The Cluster Spelling Bee for teams of Yr 3/ 4 children and Yr 5 / 6 children saw some top class spelling this year. Some very tricky words did not faze the teams and massive congratulations to children from Holy Trinity who won 1st place for the Yr 3 / 4 competition and children from Jubilee who took the Yr 5 / 6 title. Well done to all the teams for representing their schools so excellently.
In March, cluster Early Years colleagues took part in some fantastic training led by the Education team at the National Gallery. The session involved EYFS staff from Windmill Cluster, Brixton Learning Collaborative and Oval Learning and took place in the gallery spaces with colleagues exploring strategies for using pictures to support storytelling and oracy development. Teacher comments:
‘Very inspiring!’
‘I honestly loved this CPD session and am excited to implement some of the tips and tricks for story telling’
‘I found it incredibly useful and inspiring and lovely to have something completely focussed on EYFS’
Able Yr 5 mathematicians from across cluster schools have once again this year had the opportunity to come together to participate in a series of exciting Maths Masterclasses led by tutors from King’s Maths School. Sessions have been hosted at Trinity Academy on Thursday afternoons and have been an opportunity for pupils to work with some specialist maths experts for a fun afternoon of maths challenge, learning new skills and knowledge alongside children from other schools who are working at a high level. For the final term, masterclasses will have a physics focus and children will have the chance to work in the science labs at Trinity using specialist equipment and materials.
Another successful shared Cluster INSET day took place in January 2024, hosted at Trinity Academy and attended by school staff from across the partnership, with a theme of Enrichment & Cultural Capital. The day started with keynote speaker, Catherine Ritman-Smith, Head of Learning & Engagement from Young V&A Museum and followed by a wide variety of workshops provided by Science Museum, National Theatre, Museum of London, Brockwell Park Community Gardens, Black Cultural Archives amongst others. It proved to be a very inspiring start to the year – staff said:
‘This was one of the best INSET days I have ever attended’
‘Very interesting and positive start to 2024’
‘An amazing hub of informative and thought provoking workshops with ideas that can be taken back to the classroom’
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
windmillcluster.com