“The Review captures special moments and memories of the past year, celebrates successes and highlights across the year groups and provides a wonderful insight into life here at Crackley Hall.”
to the 2023-2024 Crackley Review. Charting the life of the school in words and pictures, our annual review celebrates our pupils and school ethos that together show how Crackley Hall helps children grow, learn and achieve.
It captures special moments and memories of the past year, celebrates successes and highlights across the year groups and provides a wonderful insight into life here at Crackley Hall School. It’s a fabulous memento and one I hope you will all treasure for years to come.
My sincere thanks are extended to all our staff who work tirelessly to support our children and especially to those who have contributed to the Review, both teachers and office staff, and to Mrs Helen Stephenson who has devoted many hours of her time to bring it to fruition.
So much happens here, day in day out, making it hard to capture it all. There were so many incredible and memorable moments and plenty of achievements and rewards. I hope you enjoy reliving it all.
Robert Duigan Headmaster
Prize Giving 2024
Prize Giving at Crackley Hall is the culmination of the academic year, it is a chance to reflect, a chance to celebrate and a chance to give thanks.
This year’s Prize Giving took place on Tuesday 2 July with the Lower School receiving their awards in the afternoon and Junior 5 and 6 in the evening.
Headmaster, Mr Duigan, began each ceremony by giving thanks to the many who give so much to the school in so many ways. He reminded pupils that those who succeed have to be brave enough to fail. He encouraged all the children to continue to strive to do their best, to live in the moment, never limit themselves and to celebrate the success of others.
Crackley Hall’s pupil leaders gave their reports speaking movingly about their time in office and their Crackley journeys, and the memories and friends they will take with them as they move on to secondary school.
And then there were the awards, book awards for progress, effort and diligence, school spirit and kindness, contribution to school life and achievement. Followed by cups and shields and trophies galore, all recognising the diligence, effort and excellence that abounds at Crackley Hall.
It was difficult to pick winners for this year’s Special Awards as there were many worthy potential recipients, so it was with great pride that Mr Duigan awarded the following:
St Joseph’s School Spirit Award
Zanyi Chalmers Award
Scholarship Award
Darcey Wilcox-Smith
Patrick Fuchss
Ben Bruce
Sister Mary Patrick Trophy for Caring Alexa Bickerton
PTA Crackley Hall Shield
Joise-Jean Swindells
As the ceremonies concluded, all Crackley pupils were encouraged to reflect on their achievements this year, as prize winner or not, all should be rightfully proud.
Award Winner/s
Our Head Pupil Awards of Service
To our outgoing Head Boy
To our outgoing Head Girl
The Arts Awards
Lord Cup for Artistic Endeavour
Abbotsford Cup for Art and Design
St Joseph’s Salver for Progress and Endeavour in the Performing Arts
Crackley Award for Commitment to the Performing Arts
David Lloyd Performing Arts Trophy
Penny Matthews Shield for Singing and Musical Theatre
Kyriakou Trophy for Music
The Co-curricular and Sport Awards
Vaughan Trophy for Rounders/Cricket
Duigan Cup for Cricket
Vital Shield for Netball
Crackley Hall Rugby Trophy
Boraston Shield for Tag Rugby
Special Awards
da Vinci Shield (Boys)
da Vinci Shield (Girls)
Blythe Camilleri-Willis
Evie Kettle
Ellie Ambrose
Sara Alvis
Jenson Stokes
Molly Hunka
Darcey Wilcox-Smith
Evie Kettle
Arthur Cowell
Eleanor Widnall
Vaughan Woollacott
Elsie Ascroft
Joshua Burley
Isaac Fox
Arthur Cowell
Elora Hughes
Prize Giving 2024
Award
Fermahan Shield for Athletics
Wood Shield for Hockey
Vital Shield for Football
Brockwell Trophy for Girls’ Football
Crackley Hall Salver for Boys’ Swimming
Crackley Hall Cup for Girls’ Swimming
Crackley Hall Award for the Most Improved Sports Person
Marshall Shield for Boys’ Endeavour in Sport
Marshall Cup for Girls’ Endeavour in Sport
Crackley Hall Shield for Sporting Excellence
Dick Trophy for Sport
Card Cup for Cross-Country
The Academic Awards
Mansfield Shield for Sustained Effort and Progress in Learning
Doust Shield for Attitude and Approach to Learning
Rhys Taylor Cup for Endeavour
Roderick Jones Trophy for French
Timms Cup for ICT and Computing
Lammas Trophy for Geography
Keeley Cup for History
Simmonds Trophy for RE
Castens Award for Science
Head’s Award for Lower KS2 Science
Le Poidevin Shield for English
Clark Cup for Mathematics
Williams Cup for Sustained Effort and Progress
Crackley Hall Award for Aptitude in Robotics
Academic Determination and Commiment
Outstanding Commitment to Sporting Life
Resilience and Endeavour throughout Junior 6
All round Curriculum Achievement
Outstanding Leadership of the younger pupils in school
Winner/s
Patrick Fuchss and Sienna Lenton
Sienna Lenton
Wade Dumighan
Scarlett Moore
Jenson Stokes
Elora Hughes
Sebastian Bollon, Austin Rourke and Issy Cleland
Ted Higginbotham
Amy Carroll
Elora Hughes
Isaac Fox
Fergus Crinion and Eloise Scares
Phoebe Ward
Olivia Holden
Blythe Camilleri-Willis
Sienna Farrow
Ding Fan
Sara Alvis
Fergus Crinion
Elsie Woodall-Pagan
Elizabeth Edkins
Hector Gautier-Collins
Beatrice Parizzi
Ding Fan
Molly Hunka
Fergus Crinion
Harry Andrews and Isla McVoy
Harry Bosworth and Sebastian Rotheram
Benjamin Bruce and Finley O’Halloran
Elizabeth Edkins and Beatrice Parizzi
William Oldroyd Achievement in the Performing Arts, Drama and Gymnastics
Outstanding Compassion and Care
Adreena Greevy
Phoebe Ward and Elsie Woodall-Pagan
Book Prizes
Form Prize 2024 Name
Reception M
Achievement
Effort and Diligence
Progress
School Spirit and Kindness
Reception O Achievement
Yubo Lin
Emma Kong
Aurora Poulter
August GautierCollins
Henry Coombes
Effort and Diligence Isher Bhabra
Progress
School Spirit and Kindness
J1G Achievement
Effort and Diligence
Progress
James Brooks
Amelie Crockford
Ethan Pope
Imogen Fitzgerald
Faryal Bhatti
School Spirit and Kindness Marie Illum
J1H Achievement
Margot Maffey
Effort and Diligence Otto Wilton
Progress
School Spirit and Kindness
J2B Achievement
Effort and Diligence
Progress
School Spirit and Kindness
J2R Achievement
Effort and Diligence
Progress
School Spirit and Kindness
J3V Achievement
Effort and Diligence
Progress
School Spirit and Kindness
Tobias Coombes
Yuvraaj Phagura
Bevan Abraham
Oscar McCullough
Reuven Randhawa
Delilah Moss
Ella Cowlishaw
Matteo Forino
Basile Poncelet
Bella Cranie
Chace Ward
William Goodwin
Lewis Turvey
Olivia Edkins
Form Prize 2024 Name
J3W
Achievement Ashleigh Aston
Effort and Diligence Xanthe Ellis
Progress Kenji Bird
School Spirit and Kindness Harriet Alvis
J4A Achievement Beatrice Cowlishaw
Effort and Diligence Sophie Kong
Progress Niamh Barry
School Spirit and Kindness Remy Andrews
J4R Achievement Edward Beresford
Effort and Diligence Gaby Akomolafe
Progress Hugo Racz
School Spirit and Kindness Una Barry
J5L Achievement Eleanor Widnall
Effort and Diligence Felix Hughes
Progress Rory Sheridan
School Spirit and Kindness Swaran Lehal
J5S Achievement Charlotte Chan
Effort and Diligence Scarlett Moore
Progress Ben Fuller
School Spirit and Kindness Josh Bhushan
J6H Achievement Sara Alvis
Progress
Sophia Fisher
Commitment and Diligence Ria Mahal
Contribution to School Life Sukhmani Sanghera
School Spirit and Kindness Hollie Sparkes
J6V Achievement Ding Fan
Progress Sienna Farrow
Commitment and Diligence Amy Carroll
Contribution to School Life Adreena Greevy
School Spirit and Kindness Isla McVoy
Achievements
Crackley Hall Awarded Silver by Kenilworth in Bloom
Judges from Kenilworth in Bloom were impressed by green-fingered pupils’ gardening efforts, pupils’ knowledge and enthusiasm, the care shown for the environment and how the gardens at the school made provision for wildlife. They awarded the school a Silver certificate in the annual Kenilworth in Bloom competition. Mrs Burley, Head Boy, Blythe, Head Girl, Evie, Deputy Head Boy, Arthur, and Deputy Head Girl, Beatrice, and the Year 6 School Councillors all attended the presentation in September to receive their award.
Mrs Burley was very proud, commenting, “It was the first time we have entered so we were thrilled to receive Silver and will be putting plans in place for how we can win Gold. We would like to extend our thanks to the volunteers at Kenilworth in Bloom for making us feel so welcome, we are looking forward to lots more collaborative projects together.”
Gold for Pupils in the Primary Maths Challenge
The Primary Mathematics Challenge is a fun and exciting mathematical challenge aimed at pupils in Years 5 and 6 and this year 20 Junior 6 and 10 Junior 5 pupils took part. The challenge boosts confidence in mathematics and encourages problem solving, helping pupils develop their reasoning skills.
Congratulations go to Ding, Arthur, Beatrice and Elizabeth who all received a Gold certificate, a really excellent result. Well done also to all the eight Silver and ten Bronze certificate winners. A huge well done to all pupils who took part!
Art Success for Pupils in ISA Competition
Avni and Amaya, from Junior 1 and Junior 2 respectively, came first in the ISA Regional Art Competition. While Sara and Harry (from Junior 6) and Junior 1 and Junior 5L all took second place in the prestigious competition.
Avni’s striking Barn Owl pastel won the Art 2D Individual EYFS class and Amaya’s lovely painting, Fish Blowing Bubbles, was first in the Art 2D Individual KS1 class.
Junior 1 placed second in the Art 3D Group KS1 class with Birds In A Terracotta Pot, while Junior 5’s Winter Print also took second in the Textiles Group KS2 class and Sara and Harry were awarded second for their Tudor Portraits in the Art 2D Group KS2 class.
Avni and Amaya’s work went forward to the ISA National Art Competition where Avni’s piece was recognized with a Highly Commended, an incredible achievement.
Christmas Card Competition
Crackley Hall’s winning Christmas Card design was by Alex from J5S. His stunning drawing captured the spirit of the season through a stained-glass vision of the nativity. The design featured on the front of every card sent out by the Headmaster.
There was an exceptionally strong field to choose from this year, so our congratulations also went to the children whose designs featured as cameos on the reverse of the card.
Key Stage 1 winner Liana (J3W) and runners up Isher (RO), Imogen (J1G) and Tazio (J1G).
CISC National Card Competition
Junior 3 pupil, Chace, was awarded first place in the 2023 Catholic Independent Schools Conference (CISC) Christmas card competition.
The theme for the competition this year was ‘Jesus – King of Kings’ and Chace produced a beautiful drawing of the nativity scene with baby Jesus in his manger.
Outstanding LAMDA Results
At Crackley Hall pupils from Junior 1 to Junior 6 study for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) examinations in their Drama lessons.
Pupils in Junior 3 and Junior 4 sat their LAMDA examinations in November and were delighted with their success. The youngsters achieved a 100% pass rate, with all the children being awarded the top grades of Distinction and Merit. Junior 3 and Junior 4 studied the Solo Introductory and Speaking Verse and Prose syllabuses where pupils are expected to recite poems from memory.
The children in Junior 5 and 6 took their LAMDA examinations in February. Pupils achieved an excellent 100% pass rate with all the children being awarded the top grades of Merit or Distinction. Junior 5 study for Grade 1 Speaking Verse and Prose, while Junior 6 undertake Grade 2. It was an outstanding set of results which reflected the children’s hard work and commitment.
Finally in May, pupils in Junior 1 and Junior 2 took their LAMDA examinations. All the children were awarded the top grades of Merit and Distinction. Junior 1 and Junior 2 study the Introductory syllabus where pupils are expected to recite a poem and then discuss a favourite toy.
They all worked so hard, huge congratulations to them all.
Success At Nuneaton Festival Of Arts
Junior 6 Scholarship Awards
We wished the very best of luck to our Junior 6 pupils as they moved on to a range of outstanding local independent and state schools. To mark the end of their time at Crackley Hall, pupils were presented with their Leavers’ hoodies.
19 of the cohort moved on to the Foundation’s senior school, Princethorpe College, while six children departed for local grammar schools. We also had pupils going to a number of other independent schools as well as local state schools. We were especially delighted that 15 of our Junior 6 pupils were awarded scholarships by a variety of schools, including all-rounder, academic, art, sports, music and drama awards.
Headmaster, Rob Duigan, said, “Our aim is always to do our best to help our pupils reach the destination secondary school of their choice and we were particularly pleased with the range of scholarship offers this group received. It was an excellent outcome”.
Pupils Celebrate Music Exam Success
Across the year, the school celebrated pupils’ music examination success. Crackley Hall offers peripatetic music lessons on a wide range of instruments and in Singing and Musical Theatre too.
Pupils sat examinations in December, March and June from Step entry level up to Grade 5, 100% of pupils passed with everyone achieving the top grades of Merit or Distinction. A huge well done to everyone for all your hard work.
Pupils from Crackley Hall School celebrated after achieving excellent results at the 2024 Nuneaton Festival of Arts. 11 pupils travelled to the Abbey Theatre in Nuneaton in May to compete in the Speech and Drama classes of the festival. They faced tough competition from local drama schools and performing arts specialist, Pattison College.
Crackley Hall’s Choral Speaking Club (pictured) competed in the Junior Schools’ competition. They were awarded an ‘Honours’ for their exemplary work with The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf and The Day I Put My Finger Up my Nose. They did so well that they only missed out on top spot by one point.
Pupils’ individual performances were excellent too, with the children coming away with three trophies for first place, congratulations to, Sloane, Ted and Darcey, three for second place, after a super effort from, Edward, Felix and Sukhmani, and two for third place, well done to Molly and Alexa..
School Leaders
2023-2024 Captains and Stewards
In their final year at Crackley Hall, Junior 6 take on leadership responsibilities. Every pupil in Junior 6 takes on a role either as a Captain, Steward or Prefect and together they support the running of the school. The pupils were presented with their badges of office in Celebration Assembly.
Mr Duigan spoke about the importance of their responsibilities and encouraged pupils to rise to the challenge of their roles as excellent leaders and role models for the younger pupils at the school.
Head Girl Evie Kettle
Head Boy Blythe Camilleri-Willis
Deputy Head Girl Beatrice Parizzi
Deputy Head Boy Arthur Cowell
RE Captain Elsie Woodall-Pagan
Ethos Captain Josie-Jean Swindells
Boys’ Games Captain Isaac Fox
Boys’ Vice Games Captain Harry Bosworth
Girls’ Games Captain Elsie Ascroft
Girls’ Vice Games Captain Sienna Lenton
Mars House Captain Vaughan Woollacott
Jupiter House Captain Phoebe Madolell
Saturn House Captain Sienna Farrow
Venus House Captain Ted Higginbotham
Vice House
Captain Mars Josh Burley
Vice House Captain Jupiter Ben Bruce
Vice House
Captain Saturn Seb Bollon
Vice House
Captain Venus Hollie Sparkes
Student Council Captains Elizabeth Edkins
Student Council Captains Alexa Bickerton
Student Council Captains Ding Fan
Student Council Captains Adreena Greevy
Student Council Captains Molly Hunka
Music Captain Jenson Stokes
Performing Arts Captain Sukhmani Sanghera
Library Captain Phoebe Ward
Junior 6
The Spiderwick Chronicles
In English, pupils studied The Spiderwick Chronicles, exploring the author’s use of language to create atmosphere. They considered why an author chooses particular words or phrases and the impact this has on the reader. They then looked at how to retrieve information from a text, predicting what might happen next, explaining ideas and opinions carefully and precisely and summarising what has been read.
Taxonomists
In Science, Junior 6 became budding taxonomists (someone who classifies living things). They thought about the various criteria you could use. Is it a fungus? Can it fly? They even spent one lesson exploring the outdoor classroom and playgrounds hunting for their own specimens to classify. It was amazing to discover all the plants and critters that make their homes within the school grounds.
Science Investigators
Junior 6 visited Princethorpe College in September to take part in a special Science Investigator’s Workshop. Ably assisted by the College’s specialist science teachers, pupils enjoyed fun hands-on Chemistry, Biology and Physics activities. They found out how long it takes for an alka-seltzer rocket to explode, discovered the favourite conditions for meal worms to live in and designed and constructed paper bridges that withstood some amazing masses.
Online Safety
PC Darren Lund visited Junior 6 to talk about the importance of Online Safety. Pupils became ‘social network detectives’ as they engaged in an exercise to spot good and bad behaviours online and learned how to assess potential risks. They also discussed the dangers of hackers and unauthorised access. It was an informative and engaging session.
Fantastic Faeries
As part of their investigation into Book One of The Spiderwick Chronicles in English, the children created their own faeries (magical creatures that you might find surrounding the Spiderwick Mansion). After two weeks of careful research and experimentation, the children chose their favorite creation to explore further. Using fine line pens and an ink wash, their work was transformed into pages you might find in the ancient dusty tomb in the secret room of the Spiderwick Mansion!
Black History Month
Junior 6 created incredible ‘hair’ pieces as an homage to the history of black hair. They learned that during the 18th century on slave plantations, maps were woven into hair showing possible escape routes. Pupils used a variety of resources to show how amazing and strong black hair is and how others have adopted those styles across the world from fashion houses to everyday hair styles.
Junior 6H
Junior 6V
Fabulous Fungi
Junior 6 learned all about fabulous fungi finding out how these amazing organisms differ from flowering plants. They discovered where fungi grow, how big they can get and how useful they can be (think making bread and decomposing dead things). They made predictions about what would be the best environment for fungi to grow in and recreated an ideal mould-growing environment for bread. Pupils completed a week of scientific observations and then compared their findings just like real mycologists.
World War One
Junior 6 studied World War One across the curriculum. In History, they investigated the events that led to conflict, as well as the state of Europe at the start of the 20th Century in terms of military strength and alliances. In English, the children considered the Christmas truce and using their descriptive writing skills they began to explore the experiences of soldiers in the trenches.
Sewing Skills
In DT, pupils practised their sewing skills. Linking to their history topic on the Victorians they created sewing samplers showing off various sewing patterns. Using binka and embroidery thread, they completed a running, cross and half cross stitch. It was brilliant to see the children using all their focus and determination to master these patterns.
Baking Bread
During Enrichment Week the children had great fun baking bread, carefully measuring out the ingredients and then kneading them all together. Everyone enjoyed getting hands on, carefully crafting their bread rolls. There were many comments from staff and pupils about the wonderful smells wafting through school and what a fantastic life skill for them all to learn.
Bake Off
The post exams traditional Junior 6 Bake Off was a creative and sticky affair! The attention to detail and ingenuity was a sight to behold. Congratulations to the winners, 1st Seb R, Finley and Jamie, 2nd Seb B and 3rd Josh, Fergus and Ted and well done to all the children who took part so enthusiastically.
Heart Dissection
After learning all about the human body, Junior 6 examined hearts and whilst there was some initial revulsion, that was rapidly replaced with fascination as the children got hands on exploring the ventricles and valves. It was interesting for them to see the organs in real life after studying them in their lessons and they were able to link their theoretical studies to the reality of how the organs work.
Lego Robots
Pupils used their Lego and programming skills to build robots in their Computing lessons. Once the robot was completed, they then started to programme their robots to move and sense the environment around them. It was great to see them engaging with engineering and science through fun, practical learning experiences.
RMS Titanic
Junior 6 learned about the sinking of RMS Titanic on 15 April 1912. One group explored the iceberg through seascape art, whilst the other group found out what happened at 01:40am - the final moments before the vessel sank to the icy depths. They used a variety of techniques to create seascapes and clear, dark skies as well as creating movement and porthole imagery. It was fabulous, evocative work.
Vincent van Gogh
Junior 6 studied the work of Vincent van Gogh. Focusing primarily on his signature piece, The Starry Night, they researched the life of this famous artist, learning all about the brilliant works of art he produced, but also all the challenges that he faced. Using plates and bowls as bases, pupils learned how to weave circles with wool to create their own stars. The results were very effective. Their very own Starry Night went on display in the Art Room!
French Conversation
Junior 6 practised their French conversational skills in preparation for their residential trip. In pairs, they introduced themselves to each other and explained where they were from and what their likes and dislikes were. They then used their knowledge of French grammar to write longer sentences about their interests.
One World Art
In their Art lessons, Junior 6 prepared for One World Week by thinking about how, if we all worked together and put our differences aside, we could build a better world. They produced a super collaborative piece of work which we think says it all!
Chinese New Year
Junior 6 discovered that the dragon is many Chinese people’s favourite animal in the Zodiac when they learned about how Chinese people celebrate the New Year. They discovered that many believe that people born in the year of the Dragon share common characteristics, such as: passion, honesty and bravery. They also found out how Chinese people get ready for the New Year and what they do and eat to celebrate the event.
Confucius Institute
Junior 6 visited the Confucius Institute at Coventry University for an introduction to Chinese culture. The children participated in traditional Chinese crafts, including calligraphy, opera mask painting and paper cutting. During the calligraphy session, pupils learned how to hold a calligraphy brush and use ink to form different characters. One of these characters was 福 (fú) which means good fortune. It was wonderful to see the children immersing themselves in all the activities.
Rainmakers
In DT, Junior 6 collaborated in groups to design and make their own rainmakers. They started their project by researching the history of rainmakers, thinking about where they originated from and what they were used for. Then in their groups, the children planned out their own design and went away to source the materials they would need. They showed great enthusiasm and diligence throughout the task.
Residential Hoodies
The excitement reached fever pitch when Junior 6 received their trip hoodies and bobble hats just before they headed off on their French residential. Everyone was quick to try them on and they all looked so smart we just had to take a photo.
Spreadsheet Skills
Pupils worked hard in their Computing lessons to develop and expand their knowledge of spreadsheets - a skill which is sure to serve them well in the future.
Colour Wheels
In Science, Junior 6 explored how we see colour. Using mathematical knowledge, they created colour wheels, using a compass to measure out an accurate circle and a protractor to measure equal sevenths inside the wheel. They then coloured the wheels with the key colours of the visible light spectrum. Everyone was impressed with how the colours mixed back into visible light.
Independent Projects
Nine Junior 6 pupils took part in an exciting initiative designed to challenge their independent learning skills. Pupils undertook their own research into a topic of their choice and then created innovative and exciting presentations. Each pupil used their own time and initiative, with guidance and support provided by Mrs Cowlishaw. The finished projects were presented to Headmaster, Mr Duigan and as a final challenge, pupils then presented their projects to their parents.
Junior 5
World Explorers
In Geography, Junior 5 learnt about places around the world, using mini globes to locate continents, oceans, cities and many other interesting places. It was lovely to see their curiosity, which they all demonstrated by asking many intelligent questions.
Creation Stories
Junior 5 learned about the creation of life in their RE lessons and explored the Hindu and Christian creation stories, creating comic strips to show the story’s journey from beginning to end. The watched video clips and read bible verses and compared the stories identifying both the similarities and differences.
Solar System
Junior 5 developed their knowledge of the solar system and the planets that inhabit it. They researched two different theorists (Copernicus and Galileo) and created unique mnemonics to help them remember the order of the planets.
Oreo Moons
Junior 5 then studied the different phases of the moon, learning why the moon seems to change shape. They had fun demonstrating their knowledge using oreo biscuits, whilst explaining terms like, ‘waxing gibbous’ and ‘waning crescent’.
Princethorpe’s Maths Challenge
Two teams of two took part in Princethorpe College’s Year 5 Maths Challenge. Alongside 52 pairs of enthusiastic and talented mathematicians from 25 local schools, they completed a series of puzzles against the clock. It stretched and challenged the children with mathematical activities that required both reasoning skills and mathematical knowledge. Crackley’s pupils were brilliant and finished in 5th and 12th place overall.
Flanimals
Junior 5 loved their Flanimals topic. They worked hard to complete instructional texts using imperative verbs to tell people how to catch their Flanimal and then added carefully selected adverbs to help describe how to feed them. It was great to see them using sophisticated vocabulary.
Junior 5L
Junior 5S
Black History Month
Junior 5 learned about Black History across a variety of subjects. In English, they answered comprehension questions on Katherine Johnson and Nelson Mandela while in Art, they studied vibrant Kente woven cloth and designs from Ghana and created their own Kente cloth pieces, using coloured paper and scissors to create a weaved, patterned background. Once they had created the base, they used black pen to add geometric patterns to their designs.
Comic Strips
Pupils explored the key features of comic strips. They enjoyed discovering how to create panels, speech and thought bubbles, captions and had fun using onomatopoeia to ZAP! WHAM! KAPOW! They used their knowledge of comic strips to retell their own version of the story of Izta and Popoca which they were studying in History.
Materials
In Science, Junior 5 investigated different materials and their properties. They worked together to find out which bag would be best to carry their shopping. They tested a paper bag, plastic bag and jute bag using weights, and were enthusiastic to see how much each bag could hold before it showed signs of breaking.
Pokemon Cards
Junior 5 immersed themselves in their history topic, The Aztecs, learning about Aztec religion and the many Gods and Goddesses that they worshipped. The children then created their own Aztec God or Goddess, using a self-made Pokemon card template. We had Gods of animals, geography, light and even a rather gruesome God of Death, all of whom had their own Aztec style name and appearance.
Aztec Masks
To broaden pupils’ knowledge of their Aztec History topic, Ms Holmes set a challenge in their Art lessons. Using string, aluminium foil and paint, children created strong and powerful Aztec masks, which put together made a stunning display.
Absorbency
In Science, pupils learnt about the word absorbency and used scientific equipment to determine which paper towel absorbs the most water. Their results concluded that the most absorbent paper towel is Blitz; other kitchen rolls are available!
Tudor World
Junior 5 enjoyed immersing themselves in Tudor life at Tudor World a living history museum. They learned about Kings, Queens and one particular famous playwright while enjoying a carousel of interactive workshops at the museum. They gained a wealth of Tudor knowledge.
Irreversible Change
Junior 5 investigated the cause and effect of an irreversible change. The children mixed vinegar with baking powder and discovered that this created carbon dioxide, resulting in the inflation of a balloon. They then investigated whether increasing the amount of baking powder or vinegar, would increase the size of the balloon. Everyone enthusiastically engaged with the investigation and improved their skills in conducting scientific enquiries.
DADWAVERS!
In their writing assessments, Junior 5 stepped into the shoes of Michael Morpurgo, describing their wonderful adventures on the Peggy Sue, in a letter back home. Supported by DADWAVERS! a tool to improve and structure their narrative writing, Junior 5 produced superb examples of work full of exciting descriptive techniques, similes, metaphors and personification.
Flower Dissection
To begin their Science topic on the lifecycles of a plant, Junior 5 dissected a flower and learned the names for the key parts of the reproduction process.
French Penpals
Across the year, Junior 5 exchanged messages with their French penpals. They enjoyed writing postcards to their friends sharing information and news about themselves. It was a great way to practise the language they had learned in their French lessons in school. Their postcards included writing and drawings and were well received by their penpals in Nantes.
Prospero
In Drama, Junior 5 re-dramatised the tale of Prospero and his daughter, Miranda; two characters brought to life by William Shakespeare. All of the children were superb in acting out key scenes, with many enthusiastically getting into the role of their character. The children also recognised the similarity in the setting of the play (a remote island) with their text in English, Kensuke’s Kingdom.
Taster Day
Junior 5 enjoyed a day at Princethorpe College in April, when they took part in a special secondary school taster day. It was an early opportunity for them to experience life at the Foundation’s senior school and start to become familiar with the bigger school environment, helping to make the move to secondary school a less daunting experience. They enjoyed lessons in Science, Spanish, Music, Drama, RE, English and Computer Science and even sampled a legendary Princethorpe cookie!
Kodu Coding
In Computing, Junior 5 experimented with Kodu, a coding program. The children enjoyed exploring pre-made worlds and discovering what they could create with the software. Initially they programmed their Kodu to react in a certain way when they encountered a particular object such as a tree or castle. Their end goal was to design an interactive game for their peers to play.
Regatta Art
Junior 5 studied the artist, Raoul Dufy, finding out about his Regatta pictures. Pupils linked the artist’s work on the ships and the sea with the teaching of Jesus and His disciples and after reflecting on the common themes such as staying true to a course produced their own works in the style of the artist.
Creative Writing
At the end of the year pupils produced creative pieces of writing. The children had a choice of two tasks: to imagine themselves as an animal (that they admire) and create a piece of writing about what a day might look like from that animal’s perspective, or to continue a story called The Secret Heart They all produced such fabulous work.
Allez Les Bleus!
In readiness for Paris 2024, Junior 5 revised their knowledge of French colours and sports. Using key vocabulary, they designed and labelled their own sports kit ready for the games. Bravo Junior 5 and Allez les Bleus!
Warwickshire Book Award
Junior 5 took part in the Warwickshire Junior Book Award and a group of children were lucky enough to attend the final award ceremony. The pupils met the shortlisted authors of the four books they had been busily reading. Simon James Green was announced as the winner. His text, Finn Jones Was Here, had been a firm favourite with pupils at Crackley Hall, but all of the books had been enjoyed by all.
Junior 4
Recorder Revision
In their Music lessons, Junior 4 revised recorder notes, practising crotchets, minims and high notes. Learning recorder is part and parcel of Prep school life, allowing everyone to access music, explore their creativity, work together and have fun.
String Telephones
As part of their investigation into sound, how it travels and how we hear, pupils experimented with vibrations, exploring string telephones made from string and plastic cups. They trialled the phones in different positions and found out that for sound to travel properly, the string needs to be taut.
Pan Pipes
Junior 4 investigated how to change the pitch of a sound. They looked at various instruments that play a variety of notes and made some predictions. They then made panpipes and investigated how the pitch of the sound changed as we blew across different length pipes. We came to the conclusion that the smaller the pipe, the higher the pitch of the sound. The longer the pipe, the lower the pitch of the sound.
Sound Science
To tie in with their Science topic, ‘Sound’, Junior 4 made a fabulous range of musical instruments. They first explored and grouped instruments whilst carefully observing which parts vibrate to a create sound. They then planned and made a musical instrument out of junk materials. The young designers then happily shared and played their instruments to their peers.
Pokémon Cards
Junior 4 studied Roman gods and their roles in the world. To engage them in their learning, the children hunted around the classroom for information on the gods and then wrote down facts about their powers, history, and physical features. They then created Pokémon cards summarising the information they had discovered on their favourite Roman god.
Junior 4A
Junior 4R
Invertabrates
Junior 4 investigated invertebrates and classified them by their visible characteristics and features. They planned out a classification key with diagrams, then went out to Forest School to hunt down as many invertebrates as possible. They found a large variety of different invertebrates and discussed which characteristics made them easily identifiable.
Volcanoes
Junior 4 studied Mount Vesuvius as part of their English and Geography lessons. To get to grips with the phenomenon they made outdoor volcanoes. They dug deep into the soil and placed rocks and leaves around their volcano. They mixed together bicarbonate of soda and vinegar, and added red food colouring, to create a frothy chemical reaction, which caused much excitement when it erupted from the top of their volcanoes.
Image of God
Junior 4 looked at how we are all created in the image of God. Using play dough, they made an image of themselves, remembering that God created them in a special way so that they could fulfil a specific plan that no-one else can fulfill.
Christmas Cheer
With Christmas Jumper Day on the same day as our Christmas dinner, Junior 4 had no problem getting into the festive mood to celebrate the completion of their first term in Junior 4.
The Romans
Junior 4 took part in a Roman Day. They came to school dressed in togas and participated in a variety of Roman activities. They created laurel wreaths and designed and planned a fabulous year group mosaic wall. They made their Roman shields with lightning bolts to signify Jupiter, the king of the Roman gods, and adorned them in red, the symbol of Mars, the Roman god of war.
Ice Cube Challenge
Junior 4 learned about solids, liquids and gases, and they were given the challenge of keeping an ice cube frozen for as long as possible. A range of materials and even a few mini inventions were used in their enthusiastic attempts to keep their ice cubes frozen. The winning pair kept theirs frozen for an impressive four hours!
Water Cycles
Junior 4 continued their investigations into the three states of matter by creating a mini water cycle. They put hot water into a cup, covered it with cling film and placed an ice cube on the top. They observed all of the changes water goes through on its journey through the water cycle, from evaporation, to condensation and collection.
Save the Trees
Pupils learned about deforestation and the impacts it has on wildlife, they then investigated how to effectively recycle paper and save the need to cut down more trees. The children created colourful rainforest birds from recycled card to serve as a constant reminder that even the smallest changes can make the biggest differences.
Anglo Saxon Jewellery
In Art, pupils designed and made their own Anglo Saxon jewellery. Anglo Saxons wore jewellery, including amulets, talismans, brooches, beaded necklaces and bracelets, made from gold, silver, bronze and copper to show their wealth and rank. The pupils made their own authentic piece of jewellery, first out of clay complete with decorations and gems and then using pewter.
Tea Tasters
Junior 4 created their own tea and then researched various advertising techniques designed to persuade the customer to buy their product, including the use of catchy slogans, superlatives and persuasive devices to advertise their tantalising product. Slogans, rhetorical questions, and an array of figurative language were all used and transcribed onto their attractive 3D tea boxes.
Robot Circuits
Pupils had fun in their Science lessons when they worked collaboratively to complete a circuit and make their robots’ noses light up and their hearts spin and buzz! They extended their learning by making a range of components work simultaneously in their circuits.
Eco Explorers
Junior 4 visited Princethorpe College to take part in an Eco-Explorers Workshop. Pupils enjoyed adventurous and interactive sessions that made use of the College’s extensive Outdoor Education facilities. Working in groups, the children rotated round three activities, pond-dipping, mini-beasts and orienteering. Using their Science skills, everyone had fun exploring the natural world, observing and identifying the creatures that live on the Princethorpe estate. They also enjoyed a legendary Princethorpe cookie, and even had a quick introduction to beekeeping.
The Big Build
In their Science topic, The Big Build, Junior 4 were immersed in the fascinating world of bridges and their structures. They diligently studied the various types of bridges and their intricate designs. They then went on to plan and make their own bridges, which were tested for strength in class.
French Weather
Pupils learned about the weather in their French lessons playing games and singing songs to help them get to grips with the vocabulary. They found out about the weather in French-speaking areas around the world and bravely navigated a French weather website, discovering that Nice would be a better holiday destination than Paris if you are looking for sunshine. They then became weather forecasters working in pairs to give weather descriptions for various French towns.
Junior 3
Cheerio Maths
Junior 3 got creative in their Maths lesson when they made an abacus out of plasticine and Cheerios. The children enjoyed creating and working with a concrete resource to develop their knowledge of place value.
Timelines
Junior 3 travelled far back in time to understand where the Stone Age sits in history. The children brainstormed historical periods and then worked in groups to put pictures of them into chronological order. There was some very interesting ordering, triggering lively group discussions. It wasn’t long before they realised just how long ago the Stone Age was!
Language Leaders
To mark European Day of Languages, Princethorpe’s Year 10 Language Leaders visited Junior 3. Working in groups they delivered four exciting Spanish activities on the topics of numbers, greetings, pets and the weather. Junior 3 really enjoyed the structured, interactive sessions that built on and practised the vocabulary they had been learning in their lessons. It was a fantastic learning experience for them all.
Sugar Studies
In Science, Junior 3 investigated how much sugar is in different drinks. They made predictions, asked questions and learned how to read nutrition labels before finally interpreting the findings. They recorded the results in a table and created a bar chart. Keen to educate the rest of the school about their sugary discoveries, they created a display for all to see.
Stone Age Setting
To prepare for their writing assessment Junior 3 immersed themselves in all things Stone Age. They visited Forest School to inspire them with amazing adjectives to describe a wooded Stone Age camp setting. They pretended to sit around a roaring campfire and to forage for food and tools. They even sat huddled in a make-shift cave and imagined what it would have been like for families centuries ago sat in the cold and the gloom. Junior 3 produced super written work full of atmospheric adjectives and descriptive words.
Kenya
Junior 3 crossed continents to explore Kenya. They created the Kenyan flag, read the fascinating story of Lila and the Secret of Rain and located the country on a world map. The children’s fact-finding also included learning about the ‘Big Five’, Kenyan food, including fish, stews and mursik, the population of Kenya and its climate.
Junior 3H
Junior 3V
Persuasive Letters
In English pupils focused on the art of persuasive writing. They explored nine key features of persuasive texts, learning the skills needed to craft a compelling letter. They put their skills into practice persuading a logging company to cease cutting down trees in the rainforest. They carefully planned their letters and brainstormed effective arguments before writing a formal letter with the appropriate layout and structure.
Road Safety
As part of Road Safety Week, Junior 3 learned how to cross a road safely, and just what an important life skill it is! They watched a video showing them how to cross safely, particularly between parked cars and at junctions, then worked in pairs to sort road crossing pictures and behaviours into ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’. It taught them all how to THINK, STOP, LOOK and LISTEN and CROSS SAFELY.
Three Times Tables
Junior 3 worked hard to master the three times table. They built arrays, spotted patterns, sang songs, and made up three times tables number stories. Their work culminated in them working together to create a three times table Array City. Each building was numbered with a multiple of 3, and the windows formed an array. It was a great way to visualise the three times tables facts.
Lovely Library
Pupils enjoyed making the most of the school library. Junior 3 visited it every Monday clutching well-thumbed books that they were keen to exchange for another. It provided an enriching reading experience and pupils were always keen to explore the vast array of books on offer: picture books, chapter books, fiction and non-fiction something to suit every reading taste.
Djembe Drums
As part of their studies on Kenya, Junior 3 dressed up in Kenyan cloth and Maasai beads. They then went on to explore a traditional West African Djembe drum. They learned how they are structured and created and in their Art and DT lessons had a go at making their own.
Multiplication
Pupils explored the multiplication of two-digit numbers. They were fantastic at spotting multiples of ten and using known facts to multiply any two-digit number. They then used place value counters to build arrays and enjoyed capturing their understanding on the iPad.
Light Lesson
In Science, Junior 3 explored the topic of ‘Light’. They completed an exciting investigation to see which materials reflect light well. Their teachers were impressed with their use of scientific vocabulary, as well as their teamwork when testing the materials.
Bar Model Division
In their Maths lessons, Junior 3 worked hard to master bar models to help with division. They developed their skills to divide increasingly large numbers using their knowledge of equal groups, flexible partitioning and they even learned how to calculate and record a remainder.
Computing Skills
Pupils explored Word, PowerPoint and email in their Computing lessons, learning key skills. They enjoyed inserting a picture in Word, changing the size, colour and type of font and creating presentations. Using PowerPoint, they produced a piece of work that shared their learning in Science and History and then successfully emailed each other attaching the document.
Pharaoh Portraits
Junior 3 had a wonderful time in their Art lessons on their Egyptian topic. They explored the glorious golden masks of the Pharaohs and created incredible portraits that sparkled and shone.
French Fun
The children participated enthusiastically when they started their new topic of zoo animals in French. They enjoyed listening to and joining in with lively songs about safari animals and then playing language learning games to learn five animal words. They discovered that nouns in French are either masculine or feminine, quickly identifying that ‘une girafe’ was a feminine word.
Cricket Skills
The cricket season started in the Trinity Term and Junior 3 enjoyed learning the basics of throwing, catching and fielding, all very important foundation skills needed for a successful game.
Daffodil Dissection
In Science, pupils completed a ‘daffodil dissection’ identifying each part of the plant. Working in pairs, they were able to name and label all the parts and also to explain their functions.
Ancient Greece
Junior 3 became gods, goddesses, slaves, soldiers and citizens of Ancient Greece when they took part in a wide range of exciting practical hands-on activities to support their History learning. Acting out the ancient Greek tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice was a firm favourite of the children, along with Greek pot designing and Olympic medal making. The activities culminated in a delicious feast emulating the foods that the people in Ancient Greece would have eaten.
Right Angle Detectives
Pupils investigated different types of angles in Maths lessons, and they particularly enjoyed their practical lesson acting as right-angle detectives! Armed with their own right-angle finder, the children explored their classrooms looking for and checking rightangles. The children could not quite believe just how many there are in our everyday environments.
Lighthouse Lamps
As part of their work around their core text
The Mousehole Cat, in their Art lessons
Junior 3 created 3D lighthouse lamps and they were delighted with the bright, shiny results. They used shells, sand and grit to create a textured, rocky surface and the classroom was filled with flashing lighthouses and smiles as they reviewed and evaluated their learning across the topic.
Our Lady Mary
May is the month of Mary and Junior 3 celebrated the life of Our Lady with Mrs Simmonds by each taking a turn to crown the statue of Mary outside The Gables as they said the Hail Mary together. It was lovely to hear the children join in the decade of the rosary in the garden, as they prayed together for their special intentions.
Telling The Time
Junior 3 went time travelling in Maths and learned all about telling the time. The class clocks were an invaluable and fun resource that showed how an analogue clock works. The children practised showing o’clock, halfpast, quarter past, quarter to and 5-minute intervals. Being able to practically move the hands of the clock really helped the children understand the concept of calculating time passed and time in the future.
Junior 2
Team Sports
At the start of the year, Junior 2 went over to the sports field to enjoy their first experience of team sports out on the pitches. During the term the children had the opportunity to play Tag Rugby, Football and Hockey, and worked on developing their skills and game tactics. Their lessons culminated in House competitions, and everyone enjoyed participating in sport.
Castles
Junior 2 began the year with a fabulous topic on Castles. In a cross curricular link, the children worked with Mrs Holmes in their Art lessons to create their own magnificent castle artwork in the style of Disney artist, Mary Blair. Using squares of paper, the youngsters built strong curtain walls before adding in the battlements. The bright coloured paper bricks standing out brilliantly against the black background.
Forest School
Across the year, Junior 2 participated in Forest School sessions where the children engaged with the natural world. The children enjoyed structured and planned activities that developed collaborative work skills while enhancing their growth mindset in problem solving situations. It was wonderful to see them working together and helping each other when faced with challenges and to watch them develop resilience as they enjoyed their active learning.
Wanted Posters
Junior 2 explored expanded nouns and how these, along with adjectives, can make their work really exciting to read. They made ‘Wanted’ posters for their class dragon, and the children loved sharing their ideas with each other. They also wrote instructions on how to trap a dragon under the watchful eye of Spinach the class dragon. He kept a close eye on them all and certainly motivated them to improve their creative writing.
Rosary Beads
To coincide with the visit of Father Kevin to talk about the Rosary, Junior 2 made their very own Rosary beads. They remembered the words of the Hail Mary and the Our Father, as they learnt about the four mysteries - the Joyous - when Jesus was born; the Luminous - when Jesus was baptised; the Sorrowful - when Jesus was crucified; and the Glorious - when Jesus was resurrected. They also made their own Rosary prayer book.
Warwick Castle
Junior 2 left no stone unturned when they explored the medieval fortress Warwick Castle. They enjoyed a trip to see the super stronghold to complete their History topic on British castles. They met knights, were astonished by the state rooms and marvelled at the breathtaking grounds. It was a great trip enjoyed by them all!
Junior 2B
Junior 2R
Rapunzel
Junior 2 enjoyed sequencing the story of Rapunzel by the children’s author, Bethan Woollvin. They discussed their favourite parts, and they all loved the horse at the end who saved Rapunzel when she rode off into the sunset! Lots of questions were asked with the children thinking carefully about their answers. It was great comprehension by Junior 2.
House Hockey
Junior 2 showed such camaraderie when they took part in their House Unihoc matches. They enjoyed working as a team and fostering a sense of unity and pride in their House.
Masters of Mime
Junior 2 demonstrated excellent miming skills in their PE lessons. Led by specialist teacher Mr Vaughan, the children mimed various activities including going up and down in an elevator and driving a car. These skills were part of their curriculum focus on Dance and it was great to see the enthusiasm and energy from everyone.
Blossom Trees
Junior 2 were excited about their topic on China and embraced the art of storytelling through unique depictions of Chinese landscapes. With colourful brushes in hand, they painted scenes of tranquil blossom trees and ancient mist covered mountains. Their finished pictures looked amazing when hung in the classroom.
Digital Maths
Junior 2 developed their Maths multiplication skills, using the Seesaw app to support their learning. Part of a Digital Journal trial, utilised by teachers, to evidence learning in the classroom, pupils used a QR code to login and complete tasks set by the teacher. It was a more sustainable way of teaching, that also enabled the children to apply their computing skills.
Fruit Kebabs
In Science, Junior 2 discussed their favourite foods and how making healthier choices can be good for their bodies and minds. They learned that fruit kebabs are a healthy snack and enjoyed the chance to make their own.
Clay Creatures
Junior 2 got creative in their DT lesson, making creatures out of modelling clay. Following on from One World Week, pupils were asked to make a creature that could survive, and thrive, in our world today. It was lovely to see their imaginations shining through in this free expression task.
Taste Tests
In Science, Junior 2 explored their sense of taste in a brilliant bread taste test. They investigated a variety of bread, discussing appearance, aroma, taste and texture, from crusty baguettes to sweet brioche. The children loved thinking about what different words they could use to describe the bread. Everyone was delighted by all the flavours and impressed by the diversity of bread.
Easter Craft
As they prepared for the Easter holidays, Junior 2 enjoyed creating Easter craft. They demonstrated super fine motor skills when carefully cutting out egg shapes and gluing them on to a cardboard plate. Everyone was so proud of their work.
The Resurrection
Junior 2 learned about the Resurrection of Jesus. They thought about how the disciples felt about the Resurrection from when they first heard about it to when Jesus was alive again. This led to a discussion on the symbols of the Crucifixion and Resurrection and using paper plates and lolly sticks the children made a cross and an empty tomb to symbolise this.
Capacity
Following on from using scales to weigh objects and compare weights in Maths, Junior 2 investigated capacity and the volume of containers. This involved using water to help find out how big some containers were and how some containers have the same capacity but look very different to each other.
The Tin Forest
Junior 2 studied The Tin Forest, a tale that follows a solitary man who, amidst a landscape of urban decay and discarded scraps of metal, transforms his surroundings into a place where he finds solace and creativity. They created their own tin foil transformations and then wrote superb descriptions of the man in The Tin Forest. It helped them to cement their knowledge of prepositions and expanded noun phrases in their writing.
Curious Creatures
At the end of their topic on Rainforests, Junior 2 were delighted to explore the world of curious creatures happily observing the intricate details of snakes, spiders and lizards. Their experience really entertained the children but, more importantly, educated them on how important these creatures are in our living world.
Rainforest Art
As part of their topic on Rainforests, Junior 2 delved into Rainforest Art by exploring the paintings of Henri Rousseau. They learned how to draw tigers, jungle plants and foliage and produced some really grrrreat work!
Silly Billy
Junior 2 read a story called Silly Billy. Billy’s a bit of a worrier. He worries about so many things that it keeps him awake at night. Billy visits his grandma and she has the ideal solution - a set of worry dolls who will do Billy’s worrying for him. Junior 2 enjoyed the story and then made their own worry dolls to help them with any worries they might have.
Junior 1
Junior Gymnasts
In their PE lessons, Junior 1 were delighted to show off their gymnastics skills as they worked to develop balance, agility, coordination and control.
Family Trees
Junior 1 impressed us with their fantastic work over the holidays creating a family tree. They presented their trees in lots of bright and colourful ways and it was clear to see that everyone loved finding out more about their family.
House History
Junior 1 began by investigating Celtic homes. They learnt how they were made and what materials they were made from. They were surprised to find out that these early houses had no windows and that the people slept with their animals! They went on to study Tudor Homes. After learning how they were made, they created a picture using black and white paper, adding in details like the tiny windowpanes and wonky doors.
Skeletons
Junior 1 enjoyed learning about our skeletons and then making their own. They were so excited to learn that the smallest bone in our bodies is actually in the ear!
Local Landscapes
Pupils used Google maps to explore the school’s local landscapes and then studied a map to see how it represented the surrounding area. They went out for a walk to explore their local neighbourhood and were careful to observe all the different interesting features. Back in the classroom they created their own maps of their walk.
Taste Tests
In Science, Junior 1 tantalised their tastebuds by exploring their sense of taste. Everyone had fun trying out different foods which were sour, sweet or bitter before recording their preferences. They also learned how different parts of the tongue could detect the different tastes.
Junior 1H
Junior 1G
Part Whole Maths
Junior 1 used a variety of resources to explore the concept of splitting amounts into two. Everyone loved using the counters and the ‘Part Whole’ boards. There was plenty of investigation and discussion as everyone shared how different amounts could be split in a variety of ways. This work then led on to addition and how two numbers are combined by using the addition symbol.
Traffic Survey
As part of their Geography studies, Junior 1 took a trip up to Coventry Road to carry out a survey of the different types of vehicles that pass by our school while they are busy in their lessons.
Shape Sorters
In their Maths lessons the children explored 2D and 3D shapes. They learnt the names of the common shapes, counted their sides, faces and vertices and using this information, sorted them. They went on to create super shape patterns and to predict what shape comes next.
St John’s Museum
Junior 1 explored the Victorian era at St John’s Museum. They were transported back in time in an immersive experience where they learnt about life as a servant and even got to do the washing, grating the soap, pumping the water and using a mangle. The Victorian school room was such a revelation with the girls and boys sitting separately in rows whilst using their slates to write.
Christian Church
Junior 1 thought about celebrations especially those in the Christian Church. They researched the different parts of the outside of a church such as the steeple, the cross, stained-glass windows and then illustrated their findings.
Magic Bean Tales
The children were eager to write their own versions of Jack and The Beanstalk. They loved thinking about alternative characters, what there could be instead of magic beans and what could grow instead of a beanstalk. There were some fabulous ideas, and everyone enjoyed sharing their stories with their classmates.
Christingle
In the run up to Christmas, the children’s lessons had lots of festive themes. Junior 1 created Christingles, learning the orange represents the world, the candle is Jesus bringing light and hope, the red ribbon is for God’s love and the sweets and fruit represent God’s creations in the four seasons.
Harvest Assembly
Junior 1 led the Harvest Assembly, and it was a huge success. They had learnt so much about harvest time and were delighted to share it with family and friends.
Fabulous Phonics
Phonics is a key part of life in Junior 1 with the children enjoying 30 minutes of systematic phonics at the start of every school day. Phonics makes the children better readers and writers and helps to engage them in their learning. It’s lots of fun too!
Brilliant Biplanes
As part of their topic on Transport, Junior 1 made biplanes. Everyone worked carefully assembling the different parts. It was complicated work, but they all looked amazing.
Insulator Investigations
When learning about polar places, Junior 1 investigated insulators. Five test tubes were filled with hot water and the temperatures were recorded. The tubes were wrapped in different materials and predictions were made. The temperature was then recorded after half an hour with surprising results for the children.
Afternoon Tea
Pupils enjoyed afternoon tea when they explored the countries that make up Great Britain. They began with all things English, finding out that St. George is the patron saint of England, our flag is a red cross on a white background and when King Charles is staying at Buckingham Palace, he flies his flag to let us know.
Transport Museum
A part of their History studies, Junior 1 visited the Transport Museum. They had a wonderful time evaluating scooters, had a go on a Penny Farthing bicycle and tested out a Taxi before visiting the fastest car in the world!
Marvellous Minibeasts
Junior 1 became minibeast masters learning all the different parts of an insect and lots of interesting facts about all the different sorts of marvellous minibeasts. Did you know a spider spins a new web every day, or a beetle can disguise itself as a wasp to deter predators?
Time Topic
In Time, Junior 1 learnt all about o’clock and half past the hour, as well as comparing times and reading a calendar. They enjoyed working with the class clocks, their practical investigations helping to cement their learning.
Slip Slop Slap
Science and Geography lessons both explored the theme of how to stay safe in the sun. The ‘Slip, Slop, Slap’ song was great at helping pupils to remember how we can protect ourselves from getting burnt.
Reception
Drama Skills
Reception refined their acting skills, with specialist teacher Mrs Paphitis. Using the popular nursery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty, the children made up actions to the words, practising the song in parts first. The boys and girls performed in groups to each other as an audience, before joining together as one.
Forest School
Across the year, the children embraced the weather, sploshing and splashing around outside, enjoying adventures in their puddle suits at playtime and in Forest School.
Sorting and Snap
From noisy games of ‘Snap!’ to matching animal shadows and putting together sets of cutlery. Reception’s early Maths lessons were all about spotting things the same, sorting objects into groups, finding things that go together and matching pairs.
Patterns and Shapes
Reception enjoyed creating patterns in Maths. They used natural resources to make autumn patterns, as well as creating simple patterns with shapes and colours on the iPads and in their Maths books.
Lovely Letters
Over the year, Reception worked hard to learn their letters. It was lovely to see them building their skills, busily blending sounds to read and segmenting sounds to write single words, captions and then simple sentences.
Elf Excitement
What excitement we had in Reception when two important seasonal visitors arrived to mark the start of the countdown to Christmas. Our class elves, Chippy and Stripey, were delighted to be introduced to the Reception children. Reception were on their best behaviour for the month of December.
Reception M
Reception O
One More or Less
Reception explored the concept of one more and one less and used frogs, bricks and blocks to work it all out.
Advent Wreaths
Reception enjoyed finding out about Advent. They learnt that the period of Advent was all about waiting and getting ready for Christmas and they looked at Advent wreaths, before cutting and sticking their own Advent wreaths into their books.
Arctic Animals
Reception explored the abstract patterns of Joan Miro using Arctic Animals as their theme. The children used acrylic paint to show off their designs. We were so impressed with their work that we decided to create a big display.
Attwell Farm Park
Reception visited Attwell Farm Park as part of their topic on Farms. They had a super time, stroking the tiny black lamb and the sheep, feeding the goats and the rabbits and spotting the different guinea pigs, chickens and rabbits in the barn. Reception asked lots of fabulous questions and learned so many interesting facts about the animals.
Spring Art
Reception enjoyed drawing and painting Daffodil pictures to celebrate the coming of spring. They observed the daffodils carefully before concentrating hard to produce their best picture. We were super impressed with the results.
The Owl Babies
Reception learnt about Nocturnal animals and how they come out at night when we go to sleep. Their focus text was The Owl Babies and they really enjoyed retelling the story with puppets, and then sequencing pictures and writing sentences in their books. Art lessons were ‘owly’ too – as they created collage pictures of owls using lots of different media.
Mother’s Day Assembly
Reception had such a wonderful time preparing for their Mother’s Day assembly. They created a beautiful portrait of their mummy and chose lots of creative craft materials to make a frame that represented them too. The children did so well, learning and saying their lines so carefully and had such lovely ideas as to why their mummy is super special to them.
Making Ten
Reception worked hard in Maths finding lots of different ways to make ten. They then showed their pairs using numicon, tens frames and part-whole models - some children even started to put them into number sentences too!
World Explorers
The children explored the countries of the world that have significant volcanoes. They travelled to Japan, learned snippets of the language and explored sushi through their Art lessons!
African Art
Ms Holmes encouraged the children to make fantastic pencil and pastel drawings of tribesmen in Art, focusing on the figure and form, as well as using warm sunny colours to reflect the environment. The finished pictures were amazing and put together made a vibrant display.
Making Maths Count
Reception began to divide and multiply through the sharing and grouping of objects. They thought carefully about how to share different items equally and fairly.
Space Centre
Pupils rocketed off on an extra-terrestrial adventure to the National Space Centre in Leicester. They gazed into space using the giant telescope, drove the Mars explorer and even went inside a real rocket!
Little Crackers
At Little Crackers Nursery we believe it is never too early to start on an exciting journey into learning. In our natural look nursery rooms and outdoor areas, children enjoy their first steps into education. Life is always busy and always fun.
Phonics
Our Little Crackers enjoy a daily phonics session in nursery to develop their phonics skills. They worked on the lovely ‘L’ sound and everyone enjoyed suggesting what laughing Lacey loves to eat.
Transport Fun
Our youngest Nursery children enjoyed their topic on Transport, and had immense fun painting with cars and trains, creating track and tyre prints across the tables. It was a wonderfully creative way to help the two-year-olds develop fine motor skills while gaining a knowledge of the world around them.
Nursery PE
Crackley Hall’s specialist teachers lead activities for the nursery children, including Mr Vaughan who takes PE. The Dormice group had great fun learning about movement to music and incorporating colour matching to physical effort. They played a super sorting game much to the delight of everyone.
Autumn Arts
Nursery explored Autumn through arts and crafts. They explored sensory play creating fireworks out of dyed rice, tree finger painting, leaf hedgehogs and baked yummy Elmer the Elephant pumpkin cookies!
The Gruffalo
Nursery joined Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood when the children visited Warwick Arts Centre in December to watch Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of The Gruffalo
Christmas Craft
Christmas is the season to be jolly, and also the season for some festive arts and crafts, and everyone in Nursery joined in, including our very youngest Dormice! Being creative in Nursery means painting, sticking, glitter and glue and is all about self-expression while developing those fine motor skills.
Dormice
Badgers and Hedgehogs
Chinese New Year
Nursery were treated to special visitors, which included a dragon, a rat and a host of other animals when Liz from Drama Tots UK led a thrilling session based around the Chinese New Year. The youngsters’ imaginations were captivated as they engaged with the lively introduction to Chinese culture. The Badgers and Hedgehogs then created Chinese Lanterns and tried to use hinged chopsticks to fill bowls with noodles.
Valentine’s Day
For Valentine’s Day, the nursery children created ‘love ladybirds’ and ‘hearts’ to take home for their someone special. We were wowed by their fabulous creations and hope you loved them too!
Mother’s Day
We celebrated Mother’s Day in nursery with a special Tea Party and were joined by lots of mums. The children enthusiastically performed three charming songs and then took their mums off to the craft and activity tables. Of course, there was also lots of tea and homemade cakes to enjoy.
Easter Activities
Our nursery children got egg-cited about Easter. They made Easter hats, bunny masks, chick pictures and all enjoyed decorating Easter eggs. The Easter bunny aka Miss Emma hopped around the playground hiding lots of eggs and everyone was so excited when it was time to go outside to find them.
Goldilocks
Nursery learned about the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. During Forest School they made their own porridge over the fire. It was a fabulous way to bring the story to life and the children did a super job.
Nursery Dinners
Our oldest Nursery children tuck into their dinners in the dining hall, to help them become accustomed to eating there for when they start school. They all sat patiently whilst the staff served up a delicious all-daybreakfast!
Spring Flowers
The children had lots of fun creating beautiful paintings of spring flowers. With bulbs popping up all around the school site, there was plenty of talk about spring.
After successfully donning their overalls, the children carefully spread green paint with the scrapers to create the flower stems. Then a dab of white or yellow paint with fingers or cotton wool buds topped their flowers off perfectly.
Yoga Time
Our pre-schoolers enjoyed their yoga session outside to make the most of sunshine. Sarah, one of our Nursery Practitioners, took the children through some basic yoga moves and breathing exercises, helping them to learn control and concentration in a calm and non-competitive way.
Nursery Sports Day
Little Crackers had a fabulous time at their Nursery Sports Day. The children headed out excitedly to the Astro, ready to compete in their teams. Everyone lined up eagerly, their determination and concentration amazing to see as they took on the challenges of collecting the coloured balls or handing the baton on in the relay race.
Nursery Graduation
The Little Crackers Nursery team organised a very special ‘Graduation Ceremony’ to celebrate the pre-school group ‘moving on’ to big school. The ceremony took place in front of their families, and the children were each presented with a little scroll by Mrs Bird and Miss Birch. The youngsters had practised special songs for the occasion and sung them perfectly. It was a great way to mark this important milestone for them all.
Cross Class Initiatives
Eco Number Day
Pupils marked the NSPCC’s Number Day by ‘going green’. Dressed in their finest green, the children found out how mathematics is used in the real world to create a sustainable future.
The topics explored ranged from measuring food waste, to how maths is used to recycle rubbish and even calculating food miles. Pupils enjoyed creating bar charts of their recycling, calculating food waste in tons, looking at temperature increases around the world, and suggesting multiplication arrays for future planting. It was a great way to bring maths to life and all for a good cause.
World Book Day
We had a wonderful World Book Day here at Crackley Hall School. All the pupils looked amazing, and their costumes were incredible. During assembly with Mr Cottrill, we talked about the joys of reading books and then in lessons across school there were lots of lovely book themed activities.
British Science Week
Crackley Hall School thoroughly enjoyed celebrating British Science Week and exploring this year’s theme ‘Time’. In their Science lessons pupils took part in experiments and investigations designed to engage and inspire the next generation of young scientists.
Assembly went with a whoosh when four Princethorpe Sixth Formers helped to kick start the learning conducting exciting live experiments that amazed and impressed us all. Junior 5 and Junior 4 then took part in practical Physics and Biology Workshops led by the Sixth Form students, making and timing pendulums and exploring the spread of infectious diseases.
Crackley Celebrated International Dance Day
To mark International Dance Day, the wonderful Miss Jazz, who runs our Move It Shake It Co-curricular Club, delivered dance workshops for all the children in school. Pupils from Nursery all the way up to Junior 6 took part in a short lesson learning a series of moves that they then linked together into a routine. Everyone picked up the routines quickly and Miss Jazz was impressed by them all.
Olympic Hopefuls Visited Crackley Hall
Crackley Hall was thrilled to welcome two very special guests in May when Paralympic Swimmer, Tully Kearney and British Long Jump Champion, Reynold Banigo, visited the school to work with pupils and staff.
The athletes led an inspirational assembly where they shared their journey to success, and the dedication and hard work required to succeed. Their message was clear that with determination you can follow your dreams. During the day, pupils were treated to an exciting PE lesson with Tully or Rey, who enjoyed putting the pupils through their paces. Each class also had the chance to handle the athletes’ rare and impressive medals and to ask lots and lots of questions.
Meeting Tully and Rey was an amazing opportunity for the children. They were excited to hear their stories and to work with them.
Crackley Enjoyed a Fabulous Quidditch Day
Pupils became honorary Hogwarts students when they learned to play the fast and exciting game of Quidditch, an upcoming sport that is a mixture of Handball, Dodgeball, Tag-Rugby and Football. Funded by the PTA and facilitated by Ben and Owen from Enrich Education, the day began with an assembly where the school’s House Captains were sorted into their Harry Potter houses – Jupiter was Ravenclaw, Venus was Slytherin, Saturn was Hufflepuff and Mars was Gryffindor. Pupils then took part in training sessions in their year groups picking up the rules quickly, before moving on to play mini-games.
The fun was rounded off with an awards ceremony where the best Beater (J4A Nieve), Chaser (J4A Jess), Keeper (J6V Seb) and Golden Snitch (Miss Eve) were presented with certificates before the overall winning House Slytherin (Venus) was announced. Quidditch proved to be fast and physical and was popular with pupils and staff alike.
Spiritual
Stones Symbolise Contribution to Crackley Hall
In October, we welcomed Father Kevin into school for our Blessing of the Stones Service. Pupils new to the school gathered outside in St Joseph’s Prayer Garden where Father Kevin blessed their decorated stones before they were placed in the box underneath the cross.
Each stone represents a member of the Crackley Hall community and together the growing collection of stones provides a lasting legacy of children’s time at Crackley Hall School.
Intended as a space for prayer and reflection, our prayer garden is a special location within Crackley Hall’s confines offering a peaceful place for students and staff throughout the year.
Food Bank Collections
Across the year the forms in school collected donations for the local food bank. During Advent, each class took part in a Reverse Advent Calendar, with pupils taking turns to bring in donations. We were amazed and delighted with the generous response and with the quantity of donations received. Just before Christmas the Leamington and Warwick Food Bank Team, collected the contributions to be distributed to people in need. It was a good way for the children to realise that not everyone is as lucky as they are and that we can all use our gifts to find ways to help.
One World Week
As part of One World Week pupils explored faiths from around the world. To help pupils understand and appreciate each other, core themes of our annual One World Week, the children visited different places of worship. Junior 6 visited the Leamington Gurduwara, Junior 5 Birmingham’s Central Mosque, Junior 4 the Birmingham Buddhist Pagoda, Junior 3 toured Singers Hill Synagogue, Junior 2 took a trip to a Greek Orthodox Church while Junior 1 went to St Mary’s in Warwick and finally Reception visited St Augustine’s in Kenilworth. The children enjoyed learning about the different faiths and cultures, and it was wonderful to see them listening respectfully and engaging on their tours. They were amazing ambassadors for our school.
RISE Theatre and The God’s Planet Show
RISE Theatre led an incredible, interactive day exploring themes on climate change and sustainability. Children from Reception through to Junior 6 were first introduced to the topics in assembly. That was followed by age appropriate, eco themed, exciting art and science classroom activities led by class teachers, all interspersed with rehearsal workshops.
In the afternoon, pupils gathered in the School Hall to watch and interact with the God’s Planet show. Everyone joined in enthusiastically, as they were taken on a journey around the world, from the rainforests to Antarctica, and even into space to discover that we can all be planet heroes and play our own unique part in taking care of God’s Planet Earth.
Skipathon for the Air Ambulance
In March, pupils took it in turn to hop, skip or jump in a Charity Skipathon, an annual fund-raising event organised by the school’s Minnie Vinnies. Supervised by Mrs Simmonds, wave after wave of eager skippers bounced and jumped their hearts out under the canopy in The Gables. This year, the skipathon raised well over £1,000, it was fantastic to raise so much money for this worthy cause.
Pupils make their First Reconciliation
In March, pupils visited St Austin’s Church in Kenilworth for the Sacrament of First Reconciliation. Led by Father Kevin, it was important preparation for their First Holy Communion later in the year. After each pupil made their Reconciliation, they lit a candle and said their prayers. Fr Kevin then gave each pupil a crucifix as a reminder of their special day.
Crackley Celebrated St Joseph’s Day
in March, Crackley Hall celebrated the Feast of St Joseph, our school saint, with Father Kevin and Junior 5 leading the readings and bidding prayers. The community reflected on the history of the school and the life of St Joseph, whose trade was to shape, build and create. During the Homily, Fr Kevin talked about the many people who look to St Joseph for inspiration and reminded us that just as God makes a difference to our lives, St Joseph tried to do that too. We were delighted to be able to welcome a small number of former St Joseph Convent School pupils and staff to the mass.
Retreat Day
Crackley Hall welcomed One Life Music to school to lead pupils from Year 3, and those taking their First Holy Communion, in a Retreat Day. The Retreat provided pupils with the opportunity to explore their faith through music, prayer and specially designed games and activities. Pupils enjoyed working together, exploring the sacrament and what it means for their faith journey. Everyone had wonderful day.
First Holy Communion Mass
Six Crackley Hall pupils celebrated their first Holy Communion Mass in May at St Francis of Assisi Church in Kenilworth. The children prepared for this special day in school, learning about their faith and then taking the Sacrament of First Reconciliation. In the joyful and celebratory Eucharist, Father Kevin Hooper spoke about the nourishing love of God that would sustain the young communicants throughout their lives. The children then received the sacrament with the utmost sincerity and reverence. Following celebratory prayers, reflections and concluding hymns the recipients were presented with certificates and posed for proud parents and friends in front of the altar.
Grandparents and Parishioners’ Tea
Crackley Hall welcomed grandparents and parishioners to school in May for a special afternoon cream tea. Organised by Crackley Hall’s Mini Vinnies, the guests gathered in the School Hall and enjoyed a programme of entertainment alongside their tea. It was as always, a lovely event thoroughly enjoyed by all.
“The children enjoyed learning about the different faiths and cultures, and it was wonderful to see them listening respectfully and engaging on their tours.”
Performing Arts
Foundation Choral Workshop
Juniors 5 and 6 welcomed Years 4, 5 and 6 from Crescent School in November for a fantastic, full day of uplifting and inspiring music. The pupils from both schools worked together under the guidance of Directors of Music, Susan Olden and Julie Barnes, rehearsing, performing, and improvising a mix of vocal pieces.
Foundation Orchestral Workshop
Crackley Hall pupils visited fellow Foundation Prep school Crescent School in March, for an orchestral workshop. Designed to develop and stretch music and performance skills, pupils worked under the guidance of Crescent’s Director of Music, Julie Barnes, to prepare and rehearse a mixture of pieces ready for an afternoon performance. The children relished making music together, especially in such a big group.
Kenilworth’s Lights
In December, Crackley Hall’s Choir and Choral Group delivered a marvellous medley of magical Christmas carols and seasonal favourites to help celebrate Kenilworth Old Town’s Lights Switch On.
Crackley Take Part in Young Voices
Pupils from Juniors 4, 5 and 6 joined thousands of other local school children to sing their hearts out at the Young Voices concert at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham. For everyone involved it was an unforgettable event, a fabulous spectacle, a celebration of all sorts of music and an experience that will stay with them for a lifetime.
Christmas Nativities
Always a highlight of December, this year we enjoyed three nativity performances spreading the message of Christmas as only little children can.
Junior 2 performed Hooray in a Manger, the story brought to life beautifully in a celebration of dance and song. Then Reception and Junior 1 put on a sparkling display for their nativity, Stable by Starlight. While our very youngest children delighted us all when they took to the stage for their Nursery Nativity. All three nativities were full of magical and memorable moments, and they were much enjoyed by all.
Performing Arts
In February, Crackley Hall held its annual celebration of the performing arts, showcasing the breadth and depth of pupils’ musical and dramatic talents.
The KS2 evening show was opened spectacularly by the Musical Theatre Group and that was followed by 22 performances all sparkling with crisp clear deliveries, fine-tuned fingers and wellrehearsed polish. The evening finished, as it had begun, with the stage packed with performers as the Chamber Choir and Choral Group delivered glorious performances of favourites such as Hold Back the River and There’s a Power in the Music
The KS1 afternoon show was full of showstoppers too. The concert featured music, poetry, song and dance, and parents, family and friends enjoyed the celebration of the talent of our younger pupils.
We were amazed by them all.
The Easter Story
At the end of the Lent Term, Junior 3 and Junior 4 pupils performed Easter Children, a simple but dramatic mini-musical, portraying the intrigue and mixed emotions of the Easter story. It was lovely to see the children bringing the story to life, with Junior 4 performing on stage and Junior 3 the supporting chorus. Together they delivered a production that moved us all.
Summer Production
Our fantastic summer show was A Hint of Snow White. It followed the adventures of the evil Queen Malodorous, the talented and ambitious artist ‘Prince-sy’, the joyful Cleanie Jeanie and all of their friends. Once again the performances took place at the Leamington Spa Centre and saw children from Reception through to Junior 6 tread the boards in a fabulous adaptation of the classic tale.
Of course, no show like this could happen without the help of many people. A huge thank you to our wonderful staff for all their hard work, to parents for their fabulous support in the run up to the performance and most of all to the children for working so hard.
Residentials
Junior 3
Kingswood
Junior 3 finished the Lent Term with an exciting day trip to Kingswood Activity Centre. There they took part in a range of activities, including the Leap of Faith, Buggy Building, Archery and Bushcraft. They pushed themselves physically while developing their team working skills. Everyone had such a lot of fun and their teachers were so proud of how well they encouraged and supported each other.
Junior 4 PGL Liddington
Junior 4 enjoyed sunshine and adventure on their exciting PGL trip. They loved the high energy aero ball on the trampoline, which developed team tactics and improved communication skills. They stretched their talents in archery with incredible accuracy, control and a very steady hand. They reached new heights when climbing, developing their perseverance and strength. But the ultimate test of nerve and joint decision making, all while plummeting to the earth, were the giant swings and the zip wires. They all had a fantastic time.
Junior 5
PGL Boreatton Park
Junior 5 had a fantastic time on their residential trip to PGL Boreatton Park. The children took part in a whole host of different activities including archery, giant swing, abseiling and developed their teamworking skills in orienteering, raft building and Jacob’s ladder. As well as their activity packed days, the children had enjoyable evenings playing Cluedo, disco dancing and of course experiencing a traditional campfire. They all agreed it was an amazing experience.
Junior 6 France
Junior 6 returned to France for their residential after a break of several years. They had a busy week in Normandy visiting historical sites including the D-Day landings at the seaside resort of Arromanches-les-Bains. They also explored Lisieux Cathedral and its Basilica and celebrated St Joseph’s Day Mass in the crypt and saw the Bayeux Tapestry. They had plenty of time for fun too, with picnic lunches, time on the beach and ice cream. Everyone enjoyed practising their French during a market visit to Thury-Harcourt and the trip to Zoo de Cerza with its ride on the safari train. One evening highlight was a culinary display of Mr Duigan’s famous barbequing skills when everyone even got to try snails! Junior 6 had an incredible week and brought home plenty of memories that will last them a lifetime.
Sport Football
U9 Repton Football Festival
In November, the U9 Boys Football team travelled to Repton for their annual football festival. The team played five matches against schools from across the Midlands, trying out new skills, playing in different positions and attempting to score from everywhere on the pitch.
U9 ISA Midlands Football Tournament
The U9 Boys had a fantastic day at the U9 Midlands ISA Football Tournament in November. The team played incredibly well and finished second overall to claim the Silver medal. It was great to see them grow together as a team.
U10 Football Tournament
Crackley Hall took part in Princethorpe’s Primary Schools’ U10 Football Tournament. Organised by Princethorpe’s young sports leaders, eight teams played a round robin of 5-aside, 12-minute, one-way matches. Crackley played each team in turn, demonstrating fantastic team-work, discipline and resilience in a very fast-paced competition with little time for rest between quick-fire games. It was a fabulous afternoon of football.
U10 Repton Football Festival
In October, the U10 Boys took part in the Repton Football Festival. The team played five matches in total: winning two, drawing two and losing one. It was a great warm up for the season.
U10 Girls Repton Football Festival
In February, the U10 Girls Football team travelled to Repton Prep to take part in their Girls Football Festival. Playing teams from across the Midlands, the girls had a successful event. They claimed four wins and only had one loss, improving both individually and as a team. It was a super opportunity to build their skills, play in different positions and to get match experience.
U10 Girls ISA Midlands Football Tournament
In September, Crackley took a team of 11 Junior 5 girls to Dixie Grammar to play in the Midlands ISA Football Tournament. In a tough schedule, the girls faced 10 quick-fire games, they played superbly not conceding a single goal and remained unbeaten all day.
The whole team showed exemplary determination and a high level of skill and finished just one point off the top of the table as tournament runners-up. A really fantastic effort from them all.
U11 Repton Football Festival
The U11 Boys enjoyed Repton Prep’s annual Football Festival. From the first whistle to the last, the children played with admiral determination and excellent teamwork, playing some of the best team football Mr Stedeford had ever seen them play.
U11 ISA Midlands Football Tournament
The U11 Boys worked tirelessly at the ISA Midlands 5-a-side tournament in November. With determination and a tenacious attitude, Crackley finished 2nd in their group, after playing 9 matches, winning 6, drawing 2 and only losing 1. As a result, they qualified for the semi-finals where after two extremely tough matches, Crackley finished in 4th place, qualifying for the Nationals Finals. It was an excellent effort from them all.
U11 ISA National Football Tournament
In March, the U11 Football team travelled to the home of the England team, St George’s Park to play in the ISA Nationals. To reach the finals was itself a super achievement and the team had trained hard and approached the challenge of the big day positively. They all had an amazing experience.
Swimming
ISA Midlands Gala
Crackley took a team of swimmers from Juniors 3, 4, 5 and 6 to compete against 32 schools in the ISA Midlands Junior Gala. The children swam 25m in the pool and the races included both individual events and exciting team relays. There was a fabulous atmosphere poolside, and Crackley Hall’s pupils encouraged each other, from the start through to the finish of every single race. Crackley’s swimmers put in strong performances with a number just missing out on medals, but the Junior 5 Girls team put in a super effort in their exciting final race to earn themselves a Bronze medal – well done to Charlotte, Jessie, Grace and Harriet.
Rugby
U9 Tag Rugby Festival
Junior 3 pupils took part in Kenilworth Rugby Club’s Tag Rugby Festival in November against local schools. Both boys and girls played a high standard of tag rugby with plenty of confident running and passing and lots of unbridled enthusiasm. Despite the cold weather, a fun time was had by all, the smiles of the children showing just how much they were enjoying taking part.
U9 ISA Tag Rugby Tournament
Crackley took a team of Junior 4s to the ISA U9 Tag Rugby Tournament at Stafford Grammar in April. Facing 13 teams from across the Midlands, Crackley’s squad put on a great show and were delighted to come home with the Bronze medal.
U10 Rugby Festival
In October, Crackley’s U10s attended a wet and windy rugby festival at Rugby School. The boys showed great competitiveness and sportsmanship, adapting well to the transition to the new rules for their year group. With each game the squad grew in confidence and determination and the boys showed great progress in their field positioning in attack and defence.
ISA Midlands Tag Rugby Tournament
Crackley Hall took two teams to the ISA U11 Midlands Tag Rugby Sevens at Princethorpe College in March finishing first and third overall. Both teams showed great effort, determination and teamwork in the group stages to qualify for the semi-finals. In an unfortunate quirk of fate, this meant the As and Bs were drawn against each other in an all-Crackley knock-out semi-final! The As went through and went on to take Gold while the Bs stayed strong to claim third place and the Bronze, it was an excellent day of rugby.
Gymnastics
ISA Midlands Gymnastics
In November, three teams from Crackley Hall School competed in the Midlands ISA Gymnastics competition.
Crackley Hall’s gymnasts had worked extremely hard to prepare for the competition and performed well on the day. The U11 Girls finished in second place, bringing home the Silver medal, while the U11 Boys did nearly as well claiming the team Bronze. Felix in Junior 5 was awarded an Individual Bronze, and Elora’s 9.45 score on the floor helped her finish 4th overall in the Individual U11 Girls’ competition.
ISA National Gymnastics
A team of six gymnasts from Junior 5 and 6 travelled to Adcote School in Shropshire in May to compete in the ISA National Gymnastics Championships. Elora, Sienna, Adreena, Isla, Jessica and Grace had worked incredibly hard to prepare for the competition, which involved over 130 gymnasts from across the country.
The girls performed a set vault, a voluntary vault, a set floor routine and a voluntary floor routine to music. All the girls tried exceptionally hard and performed really well. Crackley Hall finished in 8th position overall in the U11 Girls team competition with Elora finishing in 19th place in the individual competition.
Hockey
U11 ISA Girls National Hockey Tournament
In November, the U11 Girls Hockey team travelled to the Lee Valley Stadium to compete in the ISA Tournament. They qualified for the Bowl competition where they played three matches. They drew against Ipswich High School and Malvern St James but victory against Claires Court School took them through to the play-offs. There, they faced Weston Green School and in a close match they just edged a 1-0 victory to give them third place overall in the Bowl.
Cross Country
ISA Cross Country Midlands Championships
In January, we took a team of Crackley’s fleetest cross-country runners to the ISA Midlands Championships at Bedstone College. Facing fields of 150 -180 runners, six pupils finished in the top 20 in their race and Junior 4, Isabel, came third earning herself a Bronze medal. Well done also to Junior 5 Leo who finished 13th overall and was the best placed boy in the Year 5/6 race.
ISA National Cross Country Championships
Isabel then came joint 25th at the ISA National Cross-Country Championship at Worksop College in March, a fabulous result. On the day she faced a field of nearly 70 runners, in what was in places a crowded, muddy course.
Twycross House Cross Country
Crackley Hall sent cross country teams to Twycross House’s U11 and U9 cross country events. Pupils ran against teams from across the Midlands, there was lots of grit and determination on show. A great effort from all involved.
Junior Schools Cross Country Challenge
In April, Crackley Hall welcomed runners from local Kenilworth primary schools for a Junior Schools’ cross-country challenge. The children were all keen to compete and ran with plenty of energy and enthusiasm, demonstrating determination and perseverance as they wound their way round the course and over the obstacles.
There were fantastic performances by all of Crackley’s pupils of which we are very proud, not only whilst running but also for their support of one another cheering and encouraging all the runners along. It was a super afternoon of community cross country fun.
Netball
U9 ISA Midlands Netball Tournament
The U9 Netball Girls took Gold at the ISA Midlands Netball Tournament at Stafford Prep in March. The team impressively won all eight of their matches and conceded only three goals. They played with great skill and determination and demonstrated such amazing teamwork. An amazing effort by them all.
U10 ISA Midlands Netball Tournament
Our Junior 5 netballers came third overall in the U10 ISA tournament in March. They had a strong start, winning all of their games in a particularly hard group. The girls played exceptionally well as a team throughout, and only lost by two goals in the semi-finals to Twycross House. They went on to beat St Dominic’s in the playoffs to earn themselves a well-deserved Bronze medal.
U11 ISA Midlands Netball Tournament
Crackley’s U11 Netball Team played a dominant game at the ISA Midlands Tournament. The girls enjoyed a jam-packed day full of exciting netball with matches that were 10-minutes each way. They finished top of their group and played superbly in the knockout stages. They finished in first place overall to claim the Gold medal.
U11 ISA National Netball Tournament
The U11 Netball team competed in the ISA Netball Nationals in March at King’s High School. It was a fantastic experience for the girls to play in this prestigious event where they faced the very best teams from across the country. Crackley Hall finished second in the Group stage and qualified for the afternoon’s Plate competition. In the Plate semi-final the team faced Littlegarth School, where they battled hard but eventually went down 6-11. Showing real resilience they picked themselves up and played really well in the third place play off winning 5-4 in a close game against Sherborne House School to earn the Bronze medal.
Athletics
KS1 Athletics Festival
Crackley Hall welcomed Key Stage 1 children from local schools in May, for an afternoon of athletics fun. Led by Crackley Hall staff and Junior 6 sports leaders, and alongside Crackley’s youngsters, the children worked in groups taking part in four activities, a sprint, the high jump, long jump and a throw. They rotated round each of the activities in turn very much enjoying all the events. It was fantastic to see everyone taking part, working together, trying their best, taking turns and generally having a super time.
ISA Midlands Athletics Championships
Crackley Hall took a team of Junior 4, 5 and 6 pupils to Saffron Lane Stadium in Leicester in May to compete in the Midlands ISA Athletics. Many children put in amazing performances and the school was delighted that Crackley’s Girls finished second overall, with the Boys finishing third. Seven Crackley Hall athletes qualified for the National Championships, with nine further athletes just missing out.
ISA National Athletics Championships
Seven pupils travelled to the Alexanderf Stadium in Birmingham in June to represent the Midlands team in the National Athletics. Congratulations to Sienna (J6) who took on the 150m sprint, Leo (J5) who ran in the 600m, Casper (J4) who competed in the Throw and to Grace, Amelie, Jessie and Scarlett (J5) who took part in the Girls Relay.
Skiing
ISA National Ski Championships
Crackley Hall sent a team to the ISA National Indoor Ski Championships at Hemel Hempstead Snow Centre in October. Soren, Darcey and Lexi-Jean all did brilliantly, flying down the slopes like professional racers, showing amazing confidence and determination. It was a fantastic experience for the children.
Equestrian
National Schools Two Day Event
Junior 6, Darcey, competed in the National Schools Two Day Event at Princethorpe College. Darcey and her pony, Court Chester, rode in the 70cm class for the Princethorpe Cloisters team. Darcey took on dressage and show jumping on the Saturday and then roads and tracks and cross country on Sunday. She was amazing finishing 8th overall and helping her team take the ISA Trophy.
Cricket
U9 ISA Kwik Cricket Tournament
In June, the U9 Cricket team played in the ISA Kwik Cricket tournament in Derbyshire. The boys had a fantastic day playing cricket in the sun finishing in third place overall for the Bronze medal. A great team effort from them all.
U11 ISA Midlands Cricket Festival
Crackley Hall hosted its annual ISA Midlands U11 Hardball Cricket Festival in May welcoming teams from across the Midlands. The quality of play on display was excellent and we were especially proud of our Crackley team, who all performed well to finish second overall, only losing by a few runs to Derby Grammar in the final. Well done to Vaughan, Ben, Soren, Eleanor, Isaac and Archie, who was also awarded Cricketer of the Tournament by the umpires!
Sports Days
Key Stage 1 and Reception Sports Day
Crackley’s sports stars of the future jumped, sprinted and threw their way through a jam-packed morning of sporting fun, enthusiastically taking on the carousel of different activities. Proudly wearing their House colours and with big, enormous smiles, the children clearly had a super time. Many thanks to Junior 6 for organising all the activities. Congratulations to Mars House who were the overall winners of the event.
Key Stage 2 Sports Day
Sports Day was, as always, a great day of sport out on the school fields. So much determination in both the track and field events. Well done to everyone in Juniors 3 to 6 for taking part so enthusiastically and showing such fabulous house spirit. Race after race, event after event, our outstanding young athletes leapt, threw and sprinted their hearts out. The school made a full day of it; every child ran in a sprint and every child took part in an individual event and, most importantly, every child had fun. Congratulations to Saturn House who were the overall winners of the event.
PTA News
The PTA works across the year organising a range of events, activities and services to raise funds for the school. All the funds raised are ploughed back into the school, investing in facilities, organising treats and providing extra-curricular support. The school community says a huge thank you for all they do.
Macmillan Coffee Morning
The PTA organised another successful fundraiser for Macmillan Cancer Support. At morning drop off parents responded generously to the donation buckets while at break time the children were delighted to purchase individual cakes to enjoy, although choosing did prove quite challenging for some.
Christmas Cheer at the PTA Fair
The school was transformed into a ‘Winter Wonderland’ for the PTA Christmas Fair. Families and friends descended on the school for lots of festive fun, with games and craft on offer for the children as well as traditional tombolas and stalls galore. There was also the chance to meet Father Christmas in his grotto and to catch up with friends over mince pies and mulled wine.
Panto Treat for Pupils and Staff
The PTA organised a fabulously festive treat for all the children on the last Monday of the Michaelmas Term. Outside the Box Productions brought the magic of theatre into school as they performed the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty.The traditional story, told with much slapstick comedy, silly songs, quick changes and a liberal sprinkling of traditional panto magic, was a hilarious show much enjoyed by all the children and was a super treat at the end of a busy term.
PTA’s Brilliant Pre-Loved Book Fair
Pupils were excited to visit the PTA’s popular ‘Pre-loved Book Fair’ and browse a huge selection of wonderful second-hand books. Divided into age categories and put on display for the children to peruse, there was much excitement as, in turn, the classes came down to choose. It was fantastic to see everyone getting so excited about books.
Super Summer Fair
The sun shone brightly for the Summer Fair and the school grounds were filled full of happy families enjoying lots of games and activities. The tombola was popular, as were the new House activities, then there was fabulous face painting, as well as lots of outdoor fun and craft to keep everyone busy. We had cake stalls, book stalls, pre-loved uniform and much more. The Gymnastics team put on an amazing display while Choral Group sang beautifully. On the refreshments front, we fired up the barbeque (or should we say braai) and employed two top chefs, Mr Duigan and Mr du Toit, Princethorpe’s Headmaster, to cook for us all. It was a fantastic day, enjoyed by all!
Colour Run
The annual PTA Colour Run was another huge success. Everyone had an absolute ball even the fearless Mr Cottrill, who bravely weathered an onslaught of slime and copious amounts of colour run powder in the first ever Crackley Hall teacher ‘gungeing’!
The children enjoyed running and jumping and laughing their way over, under and through the slip and slide, tunnels, tyres and rainbow noodles all the way to the technicolour finish.
St Joseph’s Park
Kenilworth
CV8 2FT
Telephone: 01926 514444
email: post@crackleyhall.co.uk
crackleyhall.co.uk
These photographs have been reproduced by kind permission of Gillman & Soame photographers and can be ordered online at www.gsimagebank.co.uk/crackleyhall/t/bzhupd7ma203
The Princethorpe Foundation, Company registered in England & Wales and Limited by Guarantee Number 4177718. Registered Charity Number 1087124. Registered Office: Princethorpe College, Princethorpe, Rugby CV23 9PX.
