We’re focusing on the learning and achievement of Mr Hanif’s Year 8 class this week, and boy have they been busy! I’ll leave it to Mr Hanif to reveal all, but before I do I want to share with you some highlights of the week from the wider school.

First up is our Nurture Group who have been knuckling down to some serious Maths studying under the tutelage of Mr Goup. Here are James, Wayne, Saifan and Toni completing a Maths diagnostic test which will help the group understand their strengths and the areas they need to develop further in readiness for future exams.

It’s not all heads down with a pen in your hand, however. The group, along with Daygon, have been enjoying regular heart thumping cardio sessions with Mr Smith and they’ve been only too keen to put in some punishing work on the punch bag and pump up their pecs with some push ups!

Next door, the girls have been equally committed to their Maths and English learning and also getting in some exercise with their daily mile.

Top of everyone’s agenda however is next Friday’s Nurture Group Halloween party so Nicole, Sadie and Kia have been creating ornaments and wands for the occasion as well decorating Halloween biscuits. Yum!

Finally, Mrs Hickman’s group haven’t been on this planet really this week as they researched Neil Armstrong, his distinguished career and amazing achievements. I was handed the honour of co-judging, along with Ms Mullen, the winning design of the group’s space rocket challenge. Congratulations to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place which went Xavier, Farees and Azeem (joint entry) and Peter and well done to everyone who took part. Some fantastic designs and such a tough decision.

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So, now that I’ve given you some quick highlights from across the school, it’s time to dive into the world of 8MHF to find out all about their learning and achievements over these last few weeks.

The return to school for 8MHF has been different but welcome for all pupils. This year is the first time I’ve heard all pupils in class say how glad they were to be back in school. I have been just as excited myself to be back and it was really nice to see Miss Stansfield in person once again.

The pupils have been class based with myself and Miss Stansfield and it has been a great first half term. The wellbeing curriculum helped to settle pupils back in to class with a focus on their emotional wellbeing, feeling safe back in school, getting ready to learn, and the all important new structures and routines.

We have experimented and tried new things in class this term. One of the pupils’ favourites has been drawing with Rob http://www.robbiddulph.com/draw-with-rob. Miss Stansfield and I have enjoyed this as much as the pupils, we have drawn our own Gregasaurus, Hector and, my personal favourite, Kevin.

We have also completed our daily mile and managed to clock an impressive 57 miles as a class in the first week.

The pupils have also been discussing their emotions in our morning routine and have been using their faces to demonstrate these emotions to the rest of the class.

In English our topic is The Twits and we have been suitably disgusted by Mr Twit’s Beard, as well as playing tricks on each other. (Apologies to all parents for setting the homework to play tricks on family members at home, I didn’t think it would be so competitive amongst the class).

We have used The Twits topic to focus on Roald Dahl and Wales for our humanities topics. In the History lessons we have also explored artefacts and decided whether they are old or new.

In Maths we have focused on number recognition and place values.

The first half term has flown by, our pupils never cease to amaze me, they have settled back and have adapted and embraced the many changes so well.

They obviously miss not seeing and interacting with all their teachers and friends from outside the bubble but are also aware of how important it is to remain in our bubbles and keep everyone safe. The class have thrived in the static model and their focus and development has been amazing. Miss Stansfield and I are so proud of them all.

Until next week, take care, stay safe.

Gavin

Click here for this week’s news from Graham

You can find Dawn’s blog for the Learning Centre here

For news on our Key Stage 5 pathway groups at New Bridge College please click here

You can find Gavin’s previous blog posts here