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THE YOUNG NOTTINGHAMIAN 2025-26 1

Contents Welcome

Squirrels Nursery

Reception

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

Celebration & Awards

Crafternoon

House Activities

Events

100

A Welcome from the Head As we come to the end of another incredible year at Nottingham High Nursery, Infant and Junior School, I am filled with pride and gratitude as I reflect on all that our pupils, staff and wider school community have achieved together. This yearbook is a celebration of the learning, laughter and lasting memories that have shaped our school over the past academic year. As we look back, this year will always be touched with sadness due to the loss of our beloved Deputy Head (Academic), Miss Thorpe. However, in her true style, learning and teaching and the celebration of each individual always came first. It is in that very spirit, putting our children and their growth above all else, that this yearbook is lovingly dedicated to her memory. From impressive academic achievements to heart-warming acts of kindness and teamwork, our children have truly embodied our core values of Excellence, Individuality, Respect, Empathy and Curiosity. Whether in the classroom, on the sports field, during school performances or while exploring on trips, our pupils embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm, determination and a keen sense of adventure. This year has also seen the introduction of our Squirrels Nursery. Welcoming our youngest learners through the doors last September was a momentous occasion for the High School. It has been a huge success and the progress these children have made has been nothing short of unbelievable. It has been a true testament to our excellent pastoral care and academic expectations. With dedicated staff working tirelessly to ensure every child is supported to grow as a confident, compassionate individual and reach their full potential. I hope you enjoy looking back through these pages and reliving some of the special moments we’ve shared. To our Year 6 pupils moving on to Year 7—we are so proud of all you’ve accomplished and know you’ll carry the spirit of the Infant and Junior School with you as you take your next steps. To the rest of our school family, thank you for making this year so special, and we look forward to another exciting year ahead. With warmest wishes,

Mrs Polly Bennett Head of Nottingham High Infant and Junior School

g M n i v e m o L o r n y I Miss Thorpe

Squirrels Nursery

The Little Mermaid Show from Nottingham Playhouse for Nursery, Reception and Y1 Nursery, Reception and Year 1 had a truly magical adventure when they walked up the hill to the Junior School for a very special performance of The Little Mermaid by Nottingham Playhouse. Holding hands, the children were full of excitement as they made their way to the hall, ready for a morning of theatre and fun. From the moment the show began, everyone was captivated. The colourful costumes, lively characters and beautiful music brought the story of The Little Mermaid to life. The children especially loved joining in with the songs, confidently copying the actions and clapping to the music. Their smiles and happy voices filled the room as they became part of the performance. One of the biggest highlights was the scientist and his hilarious inventions. There were lots of giggles as he demonstrated his funny hiccup potion, which had everyone laughing, and the amazing ice cream grabber, which caused great excitement and many wide-eyed reactions. The comedy moments kept the children thoroughly entertained from start to finish. It was a wonderful, shared experience that sparked imagination, laughter and joy, and it will be a very special memory for our youngest pupils.

Bluebells Trip for Nursery and Reception Our Nursery and Reception children had an unforgettable first school trip to Bluebells Farm! The excitement began as we eagerly boarded the coach, ready for a day of adventure. On arrival, we became mini farmers, learning all about baby animals including sheep, pigs, alpacas and cows. We loved cuddling the baby chicks, especially when they cheekily tried to hop out of their baskets, causing lots of giggles! The children learnt how to check that a rabbit is healthy and even had the chance to gently stroke a giant continental rabbit. One of the highlights was feeding a very hungry lamb a warm bottle of milk. We were also fascinated by the bug show, where we discovered more about tarantulas, millipedes and scorpions. After enjoying our packed lunches, we tasted delicious homemade double vanilla ice cream before spending the afternoon playing together on the bouncy pillow, exploring the park and racing down the slopes. It was a day full of laughter, new experiences and special memories shared with friends.

“I spy with my little eye something beginning with B....best school trip ever!” -Hari

Squirrels Police Visit Disaster struck in Nursery when our much-loved classroom friend, Suzie Squirrel, suddenly went missing! We knew we needed expert help, so we rang the police, and before long PC Lucy and PC Verity arrived to help us with the mystery. They told us all about their important role in the community and showed us some of their police equipment, which everyone found very exciting. To get us ready for our investigation, PC Lucy and PC Verity read Mr Men and Little Miss at the Police Station, which made us laugh and helped us understand more about police work. Then it was time to become detectives ourselves! Our first clue was a trail of pine cones and a note explaining that Suzie had gone off to bake cakes. We quietly followed the clues to the mud kitchen, but Suzie wasn’t there. Instead, we discovered a photograph of Ms Cito and Suzie together, which led us straight to the office. There we finally found Ms Cito and Suzie Squirrel happily eating biscuits and drinking tea. PC Lucy kindly let Ms Cito off with a warning, explaining that while it was nice to share treats with friends, she must always let us know next time. We were then treated to a very exciting look inside the police car. We sat inside, listened to the siren, and talked about staying safe before waving goodbye to PC Lucy and PC Verity as they drove away with their blue lights flashing, ending a truly unforgettable day in Nursery.

Ducklings There was great excitement in Squirrels Nursery when our very special duckling delivery arrived! During our fantastic School Super Hero Transition event for our Nursery children moving up to Reception, the ducklings were delivered safely in their incubator - what perfect timing it was! By the time our event had finished, one little duckling had already hatched before our eyes. The children were absolutely amazed to watch this magical moment happen in real life. The excitement quickly spread around school, and Mr Holman and Mrs Bennett came down to share in the wonderful experience with us! By the end of Tuesday, we had watched three fluffy ducklings hatch, and on Wednesday the final two ducklings made their grand arrival. The children have loved every minute of being duckling mummies and daddies. They enjoyed gentle cuddles, listening to their tiny quacks and giggling as they zoom around their cage together. It was so lovely to watch the ducklings playing and waddling about they even excitedly ran to the cage door whenever the Squirrels returned to Squirrels Nursery! This was such a special experience for the children, helping them learn about caring for animals and watching new life begin right in front of them. Our ducklings are certainly brought lots of smiles, laughter and happiness to Squirrels!

“The duckling swimmed and put his head down and he nibbled my hand and he loved me.” Vienna

Squirrels Showcase The Squirrels Nursery Showcase was nothing short of spectacular as our incredible children proudly welcomed their parents to the zoo! From the moment they stepped onto the stage, they completely captivated everyone with their confidence, enthusiasm, and joy. Dressed as fantastic zoo keepers and an array of wonderful zoo animals, the children performed with such excitement and pride. They sang beautifully, danced brilliantly to The Lion King’s “Circle of Life,” and confidently recited the story Dear Zoo. Every child remembered their lines, actions and stage positions so impressively, showcasing not only their hard work but also their growing independence and resilience.

It was a truly magical celebration of their learning journey throughout the year and a wonderful reflection of just how much they have grown. Watching the children perform with such confidence, expression and happiness filled us all with immense pride and admiration. We are completely in awe of what these remarkable children achieved. It is almost impossible to believe that they are only 3 and 4 years old! Their courage to stand on stage in front of an audience and perform with such confidence was simply extraordinary. They should all feel incredibly proud of themselves, they were absolutely amazing, and it is a memory we will treasure for a very long time.

“I loved our showcase because I got to sing for my mummy and daddy.” - Hashim

Reception

Visit from Nottinghamshire Fire & Safety Team In the Autumn term, we had some very special visitors... the firefighters came to see us! To begin with we had a talk from firefighters Kat and Ahmed who told us all about what it is like to be a firefighter and how to become one. They showed us all of the special clothes they need to wear to stay safe. Miss Bailey and Miss Ali tried on all of the uniform so we could see each part of the clothing and understand about what each part does. The firefighters then explained how we can stay safe. We spoke about smoke alarms, wearing seatbelts and what to do in an emergency. We loved learning how to do the ‘Stop, Drop and Roll’ with Firefighter Kat. After that, we got to go outside and look inside the fire engine, we got to see all the tools they have and what they are used for. We then had some demonstrations of how the tools work and we even had a turn at using the hose! The children were so well-behaved and asked the firefighters so many interesting questions.

“The firefighters were so cool, and they even let us use the hose.”- Samaaya

Reception Trip - Pizza Pilgrim We had so much fun learning all about Italy during our all around the world topic, including a pizza masterclass trip. The children were so excited getting the bus into town and asked many questions along the way. Once we arrived at the restaurant we began with a chat about Italian food and how to prepare food correctly. The first step was to wash our hands and put on our aprons. We then put some flour on our boards ready for some dough. We learnt about rolling, pinching, folding and kneading the dough to make pizza. Afterwards, we added the toppings, discussing that Italians use the colours red, white and green just like their flag! The children all used a scoop of tomato sauce, cheese and basil. Whilst the pizza’s went into the oven, we decorated our pizza boxes and chefs' hats but did not have to wait long as the pizzas came out extremely fast. The children all loved eating their creations.

"I loved making my own pizza and choosing my toppings." - Ethan

Doctor Visit In Reception, we were lucky enough to have Dr Phillips come in and teach us some first aid skills and all about radiography! We met her friend Bob who showed us all of the organs inside the human body. We then met Mr Potato Head who had come into hospital with a sore stomach, after his X-ray we could see he had eaten some funny objects! We learnt about X-rays and how to be safe with radiation. Then, we learnt about the recovery position and how to keep our friends safe. Finally, we learnt how to do CPR! Well done, Reception for being so enthusiastic and a HUGE thank you to Dr Phillips for coming in and teaching us, we loved it!

"I loved when Dr Phillips showed us a potato head! We then learnt how to look after hearts." - Ace

Post Box Walk Reception had an exciting trip out one Autumnal morning to the post box! The children were so excited to walk to the post box and post their letters to their grown-ups. They had spent all week learning about the postal service, the features of letters and the purpose of letters. The children wrote to their families to celebrate the end of their first half term of school and told them what they have loved the most at school so far! The children were so excited to tell us when the post had arrived at their houses, what a brilliant way to end Autumn 1.

“I had never seen a post box before, I was so excited for the postman to deliver my letter”. - Isla

A Visit from the Dentist Reception were very lucky to have a lovely visit from Dr Bal. Dr Bal began by asking us some very important questions like ‘Why do we brush our teeth?’ and ‘How many times should we be brushing?’. The children loved contributing and sharing their knowledge of what dentists wear and why it is such an important job. Dr Bal then explained what dentists do and why teeth are so important. The children loved finding out all about what is involved during a dentist appointment, what tools they use and how we can look after our teeth. We then got to play a very special game, where the children showed their knowledge of what foods are good for our teeth. The children also had so many questions for Dr Bal and it was amazing to see how curious they all were. Dr Bal was even kind enough to gift all the children a timer to help the children know how long to brush for. We had such an amazing time, and the children loved the visit from Dr Bal!

“The dentist was so kind, I learnt all about healthy foods and we got special timers”.- Raeya

Space Invaders What a fantastic day we have had! We got on the bus to the Space Observatory. We met Clive, Stephen and Barry who told us lots about Space! We started with a video in the planetarium, this was very exciting! We then went to build satellites and tested out the Mars Rovers, we loved programming them ourselves. We then explored a little museum of artefacts and leant about craters, we dropped rocks into flour and chocolate powder to see the impact in space! After lunch, we watched another video in the planetarium before exploring a HUGE telescope, we even made it move and opened the dome!!!! We concluded the day by ordering the planets and talking about moons! We returned safely to school and decided not to stay in space but we all decided that we love the different planets and will be back soon!

"I could see stars through the telescope and then we made the mars rover move by telling it what to do with codes!" - Ariya

The Little Mermaid Show from Nottingham Playhouse for Nursery, Reception and Y1

Nursery, Reception and Year 1 had a truly magical adventure when they walked up the hill to the Junior School for a very special performance of The Little Mermaid by Nottingham Playhouse. Holding hands, the children were full of excitement as they made their way to the hall, ready for a morning of theatre and fun. From the moment the show began, everyone was captivated. The colourful costumes, lively characters and beautiful music brought the story of The Little Mermaid to life. The children especially loved joining in with the songs, confidently copying the actions and clapping to the music. Their smiles and happy voices filled the room as they became part of the performance. One of the biggest highlights was the scientist and his hilarious inventions. There were lots of giggles as he demonstrated his funny hiccup potion, which had everyone laughing, and the amazing ice cream grabber, which caused great excitement and many wide-eyed reactions. The comedy moments kept the children thoroughly entertained from start to finish. It was a wonderful, shared experience that sparked imagination, laughter and joy, and it will be a very special memory for our youngest pupils.

“the mermaid sang so well, it made me want to be a mermaid”. - Anoushka

Bluebells Trip for Reception Our Nursery and Reception children had an unforgettable first school trip to Bluebells Farm! The excitement began as we eagerly boarded the coach, ready for a day of adventure. On arrival, we became mini farmers, learning all about baby animals including sheep, pigs, alpacas and cows. We loved cuddling the baby chicks, especially when they cheekily tried to hop out of their baskets, causing lots of giggles! The children learnt how to check that a rabbit is healthy and even had the chance to gently stroke a giant continental rabbit. One of the highlights was feeding a very hungry lamb a warm bottle of milk. We were also fascinated by the bug show, where we discovered more about tarantulas, millipedes and scorpions. After enjoying our packed lunches, we tasted delicious homemade double vanilla ice cream before spending the afternoon playing together on the bouncy pillow, exploring the park and racing down the slopes. It was a day full of laughter, new experiences and special memories shared with friends.

"I loved feeding the lambs they were so fluffy and jumpy!" - Maya

Reception Showcase This Reception children took to the stage for their final showcase performances after weeks of practising. The children blew us all away with their incredible confidence and enthusiasm. From the beautifully enthusiastic singing that filled the hall to the absolutely enchanting 'Under the Sea' dance routine, every single child shone brightly. We were immensely proud of how hard they all worked to remember their lines, delivering them with fantastic expression and brilliant projection. Thank you to all the parents and families who came along to cheer them on, it was the perfect celebration of how much the children have grown and achieved this year. Well done, Reception!

“I loved performing on stage with all my friends and are grown ups cheered us on. It was so fun singing and saying my lines loud so everyone could hear”. - Monty C

Science Workshop In Summer 2, Reception continued their learning about their bodies and how to keep them healthy. They learnt about why their heart beats faster when they move, the importance of their lungs specifically breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide and how they need energy to be able to continue to move. The children put their hand eye coordination to the test with different exercise focussing on sending messages from their brains to their fingers. They moved their bodies in lots of different ways and checked their heart rate each time to feel what was happening inside during this. The session ended with some mindful breathing, something Reception are experts on!

“I loved catching hoops on my wrists, I had to keep super still and think about where the hoops were, I breathed slowly too to keep me calm”. - Lucas

Year 1

Y1 Outdoor Education Attenborough Trip Year 1 had a fantastic day out at Attenborough Nature Reserve! The children were split into three groups and did a rotation of activities. They took part in pond dipping, looking closely into the water to see what creatures they had caught with their net. They then visited the bird hide and did some bird watching with binoculars, it was fascinating to see all of the birds out on the water. Finally they identified different tree types by looking at the leaves and completed a minibeast hunt! The children all had a fantastic day!

“I had a fantastic day at Attenborough Nature Reserve, my favourite part was finding a newt whilst pond dipping”. - Jacob

Outdoor Education – Rock Pool Making and Bread Making Year 1 had an amazing time with Mr Butcher and Mrs Holloway learning about rock pools and then using a range of resources to build their own rock pools. The children thought carefully about the structure of a rock pool and what animals would live in the rock pool. They then used their knowledge to write fact books about rock pools. Everyone had a fantastic time and are already excited for our next Outdoor Education session!

“I loved organising the different size rocks to make sure the water stayed inside the rock pool” – Henry

Year 1 visit to Senior School Curiosity Cabinet Year 1 were invited to go and see the wonderful Curiosity corridor at the Senior school by Miss Davis to celbrate Diwali. The children had the opportunity to view all of the beautiful diwas created by children at the Senior school which created a lovely atmosphere for Year 1 to talk about Diwali and share their experiences. Year1 also went to the lecture theatre where Miss Davis spike to them about how families celebrate Diwali which was very informative. Year 1 behaved beautifully throughout and thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the Senior school.

Y1 White Post Farm Animal visit Year 1 had a very exciting visit from the Whitepost Farm Animal Roadshow! We were very excited to meet Farmer Chris and Farmer Micheal. First of all, we got to meet two lion head rabbits and a guinea pig, they were soft and furry. We then moved onto a smaller animal, a mouse named Marble! She was soft and had a tickly tail that wrapped around our fingers! We then met a snake called Gary who had been rescued from a market and a leopard gecko! We found out so many interesting facts about all of the animals! We finished off by meeting a centipede and a Giant African Land snail! We had such a fantastic time meeting the animals and farmers!

“I thought the snake was very cool because it was brightly coloured and very smooth”. - Abdullah

Year 1 visit to Sudbury Hall, Museum of Childhood In Year 1, we have been talking about the differences between our lives today and life in the past. As part of this topic Year 1 went on a very exciting trip to Sudbury Hall, Museum of Childhood. We had a wonderful day exploring toys from the past and the materials they were made of. We were amazed by how children could use different materials and alot of imagination to create some fantastic toys, who knew a washing peg could become a precious dolly or an old cone that would have been used in a mill could become a really fun toy! We also had the opportunity to learn what life was like for chimney sweeps and all decided that this was not the life for us but really enjoyed climbing up the chimney in the dark! We all had a lovely time exploring the toy museum and our challenge was to find the oldest toy which was over 1,000 year old. The adults got very excited when they saw toys that they had played with!

“I liked seeing all of the different toys.”- Benny “I liked finding and choosing my favourite toy.”- Teddy

Year 1 Showcase The Year 1 showcase was amazing! The children should be so proud of themselves! We started off by going to London Zoo! We learnt lots of facts about animals and even met some of the zoo animals! We then went back in time to 1666 to Thomas Farriners bakery, we learnt all about the Great Fire of London, the children sang some catchy songs throughout this scene. Next, we took a trip to Paddington station and met Paddington Bear! The audience couldn't believe that there was a real bear at the train station! Finally, we took a trip to Buckingham Palace and found out that the King's pants had gone missing! The children had such a fantastic time performing in the Year 1 Showcase!

“My favourite memory from Year 1 was performing in the Year 1 showcase.” - Carolyn

Year 1 visit to Crich Tramway Museum We had an amazing visit to Crich Tramway Museum to build on our learning about transport. During our visit we had a tour that showed us how trams have changed through the time. We learnt that they used to be pulled by horses! We were able to sit on an old style tram and learnt about how the conductors used to work. We also had a ride on a real tram, where we each had a penny that we used to pay for a ticket. Each ticket was punched to show it had been used. In the afternoon, we visited a depot that had trams from all over Europe. It was a wonderful day, full of excitement and learning.

“The tram ride was my favourite bit as I got to sit on the outside”. - Lorenzo “I enjoyed seeing the trams that had come from Sheffield and Scotland because I know these places”. - Eva

Year 1 Science Workshop - Kidz Fit Healthy Bodies To support the learning of our Science topic, we had an excellent workshop with Kidz Fit all about the human body. We explored how our organs, espeically the heart and lungs work and how exercise impacts these organs. We also learnt about the muscles and bones in our body. We did lots of different exercises to use different muscles, showing how they help with our movement. Additionally, we explored the five senses of the body and how these are used every day. It was an exciting morning filled with lots of fun, learning and excitement.

“I enjoyed jumping over the barrier using different techniques”.- Max “I caught the ball in the cup lots of times!” - Hukkam

Year 1 visit to Southwell Minster- Time Travelling workshop During the Summer term, Year 1 have been exploring places of worship for different faiths. We then had the opportunity to go and visit Southwell Minster to take part in a series of wonderful workshops based upon what happens inside a church and exploring its different features. We worked in small groups and rotated around some fabulous workshops such as why clergy wear different outfits to exploring the story of creation, from learning about a baptism and why a set of seats were called the bread pews. Everyone had a lovely time singing the songs we had been practising and the team at Southwell Minster said it was the most enthusiastic singing they had heard all week! We all came away inspired by what a beautiful and special building the minster is.

“I really liked making the stars when we were learning about the Creation story”. - Himmat

Year 2

Year 2 String Project – Parent Information Session Year 2 thoroughly enjoyed demonstrating their learning after just two weeks of playing the violin and cello! Excitement builds for learning a string instrument this year!

“I loved listening to the sound of the instruments being played by everyone together, it’s just magical.” - Thorunn

Y2 Derby Museum and Art Gallery Year 2 embarked on a brand-new trip this year. We visited Derby Museum and Art Gallery and took part in a fun and informative workshop about Florence Nightingale. We also walked to Pickford’s House to learn about Joseph Pickford. He was a Georgian architect and you can visit his house to learn all about life in the past. The visit helped us with our Heroes through Time topic and inspired us to think about other heroes from the past and present.

“I liked learning about Florence Nightingale. I learnt that she was a nurse and her dad didn’t her to be one. She became famous because she helped people”. -Khalid

Outdoor Education – Rock Pool Making and Bread Making Year 2’s first Outdoor Education session with Mr Butcher and Mrs Holloway was bursting with excitement! After a fire-safety lesson, the children jumped straight into the highlight of the day — making their very own dough using just flour and water and cooking it over a real fire pit. The smell of fresh bread filled the air, and the finished result was absolutely delicious! Everyone had an amazing time and can’t wait for their next Outdoor Education adventure!

“I liked how we tried to create a spark to burn the cotton wool.” - Juniper

Y2 Christmas Production Year 2 lit up the stage with a sparkling, shiny performance of the nativity Superstar! The traditional story was brought to life with an extra twizzle of glitter and tinsel, as the superstars of the show each set out to impress in the quest for the coveted role of the Star. Every single member of the cast put their own unique stamp on their role. Whether portraying shepherds, wise women, travellers or other nativity characters, the children impressed with clear words, expressive voices, confident actions and fantastic singing that filled the hall with festive cheer. The key message of peace and love was beautifully delivered, reminding everyone of the true meaning of Christmas. Alongside this, the children shared a powerful and uplifting message: no matter who we are or what part we play, we are all Superstars. It was a joyful celebration of talent, teamwork and confidence, and a wonderful showcase of the hard work Year 2 have put into rehearsals. Well done to all the children for creating such a memorable and magical performance.

“My favourite song was 'We're not washing our socks' because the shepherds were actually watching their flocks!” - Rupert

Year 3 Taster Day Year 2 magically transformed into Year 3 pupils for the morning! The Year 3 teachers organised lots of fun activities to do. We solved Lego challenges and met some new pupils who came to visit. In the hall, we showed how great we are at group work and completed some fun teambuilding exercises. Finally, we celebrated friendship by creating friendship flowers. We worked hard and definitely earned our break-time on the Junior School playground!

“I loved finding out more about the Year 3 teachers”. - Bella

Year 2 Cricket Festival Year 2 had a fantastic time at the Cricket Festival held at Harvey Haddon Sports Village! The children enjoyed a fun-filled and active morning, taking part in a wide range of exciting activities designed to develop their cricket skills and build their confidence. Throughout the festival, they worked hard to improve their batting, bowling, catching and fielding skills. They listened carefully to the coaches, demonstrated excellent listening skills and followed instructions brilliantly, allowing them to quickly develop their techniques and support one another as a team. It was wonderful to see how maturely they responded to guidance and how eager they were to put new skills into practice. Alongside the cricket activities, the children also took part in energetic relay races with their friends. There was lots of cheering, encouragement and teamwork on display, with everyone celebrating each other’s successes. The morning was a fantastic opportunity to promote physical activity, cooperation and resilience, and we were incredibly proud of the children’s positive attitudes and outstanding behaviour throughout. Fun was truly had by all!

Seven Wonders of the World VR Workshop To launch our exciting new topic in Year 2, we were thrilled to welcome Jake from Tablet Academy to our school! The children were given an unforgettable virtual reality experience, travelling around the globe to explore the Seven Wonders of the World. Through this amazing technology, they were able to see these incredible landmarks up close and even step back in time to discover what life was like in the past compared to the present day. The classroom was filled with excitement, curiosity and lots of “wows” as the children immersed themselves in this incredible learning adventure. What a fantastic way to begin our new topic – inspiring our young learners and bringing the world straight into our classroom!

"We walked around the Colesseum and saw Roman gladiators fighting, it was really cool!" - Tom

Outdoor Education - Farm to Fork Mrs Holloway and Mr Butcher prepared a fantastic range of activities showing where the food we eat comes from. We churned our own butter. It was hard work but it tasted great. The apple press was a bit messy and we couldn't believe how many apples it takes to make apple juice. Finally, we made our own bread using an open fire. It made us all appreciate that a lot of effort goes into making the food that we eat.

“I loved seeing how the special machine ground down the apples to make juice. You need to have a lot of apples!” - Zachary “It was really hard to make the butter. We had to churn it over and over again! It tasted great when it was ready though”. - Elijah

Andy Warhol Exhibition and Workshop

Year 2 had a fantastic time on their trip to the Andy Warhol exhibition at Lakeside Arts. The children enjoyed learning about his distinctive style and his love of bold colours, repeated images and everyday objects. They then took part in a hands-on, Warholinspired printmaking workshop, experimenting with bright paper and black ink to design and create their own striking prints. The children showed great focus and enthusiasm as they carefully chose colours, pressed their designs and revealed their finished artwork. The children also enjoyed an energetic and engaging poetry workshop. They practised creating rhymes, counting syllables and using similes. Everyone had the chance to share their ideas, and it was wonderful to see how confidence grew! It was a memorable day full of creativity, curiosity and fun, and the children returned to school inspired and proud of their achievements.

“I loved the cow print best!”- Dhruv “It was fun hunting around the gallery to find pictures that matched the words. I liked the tins best”.- Arthur

Sherwood Pines Trip At the start of the Summer Term, Year 2 enjoyed a fantastic Outdoor Education visit to Sherwood Pines. The children explored the woodland environment while developing their orienteering skills, successfully navigating the Gruffalo Trail and finding their way around the forest. It was a challenging adventure, but everyone rose to the occasion with enthusiasm and determination. The children then enjoyed a delicious picnic lunch in the glorious sunshine, making the most of the beautiful surroundings. In the afternoon, they worked collaboratively to design and build their own woodland dens. Their challenge was to create a shelter strong and sturdy enough to protect them from an imaginary storm. Using natural materials and teamwork, the children carefully planned their structures, tested their ideas and adapted their designs to make them more secure. This activity provided a wonderful opportunity to develop communication, problem-solving and resilience skills, as they listened to one another, shared ideas and worked together towards a common goal. There was also plenty of time to enjoy the adventure playground. The children had great fun climbing, exploring and playing together, showing confidence, determination and lots of smiling faces along the way. It was a memorable day filled with learning, adventure and laughter, and the children represented the school exceptionally well throughout the visit.

Nottingham Castle Trip As part of our local history work, we visited Nottingham Castle. We loved exploring the Castle Grounds and learning about the history of the building. In our workshop, we learnt all about Robin Hood and how wildlife and the landscape has changed over time. We also explored the gallery and followed the clues to locate and sketch different paintings. Our favourite was the picture of Robin Hood celebrating in the forest.

“My favourite bit was exploring the gallery.” - Quoc

“I loved making an animal mask. I chose to make an owl.” - Elijah

“The history of Robin Hood was really interesting”. - Mannat

Library and Archive Visit As part of our 'Home and Away' topic, Year 2 went on a very special trip over to the Senior School library to learn about the rich history of Nottingham High School from our school archivist. Ms Gunther showed the children pictures of Nottingham High School in the past and explained how our school started. They looked at some interesting artivacts, including a cane! Year 2 really enjoyed exploring one of our special school books which contain the name of every pupil that has attended here. The children also got a close look at the School's Foundation Charter which was granted by King Henry VIII. Year 2 loved comparing how school is now with life in the past and had a wonderful experience being in the Senior School!

“I liked learning about the history of Nottingham High School!”- Zubin “I loved seeing the cane and hearing about it!”Darcey

Year 3

Year 3 Outdoor Education Climbing Year 3 children had an exciting time exploring our onsite climbing wall. They learned how to b-line for each other, practising how to keep their partners safe while climbing. This helped them build trust and work together as a team. The children then began practising their climbing skills. Some found it a little scary at first, but they were all very brave and encouraged one another to keep going and try their best. They also had a go at bouldering on the lower wall. The challenge was to move all the way across without knocking down any of the woggles. This took lots of concentration, balance, and careful movements, and the children enjoyed testing out different ways to make it across. To finish the session, everyone took part in a Gladiators-style race. It was fast, fun, and full of energy, and the children loved cheering each other on. Overall, the session was a great mix of challenge and fun, and the children showed confidence, teamwork, and a real willingness to try something new.

Year 3 Broadway Cinema Trip Year 3 recently visited Broadway Cinema, and the trip was both exciting and memorable. We travelled by tram, and everyone was full of anticipation for the experience ahead. When we arrived at the cinema, it felt as though we had stepped into a completely different world. The film created an immersive Native American environment, with vivid scenery and detailed sounds that made us feel as if we were truly part of the setting. In the story, we were introduced to a member of the army who formed a respectful friendship with a Native American tribe. We followed his journey as he learned about their way of life, built trust with them, and discovered the importance of understanding people who are different from ourselves. The entire visit was engaging and educational, and the experience at the cinema made the trip truly worthwhile.

“I loved learning about the Native Americans by watching the movie clips!” - Aria

Year 3 Mandir Trip Over the Autumn Term, Year 3 have been working hard researching and learning all about Hinduism. We had the exciting opportunity to visit a Mandir, where we explored its beautiful artefacts and different areas of the temple. The children were fascinated by the colours, patterns and peaceful atmosphere throughout the Mandir. Ritu, our tour leader, shared fun and engaging stories about Hinduism, bringing the temple’s history and traditions to life in a way that really captured everyone’s attention. We also had the chance to look around the shrine, learning about the various gods and goddesses and their importance within the Hindu faith. The visit was a wonderful way to bring our classroom learning to life, and the children asked thoughtful questions and showed great respect throughout. It was a truly enriching and memorable experience for Year 3, helping them to deepen their understanding of different cultures and beliefs.

“I loved seeing the statues of the Gods and Goddesses.” - Isla

Year 3 Residential - Conkers Year 3 had an absolutely fantastic time on their recent residential visit to Conkers, enjoying a truly memorable experience from start to finish. We were especially fortunate with the weather, as the sunshine stayed with us throughout the trip, adding an extra touch of magic and helping to create moments the children will remember for years to come. From the very beginning, the children threw themselves into every activity with enthusiasm, energy, and plenty of smiles. One of the standout highlights was paddling in the kata canus, where the children showed both excitement and determination as they worked together on the water. They also loved spending time exploring and playing in the park, making the most of the space to run, climb, and enjoy being outdoors with their friends. A ride on the Conkerchoo train brought lots of laughter and added to the sense of adventure. The bushcraft session was another favourite, giving the children the opportunity to develop new skills while working as a team. They collaborated brilliantly to build shelters, showing creativity and problem-solving along the way, before gathering around the fire to toast marshmallows—an experience many of them described as a real highlight of the trip. Teamwork and perseverance were particularly evident during the assault course challenge. The children supported one another every step of the way, carefully carrying water and encouraging their teammates to succeed. It was wonderful to see such strong cooperation and determination in action. Evenings were just as enjoyable, filled with sleepovers, games, and lots of laughter as friendships grew even stronger. The excitement continued right to the very end, with a fantastic 4D cinema experience that proved to be the perfect grand finale to an already incredible trip. We are immensely proud of all the Year 3 children for their excellent behaviour, positive attitudes, and adventurous spirit throughout the residential. They represented the school wonderfully and made the most of every opportunity—what a brilliant experience for everyone involved!

“It was great to have a sleepover with my friends we loved playing together.” - Leo 56

Year 3 Outdoor Education Walesby Forest Our Year 3 children enjoyed an exciting and memorable trip to Walesby Forest as part of their Outdoor Education day. The day was packed with a variety of adventurous activities designed to build confidence, teamwork, and resilience. The children challenged themselves with crate stacking, testing their balance and determination as they climbed higher and higher, before taking on the thrilling zip wire, which was a firm favourite for many. They also worked together in fast-paced laser tag games, developing communication and strategy skills, and experienced air rifle shooting under careful supervision, showing impressive focus and responsibility. Blessed with warm, sunny weather throughout the day, children made the most of the beautiful surroundings and embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm and positivity. It was wonderful to see their confidence grow as they supported and encouraged one another, and great fun was had by all.

Year 3 Jewry Wall Trip Year 3 had a fantastic hands-on history experience during their trip to the Jewry Wall Museum! The children explored the ancient Roman ruins and gained a deeper understanding of what life was like in a Roman bathhouse. They were lucky enough to handle and investigate real Roman artefacts, bringing history to life in an exciting and memorable way. Inside the interactive museum, pupils discovered fascinating facts about the Romans and even had the chance to dress up as Roman citizens. It was a fun-packed day full of learning, exploration, and unforgettable experiences!

“I loved holding real Roman artefacts and exploring them with a magnifying glass”. - Taran “The museum was really interactive, I loved playing the games to find out about history.” - Melia-Jade

Year 3 Showcase What an incredible performance from our Year 3 children in their showcase, Around the World in 60 Minutes! Families were taken on a journey through the history and geography of America and Italy, brought to life through a wonderful mix of songs, video clips and performances. The children were absolutely fantastic, performing with confidence, enthusiasm and huge smiles from start to finish. Their hard work and dedication shone through, and they should all be immensely proud of what they achieved. A huge thank you to all the parents and family members who came along to support the children. Your encouragement and applause helped make the event even more special. The showcase was a wonderful reflection of what has been a brilliant year for Year 3. They have certainly had fun, learning lots and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Well done, Year 3, on an unforgettable performance and an amazing year!

“I loved getting to perform with my friends!” - Alaina

Year 4

Year 4 Outdoor Education On 24th November, Year 4 headed down to Lovell House to explore their garden and take part in the first session of Outdoor Ed for the year. We solved problems, worked as a team and made fire which was all very exciting. To end what had been a brilliant session, we made our own hot chocolate, using the fire we had made to heat the water. A delicious end to the day. On Monday 23rd February in the pouring rain, Year 4 had a fantastic day outside. We climbed the indoor walls, we climbed the high ropes, we climbed the low ropes and we ziplined into muddy puddles. The rain didn't dampen our spirits, but it did make us muddy. The high ropes may have challenged us but we defeated it, time and again. We had a brilliant day at The Mill Adventure Base.

Year 4 Lincoln Mosque & Lincoln Cathedral In the Spring Term, Year 4 visited two places of worship in historic Lincoln to enrich their learning in RE. The first visit was to Lincoln Mosque and Cultural Centre, where pupils learned about Islam, were shown some features of this place of worship and discovered its significance to the local Muslim community. Our second stop took us to Lincoln Cathedral where we participated in a creative workshop to reimagine the iconic Dean's Eye Window and enjoyed a guided tour of the Cathedral itself, learning all about its rich and fascinating history.

Year 4 Egyptians Day

As part of our new topic within Knowledge and Understanding of the World (KUW), the children of Year 4 took part in a workshop. We had an embalmer come in for the day and tell us all about the mummification process. We even got to put organs into canopic jars! Afterwards, we got to learn to be scribes, using ink and a papyrus, we got to build cities and learn about different artefacts. We loved the day and learnt so much in the process.

Year 4 Football Festival As part of our outreach programme, some of the children were asked to take part in a football tournament with other schools across Nottinghamshire. 9 schools competed in total and the children were put into and intial group stage tournament which then developed into a variety of finals. The aim of the game was to have fun and our children felt so proud to represent the school. They showed great determination and sportsmanship throughout, as well as showcasing our school values from start to finish.

Year 4 Showcase On Wednesday 29th April, Year 4 dazzled parents and family with our incredible showcase. We explored lots of the topics covered this year: from Ancient Egypt to Rivers; banks to friendships; light and dark to nature; and everything else in between. Our singing, thanks to Mr Corin, was incredible and Ollie’s drumming was amazing too! Our jokes made the parents laugh and groan – we have Mr Crossland and Mr Moss to blame for those. We put on a great show for all to see and the Kahoot at the end (especially with the prize of Candy Kittens) not only tested parents’ listening skills, but also brought the showcase to a fabulous end.

Year 4 Residential The Nightingale Centre

On the morning of Monday 15th June, Year 4 packed their suitcases, said goodbye to their parents and got on the bus, all ready to go on their residential. We drove to Black Rocks at Cromford where we met the Acclimbatize team. We were divided into 5 groups and we each took part in 5 different activities: orienteering, weaselling, abseiling, climbing and ziplining. It was an utterly brilliant day and all the teaching staff (made up of Miss Bajwa, Mr Crossland, Mrs Hammonds, Mr Moss and Miss Wilson) had a fabulous time watching the children overcome their fears and take part. After another bus journey, we got to The Nightingale Centre, where we had our dinner then played outside in the beautiful grounds on what was a lovely balmy, summer's night. After playing, it was time for showers and bed, and a much needed sit down for the teachers. The next day, after packing our bags, stripping the beds and having a hearty breakfast, we took a short bus journey to the village of Hathersage, where one group took part in a river study, whilst the others climbed Higgor Tor. After swapping over, we then got back on the bus and came home.

Year 5

Year 5 Peaks Outdoor Education On Monday 22nd September, Year 5 challenged themselves with a walk through the countryside near Castleton and a guided tour of Treak Cliff Cavern.

"What an interesting trip as it is only one of a few places in the world to examine where Blue John stone originates." - Kitty

Year 5 Trip Beaumanor Hall On Wednesday 1st October, Year 5 enjoyed an exciting trip to Beaumanor Hall in Leicestershire, where they were World War Two Evacuees for the day. Highlights of the trip included decoding secret messages in the radar station; visiting the shop with rationing coupons and experiencing what it must have been like in the Blitz in a genuine historial air raid shelter.

"Weirdly, I enjoyed the Blitz experience as it was actually quite good fun in the way that it was done.” Violet

Year 5 World War II Showcase On Wednesday 28th January, Year 5 hosted an event for parents that showcased all of the learning and experiences they had completed during their Autumn term learning of World War II. The children worked hard, each portraying a different role that would have happened during the time, each centred around an area of learning from the classroom; evacuation, the Blitz, and rationing. They then combined this with ther music lessons with Mr Corin who expertly led the children in learning three songs popular during World War II each of which was performed brilliantly by the children. We ended our showcases at the end of the war and celebrated with the parents at our own mini "VE day" celebration involving tea, coffee and cake.

“One of the highlights in the WWII showcase was when the Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill actors came on stage and did the voices.” - Lewis

Year 5 KUW Cinema Trip As part of our Launch Activities for the second topic in our Knowledge of the World, "What does it mean to be European?", Year 5 went to the Broadway Cinema in February to "travel" around Europe, with the help of James Bond, visiting several countries along the way!

"The James Bond clips were really great to watch and it was good to travel around Europe in this way with your friends," - Ayman "I really liked the cinema trip because it turned learning into fun!" - Ni Ni

Space Centre "I really likes the Space Tip as I learnt so much about the Earth and planets which I didn't know before." - Hadeed S "I really loved the 4D cinema as it was awesome and so interactive too!" - Dilan U “I really enjoyed the interactive activiites, especially the room where we communicated with each other inside a space shuttle.” - Rayaan

Year 5 Gurdwara trip As part of our RE curriculum, Year 5 spent an afternoon at a local Gurdwara where they learnt more about Sikhism, what it means to be Sikh and how Sikh's go about their life. It was a brilliant experience for the students who represented our school exceptionally well whilst being respectful for someone's faith. Some were even treated to a musical performance from some members of the year group which we all massively enjoyed.

“During form-time 5T and the rest of Y5 excitedly tied their head coverings upon their heads, extremely intrigued for the day ahead of them. Following a quick head count, we all assembled outside the building to walk to the Gurdwara, we set of in different groups to travel to the Sikh place of worship.” - Benedict

Year 5 Outdoor Learning - Bird Feeders For the final part of our Year 5 Outdoor learning experience, the students made a bid feeder from scratch to provide food for local birds and wildlife. We got to spend the morning or afternoon down in the Outdoor Learning area in Lovell House and were expertly instructed on what to do by Mr Butcher.

" I couldn't wait. When we got to the adventurous place first, we got all our equipment and got started. I LOVED IT!!!” -Zac

Year 5 Residential Over three glorious sunny days in the middle of June, Year 5 had a fantastic time in North Yorkshire at the Cranedale Centre. The food was wonderful, the facilities were amazing and we took part in so many amazing activities! On the first Wednesday, we teamed up to achieve team challenges, such as balancing a giant seesaw or crossing a tricky low ropes course. That evening, we snuggled up with teddies and popcorn to watch a fun film before bed. On Thursday, the absolute highlight of the trip was the excursion to the Flamborough coast, where we spotted puffins and gannets at Bempton Cliffs, explored breathtaking caves and - best of all - went rockpooling for crabs and other sea creatures at Flamborough. Tired, but happy, we returned to Cranedale, where there was one final activity before we finished for the day: setting humane traps in the woodland for local wildlife. On the final Friday morning, we were all very excited to see whether we had caught anything! The first group's disappointment, soon turned to joy, when the second group's traps revealed a field mouse, a vole and a shrew. Our final activity before returning home was the best tag game crossed with hide and seek ever: Survival in the Wild. How many herbivores, small carnivores and top carnivores would survive the game to return home to Nottingham? Luckily, we all made it through, and after a final delicious packed lunch, alighted the coach hot and tired but happy. It was an amazing residential, full of fun, the wonders or nature and challenge, but the thing that stood out the most for all of the accompanying staff was the team work of the children. Their willignness to have a go and their kindness and supportiveness towards each other absolutely did them credit.

Year 6

Y6 Outdoor Education Big Tree Climb On September 29th, we got to climb a massive tree using special climbing ropes. It was really cool. You had to put your foot in a hoop, push yourself up, and then slide the top hoop higher. Then you'd pull the bottom rope up and just repeat the whole process until you reached the top. The best part was that there was no pressure to go all the way up, but because everyone felt so safe, absolutely everyone did! It was a brilliant feeling when you finally reached the top and could just sit back and relax on a giant branch.

Year 6 Trip to Warning Zone Warning Zone is a charity that offers school visits and shows students the dangers they could encounter throughout the world. In the building, there were many different rooms, showing many dangers. For example they showed us what to do in a house fire and what may cause one. During the Warning Zone school trip, there was a room showcasing a (fake) construction site. In there were a few dangers such as industrial pipes and a chainsaw, any of which could injure anyone in real life. I already knew to stay away from construction sites however I learnt that even the less significant objects can be dangerous. I have learnt that I can apply this in my daily life to stay more safe. In particular, I have learnt to not leave any electronics near flammable substances such as bed sheets.This is important because I usually use electronics in my bedroom. Although I already knew about the dangers in crossing the road, having more detail given to me about it in such an interesting way will make me even more mindful when crossing the road in the future. Overall, the trip to Warning Zone opened my eyes even wider to the dangers that can occur in everyday life.

“Parts of it were a bit scary but I think that was quite important because now I know what the risks are.” - Aarya “You just never knew what was going to happen next because stuff moved and made noises so it felt like real dangers, even though it wasn’t.” - Zach 75

Year 6 Residential Dobroyd Castle On the 11th May, Year 6 set off for the most anticipated event of the year: our residential trip to Robinwood Activity Centre! The coach journey was filled with excited chatter, and before we knew it, we had arrived at the massive, adventure-packed center. We were quickly split into our activity groups and got stuck straight into the action. From braving the giant swing to solving challenges in the Piranha Pool, everyone pushed themselves to the limit. My favourite part was definitely the canoeing, where my friends and I couldn't stop laughing as we tried to steer. The three days flew by in a blur of muddy challenges, teamwork, and late-night dorm chats. It was an unforgettable experience, creating memories that we will treasure forever!

"The giant swing made my heart beat rapidly whilst also making my stomach hurt with laughter and enjoyment!" -Naina

Year 6 Tudor Banquet In December, Year 6 didn’t have a Christmas party. Before you feel sorry for us, this is because we did something better instead: we had a Tudor Yuletide banquet that would have made Henry VIII himself jealous! First, we sampled lots of different Tudor foods. We had homemade gingerbread, dried fruits, honey cakes and cheese. Delicious! Once our stomachs were full, we got crafting. We made pomanders with oranges and cloves. The classrooms smelt amazing once we’d finished! The greatest hilarity came from the dancing. We used resources from Historic Royal Palaces to learn a traditional Tudor dance: The Pavane. It was supposed to look regal and courtly … but we’re not sure we managed to pull it off …! We were also given the identities of real Tudor nobles for the duration of the feast; we had to guess if we made it through Henry VIII's reign. Most of us didn't make it! #offwithourheads This was a really fun afternoon and a great way to learn history.

“The pomanders smelt amazing!”- Audrey

Waterstones On May 14th, we visited Waterstones, the biggest bookshop in Nottingham. We split into two groups, and Group A—which included me and most of my friends—headed off on the tram. The journey was quick, and we were soon standing outside the gigantic building. We headed straight to the third floor, which was filled with endless children's books. The moment we were set free, everyone scrambled to find the perfect book. These choices were highly important because they will be presented to us at the Year 6 Celebration, serving as a special keepsake to remember our time at Nottingham Infant and Junior School. Within 20 minutes, everyone had selected an age-appropriate book under our £15.00 budget. Though we have to wait for the celebration to officially receive them, we are all eager to start reading. It was an unforgettable trip!

Year 6 trip to National Justice Museum It was the day of the trip, and I was shivering but not from the cold: it was excitement. As soon as we got off the tram we had to walk down onto a smaller street and then saw it: the National Justice Museum! We recognised it instantly as it stood among the newer built buildings. When we walked through the oak double doors, we entered a giant reception where we signed in, and we got there just in time for the fire alarm drill so we had to stay quiet and look at the first exhibitions, one was the history of Police Batons! The National Justice Museum gives you an idea of how cruel the law was in history. I learnt that even if you didn't commit a crime, you could be arrested. There were examples we heard about where people were convicted with almost no evidence, just because their accuser didn’t like them! In conclusion it was very easy to get on the wrong side of the law in the olden days! This learning is important because it shows us how things have changed through the ages. My favourite moment was the mock trial; I was the jury!

Hockerton Housing Project “On June 3rd 2026, Year 6 went only 45 minutes on a coach to Southwell to have a day of wonderful experiences at Hockerton Housing. Hockerton is where 5 families [ 10 adults and 7 children] live in fully sustainable houses and choose to act in a fully sustainable way. Year 6 were split into groups so we could each have a guid who lives there to show us how they live a carbon footprint free life. This trip was relevant to are curriculum because in humanities we are learning about climate change and the impacts we have on the earth with our carbon footprints. We got to walk on top of the houses as they were built underneath the earth, a bit like Hobbiton in the lord of the rings! We also got toured around the places where they grow the food they eat, it was amazing to see how much you can reduce your carbon footprint just by growing your own food and having your own chickens for eggs! We saw how they clean their own water to drink and use to wash their clothes, also how the heating systems work. After this it was lunch where we were encouraged to bring in foods that are low on food miles such as an apple from your garden or a potato grown in England. Lastly, we went around a room with questions on big pieces of paper on the walls and wrote down are opinions of the question and our ideas. Finally, after using the sustainable toilet and saying Fairwell to our guides, we headed back onto the coach back to school. I thoroughly enjoyed this trip and recommend it for future year sixes.” - Simrit

"Year 6 had a fabulous time and I would highly recommend it". Barnaby

Mary Poppins “In late March, Year 6 performed ‘Mary Poppins Junior’ for their end-of-year production. Mary Poppins, is all about the Banks family. A family who needs some fun injected into their lives, and without notice, a ‘Practically Perfect’ nanny arrives, and by the end, transforms them into a happy, joyful family again. In the production, I played George Banks, A hard working bank manager, who usually loses his temper, and is always telling his two children, Jane and Micheal, off. I loved playing my role, because in my cast Micheal, was one of my best friends, and I always practised with him. It was quite easy learning my lines, and I really enjoyed the process to get to the final show. I can vividly remember, the first day we got our microphones and one of the characters, Bert, forgot to turn his microphone off and we could hear him talking in the wings, whilst we were performing. Luckily, that was only in a rehearsal. My favourite part of the production was learning the bank scene with my friends, who had to bring the heavy wooden chair on stage every time, and the step in time dance as a chimney sweep when we were the backup cast. It was the experience of a lifetime, and in the future, I will hopefully be performing in more shows like that in the senior school.” - Edward

Lakeside “On the 15th May, Year 6 took the tram to Lakeside Arts, right near the University of Nottingham. It was an amazing day packed with art and drama! My absolute favourite part of the trip was the drama sessions. During the 'expression fight' activity, the room instantly turned into glorious chaos! There was shouting and laughing everywhere, and everyone was getting stuck in. Another hilarious memory was a drama game where we had to perform a random role; our acting had the whole class in stitches. In the art session, we got to look at the current exhibition. I really improved my sketching skills and learned that famous drawings, like the artist's piece 'Fog', can actually be created using quite simple techniques. It was a brilliant day out, and I'll definitely remember the laughs we had for a long time!”

"This trip was absolutely amazing, and the morning drama session was definitely the best part!" - William

House Winter Olympics On the House Winter Olympics Day Mellers’ and Maples’ went down to Lovell House. Our first activity was to make some decorated purple medals. There was also a kurling team per house in the hall. Luckily I was put on that team so it will be easier for me to explain it. When we got down to the hall, we were split into our Mellers’ team and our Maples’ team. As a Year 6 I was trusted to take the little children down myself. The kurling team consisted of somebody from each year group. The scores were very tight and watching the teams play was very interesting to see who was going to win. As there were 2 yr 6’s, one from each house there was a year 6 showdown. Maples had won that round but Mellers’ were not going to give up. On the final round, there was another Year 6 showdown and it meant that it was all up to Mellers’ to win. - Tara N

September - First House Event Children from every year group, from Nursery all the way to Year 6, had a wonderful collaborative morning learning about their School Houses: White's, Cooper's, Maples’, and Mellers’. The event brought pupils of all ages together to work on shared activities, fostering a strong sense of community and teamwork across the school. It was a great opportunity for the older students to mentor their younger peers and for everyone to connect with their housemates, building excitement and pride for their respective houses.

Y6 Celebration On the evening of Thursday 25th June, Year 6 treated their parents to a wonderful performance to celebrate their time at IJS. Despite the heat, the children excelled themselves. The theme for the evening was: the 2056 Reunion and Year 6 all dressed up as who they aspire to be in thirty years time. With three moving songs and a script written entirely from their own precious (and hilarious!) memories, it was a very special way to mark this important milestone at the end of their IJS journey. We were particularly proud of the children when the awards were announced: the sense of joy and community was strong, with Year 6 enthusiastically congratulating the winners on their achievement. No one came away empty-handed though! During a trip to Waterstones earlier this term, Year 6 each chose a beautiful book as a memento of their time with us, and last night they took these home with them to treasure. We are so proud of Year 6 and will miss them when they move up into the next exciting phase of their education.

House Captain Celebration Tea Party At the end of an extremely busy year for our House Captains, they had the opportunity to celebrate their successes with a special celebratory party with Mrs Bennett. As they drank hot chocolate with marshmallows and ate delicious cake, the House Captains reflected on the year and all they had achieved. As an extra special treat, the House Captains were allowed to play games with each other and reminisce about their time in IJS.

Celebration & Awards

Morning Celebration for Infant and Junior School Pupils Congratulations to all of the children who have been selected to join Mrs Bennett's ‘Morning Celebration’ (gatecrashed eached time by Mr Cordy) throughout the year at both Infant and Junior School. The children have had lots and lots of fun! From eating plenty of cake and pastries to sharing their holiday plans to playing games and talking to friends - old and new - the children have thoroughly enjoyed their special time together outside of the classroom. Class teachers nominate pupils to attend the celebration when they have consistently showcased excellence in all areas of school life. What a huge privilege.

Tea and Toast A much loved Junior School tradition, Tea and Toast with Miss Thorpe was a special weekly reward celebrating exceptional effort, kindness, and character at the Junior School. Each week, Junior Teachers nominated five pupils who consistently served as outstanding role models; children who put their heart into everything they do, treat others with warmth, and always strive for their absolute best. Selected pupils were invited to step away from the busy school day to share a cosy morning of hot tea, fresh toast, and wonderful conversation with Miss Thorpe. This reward was very close to Miss Thorpe’s heart. She looked forward to it each week as a chance to connect directly with the pupils, hear their stories, and celebrate their personal triumphs. For the children, sitting down with Miss Thorpe was an honour; a joyful recognition of their hard work that left a lasting mark on everyone who pulled up a chair. Though Miss Thorpe is no longer with us, the spirit of warmth, pride, and connection she poured into these mornings remains at the core of our School community, reminding us all of the power of trying our best, every single day.

Year 3 Christmas Crafternoon Year 3 enjoyed a wonderfully festive “Christmas Crafternoon,” where children and their grown-ups came together to celebrate the festive season. The afternoon was filled with creativity as everyone got involved in making a variety of Christmas and winter-themed crafts, from decorations to cards and other handmade treats. It was lovely to see such great teamwork between children and their grown-ups, with lots of smiles, laughter, and festive cheer throughout. The event created a warm and joyful atmosphere and was a fantastic way to celebrate the run-up to Christmas together.

Crafternoon

House Activities

House Launch Day At the beginning of the year, we hosted a House Launch Day. It all began with Miss Bailey, Mrs Dunn, Mrs Andrews-Burrows and Mr Corin stood around a magical hat with the house captains waiting to find out which Houses the teachers were in! Once all the teachers were announced, Year 6 went to Lovell House to complete some get to know you activities with Nursery, Reception and Year 1, whilst Year 2 came up to the Junior School to spend time with Years 3, 4 and 5. There was a real buzz across both the Infant and the Junior School as children made new friends and spent time with family.

House “Hello Yellow” Morning On Friday 10th October, we took part in 'Hello Yellow' to support Young Minds. As part of our work on building a strong House community, the House Captains delivered an assembly to raise awareness for World Mental Health Day and prepared activities for the whole of the Infant and Junior School to complete with their families during our Open Classroom event that morning. Children, family and staff were encouraged to wear a yellow accessory to symbolise support and hope for all young people struggling with their mental health, this included yellow ties, yellow socks, a yellow hair tie and so much more yellow! It was an opportunity to shake off the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage positive conversations around taking care of ourselves and others.

House Activity Morning - Autumn Term On Friday 17th October, we got together in our Houses to design and create House Mascots and House Shields. The Infant School got together and thought about adjectives and qualities that we think represent our Houses. We spoke about what animals or creatures might have the same qualities. Afterwards, we spoke about colours and names for our mascot that represent our Houses. The Junior School then thought about House shields. We spoke about what the history of our House is, the name, the qualities and what makes our Houses unique. The children all came up with fantastic ideas including some wonderful House logos. The House captains then sat down with their Heads of House to decide which mascot to create from each house and what shield we could use for our Houses.

House Activity Day On Wednesday 19th November, the whole of IJS moved across the sites to complete a whole school Activity Day. Nursery made their way to the Junior School whilst everyone else got into the Houses ready to complete a full day of fun. The children spoke about different festivals and celebrations that happen during Wintertime, including different traditions that they may also partake in. We came together to create House hoops to bring brightness and community to our school. We told jokes and wrote our own jokes to share within our Houses. Afterwards, we came up with wishes to hope for our family, friends and communities. To end the day, we played games and created our own games within our Houses. The children loved spending time with other year groups and particularly enjoyed reminiscing back at Lovell House but also getting to experience life in the Junior School.

Christmas Toy Appeal During Winter festival season, we supported Guru Nanak's Mission to help spread joy this by donating toys to a local toy bank. Mrs Sethi has also made a wonderful video that everyone watched across IJS and we discussed how we can all spread a little bit of happiness. The Heads of House put House coloured bows to place on top of the gifts so that the House captains could identify and collect them ready to donate.

Junior School House Cross Country At the end of the Autumn half term, everyone from the Junior School made their way to Wollaton Park to take part in the annual House Cross Country event. The children were able to choose between the ‘Wolf Race’ in which they could run with their friends, have a chat and enjoy the amazing scenery and the ‘Medal Race’ for those more competitive runners. All of the children performed brilliantly – supporting each other and demonstrating fantastic resilience. Once all of the results were collated, White’s House finished on top and retained their crown as House Cross Country Champions!

Infant School House Cross Country During the afternoon of Friday 17th October, we ended a wonderful half term back at school with a cross-country Lovell style! We had a go at running around the bottom playground as many times as we could, we used our climbing skills to scale the Trim Trail avoiding the green slime beneath us and on the top playground we balanced wiggled our way through the assault course. Lovell House showed great teamwork and sporting qualities cheering one another on. We had awards for children who represented our Roadmap qualities, it was incredibly hard to choose just one child from each year group.

" I loved climbing on the a-frame. I only fell into the green slime a couple of times! I felt really strong after doing all of that exercise!” - Massimo

Winter Olympic Morning Friday 13th might be unlucky for some but not for our Infant and Junior children as it was House Winter Olympic Day! Maples' and Mellers' were all based at Lovell House whilst Cooper's and White's were at the Junior School. The day began with an introduction from Mrs Williams and Mr Crossland before the Opening Ceremony began and Mrs Bennett ran around our School with a real olympic torch! Next, the teams were chosen for House Curling to which Mellers' were victorious and took home the first House Kurling trophy. Whilst this was happening, children all took part in creating House flags, medals ski slaloms for skeleton and bombseligh races and ski/ snowboard boots from modelling clay. The real treat was Mrs Bennett organised for a special Olympic snack for us to enjoy whilst watching Team GB in the Curling. Finally we all came back to the hall for a closing ceremony where we all sang and danced together, we are so happy that the Summer Olympics is only 2 years away because we had so much fun!

House Eggstravagnza The final morning of the Spring term was filled with colour, excitement, and community spirit as NHIJS came together for a fantastic House Easter event, all in support of our House charity, Three Little Birds. Children arrived proudly dressed in their House colours, making a donation and helping to raise money for a truly meaningful cause. A special highlight of the morning was welcoming Colin Haughton, Founder of Three Little Birds, who delivered inspiring assemblies to both Lovell and the Juniors. He shared the incredible work of the charity and explained how the fundraising efforts at NHIJS will make a real difference. There was plenty of fun to be had across the school. The Juniors enjoyed a range of Easter-themed art activities, while Lovell pupils took part in their very first House Tug of War competition, brilliantly led by Mr Abdy, Cooper's finished victoriously. At break time, excitement continued with a penny trail challenge to see which House could create the longest line, alongside a popular “Dippy Egg” competition where children selected eggs for the chance to win prizes including chocolate treats, fluffy chicks, and mini Easter bunnies. The morning concluded with a lively House General Knowledge Quiz, with Maples’ emerging as the overall winners. It was a wonderful way to end the term, raising money for a fantastic cause while enjoying time together and celebrating House spirit.

House Science Activity Morning and Tug Of War The last day the Summer half term at NHIJS was marked by an exciting House event filled with teamwork, creativity and friendly competition. Pupils arrived in their House colours and took part in a range of science-themed activities, with the highlight being a team tower-building challenge. Working collaboratively, children used problem-solving skills, communication and creativity to construct the tallest and most stable structures they could, demonstrating impressive teamwork throughout. Alongside the science challenge, there was great excitement at the Junior School where pupils took part in a thrilling House Tug of War competition, with Cooper’s emerging as the victors. Each House showed determination and spirit as they pulled for victory, with plenty of cheering and support from classmates. The event was a fantastic way to end the half term, celebrating House pride, encouraging collaboration and bringing the school community together.

"It was great to spend time with younger pupils at the Infant School, I really enjoyed the opportunity to help younger pupils just give it a go and try their best" - Henry

House Poetry Festival We were blown away by the talent of our House Poetry Festival finalists. All of the pupils who took part had worked incredibly hard to perform their poems with confidence and expression. The audience thoroughly enjoyed watching all of the performances. The judges had a very difficult decision picking the finalists. Well done to everyone who earned points for their house by taking part. We would like to congratulate Cooper’s House for being the winning house this year.

EYFS Sports Day Our Nursery and Reception Sports Day was a fantastic event filled with fun, excitement, and plenty of encouragement. The children enthusiastically cheered on their house mates as they took part in jumping, running, and throwing events, celebrating everyone's efforts and achievements. They also showed wonderful teamwork and support by cheering for their friends during the relay races and hurdles. The exciting day ended with a well-earned ice lolly, which was enjoyed by all. The children were especially proud to wear their Tshirts covered in stickers, celebrating their participation and making the day even more memorable!

KS1 Sports Day Year 1 and Year 2 had a fantastic Sports Day, taking part in running, jumping and throwing events. We cheered on our team mates and did our best with all of the activities. Every house worked well together and gave 100% in all of the activities. The hurdles were really popular - you had to jump so high! It was also a lot of fun running in the egg and spoon races. Everyone got lots of stickers and we definitely deserved our ice-lollies at the end.

“I enjoyed the hurdles the most. The long jump was a lot of fun as well. I jumped over 1m!” - Theo “I enjoyed the hurdles because I love jumping and athletics. We all cheered each other on in Meller's. It was great fun.” - Tia 96

Junior School Sports Day This year, our Junior School Sports Days proved challenging due to the intense heat, however, we still managed to find a way for every child to take part in all of their events! Year 3 and 4 completed their event at Nottingham Hockey Centre. All of the children were able to compete in a running race, a throwing event and a jumping event. The children had been practicing hard in the weeks leading up to the event and they represented their Houses brilliantly! A great afternoon of sport was had and the children should be very proud of their performances. The Year 5 and 6 event was not so straight forward! Thankfully, during the extreme temperatures, we managed to secure the relatively cool indoor athletics track at Harvey Hadden Sports Village. Here the children were able to take part in many of the events that they had been training for including the Standing Long Jump, Howler Javelin and the Hurdles (amongst many others). Those events that were not completed in the initial session took place at West Bridgford Cricket Club where the children could sprint, run the long distance and also compete in the closely contested relay races. Once all of the scores had been collected from the different events, Mellers’ were crowned as overall champions. Well done to all of the children for representing their Houses so well!

Events

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Year 2 Strings Project

Reading Cafes

Through the course of Year 2 all children have the wonderful opportunity to learn both the violin and cello. The project is always thoroughly enjoyable, children relish the chance to experience learning such excellent instruments. Fun, exciting and engaging pieces are studied, allowing all children to make progress.

We enjoyed inviting parents into school to help us celebrate reading. There were plenty of great books and comfy places to sit and read them in the hall and library. There was even a book swap for adults!

Outdoor Workshops Year 1 and 2 celebrated nature and creativity in our Outdoor Workshops. There were so many activities. Bird feeders were very popular and the children made lovely patterns by arranging their natural materials. There were also keyrings and books to create a take home. Although the weather was a bit rainy for Year 2, we had just as much fun celebrating the outdoors when we were indoors!

Infant Summer Music Celebration The 2026 Infant Summer Music Festival showcased an incredible amount of young talent through a delightful variety of performances. The audience was treated to the impressive coordination of the Year 2 Strings and the enchanting melodies of the Infant Harp Ensemble, followed by a crisp, enthusiastic performance from the Year 2 Recorder Ensemble that highlighted just how hard these young musicians have worked to master their instruments this year. The musical celebration continued with a spectacular, rhythmic showcase by the Infant Band before the Year 1 and 2 Choir joined forces for a grand finale, filling the venue with beautifully synchronized voices and leaving parents and teachers immensely proud of what these brilliant young performers accomplished together.

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Little Hands Celebration Event We held our first ever 'Little Hands Celebration Concert' this Summer Term. In the concert all children sang, played and composed with brilliance. The event showcased all children's excellent understanding of various aspects of practical musicianship.

Kindness Month In May, we celebrated an amazing Kindness Month! The children had a great time completing challenges to practise being kind to themselves, each other, and the world around them. We also had a couple of special 'kindness boxes' in Lovell House for children to nominate peers who they saw being kind. Each week, a few names were drawn from the box to win a small prize. Over the month, everyone who finished their kindness challenge received a special certificate. It was a fabulous event and demonstrated the extraordinary kindness we have at Nottingham High School.

Storytelling Week We thoroughly enjoyed celebrating storytelling during our themed week. It was great to hear the buzz around the school and seeing children so engaged. Each year group planned their own storytelling activities in their English lessons and storytelling sessions. We travelled all around the world by looking at fairy tales set in different locations in Reception and Year 4. Year 2 travelled back in time to Ancient Greece to explore Greek Myths and Year 3 enjoyed learning about the trickster god, Anansi. Nursery also looked at the importance of religious stories during their celebrations. Reception read traditional tales with a twist, Little Red was suddenly with a Hungry Lion, Rapunzel was based in India, The Ghanaian Goldilocks and Pattan’s Pumpkin! Storytelling can also provide important messages. Our Year 6 pupils looked at who is telling the story by studying bias in non-fiction texts. Stories with morals are also a good way to provide messages and our Year 2 and 5 pupils enjoyed exploring Aesop’s fables. We talked about what each story’s message was.

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Spring Concert The Spring Concert was a vibrant celebration of music, showcasing record numbers of children taking part in a wide range of ensembles and solo performances. Due to the exceptionally high level of participation, the event was moved to the Player Hall to accommodate performers and audience members comfortably. It was a memorable evening that highlighted the talent, enthusiasm and growing musical involvement across the ensembles of the Junior school.

Ingram Cup The Ingram Cup house music competition was a lively and muchanticipated event that brought together pupils from across the school to represent their houses through music. Performances included a variety of instrumental and vocal solos, with each individual displaying confidence and enjoyment in their chosen repertoire. The standard of musicianship was exceptionally high, with pupils demonstrating impressive preparation and performance skills in a supportive and competitive atmosphere. The event highlighted the strong musical spirit within the school community and the pride that each individual takes in representing their house, creating an enjoyable and energetic occasion that celebrated both individual talent and collective effort. This is a standout moment in the school's musical calendar that included over 200 entries this year.

ESSA regional swimming On Friday 24th April, 2026, history was made for the NHJIS Swimming teams. They had been entered into the ESSA (England’s Schools Swimming Association), a relays (freestyle and medley) competition and the regional round was being held at Repton School. The children were excited about the gala and were keen to perform well against very strong competition. Everyone swam exceedingly well, with some of the pupils gaining some of their fastest times in completing 25m and some of the finishes were amazingly close, especially in the last race! For the first time ever, both the boys and the girls teams in both the freestyle and medley events have qualified for the national finals at Ponds Forge, Sheffield on Saturday 20th June! What a wonderful afternoon of swimming and such an historical moment for our children to be a part of! Congratulations to all!

Summer Festival A super highlight to the end of the school year. Many congratulations to all performers in the Summer Festival. This whole-school favourite event celebrates the hard work of all Junior School ensembles. Record numbers of children took part in the festival this year, showcasing dedication, commitment and enjoyment in taking part in a school music group.

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IAPS Competition IAPS Art Competition 2026 – Theme: Reflection This year, pupils across the school enthusiastically took part in the IAPS Art Competition, exploring the theme of "Reflection" through a wide range of creative techniques and ideas. Each year group approached the theme in its own unique way. Younger pupils developed their observational skills through pencil sketches of cityscapes, carefully considering how reflections appear in buildings, windows and water. Others experimented with water as both a subject and a medium, creating imaginative images that captured movement, light and mirrored surfaces. As pupils progressed through the school, they explored reflection in more abstract ways. Using pastels, children investigated shape, colour and shadow, producing vibrant artworks that demonstrated their growing understanding of composition and visual effects. Reflections created through contrasts of light and dark encouraged pupils to think deeply about how we perceive the world around us. Our older pupils undertook individual projects, interpreting the theme in highly personal and creative ways. Their work showcased a range of artistic styles and thoughtful responses, reflecting both technical skill and originality. The competition provided a wonderful opportunity for pupils to experiment, take creative risks and express their ideas through art. We are incredibly proud of all those who entered and congratulate them on the imagination, effort and enthusiasm they brought to their work.

STEAM Career Day STEAM Career Day is an exciting event where parents, family members, friends and other members of the Nottingham High School community visit our school to share information about their careers and talk about their experiences in the workplace. This year's theme was Artificial Intelligence where we learnt about the many ways that AI can be used in different professions. For example, Mr Landa showed us how AI supports his business, DSL, by identifying new trends, predicting which products may become popular, generating creative ideas, designing products and developing advertisements. We had the opportunity to hear from a wide range of professionals, including paediatric nephrologists, authors, judges and entrepreneurs. Their talks gave us a fascinating insight into many different career paths and demonstrated the variety of opportunities available in the future.

“I loved exploring new textures with the shading pencils and water sprays.” - Alaina

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info@nottinghamhigh.co.uk

0115 978 6056

www.nottinghamhigh.co.uk

Nottingham High Infant and Junior School, Waverley Mount, Nottingham, NG7 4ED

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