joy to have a full academic year welcoming prospective families into LJS during the school day! There is nothing better than showing families around with the buzz of activity and learning in the learning spaces, including outdoors. Families are offered individual, bespoke tours of the school, allowing us to cater for specific interests, questions and circumstances.
At LJS we like to do things a little differently so, reflecting the nature of learning in Reception, we ran a Reception specific open afternoon in mid-May. This brand-new format helped bring to life our focus on ‘The Power of Play’, with a variety of activities, run by LJS staff and staff from Oundle School Sports Centre, that had been planned with 2 to 4-year-olds in mind. Having been welcomed by Mr Robertson, families headed off to get stuck in and explore – parents had chance to chat to staff and other parents and the children were able to make those all-important first connections with each other as future classmates. It was an incredibly busy and enjoyable afternoon, with no fewer 117 adults, children and babies through the gates. We have plans for similar events in the Michaelmas and Summer terms next year, with a 2023 specific event planned for the Lent term.
LJS has a growing reputation as being an outstanding provider of Early Years education; we continue to believe that it is the single most important year of a child’s educational experience and remain determined to offer provision of the very highest quality. In the 2022-2023 academic year, we will be further raising the profile of the EYFS through the provision of professional development and networking opportunities for local nurseries and pre-schools; and we will be promoting our newly developed educational approach called ‘The Power of Play’.
Pre-Covid, we undertook a scoping exercise to understand whether it were feasible to introduce a LJS bus service. As we emerge into 2022-2023, we will be revisiting this body of work and exploring whether we have the capacity and demand to offer school transport before and after school. Although there is no commitment, at this stage, to providing a service, we are determined to understand the requirement and explore what is possible; we look forward to consulting with parents over the course of the academic year in this regard.
The school’s EcoTeam has engaged with a comprehensive review of energy use across the school
Sustainability issues have been at the heart of our Year 1 production, House Writing competition and STEM Fair
Science, English and Humanities curriculums have been adjusted to include greater connectivity to sustainability issues
A clear and impactful approach to sustainability has been implemented
Visiting speakers have enriched the learning experiences of children across the school
Pupils and staff from Oundle School have delivered assemblies, workshops and clubs
Representatives of our supported charities have visited the school to tell the children how their fundraising is used
Diversity has been an essential part of our visiting speaker programme with some guests talking to our children about different religious beliefs and others sharing their experience of disability
Thank you to all our LJS families for supporting our charitable events this year.
Young Minds
Hello Yellow Day £291.03
Harvest Stamford & Oundle Foodbank Non-perishable food items
Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal £169.85
Children in Need Charity Event £502.19
Stamford & Oundle Foodbank, Second Helpings in Stamford and Thrapston Food Bank Gifts given to Father Christmas
In addition to our whole school charity events, our children have been passionate about raising funds for their House Charity. The children vote at the beginning of the year and work towards an assembly, organised and led by our House Captains, and a fundraising event. This year, our Houses supported:
Whitmore
Wood Green Animal Charity Cake Stall £339.20
Year 5 pupils, Dexter PierriCoakley, Daniel Ali-Davidson and Maanas Sagi raised £46.65 for Cancer Research UK.
Gloucester Sense Sponsored Silence £2455.85
The fundraising has helped so many organisations which support those in need, including: Burghley Oundle Mencap Burghley Bring & Buy £997.16
Comic Relief Red Nose Day £333.89
Lilford
First Responders Pick & Mix Sweet Stall £458.85
Year 6 pupils, Miranda Lee, Jemima Morrison, Georgina Blundell and Jack Humphrey raised £260 for the Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust.
LJS pupils know that charitable giving means so much more that fundraising. Through our wide ranging co-curricular programme, they have given so much back to the community using their time and talents.
“The lovely innovative tree decorations, so beautifully colour coordinated, festive cards and a beautiful picture of the nativity have been enjoyed and muchly admired by our congregation. Please give our thanks to all the children and staff for their time spent to brighten our Christmas services.”
– Methodist Church
– Community Concert guest
We are absolutely committed to building positive relationships with our local community and it has been wonderful for our school to be able to connect, in person, once more.
Highlights from this year include:
• Opening our doors to host our half-termly Community Concerts and Sense Sensation events provided the perfect opportunity for our children, ranging from Reception to Year 6, to entertain over 120 local elderly residents of Oundle throughout the year.
• Delivering the four House Christmas trees, and an array of artwork and cards from Reception to Year 6, to local residential care homes and the local parish spread a lot of LJS joy and festive messages over the Christmas period.
• Year 4 pupils wrote New Year letters to connect with residents at Abbott House and, for the first time, LJS pupils were given the opportunity to entertain the 660 Club guests across at Oundle School. The LAMDA group performed their monologues and duologues brilliantly.
• Another first this year was to send community invites out to watch our Infant and Junior productions. The Stahl Theatre, Oundle was a wonderful location for us to host the Year 6 play.
Community Kids Club is another branch added on to our out-reach programme. Offers of kindness and volunteering ventures this year have included litter picks around Oundle, tidying grounds with Grace the Gardener, supporting different teachers during after-school clubs, baking for KS1 Club children, creating preschool story videos and a ‘Build a Planter’ eight-week project at Barnwell Park.
“We all appreciate the effort that goes into putting these events on and are very grateful for the invitations. The children’s performances are amazing and we are always thoroughly entertained and impressed by their talents.”Laxton
The Partnership has continued to bring together our pupils and staff with other schools, and other educational establishments, for the mutual benefit of all. With a calendar now thriving with sustainable, quality learning experiences, providing pupil and family online events and webinars, face-to-face workshops and road shows, and inter-school competitions, our children have even more partnership opportunities presented to them than ever before.
A particular highlight this year was for Year 6 when they were treated to an excellent Q & A session with Professor Lord Winston at Oundle Primary School. Some Year 5 and 6 pupils joined a virtual Oundle Mathematics Enrichment Conference, enjoying the challenge it provided and the podium position finish. All Year 5 pupils entered the writing competition and particular successes were Jemima Q awarded First Place and Constance M and Joss C both being Highly Commended.
A selection of Year 4 pupils ventured to Kettering Buccleuch Academy for a Poetry and Drama workshop day and a small group of Year 3 pupils travelled to Thomas Deacon Academy to test their team building skills whilst designing and building a marble rollercoaster. Key Stage Two children have also benefitted from using sector leading resources from Imperial College outreach STEM boxes throughout the year.
Many pupils have also taken part in the now established ExpertEd: Live! sessions which offer the opportunity for schools to connect live with experts from across the UK and internationally from the comfort of their own
classroom or home. The ‘Midweek Maths’ and ‘Summer Science’ series have also been popular, aiming to offer some stretch and challenge to pupils and to encourage conversations about Mathematics and Science between capable young people and their parents.
The Partnership has provided valuable, challenging and fun opportunities that we shall look forward to being a part of, and leading, again next year.
In November, our new Eco-Team were voted in by their peers after making presentations to their forms about why the environment is important to them and what changes they would like to see at LJS. This year the Eco-Team began by conducting a whole school environmental review of the school. Following their review, they decided to focus on Litter, Transport and Waste as their Eco-Schools topics.
One Sunday in March, the Eco-Team had the wonderful opportunity of planting hundreds of trees in the Grocer’s Jubilee Wood, a local environmental project. Our Year 6 representatives joined the School Council in meeting Sodexo, the school caterers, to discover how environmentally friendly the school lunches are and to look at areas of improvement.
Over the Easter holiday, children from across the school took part in the ‘Great Big School Clean’ litter picking campaign organised by Keep Britain Tidy with a grand total of 1550 minutes of time given up to collecting litter! The Eco-Team have now purchased a complete set of litter-picking equipment so forms can go out into the community to improve our local environment. To help reduce food waste, the Eco-Team identified the need to compost fruit waste at break times, so we have now invested in compost bins which will turn our fruit cores and peel into valuable compost for use on plants and vegetables in the Woodland Garden.
In April, we were treated to amazing environmental and sustainability inspired Science Fair projects from children across the school. The environmental theme continued
into our House Writing this term, where we challenged all of the classes to base their genre of writing around an environmental theme, from Year 3 writing letters to the Eco-Team about the creation of a wildflower meadow in the school grounds to Year 5 writing newspaper articles about plastic pollution. The Eco-Team identified the need to increase the amount of bicycle and scooter storage for children too, which has now been budgeted for over the next academic year.
We finished the year on a real high – everyone was delighted to discover we had been awarded the coveted ‘Eco-Schools Green Flag’! The Eco-Schools Team were particularly impressed by the ‘large and representative Eco-Committee’ commenting that ‘this shows your school’s excellent commitment to both the programme and the eco-cause’.
It is always fantastic to have a group of children who are so passionate about making positive environmental change in the school, and to give them a platform to make change happen.
Laxton Junior SchoolWelcome to Laxton and our eco theme, Here’s how to become part of our team, Save the world, oh yes we do, Here are some ideas we give to you, We all know there’s no Planet B, So let’s all go and plant a tree,
You need to recycle to keep the oceans clean, Sort it out, you know what we mean,
If you are not travelling so far, Simply walk or cycle, don’t use the car,
Use less water, eat less meat, Live your life to the eco beat!
Flip the switch, turn off the light, Then we’ll make our future bright,
If we don’t protect wildlife and nature, Nothing will be left for later, Climate Change affects us all, Everyone, both big and small, We are Laxton Junior School, And we think being GREEN is cool.
Sustainability will continue to be high on our agenda in 2022-2023. Our Eco-Team will be driving forwards with new innovations that look to further improve LJS’s environmental impact. What’s more, whole school initiatives will see LJS and Oundle School work evercloser together and we look forward to supporting positive change and greater sustainability across the organisation.
With the impact of Covid now behind us, we are determined to continue strengthening our partnerships with the local community. Opportunities for our children to engage directly with children from other local schools – including those within the Oundle, Peterborough and East Northants Learning Partnership – will be reinstated, and we will continue to offer experiences and support to local charities, care homes, businesses and organisations.
We are delighted to welcome Jenna Brandon to the LJS family in September; she joins the school as our new Reception Teacher.
Miss Brandon is an inspiring and dynamic practitioner, who comes to us with fantastic Early Years experience and the wonderful ability to combine learning and play into seamless and engaging opportunities. We have no doubt whatsoever that Miss Brandon is going to deliver the most wonderful experiences to our Reception children in the years ahead.
We welcome, also, Kerrie Houghton, who will be joining us in the role of Year 1 Teacher and English Lead.
Mrs Houghton is an experienced and exciting teacher, who comes to LJS with a superb track record of inspiring outstanding learning opportunities in previous schools; she has experience of leading English, also, and will ensure that this hugely important curriculum area continues to go from strength to strength.
Emily Lake will also be joining us in September as our new Head of Educational Support.
Miss Lake is a brilliant teacher and aspiring leader, who will bring with her superb experience of middle leadership and a strong commitment to inclusive provision. She is a highly innovative practitioner who will provide outstanding challenge and support to all our children through her focus on quality in-class teaching as well as through bespoke interventions in response to identified need.
Teresa Hillyer will be saying goodbye to LJS after 23 outstanding years. Mrs Hillyer has been a brilliant member of our Teaching Assistant team, supporting children’s learning and wellbeing across the school. She has provided innumerable children with the most extraordinary levels of support, building wonderful relationships with them and ensuring that they always felt safe in her care. As a member of the staff team, she has been a positive and supportive presence, using her experience and expertise to help us develop the role that our Teaching Assistants play, becoming an ever-more essential part of each child’s learning journey. We would like to thank Mrs Hillyer for her service to the school and wish her well for the future.
Tina Sandall will be leaving LJS at the end of the year. She has been an outstanding member of the LJS team for 19 years, most recently leading our provision in Reception and ensuring that countless children received the very best introduction to formal schooling possible. Alongside her classroom responsibilities, Miss Sandall has been our Community Partnerships Lead, strengthening our relationships within the local community and hosting the hugely popular Community Concerts and Sense Sensation events. Miss Sandall will very much be missed next year, and we wish her all the very best with the exciting next chapter in her life.
We will also be saying farewell to Sue Pearson who retires at the end of this academic year after almost 15 years. Mrs Pearson has been nothing short of inspirational to the very many children who have experienced her teaching. As both a Form Teacher and, in recent years, leading our Science programme, she has enriched children’s learning with her energy, innovations and endlessly interesting subject knowledge. Mrs Pearson has the extraordinary capacity to light a spark in children and we have seen countless examples of young people, infused with a love of science that will last a lifetime, leave LJS. She will be greatly missed by us all and we wish her a very happy retirement.
After 14 years, Sarah Simpson will be concluding her time at LJS at the end of this academic year. Mrs Simpson has been an important member of the Educational Support team, who has provided outstanding care and support to children and families, particularly during Reception and Key Stage 1. She has been instrumental in identifying speech and language difficulties, and providing specific support in this regard, as well as providing superb support and intervention for children with a wide range of educational needs. We will miss Mrs Simpson a great deal next year, and wish her all the very best for the next chapter in her life.
Eleanor James will also be leaving, having taught in Years 1 and 2, and led English across the school. She has been a superb member of the LJS team for three years, not only providing a very high quality of education to the children in her class but leading excellent change across our English provision; most notably, she has overseen the introduction of our brilliant new Literary Curriculum, which will inspire children to read and write for many years to come. We wish Mrs James all the best for her next chapter and thank her for all she has done for our school.
Jennie Freeman will be departing LJS in the summer to take up a senior role in the British School of Chicago. Miss Freeman has been our Head of Educational Support for two years and has supported significant modernisation and innovation through her leadership of this department. In conjunction with the Educational Support team, Miss Freeman has ensured that every child, and their learning needs, is fully understood and receives outstanding levels of support both in and out of class. Beyond her role, she has led our School Council and Staff Wellbeing Team superbly well, facilitating some outstanding events, such as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and a range of social experiences for the LJS staff. She will be much missed next year, and we wish her all the very best.
Vanessa Leeson will be moving onto a new career following six years at LJS. The first five of these were spent as a Learning Support Assistant, providing high quality learning support and care to our children. She then moved into a Teaching Assistant role where she has been working with Years 5 and 6. Mrs Leeson has been a well-liked and supportive member of the LJS family, contributing significantly to all parts of school life and ensuring, always, that the children’s happiness was central to how she delivered her role. I would like to wish Mrs Leeson all the very best for the future and know that she will be much missed at our school.
Finally, we say goodbye to Aimee Wagner, who has supported the school through a variety of roles, including Griffin Club Assistant and Lunchtime Supervisor. Miss Wagner leaves us to begin a teacher training course next year, and we are thrilled to have supported her towards this ambition. She has been a gentle and kind member of the team, during her two years at LJS, and the children have always felt a strong connection to her as a result. We wish Miss Wagner all the best and look forward to seeing her with her own class in the near future.
It has really meant a great deal to me having the role of Head Boy. It has thrown opportunities at me like a little cannon of surprises which I have enjoyed every moment of and will never forget. I am writing, today, as a representative of Laxton Junior School and wish to express my love for the school. A million words could not best explain how I feel… but I’ll try!
When I look back, there are some key memories that have stayed with me. Firstly, there are so many opportunities! The Woodland Garden, using the Olympic-sized swimming pool, Jubilee celebrations, overnight residentials, Sports Day and so much more.
Secondly, moving on from Covid. The start of the year was a bit up and down with people still needing to isolate and we were still working hard and learning on Teams! But we had resilience and we had care to help, and it’s been great to be back together and to be able to get back to normal with big events and trips! Hooray!
The highlight of this year for me was performing in the Year 6 production at the Stahl Theatre – what a proud moment to be on the stage looking out at friends and family applauding our hard work and commitment to the performance. I believe that our excellent drama and music lessons and the opportunities we have to perform help prepare us in the best possible way. House sing and music, House drama and drama lessons, concerts and performances and so much more. My biggest thanks to all our teachers.
When I think about being proud to wear our uniform and represent the school, laying the wreath at the Oundle Town Memorial Service and speaking at Speech Day in front of the whole school and their families are moments I will treasure.
To me, and I hope to you, LJS is the greatest school in the Universe, filled with the greatest people you could hope to meet. Celebrating my fellow pupils with the Cup of Kindness is something I have enjoyed doing – but it is also one of the hardest things Izzy and I have to do. Everyone at LJS deserves their own Cup of Kindness! Remember that no act of kindness is ever wasted.
To Izzy, you have been incredible and always at my side. I hope we can stay as close as this year as we move through senior school. Your confidence and creativity have been invaluable. Thank you for being you!
I hope you will remember me, Izzy and my fellow Year 6 friends for our kindness. It is my goal each day to make a smile appear on someone’s face and I truly hope that I have managed that for each and every one of you.
For every child (and adult!) reading this make sure you really stick at the things you love, even when there are a few hiccups along the way. Don’t quit. Look around you for support, think about advice you’ve been given or strategies you’ve got – you will succeed! Laxton Junior School loves you and accepts you and wants you to be you.
Jack Humphrey, Head BoyIt is with huge nostalgia and tremendous pride that I write to you, as being your Head Girl has had a profound impact on me. I felt as if I were standing on a giant’s shoulders when my name was announced last year – knowing my friends, teachers and Mr Robertson had such faith in me!
Every day, for the past seven years, being at LJS has been an enormous privilege. I will be forever grateful to have experienced this wonderful education. May I take this opportunity to thank my parents and all the other parents for the many sacrifices they have made in enabling us to experience life at LJS.
We have been given so many incredible opportunities that have genuinely shaped who I am and who my friends are today. For me, special opportunities include: the chance to perform our incredible Year 6 play at the Stahl; representing the school at IAPS for hockey, netball and girls’ cricket; visiting France (for a whole week!) in our final school trip; seeing our beautiful artwork displayed at the Yarrow Gallery; toasting marshmallows in the Woodland Garden; House competitions; planting trees for the Queen’s Jubilee; the STEM Science fair and swimming in our spectacular Olympic-sized swimming pool. The list is endless! I also remember fondly Year 3 at The Frontier Centre when it was time to abseil down from a great height. My heart was racing, my legs were trembling and they just would not move. Very slowly, step by step, I moved down and as my feet finally hit the floor, my friends cheered; they were celebrating me. Their support and kindness meant the world to me in that moment and it continues to do so.
This year, there have been so many special memories that I will forever hold dear to me. My proudest moment was at the Oundle Memorial Service where, with respect, Jack and I laid a beautiful wreath on behalf of the school. Representing LJS on this especially poignant occasion filled me with enormous empathy and pride. Working with Jack in awarding the Cup of Kindness at our Celebration Assemblies has been a huge honour. Very well done to all the worthy winners! Although it’s a small cup in size, its meaning is great and truly exemplifies the importance of kindness. We have such a strong culture at LJS in being happy for others, celebrating each other’s successes and lifting each other up whilst always being encouraged to follow our individual dreams, and I’ve learnt that being kind to ourselves enables our kindness to flow to others.
To our awesome, heroic and simply astonishing teachers – thank you. You have inspired me more than you will ever know. Thank you for your patience, care, kindness, intelligence, enthusiasm and support every single day.
To Jack, you have been by my side this year and have made my role so enjoyable. Your calm, kind nature and smile are truly infectious. Thank you for being you!
Finally, in my last words as Head Girl of LJS, my advice to you all is to throw yourself into embracing our School Values. They give us the chance to be the best version of ourselves. Always try your best and believe in yourself because everyone else at LJS is behind you and believes in you!
Isabella Elderkin, Head Girl