We were thrilled to welcome Claire Powell to our school, who is the illustrator and author of the 'Marty Moose' books. Years 1, 2 and half of Year 3 took part in a cartoon drawing workshop she led, whilst also hearing about how she writes her books. It is so inspiring for children to hear from real life authors. After the workshop, Claire signed lots of her books for the children.
Year 3 enjoyed an exciting school trip where they learnt all about the three different types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. During a fun workshop, the children used drama to explore how each rock type is formed before taking part in a carousel of activities, including sorting rocks by size, examining fossils and predicting what the living creatures may have looked like, as well as identifying different rock types. The children also explored the archive store and saw a range of fascinating artefacts, including the bandages of Nesyamun’s mummy from Leeds Museum. Year 3 represented the school brilliantly and showed great enthusiasm throughout the day.
Year 2 visited Cartwright Hall where they had the opportunity to view some of Hockney's works - they are studying his work in art this half term. They investigated his unique techniques and distinctive styles and then the children experimented with techniques that he famously used, such as painting, use of iPads and sketching. They finished the day with some time at the nearby park, it was a fantastic day and a wonderful way to develop their new learning! The children behaved beautifully and represented Springbank throughout the day. Well done Year 2!
Year 1 went on their second walk of the year to Calverley Woods. We walked for around an hour through the woods and along the side of the canal. As we walked, the children spotted different tree types they had learnt about in Forest School - Silver Birch and Holly. They also recapped their learning on Human and Physical geographical features, discussing the canal(human) and comparing it to a river (physical). The children had lots of fun climbing over tree branches and all took on 'challenge hill' - a very long steep hill just over halfway, which got our hearts beating and left some of us out of breath! The children all had a great time and it was lovely to see them all being active and exploring the great outdoors.
Our School Council were delighted to be invited back to Pudsey Community Project for another fantastic visit. During the morning, the children took part in a sustainability quiz, learning more about the importance of reducing waste and reusing clothing. They also helped to sort donated children’s clothes and, as a special treat, each pupil was able to choose an item to take home. The children were, once again, excellent ambassadors for our school. They showed great enthusiasm, teamwork and respect throughout the visit and the volunteers praised their positive attitudes and willingness to help. A huge well done to all of our School Council members for representing our school so brilliantly!
Our Springbank Singers had a fantastic evening in the sun at Headingley Stadium for the Leeds Schools Sing Spectacular event. They met Ronnie the Rhino and two of the K-Pop Demon Hunters and even rehearsed their song “Golden” with them! The singers joined hundreds of other school children and performed on the Rhino’s rugby pitch, to the crowds, before the game between Rhinos and Catalan Dragons. Many of the children then stayed with their families to watch the match (Rhinos won!).
Year 1 began their history topic with a visit from Sue. She talked to the children about what London was like in 1666 and how the buildings in London were made of different materials to the houses we have these days and how thie led to the fire being able to spread so quickly and widely through London. The children created their own Tudor house using cereal boxes and decorated it using black paint. In the afternoon the children took their houses outside and they were lined up like a street in London. The children watched as a simple spark set off a chain reaction which allowed the fire to spread. The children had a brilliant time: it was a great way to start their new learning.
Year 5 had an unforgettable experience inside the exciting Space Dome – a portable planetarium that brought the wonders of the universe to life! Once inside, the children were immersed in a stunning 360-degree view of space and guided by a knowledgeable expert who shared fascinating facts about planets, stars, galaxies and the Artemis 2 mission, which sent astronauts around the Moon. The pupils were full of curiosity and asked brilliant questions, which the expert was happy to answer. It was a fantastic opportunity to deepen their understanding of our solar system in a fun, interactive way, sparking awe and inspiration in all of Year 5!
Year 5 enjoyed an exciting Maya Day when they took part in a range of hands-on activities linked to their history learning. The children identified Maya artefacts, created their own spirit companion names in ink and learnt about Maya gods and beliefs. They also played traditional Maya board games and took part in the ancient ball game of Pitz, where they could only use their elbows and knees. The children enjoyed recapping their Year 3 learning while discovering lots of new and fascinating facts about the Ancient Maya civilisation. They had a fantastic time throughout the day and showed great enthusiasm, behaviour and engagement in all activities. Well done Year 5!
It was great to have our Easter Egg competition again this year. We had lots of amazing egg creations that children and their families had obviously spent a long-time planning and making. Thank you to everyone who took part. The children in each class had to vote for their favourite two entries, which is always a difficult choice when they are all so good! The ideas that children and parents come up with never cease to amaze me!
Our annual Key Stage 2 Springbank’s got Talent show took place this week, and was a fantastic celebration of the wonderful and varied talents our children have. From the auditions in class in January to the final show, the children worked so hard on their acts, featuring magic, comedy, dance, music, singing, gymnastics and drama. The whole school enjoyed watching the show, as did invited family members, and Year 6 did an excellent job of compering the event. It was absolutely fabulous! Well done to everyone involved.
Our Year 5 pupils recently stepped back in time for an unforgettable Viking adventure at Murton Park. On Monday and Tuesday, 5W and 5MJ took part in an immersive, hands-on experience that brought their learning to life. Dressed in traditional tunics, the children fully embraced their roles as young Vikings. Throughout the day, they developed battle skills, worked together to defend their settlement, and even helped to stop a raid! The experience didn’t stop there, pupils also explored everyday Viking life by baking bread over an open fire and crafting their own pottery. This engaging trip provided a fantastic opportunity for pupils to deepen their understanding of the Viking era through practical activities, teamwork, and creativity. It was wonderful to see such enthusiasm, curiosity, and resilience from all involved. A truly brilliant experience for both classes!