Students from cluster secondary schools, St Martin-in-the-Fields and Trinity Academy took part in a poetry festival during autumn term. Yr 8 and Yr 9 pupils worked with Lambeth’s own Poet Laureate, Benna, to devise, write and perform their own compositions. They came together to share their writing in an informal performance demonstrating a fabulous range of originality: funny, thought-provoking, moving and insightful poems. Please enjoy this one written by Marta from St Martin-in-the-Fields
Pupils across cluster schools have participated in outdoor learning activities and gardening programmes throughout the year. This has been possible through a grant from Grow Back Greener Fund, supported by Mayor of London and Thames Water. Working with our brilliant partners, Sankofa to Nature, Sprout Up Schools, Brockwell Park Greenhouses and community gardeners we have seen garden spaces in schools transformed and fantastic outdoor experiences for children and families, including a summer camping trip to Paddington Farm in Glastonbury. Parent quote, ‘ this trip has been incredible – I’ve never done anything like this before – it’s been a brilliant experience for me and my child. I would love to do it again’
Pupil Wellbeing Ambassadors from all cluster primary schools met regularly throughout the year to plan and share ideas in support of good mental health. They came together in summer term to work on a project ‘Share A Hope’ and they took ideas for wellbeing activities back to their own schools to share with other children to help schools keep calmer and happier places for everyone. The Wellbeing Ambassadors produced some beautiful collage artwork around the theme of Hope that was displayed at Knights Youth Centre who generously hosted the Ambassador meetings during summer term.
It was fantastic to be able to get together again for cluster sports tournaments over the summer. Lots of enthusiasm and some fantastic sporting skills on display at cricket and football events. We’re very grateful for the support we’ve had from Surrey County Cricket and St Matthews football coaches to enable such brilliant sports opportunities for our children.
Children from Cluster primary schools took part in the much anticipated annual poetry festival in summer term. This year’s theme was ‘Hope’ and the quality of the poems and performances was outstanding. A process of inter-school quarter and semi-final heats gave children the chance to share and learn from one another prior to a final event, held at Trinity Academy and hosted by performance poet, Adisa. Parents and pupils attended as audience and the judging panel, including Trinity staff and students, were blown away by the standard. Congratulations to the fantastic St Jude’s pupil duo who took the first place trophy!
Children at Holmewood Nursery took part in gardening activity with parents as part of a Cluster outdoor learning programme. They dug the soil and planted bulbs, watered the flowers and made a bird feeder – it was fabulous to watch the delight and surprise of the children when they saw all the bird food had been gobbled away by the next session! Everyone planted a bulb at home and learnt about about how roots suck up water and other nutrients to allow the plant to grow
Parents said: ‘The gardening sessions are a great way to get children enjoying the outdoors and learning. The sessions are great!’
The annual Cluster shared INSET took place online in January 2021 with approx 350 colleagues from across all schools participating in a day-long programme on a theme of Wellbeing, Diversity & Inclusion.
The day began with Keynote Speaker Jaz Ampaw-Farr providing an inspirational reminder to all staff of the importance of the work staff in all schools do.
An incredibly touching and passionate speech. Incredible to see the lifelong impact school staff can have upon their pupils
Teacher, Windmill Cluster
This was followed by a wide range of workshop activity including: Anti-Racist & Race Equality training, Racialised Trauma, Emotional Wellbeing for Early Years, Diversity & Inclusion in schools, Staff Wellbeing, and promoting Children’s Voice through Stories
Poetry Slam
The cluster Poetry Slam involves all primary schools in writing, performing and selecting pupils to go forward to an inter-school heats process and ultimately an exciting final hosted at Trinity Academy. The event, hosted by amazing performance poet Adisa, is one of the cluster highlights of the year, with pupils writing and performing to an exceptionally high standard.
Extract from ‘The Power of Words’ by Pa-Riss & Danae Words can inspire and words can destroy Use yours well and I’m sure you’ll enjoy If you take my route then you won’t be a liar And the things you say will be used to inspire The world is a community, a family, a place And if you take my advice then you won’t have to chase Embrace your words in many different ways As Martin Luther King once said: The time is always right You will never need to fight Just believe, believe and hold on tight Words can inspire and words can destroy Use yours well and I’m sure you’ll enjoy Be the leader, not the follower The speaker, not the swallower We could make the biggest change if we just had a say in it Just believe, believe and hold on tight
Able mathematicians from Yr 5/6 came together for a series of maths masterclasses led by the Royal Institution and maths leads from the cluster. The Masterclasses aimed to inspire an appreciation of maths that is long-lasting; encouraging pupils to see maths as an exciting discipline driven by asking questions, involving investigation and collaboration and with relevance to the world around us.
‘this was a brilliant lesson – I have learnt loads of new things – I never thought about maths like this before!’ (KS2 Pupil, Windmill Cluster)
Pupils from across the partnership participate in a range of Outdoor Learning activity throughout the year including Nursery visits to Kew Gardens, Family gardening projects and workshops linking with local gardeners and horticultural providers. A schools programme, in partnership with Sankofa to Nature, gives pupils the opportunity to explore and learn from the natural world all year- it’s also included overnight Family Camping to get the whole family involved!
‘We had the most wonderful time. It was so precious and time we will cherish forever!’ [Parent]
The Brixton Learning Collaborative and the Windmill Cluster have collaborated on a two year arts programme with artists and musicians from Pegasus Opera.
During lockdown, our arts partners created a series of films to help teachers continue to support pupils and families with high quality arts activities. Check out one of their films below.
windmillcluster.com