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The cross-country event at West End Primary School was a resounding success, and the pupils displayed excellent skills and determination.

Teachers at the school were particularly impressed by Maddie, who initially showed reluctance to participate but ended up incredibly proud of herself for completing the event and finishing third!

It was a fantastic day for all the children, and we were pleased to see our pupils’ efforts and hard work pay off.

Last half term, 31 pupils from Years 9 and 10 at Rhyddings School had the opportunity to visit the battlefields and commemoration sites of World War One in Belgium.

The three-day trip was a thought-provoking experience for the pupils as they visited Sheffield Memorial Park and listened to first-hand accounts of the Accrington Pals.

As a tribute to the Accrington Pals, a few pupils laid a wreath at the site in memory of the soldiers.

The geography department at the Hollins took 36 pupils on an adventure of a lifetime around southern Iceland.

The pupils had a jam-packed schedule, including soaking in natural hot springs at the ‘Secret Lagoon’, witnessing explosive geysers, trekking up the icy Sólheimajökull glacier, climbing to the top of Seljandafoss waterfall, and strolling along the black-sand beaches of Vik.

Whilst there, the pupils also visited the ‘Icelandic Lava Show’, where real lava is channelled into the room just a few meters away from them.

To top off the adventure, the pupils and teachers were lucky enough to witness a spectacular show of the Northern Lights, even with the freezing temperature of -15c outside.

Welcome to the latest newsletter from Rhyddings.

Welcome to the latest newsletter from The Hollins.

 

The story behind the ‘new’ Huncoat Railways sign at Huncoat Primary School, is heart-warming and demonstrates the strength of community, kindness, and generosity. It all began when an unknown man from Matlock, Derby, contacted the headteacher of Huncoat Primary School. The man had the original sign from Huncoat Railway Station, which he had inherited from his father. When contacted, the headteacher offered to sell the sign and donate the proceeds to the children.

The current headteacher, Mrs Dickinson, on the other hand, had a different plan. Huncoat Primary School’s children and families are renowned for their pride in their village and its origins, so she wanted the sign to commemorate the local community’s past and heritage. When the headteacher shared her vision with the man from Matlock, he agreed about the significance of saving the sign for future generations.

The kind man drove all the way from Matlock to deliver the valuable sign to Huncoat Primary School. During his visit, he explained how he came into possession of this artefact and how his father worked in Lancashire mills and saved the sign from scrap. It had been in his family’s possession for years before contacting the headteacher, and he wanted to honour his father’s legacy by returning it to its home.

The sign was carefully placed in the main entrance corridor of the school, alongside other historical features of the school and community. The decision was made to leave the sign in its original condition, preserving its authenticity and historical significance. The return of the original Huncoat Railways sign has given the community a renewed sense of pride and belonging. Parents and children alike are overjoyed to see this wonderful piece of history restored to its rightful place in the school’s entrance corridor. It serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the village’s rich cultural heritage for future generations.

The Huncoat Railway’s sign story is a wonderful testament to the power of community and the value of preserving history and cultural heritage. It demonstrates that, even in today’s fast-paced society, people value the importance of preserving history and are ready to go out of their way to do so. The headteacher’s choice to keep the sign in its original state demonstrates her dedication to preserving the village’s past, and the man’s act of kindness and generosity has touched many people’s hearts.

The recent three-night run of ‘Popstars the Musical’ at Rhyddings was phenomenal. It was a testament to everyone involved and their hard work and dedication. The pupils displayed the pupils exceptional teamwork and talent to produce such fantastic performances. The live band was an excellent match for the young stars, creating an electrifying atmosphere that kept the audience entertained throughout the performance.

It was a truly magical experience that highlighted the incredible talents of our Rhyddings pupils. They exuded confidence, poise, and grace while giving outstanding performances that wowed the audience. They had clearly put in countless hours of rehearsal and practise to bring the musical to life.

The LET Education Trust is proud to have such gifted and talented performers, and we can’t wait for the next production. We believe that every young person has the potential to be a star, and we are dedicated to helping them to reach their goals. It was inspiring to see pupils collaborate with volunteers, and the audience to create an unforgettable experience.

We want to thank everyone who helped with the production, including the volunteers, staff, audience, and pupils. You all played an important role in making this production a success, and we appreciate everything you did. The three nights of the musical were truly a celebration of our pupils’ incredible talents, and we are proud to have been a part of it.

The pupils at Huncoat have been buzzing with excitement this week as they celebrated STEM week. The week kicked off with a Maths Day, where pupils explored the real-life application of maths in the environment and solving problems. The children were engaged and enthusiastic as they worked together to solve challenging problems and develop their mathematical skills.

The week also saw the hosting of a gifted cluster for our cluster group. The pupils were tasked with building a 3 Little Pigs house that wouldn’t blow down with a hairdryer! This activity aimed to encourage pupils to think creatively and problem-solve through hands-on activities.

In addition to the Maths Day and gifted cluster, pupils also took part in various activities aimed at promoting healthy living. These activities included examining sugar swaps and food packaging to determine the healthiness of different foods. The children also learned about germs and mould on food and the importance of proper hygiene.

The week also delved into the importance of exercise and its impact on our hearts. The pupils learned about the benefits of regular exercise and the impact it has on our overall health.

In one particularly exciting activity, the Year 6 children dissected hearts to look at the chambers and valves. This unique experience allowed the pupils to gain a deeper understanding of the inner workings of the heart and the importance of heart health.

The Early Years children also got in on the STEM week action by building volcanoes and creating mini explosions. This hands-on activity allowed the youngest pupils to develop their scientific skills and explore the world around them in a fun and engaging way.

Overall, STEM week at Huncoat was a resounding success. The children were engaged, enthusiastic, and eager to learn as they explored a range of STEM-related topics. The hands-on activities allowed the pupils to develop their skills in a fun and engaging way, while also fostering a love of learning that will stay with them for years to come.

The Hollins production of High School Musical was nothing short of spectacular! The highly anticipated event took place on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd March, and it was an absolute hit. The school hall was packed with enthusiastic family and friends who came to watch the talented pupils perform their hearts out. The audience was thrilled by the incredible performance and the outstanding execution of the musical’s scenes.

The energy and enthusiasm of the pupils were contagious, and it was evident that they had put in a lot of effort and hard work to bring the show to life. The audience was blown away by the talented cast, and many commented on how professional and polished the performance was. The production was a true testament to the dedication and talent of the pupils and teachers involved.

Some of the feedback received from attendees included, “Fantastic show, well done to each and everyone!”, “Unbelievable talent, they were all amazing – well done to all involved!”, “BRAVO!”. These comments are a testament to the exceptional talent of the pupils and the hard work of the teachers who put in countless hours to ensure the success of the show.

For those who missed out on the live performances, a digital copy of the production will be available for purchase from April. This will be a great opportunity to relive the fantastic performance and experience the excitement and enthusiasm of the pupils once again.

Overall, the Hollins production of High School Musical was a resounding success, and it was evident that everyone involved had put in an incredible amount of effort and dedication to make it a memorable event. The production was a true reflection of the school’s commitment to excellence in the arts and showcased the exceptional talent of the pupils. It was a fantastic experience for all involved, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for these talented pupils.

On Monday 27th February 50 pupils from Years 9,10 and 11 attended GCSE Poetry Live at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester to hear inspiring performances from some of the poets from the GCSE course.

We travelled to the prestigious Bridgewater Hall and enjoyed a day filled with poetry from some of the leading contemporary poets; Simon Armitage, Imtiaz Dharker, Daljit Nagra, Carol Ann Duffy, and John Agard. Each poet performed a range of different poems, both from the GCSE anthology and from other bodies of work, and talked about the topics they covered in their words. As poetry is a spoken art form, pupils were able to express the poet’s work in the way it was fully intended. As a result, pupils gained a more in depth understanding of the poems and poets they will write about in their GCSE’s.

Year 11 pupil, Harry Pickup shared, ‘This event helped me gain a good insight into the reasons why poets made their choices. I learnt and experienced the themes in a different way when hearing them perform it.’

After each poet had recited their work, the audience had the chance to ask the poets questions about their poems, which offered our pupils further insight. Pupils also benefitted from a masterclass exploring how to approach unseen poetry by Chief Principal Examiner, Tony Childs.

English Teacher, Mrs Addison shared, ‘It was an immense privilege and honour to attend such a fantastic event and provide an opportunity for pupils to benefit from the value of hearing poetry and experiencing the words they read in their anthologies coming alive on the amazing stage at Bridgewater Hall.’