Pupil Wellbeing Ambassadors (PWA) from Windmill Cluster, Brixton Learning Collaborative and Oval Learning have gone from strength-to-strength this year. Ambassadors from 20 primary schools across the three clusters have met online each half term, sharing ideas and participating in shared activity. They’ve also had the chance to meet in person at workshops with groups of PWAs together, action-planning for their own school setting.

In spring term they visited Hayward Gallery at Southbank Centre, to see exhibition of artist Yin Xiuzhen whose ‘suitcase cities’ made out of recycled clothes explore ideas around belonging and identity. The Ambassadors met the Gallery curator with fascinating insights into how the exhibition was put together .

The annual PWA summer conference brought together 140 Ambassadors in person for a wonderful day that began with a presentation from para-athelete, Ryan Raghoo followed by a variety of workshop activity on a theme of ‘Belonging’. Once again this year our Pupil Wellbeing Ambassadors have impressed with their commitment to the role, encouragement of one another and openness to sharing ideas and making new friendships. We are really proud of them!

During academic year 25-26, Cluster staff participated in shared CPD. In October a cross cluster (Windmill and Brixton Learning Collaborative) training session – Drawing Club for Early Years with Greg Bottrill – was organised. It was well received and throughout the year EYFS staff shared updates around how they’ve implemented the initiative across settings

The annual Cluster INSET day focused on SEND once again this year. A fascinating key note from Heba Al-Jayoosi included a story from lived experience: an autistic person’s encounter with the Criminal Justice System, described by staff as; ‘engaging, inspiring, and truly eye-opening’, ‘very personal and moving’, ‘thought provoking’. Staff participated in a wide range of workshops throughout the day from Girls & Autism, Reimagining Safeguarding, Executive Function & SEND, supporting SEND through art & creativity. Once again this year staff have valued the chance to meet, share and learn from one another: ‘Its a day all cluster schools can be proud of!’

The Cluster Football Tournament marks the end of the school year and is always a nail-biting, action-packed event. This year was no exception with excellent skills on display and some wonderful sportsmanship, with many pupils receiving special awards for their contributions.

Congratulations to Christ Church Streatham boys and Holy Trinity girls for taking the winning trophies and special thanks to the St Matthews Project for refereeing and helping to organise the day.

A special end of summer term Windmill Cluster event to commemorate Windrush was organised in summer term. The day was hosted at Trinity Academy for visiting cluster primary schools with a selection of Caribbean themed secondary school taster activities provided by Trinity staff, alongside a Windrush exhibition compiled by Pegasus Opera Company. This was followed by a workshop and exciting schools’ performance given by Pegasus of a specially commissioned new work: Windrush Opera, representing the real-life stories and experiences of elders from the Lambeth community who came to the UK from the Caribbean to help rebuild post-war Britain.

The Cluster Poetry Festival goes from strength to strength and each year the standard of writing and performance improves. This year’s theme was ‘My Untold Story’ and pupils from seven cluster primary schools took part in the programme of inter-school heats, culminating in a final event held at Trinity Academy, hosted by performance poet Adisa, with a judging panel made up of staff and students from Trinity. The judges were blown away by the talent, with first place awarded to Leena from Richard Atkins Primary, who also won the competition last year. We wish Leena well in her move to secondary school and look forward to hearing more of her wonderful writing in the future!

Thank you to all the pupils who participated in the Cluster Poetry Festival and who made it such an exceptional and memorable event this year.

The annual Cluster Spelling Bee was as usual a very closely fought event with a Yr 3/4 and a Yr 5/6 competition. Hosted at St Jude’s Primary, there was an excellent level of spelling demonstrated by all seven of the participating schools, who submitted teams of pupils for each year group competition. Congratulations to Christ Church Streatham Primary winners of the Yr 3/4 trophy and Sudbourne Primary who won the Yr 5/6 trophy.

Well done to all our brilliant spellers who took part in the tournament this year!

Pupil Wellbeing Ambassadors from Windmill Cluster schools have worked closely throughout the year with Wellbeing Ambassadors from our partner clusters, Brixton Learning Collaborative and Oval Learning. 19 schools are now involved in this programme and the Ambassadors have gone from strength to strength, meeting regularly and sharing ideas about how to support better mental health and wellbeing across the community.

This year pupils took part in drama, songwriting and creative workshops in school and all the Ambassadors came together for an end of year conference hosted at Evelyn Grace Academy where they worked with mindfulness coaches, song writers from Pegasus Opera and dance tutors from Corali Dance Company.

Pupil Wellbeing Ambassador feedback:

‘I’ve learnt to use my voice to stand up to things I don’t like’

‘It’s exciting and fun to meet new people’

‘Being creative and kind can make a difference’

Talented writers from Windmill Cluster primary schools came together for a day of creative writing led by spoken word artist and author Steven Camden, aka Polar Bear. Using drama and storytelling techniques, children were inspired to create many fantastic stories during the session and left with endless ideas for further creations

There have been excellent maths and science opportunities across the cluster this year. In February we had a visit from the Science Dome, an immersive inflatable planetarium, hosted at Richard Atkins for visiting groups of schools from across the partnership . Pupils were able to experience exciting topics ranging from Under the Sea, Space Exploration and Earth, Space and Beyond encouraging their curiosity and imagination.

Yr 5 able mathematicians from cluster primary schools have participated in maths and science masterclasses throughout the year led by tutors from King’s Maths School and hosted at Trinity Academy. Pupils have been introduced to fascinating new areas of mathematics and science, and have had the chance to conduct investigations in the science labs at Trinity.

Cluster staff have continued to work closely together during 24-25, with regular forum meetings for Heads & SLT, colleagues from Early Years, primary and secondary to share good practice and learn from one another. Cluster SENDCos met regularly throughout the year along with SENDCos from our partner clusters, Brixton Learning Collaborative and Oval Learning, extending the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues across the Lambeth community.

The annual Cluster INSET day in January 2025 was hosted at Trinity Academy and focused on SEND. Keynote speaker Dr Kulvarn Atwal provided an informative and upbeat start to the day – attendee quote:

‘Very relatable and felt like current practice.  Lots of good reminders on why we do the things that we do and easy ways we can improve our practice‘

Staff participated in a range of workshop activity: Inclusive Classrooms, Understanding Autism, Strategies to support EAL & SEND Learning, Neurodiversity, Drama tools for great communication and techniques from art therapy. Overwhelmingly positive feedback was received from staff about the day who welcomed the opportunity to learn from expert practitioners, alongside the chance to share experience and insights with other colleagues. Attendee quote: ‘I look forward to these Cluster INSET, as they are always informative and well planned. The topics and relevant information empowers us as educators, ensuring we give the best learning opportunities to the children in our care.‘

The annual Cluster Football Tournament took place in July with seven cluster primary schools submitting teams of boys and girls for a closely fought competition. Brilliant skills on display and awards given for some of the many outstanding performances and excellent sportsmanship throughout the day. Congratulations to Orchard Primary girls and St Luke’s boys for taking the winning trophies!

A special thanks to the St Matthews Project for refereeing and helping to organise the day

The Cluster Poetry Festival is always a highlight event and this year’s competition was no exception. Poems written and performed on a theme of ‘Hear My Voice’ were of an exceptionally high standard and the finale event featured 14 superb performances. The judging panel of staff and students from Trinity Academy were hugely impressed with the quality of the presentations.

Performance poet Adisa, the festival host, said: A fabulous event – the poetry was so rich and mature – where do we go from here?

Congratulations to the winning poets – and to all the 2024 festival participants – who did such an amazing job this year!